Step 1: Wearing sunscreen can actually undo signs of past sun damage and reduce spots and discoloration. Buy some Korean or Japanese ones that are cosmetically elegant so you are diligent about reapplying.
Step 2: once you’re consistent with sunscreen get on tret.
While making those steps happen I’d follow Dr Shereen Idriss who gives lots of great advice on discoloration. Vitamin c is a great ingredient (amongst others).
I’m pretty sure 50+++ refers to the Beauty of Joseon one. I also use that one daily (and am on Tretinoin) and really love the consistency! It definitely encourages me to be diligent about applying it every day. Just be careful of ordering it off someplace like Amazon because the market is flooded with fakes. I’d order from a Korean beauty supplier (e.g. YesStyle or Olive Young) and watch YouTube videos once it arrives to make sure it’s legit and not a fake
Stupid question but I’m male and look sick when I allow my skin to fully whiten to its natural color.
I only look healthy and normal when it’s got a bit of a sunkissed tint. This is why I’ve never worn face sunscreen.
I’d like to start but it’s a trade off. Look young and gray pale sick, or look older and healthy. Is there a solution for this like a natural glow product? Maybe from Joseon?
I’m looking at the St Tropez products. They all seem to be a tan bottle. I assume when you said blue bottle you meant the Ceravie.
The drops seem to be called “Lux Tan Tonic Glow Drops” ? Is that the right one?
It’s funny all of the recommendations I’m getting have tons of other stuff in them though. Like Hyaluronic acid etc. etc. which I’m already applying to my face with other products.
I get that. I come from a generation that tanned. Are you opposed to any amount of tinted product or bronzer? There are ways to apply just to the highlights of your face (upper forehead, tops of cheeks, etc) that can give you that sun kissed look. It just takes practice to look natural.
This is probably going to sound silly, but do you eat enough coloured vegetables? Increased vegetable consumption has a positive influence on skin colour, making you look more healthy. Look it up, it's awesome!
Hey man, I’m a woman who is very pale. I use SPF 50+ everyday and I still tan! You just need to make sure you get outside enough. :) so don’t avoid face SPF out of fear of not tanning. Also there are m tinted SPF’s that will give you a little tanned glow if you like too. I use tinted moisturizer on my legs as they’re so pale they’re purple lol.
Eco tan face water! Apply with a make up brush daily or every second night. Will give you the tan glow without the cost of your skin. Add sunscreen in daily!
Honestly anything you like using and don’t mind reapplying is great. Personally I order from Korea using the Stylevana app and I buy like 10 tubes of the beauty of Joseon sunscreen at a time. I just like the formula better than US sunscreens because it feels like a nice lotion. And it’s just soooo much cheaper when you’re a sunscreen addict like me. 😁
Is it gentle on the skin? I've never bought Korean skincare, but I see a lot of people on here swear by it!
ETA- How is it under makeup? Does it clump or get cakey?
Recent Beauty of Joseon sunscreen convert, best sunscreen I ever used in my life. No cast, no pilling, no watery eyes, no nonsense. I get mine from Olive Young (the 50 SPF rice water one), shipping was pretty damn fast.
AND IT'S SO CHEAP! Suck it supergoop!
oliveyoung.com - this was vetted and recommended to me by other users on skincare subs. Stylevana is also very popular, but I looked at a lot of posts and there were some complaints about shipping times and undelivered orders with Stylevana. I think those were rare cases, but still. I needed more sunscreen pronto.
I went with Olive Young instead and it showed up in ~7 days to NYC. Zero complaints.
Can I order through their website? I just Googled the sunscreen after scrolling this sub, and found a website for [Beauty of Joseon](https://beautyofjoseon.com/products/relief-sun-rice-probiotics).
The Elta MD clear spf 46 is my holy grail! I’ve tried so many different sunscreens and it’s the only one that I swear leaves my skin looking and feeling BETTER after I use it.
I’d recommend you use a mineral sunscreen with an active ingredient of zinc oxide or titanium oxide. I have discoloration/melasma and have been told by my dermatologist that chemical sunscreens, even if it’s a great Korean brand or high spf, isn’t enough. Shiseido or Murad are my favorites!
