Well the Little Miss impatience in me gave in and ordered the 10% hq from Isis. I am having good results from the nadinola and retin a and want something for my body. I did plan on starting once my face had caught up with my body but as some say the body takes long to lighten I though that I should start now anyway. well that is my excuse lol.


My only concern is the really hot climate I am in and whether I am just asking for trouble. I am faithful to covering up and sunblock but I am still a bit worried. Also maintenance worries me. I wanted to try this because enticing said it was doing great for him and I think I will need something heavy duty for my permatanned body. I will try and keep a review as much as I can. wish me luck

well now, I see someone is testing the waters (:-)
Its true about the face
& body going @ different speeds. Wkly peels are good even if you dont see actual peeling, I started w/ 40% Lactic then worked my way up to 88%. Each wk I could increase the strength but bought each percentage in 3's so had to use them up, then increase a couple wks later. After a month I started my HQ. Some used Fair & Flawless's 5xf (I think it's called) on their body which helped along any other post products. I used another product of theirs for my dark circles which made my HQ's job much easier. Their too d**n pricey & thins skins when used long term but maybe worth a shot just to help the body catch up. BTW I didn't use any peels around my eyes when using it either, just Likas soap. I was sure to follow Isis's instructions to the letter & happy thus far. Good luck

quiamontana, wishing you luck on your regimen and I look forward to reading your updates. you are right to be concerned about hq and harsh sun. It might be an idea to just use it at night and avoid applying it in the day,especailly if you are going to be out, even with sunblock. Perhaps Lilikoi can advise you as to what Isis suggest the application should be and whether they say it can be used in the day without any problems. To be on the safe side I would personally avoid day application, even if this means results are slower. Make sure to be well covered anyway and Again best of luck

investing in a good UV umbrella is what I did to fight the rays. From Ebay an umbrella by Sunscape for skin cancer sufferers offers the best protection. If I cant avoid the sun I make sure that I carry it, & if you drive the UV protection gloves are also great. As you see the instructions tell you to make sure that that you slowly integrate the HQ into your regimen, but there's no advisement about daytime apps however you know how dangerous the sun can be so if you can't avoid direct contact- and I mean even drawing the shades in the house- then PM apps may be the way to go. 10% is pretty strong so you'll get there one way or another. I seriously hide from this tropical volcano I'm living having made a drastic climatic change from NY. My ankles even tanned one day from a 20 min walk when I forgot to wear socks...& that was before i even used the 10%. star:

oh wow quiamontana you are serious about getting your lightening fully under way. I do hope it works for you. I was thinking it should help any areas of permatan and then once you hit your goal you can reduce the usage and use only when required. As long as you are careful and know when you cannot avoid the sun you should be ok because you know what to do. Wishing you luck hun!! You are making me want to get my body lightening under way too !!!

Quia sending you wishes of luck. I know that you really want to see results so I hope that this offers a good solution. I wonder how entincing is coming along with it as well as I think he has used it the longest here.

Hey gang.

Today marks wk 3 of HQ & Retin A 0.1%

I've seen satisfying results and finally my knees & elbows are peeling which took extras separate solo RA applications.I know I will have to do more work in these areas but for the first time in my 3o something years I'm actually starting to see my knees & elbows start to look like the rest of the color of my body. At this rate I think I'll be there in a 2 more wks, fingers crossed.

I stopped using the HQ on my face for the past few days to give my body time to catch up. When I had ran out of RA & was awaiting another delivery I was only using LA peels on the body, which pale in comparison -no pun intended lol- to the results seen once adding the RA daily to the HQ/Eucerin mixture.But I was using the RA/HQ/Eucerin mix on my face with the last half a tube I had left. This is why my face sped ahead. Now that I've been using the RA all over the lightening has increased. Since this 10% is such a potent lightener, I haven't had any set backs from ceasing usage for the past 2 days. About 4 days ago I looked at my face and thought "Gee I'm getting freaking light!" The drawback, be it minor, is the tiny occasional pimple, but super tiny I'm talking about. Even though my skin is as dry as a bone, maybe it's the Eucerin? Next week the Eucerin will be deleted from the concoction so I'll be able to gauge what causes that a bit better. But like I said they're so tiny it's not really worth mentioning but wanted to give yous a detailed report. After a dab of RA, they're gone in 2 days & no scarring or blemishes which I love. Also noticing that the RA on the face is still keeping my peeling going for about 5 days,so a little goes along way and I fine tune my facial regimen around that and only reapply the RA to the face when needed.

The knuckles are the slowest but getting better, especially w/ the extra RA apps in the PM. No peeling on knuckles yet though, hmm?

