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vanitas
New Member
Joined: 22 Oct 2016
Posts: 5
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Sat Oct 22, 2016 10:35 pm |
I've never used anything on my face except Noxema and the occasional mud mask. At 50 I want to avoid issues so just started using a 1% retinol gel for 3 months, and recently I've also been testing two vitamin C serums. To compare them, I've used one brand on my left eye and the other on the right. The C was in hopes of lightening the undereye, which it has done somewhat.
Unfortunately it has also apparently created deep diagonal lines under the right eye after using daily for 5 weeks. The left eye area is still almost perfectly smooth so I can only assume it was that particular brand of C serum. I don't know what ingredient could have done this, and the main 4 ingredients of both serums are identical - vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, ferulic acid.
The complaints I've seen about vitamin C are redness, flaking, breakouts, but not wrinkles. Retin A is known for that. I'm only using weak retinol, plus the issue is only on the right eye so I have to assume it was the C serum since that's the only thing I've done different than the left. So I quit using that stuff 2 weeks ago, and have tried to keep it moisturised with vitamin E (oil from supplement capsules) and castor oil.
Not only have the wrinkles not faded at all, they have gotten worse! Diagonal lines are now stretching further onto my cheek, AND I can see where three little lines seem to be beginning in the outer corner. First time I'm seeing even the slightest hint of "crows feet" and again, the left eye is completely smooth. Maybe I'm allergic to one of the minor ingredients in that serum and it caused real damage?
TL;DR, I'm wondering if this is one of those "gets worse before it gets better" things. Should I keep using the stuff because this is temporary and means it's working? Or do I dump it and try to repair the damage--and if so, what can I use? I'm glad the dark circles improved, but given the choice I'd rather keep the circles and not have ten years worth of wrinkles on one side! Any suggestions much appreciated. |
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vanitas
New Member
Joined: 22 Oct 2016
Posts: 5
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Sun Oct 23, 2016 2:05 pm |
PS - Should probably point out, I'm not expecting someone to know exactly what to do and I won't blame anyone if their advice doesn't work for me. Just looking for suggestions based on anyone's personal experience or knowledge. So please let me know what you think and why. I promise not to hold it against anyone if it doesn't help. |
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Mon Oct 24, 2016 7:17 am |
Your skin sounds dried out from using an acid and retinol. Suggest using a moisturizer with ceramides to repair the skin barrier and daily sunscreen.
You didn't say whether your skin is oily, combo or dry but everyone should be using a moisturizer and sunscreen.
If you think one of the C serums is irritating your eye, stop using it immediately. Also, vitamin C will not really lighten the under eye area much. For that you need to use lighteners and those work if the darkness is caused by pigmentation. If the darkness is caused by blood then no topical product will help as far as I know. |
_________________ Dry skin but not many wrinkles; 50s and Asian; Topicals: Vit C, tretinoin, hydroquinone & azaleic acid for melasma; Likes: SK-II, Shiseido, Shu Uemura, Skinceuticals, Obagi, P50, Sunday Riley, Hada Labo, facial oils |
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Mon Oct 24, 2016 10:03 am |
What is your skintype?
50 is still young – its when you get to 60 plus you can say you are old (yep am there!!!). Testing the two different sides of the face is scary and will probably create problems. You probably should have done your whole face as we all have one side that’s more responsive and expressionate than the other.
Now the other thing is that lines don’t usually appear for no reason – but you can expose existing lines too when you start things like this. It sounds like your skin is dried out – so first and foremost stop using the serum. Its doing you no good and is wasting the ingredients period. Second start helping your skin to repair by using an oil to moisturise and be diligent about what you are using on your skin from this point forward. Don’t use harsh chemical agents in toners etc as that will simply dry out your skin moreso.
Now gel isn’t the best choice for retinol because it is very drying. That’s why most people opt for cream bases instead. |
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Mon Oct 24, 2016 12:02 pm |
Castor oil is drying.
I would stick to a regular moisturizer. If you have not experimented with oils before this would hardly be a good time to try. I've heard lots of great things about plain old vaseline for the eye area. |
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vanitas
New Member
Joined: 22 Oct 2016
Posts: 5
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Mon Oct 24, 2016 1:07 pm |
Thanks so much for replies. I am Japanese-Italian, my skin was oily when young but not so much for the past 20 years. I rarely leave the house due to disability but use sunscreen when I do. Yes I quit the C serums 2 weeks ago. Castor oil is drying?? Oh noooo--why would anyone suggest that for eye area! Thank you for this, wish I had come here first. I am actually glad to have used the two products on different sides because had it been just one and new wrinkles appeared I would have thought it was just normal aging haha... but now for damage control... what moisturiser can anyone suggest? If someone has a product they really like, I will gladly try it. Thanks again! |
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Tue Oct 25, 2016 2:29 am |
Castor oil is like any other oil – meaning that there are many different types out there. But on the whole it is the way it is used that’s important. For example if it is mixed with olive oil (as in oil cleansing method) it is actually not drying but hydrating to use and helps remove oil from clogged pores. I have at times used castor oil on my eyes (when I remember it) but have also gone without it too. If you apply it immediately after washing your face – it can help to seal in the water and stop it escaping or evaporating. It helps to build the skin up and make it more resilient and protects it from infections etc – but there are different types and combos you can buy out there or make. I know some people with problem skin buy castor oil with lavender combinations on amazon and report that it really helps them.
If you had oily skin, then you may want to try something like avocado oil which is light, full of vitamins and really nice and moisturising!
vanitas wrote: |
Thanks so much for replies. I am Japanese-Italian, my skin was oily when young but not so much for the past 20 years. I rarely leave the house due to disability but use sunscreen when I do. Yes I quit the C serums 2 weeks ago. Castor oil is drying?? Oh noooo--why would anyone suggest that for eye area! Thank you for this, wish I had come here first. I am actually glad to have used the two products on different sides because had it been just one and new wrinkles appeared I would have thought it was just normal aging haha... but now for damage control... what moisturiser can anyone suggest? If someone has a product they really like, I will gladly try it. Thanks again! |
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Tue Oct 25, 2016 2:31 am |
There are also negative things said about Vaseline. I know Eva Fraser recommends it for the eye area, but I also know people who say it made things worse - so please do your research here!
circus wrote: |
I've heard lots of great things about plain old vaseline for the eye area. |
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