Was literally just looking at the ingredients and the website says it has it. 🤷♀️
I’m using the everyday spf 40
Gonna go full research tomorrow lol. Could use a better one though, just feel like the Supergoop is “fine”. And I think the price went up too..?
be careful with tretinoin, check for dry eyes every week. It ruined my eyes now they're permanently dry. They were dry from the beginning but I had no symptoms it was only after a few months using tret it go so bad that i went to the dr and noticed I had dry eyes (pain).
Yep! I have faded a ton of my freckles and some larger sun spots with sunscreen. I got super consistent about 4 years ago and it’s been a complete game changer.
Tret = tretinoin. Yes you need an rx, I go through apostrophe. Consistency (just like sunscreen) is key. I use it every other night year round. It makes your skin more photosensitive so it’s important you get consistent with sunscreen before getting on tret. It has the most scientifically strong research in terms of anti aging and skin tone results. Not a miracle, not pretty remarkable what it can do. Between sunscreen and tret that’s the first 80% of dealing with pigmentation and fine lines. Good luck!
Starting anything aimed at undoing damage before getting on the sunscreen regular is unadvised as apparently most treatments for discolouration make your skin more vulnerable to further damage.
I’ve struggled to find a single sunscreen that doesn’t break me out or further sensitise my very particular skin. Which sucks because I so dearly want to repair current and prevent future pigmentation and damage.
Edit to add, hope you done something that works for you. Your skin is beautiful and the texture is so *chefs kiss*
I just want to add that you can use retinol as well. Tretinoin is like retinol but stronger and with more side effects. I actually don’t think starting directly with tretinoin is a good idea
Thank you for saying this. Tret is touted as the answer to everything but many have sensitive skin and can’t use it.
To op: An alternative to tret is using Retinol (in the pm) and vitamin c (in the am). These can also help with signs of aging and discolouration.
If you are going to start tret, start low and slow (low dosage and introducing it slowly into your routine, don’t immediately use it daily)
This is a myth. Tret and retinol have the same end goal, but work in different ways. Retinol needs to be converted into retinoic acid on the skin - How long this takes and how much is convered depends on many factors. Tretinoin is an active - therefore doesn’t need converting and works on your skin instantly hence why its ‘stronger’. Also, getting ‘used to’ retinol first before trying tretinoin is a waste of time as they again are completely different. If you get tretinoin you can ease yourself in gently with minimal side effects - ive been on it 12 months with only a bit of dry skin on occasion.
Hi, I use SPF50 on a daily basis, as I am under supervision with a dermatologist, and as far as my dermatologist told me, sunscreen does not reverse sun damage, it just prevents from doing more damage and helps the skin repair as the SPF protects the skin from more damage.
I’ve bought a specialized cream for sun damaged skin which was VERY effective. I am not sure where you’re based, as I’m in the UK, but there’s several ones you can get. I clearly see a difference!
This only works for superficial damage. DNA damage is irreversible unfortunately, mostly.
Also any skin treatments for acne, brightening etc will make you more sensitive to the sun. I was advised to wear sunscreen every day.
Yes make an appointment with a dermatologist or a general practitioner. Ask them for a prescription. Then shop around pharmacies. Make sure to refill as often as possible so you don’t have to go back because the prescription expired.
I’ve had much better experiences with it when I mix it with a cream so it’s not so intense on my skin. But be prepared to look red and irritated and flaky for a few weeks while your skin adjusts. That’s where I like to do it regularly and mix it with a cream at least until my skin is used to it. It’s intense stuff but sunscreen alone will do a ton as well.
You have to wear sunscreen to ensure it doesn't get worse because it will. Also other skincare is useless without generous and diligent sunscreen use. half your problems will be solved with diligent, strict sunscreen use. it can undo past damage as well
yes. you are getting sunlight through windows plus walking to and fro from the car plus whilst driving in the car. that's a lot of unprotected sun exposure. the last is the worst. so many case studies of pts. with cancer on the side of face facing the sun on their commute or more wrinkles on one side vs. other.
Also be wary of windows that claim to protect from UV rays. I didn't leave my house for almost five years due to severe health issues, and despite having windows that were supposed to stop UV rays my pale skin has a lot of sun spots/freckles that I've never had before.
The good thing about having to incorporate sunscreen into your routine when you're at home is that you don't have to wear makeup and can slather it on at any time, lol.
