My Obagi experience
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Sun Sep 04, 2011 7:54 pm

I would agree with Kims on getting the higher Retin A. And take it slow. I'm on week 7 and have used Differin .1 up until 3 days ago. I peeled horribly at first but then at about 4 weeks it suddenly stopped. I must have tough skin or Differin is not that strong. 3 days ago I started using Tretinoin gel .01. Average peeling started the next day with a little tightness and redness. I will see how it goes, but I think the Differin prepped my skin for the Tretinoin. So should I get the .025? I would like to get to the 18 week mark knowing I used all the right strengths.

free skin care · Sun Sep 04, 2011 11:40 pm

I thought my skin had acclimated to 0.05% Retin A after nearly 18 months, so I increased to strength to 0.1%.. Unfortunately I went straight back to square one with the irritation. Eventually I realised I didn't actually get better or more results from the higher strength and went back tp the 0.05%

free skin care · Mon Sep 05, 2011 7:20 am

fongflyer5 wrote:

I thought my skin had acclimated to 0.05% Retin A after nearly 18 months, so I increased to strength to 0.1%.. Unfortunately I went straight back to square one with the irritation. Eventually I realised I didn't actually get better or more results from the higher strength and went back tp the 0.05%

I think a lot of people find this to be true. And I *think* there are studies to support it.

Juju, I would go ahead and start with 0.05%. If it's a little too irritating, slow down with it. It's just my personal opinion that 0.05% is a good strength to stick with.

Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:50 am

Hi Kims thxs for the info. BTW I use the lowest strength Tretinoin Gel (0.01). I use the gel because after reading so many posts I'm afraid of the breakout. And the Obagi does seem to make my skin more oily. Is there such a thing as .05 Gel? The closest I could find is the .04 Mico Gel. Have you tried that?

free skin care · Mon Sep 05, 2011 12:00 pm

jujubean wrote:

Hi Kims thxs for the info. BTW I use the lowest strength Tretinoin Gel (0.01). I use the gel because after reading so many posts I'm afraid of the breakout. And the Obagi does seem to make my skin more oily. Is there such a thing as .05 Gel? The closest I could find is the .04 Mico Gel. Have you tried that?

No, I haven't. I've just stuck with the cream version since it's easier to use with the Blender. I consider my skin to be oily too.

Mon Sep 05, 2011 12:51 pm

Yes, it impossible to mix the gel and the blender so I just put on the blender then right after apply the gel. Maybe after my skin acclimates to the 0.01 I will get the .05 cream--then hopefully just stick with that. I'm only on week 7 so I think maybe 5-6 weeks of the 0.1 then on the last (hopefully) 6 weeks before maintenance switch to the 0.5 cream?

free skin care · Tue Sep 06, 2011 4:22 am

Hi thank you for your replies .I cant see the 0.1% retin a cream on adc i see the gel but that is too harsh on my skin.I think i will call the nurse at the clinic where i bought the obagi and see what she thinks its just there retin a cream 0.1 is 63 pounds way to expensive so id rather find somewhere cheaper.xx

free skin care · Tue Sep 06, 2011 10:34 am

marcia36 wrote:

Hi thank you for your replies .I cant see the 0.1% retin a cream on adc i see the gel but that is too harsh on my skin.I think i will call the nurse at the clinic where i bought the obagi and see what she thinks its just there retin a cream 0.1 is 63 pounds way to expensive so id rather find somewhere cheaper.xx

Marcia,
Can you stick with 0.05%? I really think that for most of us, that strength is adequate.

free skin care · Wed Sep 07, 2011 3:51 am

Hi yes i could stick with the 0.5% but feel that its not doing much anymore .Maybe it is and i cant see it.Just feel i need something else .I am also using sb copper peptides and ttt serum but just feeling disheartend at the moment.xx

free skin care · Wed Sep 07, 2011 3:56 am

I felt the same at times, not achieving the results I wanted and thought a stronger Retin A would be better. I realised that in the end it didn't make much of a difference, it only made it worst because I never adjusted to the side effects

Wed Sep 14, 2011 8:35 am

Hi, I am new to this forum, and have been reading from this forum about Obagi experiences. Thank you so much for all the useful information!

I used Nu-Derm back in 2003, and stopped after seeing the transformed result. I played too much tennis, so it was hard to keep using obagi. Besides, the side effects were quite appalling. I used aggressive approach (1gm of 0.1%tretinoin every day) . However, the result was very fast and dramatic, and my skin cleared up in just a few weeks. (I had lots of freckles from sun exposure).

I have bought all nu-derm products except that I am waiting for tretinoin order online.

I own a clarisonic mia, and is hoping that using it with nu-derm will help with peelings.

