Has Skin+Me just not worked for anyone?

[KillingMeDeftly]

I've been using Skin+Me since last January, mainly to address some pigmentation spot issues. I worked my way up to 0.05 strength tretinoin but had to drop back down to 0.04 due to dryness and irritation.

But I can't see a huge improvement in pigmentation - I think it's slightly better but I still have some dark spots that I would've expected to have lightened by now. I'm religious about sunscreen too.

It isn't cheap so do I just give up and go back to the retinol (as opposed to rerun-A) I was using before? Or should I give Dermatica a go? I notice their formulas use hydroquinone which I know is the gold-standard for improving pigmentation spots.

I also found the base cream for Skin+Me quite matte and drying - is Dermatica's any different?

Nothing much has helped fade an old mark from a cystic spot on my face. I did the Dermatica for 3 months with the hydroquinone and it didn't help. They then have to take you off it as you can't stay on it long term. When they changed my formula I found the cream quite dry and hard to spread. I stopped my subscription and found their customer services quite rude, basically telling me that if i wanted to stop and start at a later date iwould be charged a consultation fee. I had a couple of months off, but missed Tret, so signed up with skin+me. I think the formula is easier to spread and I like the twist pump. I don't think anything will fade the old mark

If you've been looking for something to reduce discolouration I'd recommend trying Obagi Skin Brightening Cream. It's pricy, but has got very good reviews online. I've only just started using it so can't see results yet. I purchased it from the skin care clinic I go to. But there are some very good ones online - take a look at the video below

I'm just a bit disappointed as Skin+Me promised great things and though I think my skin is looking better, the dark spots are still there. Perhaps I need to look into getting them lasered off.

My skin just cannot tolerate either dermatica or skin and me, so red and sore I look even more wrinkly and worse. So given up after trying for over a year in and off

I was wondering about the laser. Hotandflashy on YouTube has had it done

Have you emailed them to ask OP? I always find them really good when I've emailed to have a whinge that I am not in possession of perfect skin yet .

But in all seriousness, I did ask them to put me on tretinoin, and they did immediately, it didn't agree with me so I asked them to try something else and they did that straight away too. I just sent some pictures of my skin and what I wanted to target and they shipped a new vial out. You can request another consultation at any time.

I haven't achieved perfect skin by any means but am happy that over time there is a definite improvement (less blemishes, less marks, skin just looks even toned) and accept nothing will work a miracle. The cost is worth it for me and I like the non greasy base lotion they use. I apply over my usual moisturiser and it's fine.

Whether it's worth it only you will know. You can always put the subscription on hold while you try something else and then pick it up again.

I've tried that @dontgobaconmyheart - first they upped the tretinoin but that was too irritating so now they've brought it down again. But the dark spots remain! I've started using alpha arbutin in the mornings as it's a very gentle ingredient that won't react with the tret so will see if that makes a difference. But I really was hoping for great things from tretinoin!