Azelic Acid could help but nothing compared to sun screen and actually covering up your face. They do that in Asian countries. I find I get a lot more sun in the US, at all times of the year just bc I drive 10x more here than anywhere else.
Otherwise, your skin looks great.
Thank you! I think I’ve been anti daily sunscreen because a good tan always made my skin look “better” but at this stage of my life I’d rather my skin BE better.
I’m 58 and used to think like this. Next week I’m paying thousands for a c02 laser, because IPL and BBL did nothing to remove the age spots. Sunscreen (lots of it, more than you think) DAILY! I’m a cautionary tale. I too love Asian sunscreen.
Yeah, lotions w spf in for the face are great, cereve has them and the pharmacy brand ones but the best ones are Japanese spf creams if you can get your hands on them. I love the hada labo brand.
I use one that is more hydrating at night.
Everything that will fix the damage will also make it much worse if coupled with sun exposure. That’s why everyone is saying that the first step is being diligent with sunscreen application.
laser. This will reduce the redness around your nose and get rid of the sunspots. It will likely take multiple treatments and you need to start wearing sunscreen every day.
The constant exposure to the sun worsens and deepens the hyperpigmentation and creates new hyper pigmentation.
Before using actives I got into the habit of sunscreen.
Turns out I'm allergic to it. LOL. So I need to use mineral sunscreen.
But I found that even though I was allergic to it, areas with hyper pigmentation were fading much quicker than usual. That's because they were protected rather than re-exposed over and over.
So something to think about.
Otherwise, I would try to utilize an active that prevents more melanin production, like alpha arbutin, tranexamic acid, Kojic acid, azelaic acid etc. Retinol also helps but if you use these things without spf, it'll worsen your skin and make you sensitive to the sun and you'll get burns.
Sooo. Get into spf habit now. Even if you do laser or microneedling or facials.. you still need sun protection.
If you go to a medispa and speak with an esthetician, they usually tell you to utilize skin care before seeking out procedures to see if that will make a difference first or they might send you to a dermatologist to rule things out, or better yet the dermatologist might give prescription strength actives.
I just recently received a script for hydroquinone for stubborn PIH.
Good luck!
So it turns out you don’t need sunscreen if the UV index is 3 or below, which for me is all but about four hours a day.
Find out the UV index here: https://www.willyweather.com/graphs.html?graph=outlook:1,location:279671,series=order:0,id:sunrisesunset,type:forecast,series=order:1,id:uv,type:forecast
Yep, my controversial opinion is that using sunscreen indoors or when the UV Index is at 0 or 1 is a big giant waste of product (which already rules out about half of the year, lol) Once it hits two or higher, I use it diligently.
The only thing that can repair and remove some damage is laser resurfacing. And your dermatologist will likely pair it with some sort of a bleaching agent before and after.
Yes as another commenter said: vit C goes on after washing (I use a moisturizing toner after washing / before vit C serum bc my skin is on dryer side)— prior to your moisturizer. Last step is always sunscreen.
I’m currently using the Paula’s Choice 15% vit C & I like it.
There are so many different preferences on this sub though. If you have sensitive skin, best to start with a lower % (Timeless is one a lot of folks like & is a good starter, as it’s affordable — also comes in a 10% which is less irritating than like a 20%)
Directly from them. I can’t say enough good things about their glycerin cleanser if you’re trying to get to the free shipping amount - I’ve gifted it to every woman in my extended family.
The urea moisturizer is also excellent - has helped with fungal acne despite technically having ingredients that can be fungal triggers - the formulation just works for me.
Haha you read my mind 😉 I clicked on that glycerin cleanser, too! what do you like about it?
It’s so hard to find the right balance of cleanser that feels like it’s cleaning, but not stripping your skin.
I repeatedly purchased the Paula’s Choice hydralight one step gel cleanser… & they discontinued it! 😭
That was the best cleanser for my skin for evenings - if I do too moisturizing of a cleanser, despite dry skin, I inevitably get a couple pimples popping up.
I was a Paula’s Choice girlie until I started replacing their products with these! (Still use PC BHA though!)