Wk 3:

Face- 3 parts HQ + 1 part Eucerin (+ peasize drop RA 0.01% every 5 days)

Body- 3 parts HQ + 1 part Eucerin + peasize drop of RA 0.1%

These ratios are based on Isis's instructions ( minus the RA, they list a a variety of exfolients recommended) included with your HQ. Each week the ratios vary-increasing the HQ- until the 4th wk when you then can use the HQ alone w/out the Eucerin. They also offer for few extra $ a mix of RA or a few other absorbent/exfolient agents to add to your HQ, but I just bought the plain HQ. By buying my own RA from ADC I can control the peeling phases which I really don't need daily for the face. But I think the RA/HQ daily on the body however has been more beneficial for the lightening process.

sorry for much repetition but I found it a tedious process when I began trying to decipher other people's formulas so I tend to back track a bit for the newbies like myself So, I'm to the races. Thanks for chiming in & Enticing we are missing you lovey.

good job Lilikoi! glad that u are keeping us updated

my pleasure Ava,

I've learned so much from all of you and your contributions. It's helps a lot to know that there is a network of support in this process since you essentially have no one else to turn to. Not easy keeping a secret about the one thing that consumes so much of your money,time and effort

Ok guys... I sm truly newbie at this.. beaar with me.. My goal is to lighten about a shade and a half and spot treat my blemishes for scarring, insect bites my knees, elbows, my driviers arm, and feet. i have wasted so much money at my local beauty supply store. Is there a link for newbies??

@lilikoi.....Im soooo excited for you!! I know its really had to see progress since you are in the sunshine state, lol. But its do-able!! I have been compounding my own, but im verrrrryyy curious about isis! Im gonna buy it a see how i like it! You and Enticing have sold me, lol!! Are you gonna be able to post any pics?!

@Glowinggoddess.....welcome luv! You can find a ton of useful information under the topic "46 Best skin lighteners"!! I hope this helps alittle

I dont' mind posting but not sure how to take the down afterwards. If you PM me I can send you some pics via ur private email

Oh Lilikoi you have got me super excited !!! The hq has not arrived as yet. I am not sure how long the postage is supposed to take but I am getting so impatient. I want to get started like yesterday !!! lol Let me know if you do see any darkening on your face whilst you are waiting for your body to catch up. I do not plan using any on my face for now but it is always good to know

glowinggoddess33 wrote:Ok guys... I sm truly newbie at this.. bear with me.. My goal is to lighten about a shade and a half and spot treat my blemishes for scarring, insect bites my knees, elbows, my driviers arm, and feet. i have wasted so much money at my local beauty supply store. Is there a link for newbies??

Welcome glowinggoddess, you can start a thread with what your concerns and goals are and I am sure the members will be happy to help. Can I suggest that if you have not done it already that you invest in a good quality sunblock, preferably with high percentage of zinc to prevent any further sun damage and to protect any newly lightend skin. Ones to try burnout,soleo, devita, vanicream.

thanks everyone for the feedback. I used to use a product called Dermaclair.but i never put two n two together and relized that i need a sunblock too. i stopped using Carotone i have blotchy spots on my chin now from using it for about a month now..yet it claims to contain a sun protectant

I am annoyed today because I just got an email saying that my package has now been dispatched. So there was me thinking that it was whizzing it's way to me but they have only sent it out TODAY !!!!!! The only good thing is that accoreding to them they have sent it priority mail. I will let youy know when it turns up but this is very disappointing when you can't wait to start.

It could be that they make it fresh in batches, hence the delay. But I totally understand when you are rearing to go.

glowinggoddess33 wrote:thanks everyone for the feedback. I used to use a product called Dermaclair.but i never put two n two together and relized that i need a sunblock too. i stopped using Carotone i have blotchy spots on my chin now from using it for about a month now..yet it claims to contain a sun protectant

I think carotone is related to caro light ad there seems to be a lot of people saying they are having problems with it, as well as those that say it works well. Even if a product says it contains sun screen I still like to apply my own. Most of the sunscreens that are added already are chemical so break down easily in the sun anyway. You need a good physical block with a high percentage of zinc oxide to be getting the best protection

well true to their word the shipping was fast and I got it on Friday. What I do not understand was that there was no instructions at all. NOw this makes me think that Lilikoi may have actualy got the 20% which is why she was told to dilute it. I mean why tell one person one thing and then nothing for the others. All it said on the bottle was to shake well before use. I have tested a bit on my arm and see what happens. I have a deep permatan where there is a definite line of colour difference. This will be a good area to see if this stuff actually works

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Best of luck with the ten percent. I have wanted to try it but the purse will not allow so im just doing goood old fashion SAP for the moment lol.

omg! no instructions?!?! WTF

BTW,

I decided to stick w/ the equal parts solution (retin a 0.1% & HQ 10%) for my face. The full strength formula w/ HQ only proved to be a bit too strong. I got good lightening but the the first day I used it alone on my face I noticed about 4 tiny little pimples.I do mean super tiny and not bad enough to leave marks-if left alone-but any milia are unwanted milia.

Lilkoi I think that it is a good idea to contiue as they suggested especially as you cannot be 100% certain it is NOT 20%

Quiamontana I am stunned that such a potentially powerful product offered no instructions. Even if it was just to say that you should test it on a small area first before application to check for sensitivty. It sounds terribly irresposible to me. I get why people are so into compounding now.

Besides all of that I hope it works well for both of you