Wed Sep 14, 2011 8:42 am

I bought my Clarisonic Mia at a great sale price $95.2. SkinStore web site is offering 20% OFF any order via coupon code "SEP20".

Those who are looking to buy, this is probably the lowest price you could find for a new Clarisonic Mia. (It is normally around $120 at ebay for a brand new Mia)

Thu Sep 15, 2011 1:19 am

hello everyone,
i have a question. sorry for my English, i live in the Netherlands. in July i bought the clear fx by eds. the last clear fx i bought in the Netherlands. whats the problem? the clear fx from eds is a little bit darker then the one i bought in the Netherlands, how is this possible. the ingredients are the same. Can anyone answer this question.

free skin care · Thu Sep 15, 2011 1:27 am

After reading some of the Obagi reviews, I'm really thinking I should give it a go.

Is it possible to only use some products and somehow work it into my Osmosis skincare regime - or would I have to stop Osmosis and just use Obagi?

I love Osmosis but my skin does get 'immuned' to it so sometimes I have to mix things up to give it a kickstart. Like I have recently started on Skin Biology CP Serum using that ever 2nd or 3rd night - and in between I've been using the Vivite Glycolic Night Cream.

free skin care · Thu Sep 15, 2011 5:28 am

Glamcat wrote:

After reading some of the Obagi reviews, I'm really thinking I should give it a go.

Is it possible to only use some products and somehow work it into my Osmosis skincare regime - or would I have to stop Osmosis and just use Obagi?

I love Osmosis but my skin does get 'immuned' to it so sometimes I have to mix things up to give it a kickstart. Like I have recently started on Skin Biology CP Serum using that ever 2nd or 3rd night - and in between I've been using the Vivite Glycolic Night Cream.

Hi Glamcat,
If you decide to do Obagi Nuderm, I would stop all of your other products. You can add them back in when you go on maintenance.

free skin care · Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:10 pm

Hi Kims - thanx for the reply! Very Happy

much appreciated! Wink

I may just look at doing that in a few months. As I mentioned I've just added some new products to my night regime and things are kicking up a notch or 2! lol my face is starting to look smooth and more refined again - but my skin does tend to get 'immuned' to things quickly, so once what I'm doing stops doing what it should I'll look at Obagi.

Do you have to go to a doctor/specialist for a consultation to get the products or can you just purchase online? I actually hate people trying to tell me what my skin type is like because there are always wrong! lol I do see an amazing skin specialist (dermal clinician) but she doesnt stock Obagi obviously - even she says that no one knows your skin like yourself Wink

I have dry skin, slightly combination and I do get a few zits. But I have really uneven skin tone and texture, some rough texture, some pigmentation - I used to have perfect skin albeit it dry/combination but I managed it well and people always complimented me on my flawless skin - but it got destroyed by a nurse with a laser who insisted I had rosacea and that the only thing that would correct it was laser - ends up I did not have rosacea but a severe allergy to chlorine and our Australian tap water is loaded with the stuff!

kims wrote:

Hi Glamcat,
If you decide to do Obagi Nuderm, I would stop all of your other products. You can add them back in when you go on maintenance.

free skin care · Sat Sep 17, 2011 2:24 am

Hi Glamcat
It takes a few weeks or months to actually get the full results from the Obagi Nu derm skin care range and you need to be using the entire range of products. I'm interested to know what products are you using as part of your night regime that has given you such good results.

The obagi nuderm range is great for pigmentation and uneven skin tone.

free skin care · Sat Sep 17, 2011 7:07 am

Hi fongflyer5 Smile

I am using Osmosis Skincare and have been for over 2.5 years now.

I use: Refresh PM (eyes), Replenish (antioxidant serum), StemFactor, Catalyst, Quench and Shelter. Intermittently I used Boost (Copper Peptide product). I also use Retin-a (0.05) intermittently - maybe once a week all over my face and spot treat zits or blackheads. This works pretty well.

But as I mentioned my skin gets 'immuned' to things and my skin can look a bit dull, so a few weeks ago I purchased some Vivite (by Allergan) Glycolic Night Cream and use that most nights, I just added the Skin Biology CP Serum this week - skipping the Vivite and use the CP Serum every 2nd or 3rd night.

If my skin needs an extra boost of moisture I use a variety of oils: emu oil, avocado oil, sea buckthorn oil, sesame seed oil, etc.

My face needs all the help it can get - I used to have flawless skin but that was destroyed by laser (almost 3 years ago) - which left me with: indented scars, hyperpigmentation, rough uneven skin texture, large pores - the nurse told me I needed laser because she said I had rosacea - ends up I didnt have rosacea to all but an allergy to chlorine in tap water!