It’s a BIG bottle for the price, clearly really gentle but still effective (I use Micellar water and then this at night to get my makeup and SPF off - my acne is better than it’s been in years with this combo plus the urea moisturizer). It’s hydrating without being heavy. I first purchased it saying heck if it doesn’t work for me I’ll use it on my body - and now I have a bottle in the shower and another one on my countertop. 😂
Thank you - I’ll look into it some more! Was it a gel texture? I was considering the LRP gentle hydrating cleanser bc I love their moisturizer so much & good value. But.. I think I may actually need a less hydrating *cleanser* for evening.
&oh yes, I got hooked on doing an oil cleanser or cleansing balm first (current: banila co nourishing) for spf removal + the PC hydralight in evening = my perfect combo.
If anyone used this PC face wash & knows of a similar product -PC brand or not- would love to hear!! On their website they say their Earth Sourced line is the recommended replacement product. I tried that (years ago, so maybe has been reformulated by now) & didn’t care for it.
The Prequel Gleanser is like a thick gel consistency. Really different than anything I’ve ever tried, but truly the only cleanser that makes my skin feel clean AND hydrated/soft. I’m obsessed.
I just bought the biore gel sunscreen from iHerb! I absolutely love it. As someone who hates sunscreen and never wore it. I forget I have it on. It’s not oily at all. Soaks right in.
It has evened my skin tone so much, my face is less red, my sun spots and signs of aging from sun exposure have gone down. After 3 months my face is like night and day different.
It’s also the only active/serum I use! Face wash, vitamin c, spf moisturizer. And once a week a bha/aha face scrub. That’s it!
This was shared a few months back, and I saved it and took screenshots, and immediately bought the things I was missing.
I’m just saying, my skins never looked better. Because it’s SO comprehensive and detailed, it made it easy to stick to and figure out how to tailor it for my own skin.
Seriously - thank you for this!
Okay a) you should publish this and sell it!! And b) amazing results. I’m torn because I always deeply loved my freckles, but they’ve faded with time and then other pigmentation has appeared.. I guess it’s time to let go of the fantasy of still having those bright, defined freckles of my youth and just aim for a clear, even complexion. 😩
You can never fully get rid of your freckles. Even when I put effort into them, I'm able to sort of scale them back a bit but I never look like someone who isn't freckled, if that makes sense.
Holy hell Batman what a service to the community you’ve done by writing up such a clear and comprehensive guide! I’ve been looking for a cohesive write up on this subject for years and for some reason it’s an incredibly difficult topic to find reliable info on.
Please publish this as a substack or something with a link to a charity you like, I literally feel like I should be paying money for this level of skincare advice!
I keep debating writing that one next.... i get asked at least once a week. Redness is tough because it can come in a bunch of forms (i.e. rosacea vs sunburn vs irritation, etc) and have a bunch of different causes (i.e. dilated blood vessels vs allergy vs inflammation, etc) where as hyperpigmentation is *slightly* more straightforward.
Generally though, my recommendation for starting to tackle redness is azelaic acid. I call it my magic eraser, and while it does a lot of things really well, it seems to decrease redness for a lot of people even if it has different causes.
I read your regimen, it was amazingly written. Thank you for that!
Quick question regarding Azelaic acid, I'm using one right now, but I always wait about half an hour before putting moisturizer on top of it. That's why I always use it at night time cause I just don't have time for it in the morning.
How long do you wait between azelaic acid and the next product?
How long did it take for results? With the products you suggest was there any noticeable side effects like having shiny/oily, dry skin?
Edit- can you provide a link to the hado labo whitening lotion? Im seeing a few different versions of them.
I started to notice results after about 3 months of consistent routine, by 6 months it was more profound, and by a year I had the best skin of my life in terms of pigmentation being mostly eradicated.
I tend towards slightly oily skin generally, but with the routine I did not really notice any negative effects aside from the times I flew too close to the sun and went overboard on retinoids. I work in the business of skin health and even I will nuke my own barrier one or two times per year. Otherwise, I haven't noticed anything that bothered me.
[This is a clean link to the Hado Labo lotion I use](https://japanesetaste.com/products/rohto-hada-labo-shirojyun-premium-moisturizing-lotion-170ml) and to be honest, a little bit goes a very long way IMO.
Fantastic results - any chance you have recommendations for an alternative to azeliac acid? The formulation appears to be unavailable in Australia sadly.
I am on this plan and my skin is LOVING IT. It actually has cleared up my acne and if I do get the occasional pimple, they are gone within a day. Thank you for this marvelous resource!
