[Laketahoe]

Hi SCT, I would like some tips in order to naturally lighten my face by 2 shades.

1. My face is NW50 but, neck and chest is NW45 (permatan)

2. I have no issue with being dark skin, but what effects my confidence is when I wear low cut tops and there is a clear line of demarcation, makes me feel deformed.

3. I wear foundation to even make it less obvious, but I have good skin and don't want to wear makeup if it's not necessary.

4. I don't need instant results, happy to do a routine that takes some months

What do you suggest, newbie here.

(In the meantime I will continue browsing forums for information)

 

[Laketahoe]

I will use this thread to document my journey.

At the moment I've started using Kojie San soap again. I've used it on and off for maybe 3 years. I don't really think I saw any lightening from it, but it did make my skin smooth once the initial skin purging finishes.

Because I haven't used this soap in a while it is irritating my skin (as expected) just need to give my skin a chance to get used to the acid again.

I am using the kojie San soap once a day for now, in the morning.

Followed with a 30% vitamin C serum from Face Theory. Then I follow with a moisturiser (I have many on rotation) followed with an oil and sunscreen.

The kojie San soap dries out my skin so I need to ensure I'm moisturising a lot.

At the moment my skin feels rough compared to when I wasn't using kojie San, but I will give it a few weeks to see some improvements.

I will be going on vacation in one month to a very hot country, so any suggestions on how to minimise tanning would be helpful. I was just going to use my kojie San soap?

For one month I've been using Glutathione supplements (contains milk thistle and alpha Lipoic acid) 1000mg per day, and in the last week I've incorporated this with 1000mg of Vitamin C too as I read here it's best to use in combination. This is a low dosage compared to what some people are using but I'd prefer not to do anything in excess for safety reasons. In the month of taking the Glutathione I can't really say I've seen any lightening or brightening (kind of ruined this too with using kojie San now) but I'm noticing I have more energy and sleeping quite well which I don't usually do. I will continue to use long term.

 

[Laketahoe]

Products/ingredients I'm researching/considering:

• Kojie San soap (from the official website, no fakes) - PURCHASED
• The Ordinary 30% Peeling Solution - PURCHASED
• The ordinary lactic acid serum 10% - PURCHASED
• Kojie San face lightening Cream (from the official site) - PURCHASED
• Ameliorate body lotion, body wash and body scrub (couldn't easily access Amlactin as its an American brand). Ameliorate doesn't state how much % of lactic acid is in their products, I suspect a low dosage but I will try it out anyway - PURCHASED
• Cos De BAHA - 2% Hydroquinone Brightening Serum - PURCHASED
• Topicals containing glutathione, kojic acid, sepi white, liquorice, 80% lactic acid solution to make a DIY peel.

Any feedback on these would be great

I don't want any harmful ingredients like Mercury, Steroids. I was against HQ too, but considering a very low dosage but still very scared of the side effects in the long and short term (doesn't seem worth it).

 

[Laketahoe]

I think I was using a fake kojie San soap, I purchased from amazon but when I checked the official kojie San website the amazon seller was not on their official distribution list... The soap I received also didn't have the authentication code on the box and the colour of the soap was a bright orange. On a YouTube video I watched it said it should be a yellow/orange tone. This could also be why I didn't see any lightening results when I used the soap before (I was using a leftover piece of soap from a year ago)

I'm trying to take this skin lightening journey seriously this time, so need to make sure I'm buying the correct products.

Therefore I decided to purchase from the official Kojie San website instead, I bought the kojie San face lightening cream whilst I was there too.

So right now everything is on pause till my order arrives.

 

[Laketahoe]

Week 1&2. The idea is to get my skin used to the products gradually to avoid irritation.

Morning:

• Kojie San soap with an exfoliating scrubbing glove
• Kojie San lightening cream mixed with Ameliorate lactic lotion. (if my skin feels dry I'll add shea butter)
• 30% Vitamin C serum (will alternate with 10% niacinamide serum)
• Supergoop Sunscreen SPF50

Night:
As above but no sunscreen

Most importantly, I'll listen to what my skin needs. Some days I may need extra hydration as the Kojie San soap can be very drying during the purging phase. So will adjust the routine accordingly. When any irritation, stinging, burning stops with the soap, you know when it's time to increase the usage, be patient.

I will introduce the 2% HQ once my skin is completely OK with the Kojie San/lactic acid products first and when my skin is full exfoliated to the gods. I assume exfoliation will allow for even skin lightening and not patchy results.

The ordinary peeling solution I will use maybe week 3&4, X2 a week with a face steamer so that it penetrates deeper - but TBC

 

[Laketahoe]

Whilst I wait for my orders, I've been using a simple routine to nurse my skin back to health from the (potentially fake) Kojie San soap irritation on my face. I've used a gentle cleanser from aveeno and just some raw shea butter and raw cocoa butter on my face. It's so crazy how just the most simple things can be the most effective. My skin is SO soft/smooth. My skin became extra dry with the Kojie San but this routine seems to have restored the moisture barrier on my skin and removed all the dead dry skin off my face. I've only been doing this for maybe 3 days too.

When my soap does arrives, I will continue to use shea and cocoa butter as my moisturiser or at least mix it in somehow.

 

[Laketahoe]

Kojie San soap arrived and used it before bed with vitamin c serum and Kojie San lightening cream.

I definitely think I had a fake soap before because I didn't get the same burning or irritation and my skin wasn't as dry afterwards. However that could be because my skin is in a better condition than before due to the shea butter I've been using... Who knows.

However, I will be using the soap morning and night now because I think my skin can handle it at the moment. I do not keep it on for too long. I wash off before I start to feel any burning or tingling. Massage into skin for maybe 2 or 3 mins.

My skin this morning looked great. I will repeat this but add a small touch of shea butter to the cream and finish with spf50.

I also sleep on a silk pillowcase.

 

[Laketahoe]

My skin is glowing it looks great and healthy, happy so far. I just hope I can get some lightening from it.

Any suggestions from anyone with product's I can add into the mix? I do not want a bleached look, I want undertones like I have on my body.