Anyway, this routine I'm using seems to be helping - my skin is starting to look a lot smoother, the pores are less noticeable and the pigmentation is lightening! Yay! Laughing

fongflyer5 wrote:

Hi Glamcat
It takes a few weeks or months to actually get the full results from the Obagi Nu derm skin care range and you need to be using the entire range of products. I'm interested to know what products are you using as part of your night regime that has given you such good results.

The obagi nuderm range is great for pigmentation and uneven skin tone.

Sat Sep 17, 2011 8:10 pm

So 8 weeks. Yea! Just an update ( I use the whole Obagi Nu Derm line ) ... At 6 weeks I went from using Differin 0.1 gel to Tretinoin .01 gel. So now at 8 weeks the Tretinoin has "kicked" in. My skin is not any worse, but it is peeling again ( it stopped at 3 1/2 weeks on Differin ) I'd say the peeling is normal -- flakies you can scrub away lightly with a microfiber cloth. No break-outs! My skin is 75% more even toned and the "dark spots" are at least 70% faded. AND my skin is so much smoother. Tonight I am going to start using .05 Tretinoin Cream. Wish me luck... I have been using the gels so far. Hopefully I won't break out. I think I may just put the blender/tretion .05 cream on dark spots -- then the blender/ .01 gel on the rest of my face? Can I do that? Does anyone mix different strengths on their face at the same time? Anyway so far the Obagi Nu Derm is the best thing I have used on my face.Will continue to use this for at least another 12 weeks!

free skin care · Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:30 am

jujubean wrote:

So 8 weeks. Yea! Just an update ( I use the whole Obagi Nu Derm line ) ... At 6 weeks I went from using Differin 0.1 gel to Tretinoin .01 gel. So now at 8 weeks the Tretinoin has "kicked" in. My skin is not any worse, but it is peeling again ( it stopped at 3 1/2 weeks on Differin ) I'd say the peeling is normal -- flakies you can scrub away lightly with a microfiber cloth. No break-outs! My skin is 75% more even toned and the "dark spots" are at least 70% faded. AND my skin is so much smoother. Tonight I am going to start using .05 Tretinoin Cream. Wish me luck... I have been using the gels so far. Hopefully I won't break out. I think I may just put the blender/tretion .05 cream on dark spots -- then the blender/ .01 gel on the rest of my face? Can I do that? Does anyone mix different strengths on their face at the same time? Anyway so far the Obagi Nu Derm is the best thing I have used on my face.Will continue to use this for at least another 12 weeks!

Wow, Jujubean, sounds like you're having great results and 8 weeks is still pretty early in the program! I've never mixed different strengths of RA, but I think it would probably be okay. You can let us know how it goes.

I think many people will agree that Obagi really does deliver on its promises. It may not be the easiest route to go, but it may very well be the most effective! Thanks for the update!

free skin care · Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:36 am

Glamcat,
I'm so sorry to hear about your experience with laser treatment. That must be so frustrating! What kind of laser did you get?

Anyway, Obagi Nuderm will definitely help with skin tone, hyperpigmentation, and texture. But you need to be willing to commit at least 18-24 weeks for it to be its most effective.

Tue Sep 20, 2011 3:44 am

janetsimone wrote:

hello everyone,
i have a question. sorry for my English, i live in the Netherlands. in July i bought the clear fx by eds. the last clear fx i bought in the Netherlands. whats the problem? the clear fx from eds is a little bit darker then the one i bought in the Netherlands, how is this possible. the ingredients are the same. Can anyone answer this question.

free skin care · Tue Sep 20, 2011 10:09 am

janetsimone wrote:

hello everyone,
i have a question. sorry for my English, i live in the Netherlands. in July i bought the clear fx by eds. the last clear fx i bought in the Netherlands. whats the problem? the clear fx from eds is a little bit darker then the one i bought in the Netherlands, how is this possible. the ingredients are the same. Can anyone answer this question.

Hi Janetsimone,
I'm sorry but I really don't have an answer for your question other than that it may have been formulated a little differently. Have you noticed a difference in efficacy?

free skin care · Tue Sep 20, 2011 11:50 pm

Glamcat,

I agree with kims, I think Obagi will give your skin a real boost. However, you will need to stop the other products and commit yourself totally to the Nuderm products to see results. The fact that you are already using retin A will help as this is the one product that most people get the worst side effects from, the redness, dryness peeling etc. As you will read from a lot of people on this forum Obagi really does deliver some good results.

Wed Sep 21, 2011 2:04 am

hai Kims,
no i don't have a difference in my skin. i am only a little bit scared that i have a other obagi, but eds tell me that it is all the same, but the colors can change from white to ivory, so i have the original products.

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