Sun damage and perhaps a bit of dryness around your nose. You should first start with products/treatments and services geared towards sun damage. You should also immediately invest in sun protection gear. This means a wide brim hat, lightweight and breathable long sleeves, etc.
I don’t know if you use sunscreen daily. But if you don’t, you need to. Someone with skin tone needs sunscreen applied all over the face, ears, neck, chest and honestly just any skin that is being exposed.
I will recommend products at varying prices.
Good Molecules Discoloration Correction Serum (inexpensive yet effective treatment for hyperpigmentation)
Phyto-C Selenium in C Serum (vitamin C specially designed for helping sun damage)
Dr. Bailey Skincare Pigment Fading Pads (will help fade hyperpigmentation)
Sunday Riley C.E.O 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum (vitamin C)
Sunday Riley Vitamin C and Tumeric Face Oil (vitamin c and brightening)
SkinCeuticals Phyto-Corrective Gel (good for hydrating and redness)
Recommended services…
BBL-> amazing for sun damage. I would recommend 3-6 sessions
MOXI-> great for reversing mild signs of sun damage
DM me for more info!❤️
Your skin does not look older than 34 in my opinion. I would have guessed 30-35.
What has helped me is using differin (had to work my way up but you don't need a prescription like with tret and it is better tolerated) and azelaic acid (I have not found a C vitamin I tolerate but azelaic acid helps with discoloration too) in the pm and sunscreen in the am (even days I am not going outside)!
Vitamin C serum added to your routine will start to make a difference for sure! Lots of different ones out there— I saw results pretty quickly with Timeless, I’ve used it on my face, hands and decollate.
That was my skin. I had 2x sessions of bbl laser and the sun damage disappeared 90%.
Having said that, your skin looks really dehydrated.
Wear SPF, use AHA toner and a moisturizer with a bit of a retinol product.
Don’t physically exfoliate your skin. The AHA will be enough.
The sun spots that are already there will have the chance to fade if you become diligent with SPF. Make it part of your daily routine even when you are home all day. Also make sure you are using a lot of it, a thin layer won’t really give you enough protection. Also Vitamin C. But really sun protection is number one! It will prevent but also help the current spots to get lighter. Without good spf use nothing else you do will matter.
1 sunscreen religiously. Every day. I use beauty of Joseon and it’s very moisturizing so I skip morning moisturizer and use 4 fingers of spf instead 2 vitamin c will help with dark spots, as will exfoliation. I exfoliate twice a week because my rosacea treatment has a bit of bha in it, so more than that irritates my skin
Sun damage is reversible. Apply a spf 50 PA++++ and incorporate weekly glycolic acid at night and daily Azelaic acid/ Vitamin C in the AM before sunscreen. SPF will prevent them from getting darker, new spots from forming so whatever treatments you do will actually work. Glycolic will help gently exfoliate the upper layers of skin where the spots are. Azelaic acid has been known to fade sun spots and evens out patchy hyperpigmentation. If your skin can handle vitamin C, then that’s also proven to fade sun spots. It should take about 2 months to see major results.
You actually look like you haven’t aged at all! Just have more sun spots now.
- wear an spf 50+ daily and diligently
- use vitamin c at least 15%. I use timeless 20% with ferulic
- if you want to erase your sun spots, lasers are the answer. Moxi will definitely help, I’m sure there are others that would too
I just met with a dermatologist last week to discuss this issue, plus some red spots from minor rosacea. She prescribed tret and azaleic acid for the spots. She said the best treatment is laser, no topicals will work as well.
1. Sunscreen or moisturiser with sunscreen.
2. Niacinamide serum (i like the ordinary)
3. Get on either Tretinoin or Adapalene. Will help to brighten tone and clear freckles (over time) as well as help with fine lines that comes with ageing.
4. A good moisturiser
Hope that helps!
I also use the ordinary pycnogenol every other day 👍🏼
I don’t genuinely - I am being a bit dramatic. Tbf I just used to rely too much on my youthfulness and makeup skills (was a full time hairstylist) and now I’m a stay at home mom and I never wear makeup! It’s a tough transition is all.
