Hyperpigmentation

[dixiejo]

About 4 years ago (after a holiday with FAR too much sun exposure - a lesson learned) I developed hyper-pigmentation on my forehead and temples.

A friend recently recommended the Clinique Even Better Dark Spot Corrector.

Has anyone tried this product with good results?

Or do you have any other recommendations? Thanks

[JemimaPuddle]

I had it quite bad on my forehead and cheekbones from my last pregnancy.

I haven't tried the Clinique one.

I'm using an SPF every day (30 or 50) and on evenings i alternate alpha h liquid gold and liquid gold intensive serum.
The marks on my cheekbones are almost gone and the (darker) marks on my forehead are fading.

[Charliefox]

I can almost guarantee that the Clinique one won't shift it. Most off the shelf stuff isn't potent enough. You need hard core products and treatments to get rid.

[dixiejo]

Thanks for your replies.
Jemima - Can you tell me more about the alpha h liquid gold and the intensive serum? What is it, where do I get it from etc?
Charlie - is liquid gold the hype of card core treatment you are speaking of?

[dixiejo]

• hard core, even!

[Charliefox]

Not familiar with liquid gold, so can't say. I've used prescription only Obagi but there's lots of similar products. Tretinoin is what you need but it is a controversial product.

[SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots]

I can tell you that clinque stuff is useless. Ive just given up with it having used it faithfully since Christmas. Every single day. I suppose my dark spots might be slightly less dark, but not a good enough result for me.

I'll watch this thread with interest.

[SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots]

clinique, even.

[PostBellumBugsy]

Waits patiently for some hardcore recommendations.

[Charliefox]

Tretinoin. Obagi is good but expensive and it's really hard to go through the regime, as it's time consuming, takes 2-3 months and you look horrendous in the process.

[cazza40]

I have used the Clinique even better range for years now and it hasnt really helped - not sure why I stuck with it so long. Have heard of Caudalie Vinoperfect range and am thinking about giving that range a try

[JemimaPuddle]

Sorry dixiejo just seen your reply.
I buy most of mine from QVC or eBay. Qvc is good because you can send it back if you dont like it or it doesnt work. eBay is good for smaller cheap sizes.
The alpha h liquid gold is 5% glycolic acid and is a liquid you use every other night on clean skin, wipe it over and that's it, no night cream or anything. The intensive serum has glycolic, salycilic and vitamin A and I use on the other nights then moisturise over the top. It's expensive (£44 per tube) but I got a small size in a kit and was so impressed I ordered the full sized one.
Lots of people on here did weekly at home peels to get rid of pigmentation and it worked really well for some if I remember rightly. It's a lot cheaper too.

[Napoleon66]

Hi, I too had hyperpigmentation on my forehead due to living abroad when a child and sunbathing as an adult. I've been living in spain for the past 5yrs. Three or four yrs ago i bought some glycolic acid from Bravura London and applied it weekly for about two months. It comes with detailed instructions and paying attention to timing is important. It completely got rid of any brown marks i had (and the forehead mark was very prominent - i often had comments that i hadn't blended my foundation in properly!) and my skin looked completely refreshed.

Daily, I use a moisturiser with spf25 and if sunbathing spf 50 initially and then go down to 30spf at the end of summer. It still hasn't returned. I highly recommend Bravura. I've looked at the website recently and there are a lot more choices than when i did it. I'll do it again when i return to the UK.

[runmumrun]

Napoleon66 and Jemima did you get much redness/peeling with the glycolic acid? I have terrible hyperpigmentation through years of baking to a crisp being less than vigilant with sunscreen and want to do something about it. Have watched friend going through similar regime, and whilst results are good, her skin was v v dry red and peeling for several weeks - not something I can do in my job.

[Napoleon66]

runmumrun I had no redness or peeling. I wish i could remember which % of acid i used, it was a low one. I strictly adhered to the timings and wasn't tempted to do more than once of week or leave on for longer to get faster results. Immediately after, my skin felt dry but by the next morning and after moisturising it was fine.

Also, I didn't notice an immediate change it was after a few weeks that i suddenly realised that i looked better and the marks were fading. I recommend checking out Paula's Choice website. I also use her aha products too but only in autumn and winter - not worth it in summer here if i'm sunbathing.

[runmumrun]

Thanks, will have a read around and look at the bravura website.

[JemimaPuddle]

runmumrun no redness or peeling here either.
I haven't personally used Bravura but have read loads of good things about them.
Have a look for the Shizzle thread on here I thing most of them used Bravura.

[madmomma]

I've had good results with caudalie brightening serum.

[lurkingaround]

What about a few IPL treatments? That should shift the pigmentation quite well.

[ILoveApples]

For years I used to have v bad pigmentation marks on my forehead, tops of cheeks and chin (think tea stain). However, since coming off the pill last December they have completely disappeared and did not even return after this summer's holiday.

[dixiejo]

Thank you all for some great recommendations. Sounds like the Clinique Even Better product isn't worth bothering with so I will save my money and investigate some of the other suggestions. I'll also check out the "Shizzle" thread.

Thank you all v much!

[Eliza22]

Clinique one.....just doesn't deliver. Total waste of money.

[Hairytoes]

I'm what you would class as hardcore have tried everything mentioned on this thread!
Clinique - waste of time.
Bravura - no difference in pigmentation, although it did smooth my skin so makeup went on better.
Alpha H - that was the first thing I tried, and it was more for spots than anything else. Cleared them up, leaves skin feeling very smooth. Didn't do anything for my pigmentation, BUT I didn't realise you should wear SPF when using, so I probably ended up making things worse!
I have just had IPL, and that HAS made a difference. Still not peachy skinned like a babies bum, but loads better. Am now trying a course of microdermabrasion, had first one today.