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I am now a good way's into my 1 month experiment with SW. In previous months, I used HQ/RA as many of you are also doing. Today, I took a good look in the mirror & I'm defitely a touch darker. Not markedly so, but the SW is definitely NOT lightening me & I've lost a little ground. NOT GOOD!
I still think SW has good lightening potential BUT in tandem with other active ingredients such as either HQ, RA or KJ. It IS a great exfoliant & left my skin beautifully smooth. The cream I made was a very neutral base: not overly moisturizing & not drying. The SW (6%) was the sole active ingredient. F&F uses 5% SW in tandem with other actives so this is likely the determining factor for effectiveness. Next time, I'll try adding some kojic acid to the cream to see what effect this has. By slowly modifying the formulations, we'll eventually figure out ways to make the most of SW. As it stands as a 'solo' ingredient, I BET that white people, & fair Asians etc. WOULD have gotten lightening & nice smoothness from my 6% cream w/o the redness & irritation many with this type of skin get from other actives.
It won't take me long to get back on-track with my regular lightening. I'm taking the day to consider how to proceed: I may alernate HQ 2x/day on one day & SW the morning on the next day + RA at night to see what happens. I have to add something else because I don't want to re-darken too much & lose the considerable progress I have made. Just thought I'd put that out there.
I still think SW has good lightening potential BUT in tandem with other active ingredients such as either HQ, RA or KJ. It IS a great exfoliant & left my skin beautifully smooth. The cream I made was a very neutral base: not overly moisturizing & not drying. The SW (6%) was the sole active ingredient. F&F uses 5% SW in tandem with other actives so this is likely the determining factor for effectiveness. Next time, I'll try adding some kojic acid to the cream to see what effect this has. By slowly modifying the formulations, we'll eventually figure out ways to make the most of SW. As it stands as a 'solo' ingredient, I BET that white people, & fair Asians etc. WOULD have gotten lightening & nice smoothness from my 6% cream w/o the redness & irritation many with this type of skin get from other actives.
It won't take me long to get back on-track with my regular lightening. I'm taking the day to consider how to proceed: I may alernate HQ 2x/day on one day & SW the morning on the next day + RA at night to see what happens. I have to add something else because I don't want to re-darken too much & lose the considerable progress I have made. Just thought I'd put that out there.