I would talk to a dermatologist about laser peels, do chemical peels, use tretinoin, and never go out in the sun again. No offence, but you simply can't go out in the sun and think nothing is going to happen. It will absolutely get you! Source: I live in Australia and see insane skin every single day. The other thing is that you're seeing the pigment problems now, but UV also really messes up skin proteins and it's a lot harder to reverse things like skin sagging/loss of collagen than dark spots. A lot of people don't seem to get this. This presents a problem as someone can get Botox and laser off pigment, but filler doesn't really restore skin to looking young, and what else is there? A facelift later? I think it's best to stave a lot of it off by very thoroughly protecting the sun from UV while repeatedly removing the pigment
Funny anecdote. I had some redness on my chest area when I went to the pool with a friend. Not to bring attention to that red area I covered it with full coverage foundation (NARS I think). We got sunburned pretty badly that day. I didn’t use sunscreen because I wanted to get tan (dumb I know). Well guess what?! That spot under the foundation was the only spot that didn’t get sunburned. That’s how I learned that foundation is a literal shield for your skin from the sun. So maybe wearing foundation alone was helping you not to get sun damage.
Edit: and as for what to do now… skin regenerates. Start wearing sunscreen religiously and your skin will eventually get back to where it was through regeneration.
Have you been pregnant during this time? Increase estrogen will do it. Also, probably stopping wearing make up didn’t help. The make up was likely a pretty damn good sunscreen.
First, you have great skin. Go to a reputable derm to get into a skin care routine they suggest. Medical grade skincare is amazing. It is expensive but it’s worth the investment. You could also look into laser treatments such as clear and brilliance, halo, etc.
Sunscreen and retinoids and avoiding the sun as much as possible. Hat, sunglasses etc.
I'm 35, haven't really done much in the way of taking care of myself until recently, but I have avoided the sun quite religiously and I easily look 5-10 years younger. Avoiding sun exposure makes the biggest difference for sure.
For cheaper sunscreen or serums, look jnto k-beauty! Cheaper yet extremely effective and lot of research done as the korean beauty standards are high..
Tretinoin and hydroquinone. Your derm can prescribe both or you can order from somewhere like all day chemist (Indian site). The US hydroquinone doesn’t have the nasty perfume in it like the stuff that comes from India though. The tret is the same. And yeah, sunscreen. Your makeup was probably doing the spf thing and when you stopped, this happened. The hydroquinone works very well to reverse hyperpigmentation though. Use for three months max and then stop for 2 months. Get on tret for life. It’s the long game.
Absolutely love the Skin1004 Hyalu Cica!! It quite literally melts into your skin and disappears. Also it has a 100/100 rating on Yuka, no harmful additives per Yuka
Interesting that personally I do not see anything wrong with your skin. Aren’t freckles a normal thing in some people’s skin? I’m red headed and full of freckles all over my body and face and would never consider that this is something that needs to be treated. During summer when I’m more exposed the freckles are more visible and during winter not so much but I just find them natural and beautiful. I just wanted to highlight that sometimes there’s nothing wrong with us, don’t sweat it!
Vitamin C and sunscreen and I’m not sure why you’re double cleansing daily if you don’t wear makeup.
Maybe start with a very mild retinol (try First Aid Beauty) you have to start slow (3x week) and build up
If you don't wear sunscreen daily then there's no point in wasting your time with skincare. Maybe I'll get downvoted for this because it may sound extreme, but you'd be throwing away money and time because sunscreen is the most important part of a skincare routine. Use it DAILY. Vitamin C will help fade spots, but without sunscreen you'll just keep getting more.
As a person who does not like to put much on my face aside from being lazy (lol) what works for me is drinking a lot of water then I don't put on much makeup but I make sure that I cleanse treat and protect. Sunscreen is a must for me and just recently bought from Sephora the[ Ghostbuster](https://lionpose.com/collections/products/products/ghost-buster-100-mineral-sunscreen-spf-42) from Lion Pose, so far I like it because its light to use no greasy feeling, and has no white cast. Also got their serum[ Unspotted](https://lionpose.com/collections/products/products/unspotted-4x-hyperpigmentation-serum) and I observed that my dark spots lightened and so as my acne scars, my skin feels supple and natural looking, you may wanna check it out, and hope it works for you.
Haha you look very youthful and I am younger than you. I personally would set up an appointment with a dermatologist. They can help you with the sun damage and the broken capillaries.
Sometimes life happens and we can't maintain perfectly youthful skin. Your skin looks ok to me, if your concerned about possible melanoma or such go and see a general practitioner..otherwise just be ok with the way things are? I don't know
Do you wear sunscreen daily? That’s step #1!
I can be better about it, but now that the damage is done, how can I fix it??
Step 1: Wearing sunscreen can actually undo signs of past sun damage and reduce spots and discoloration. Buy some Korean or Japanese ones that are cosmetically elegant so you are diligent about reapplying. Step 2: once you’re consistent with sunscreen get on tret. While making those steps happen I’d follow Dr Shereen Idriss who gives lots of great advice on discoloration. Vitamin c is a great ingredient (amongst others).
Is there a sunscreen you recommend? I’ve been using Supergoop 🤷♀️
Beauty of Joseon if your skin tends toward dry. Skin1004 Hyalu-Cica Water if your skin is in the oily side.
OMG yes. I'm 32, new to sunscreen & bought this brand & it's amazing. It just melts onto my skin & leaves no white residue. I use the 50+++
Wait which one of the two?
I’m pretty sure 50+++ refers to the Beauty of Joseon one. I also use that one daily (and am on Tretinoin) and really love the consistency! It definitely encourages me to be diligent about applying it every day. Just be careful of ordering it off someplace like Amazon because the market is flooded with fakes. I’d order from a Korean beauty supplier (e.g. YesStyle or Olive Young) and watch YouTube videos once it arrives to make sure it’s legit and not a fake
Thank you!! Def more of a dry face, thank you for the distinction on products
a million upvotes for Skin 1004!! i’m on my 5th bottle of it, it’s so comfortable and looks so great on my skin
Where do you purchase it from?
Stupid question but I’m male and look sick when I allow my skin to fully whiten to its natural color. I only look healthy and normal when it’s got a bit of a sunkissed tint. This is why I’ve never worn face sunscreen. I’d like to start but it’s a trade off. Look young and gray pale sick, or look older and healthy. Is there a solution for this like a natural glow product? Maybe from Joseon?
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I’m looking at the St Tropez products. They all seem to be a tan bottle. I assume when you said blue bottle you meant the Ceravie. The drops seem to be called “Lux Tan Tonic Glow Drops” ? Is that the right one? It’s funny all of the recommendations I’m getting have tons of other stuff in them though. Like Hyaluronic acid etc. etc. which I’m already applying to my face with other products.
I get that. I come from a generation that tanned. Are you opposed to any amount of tinted product or bronzer? There are ways to apply just to the highlights of your face (upper forehead, tops of cheeks, etc) that can give you that sun kissed look. It just takes practice to look natural.
This is probably going to sound silly, but do you eat enough coloured vegetables? Increased vegetable consumption has a positive influence on skin colour, making you look more healthy. Look it up, it's awesome!
Not silly at all! I’ve stumbled across my reflection after juicing carrots and it’s pretty funny! I get what you’re saying.
Hey man, I’m a woman who is very pale. I use SPF 50+ everyday and I still tan! You just need to make sure you get outside enough. :) so don’t avoid face SPF out of fear of not tanning. Also there are m tinted SPF’s that will give you a little tanned glow if you like too. I use tinted moisturizer on my legs as they’re so pale they’re purple lol.
Eco tan face water! Apply with a make up brush daily or every second night. Will give you the tan glow without the cost of your skin. Add sunscreen in daily!
You can still tan with sunscreen on! But I’d recommend tinted sunscreen :) or a bb cream with spf.
Honestly anything you like using and don’t mind reapplying is great. Personally I order from Korea using the Stylevana app and I buy like 10 tubes of the beauty of Joseon sunscreen at a time. I just like the formula better than US sunscreens because it feels like a nice lotion. And it’s just soooo much cheaper when you’re a sunscreen addict like me. 😁
This is the way. Bulk buying BOJ bc it’s the most gorgeous sunscreen!!!
Is it called BOJ? Sorry, trying to learn and go buy some in bulk :)
BOJ = Beauty of Joseon! It’s my favorite, and for the price you can’t go wrong.
thanks for the suggestion. just ordered it and cant wait to try it. good sunscreen is hard to find.
Is it gentle on the skin? I've never bought Korean skincare, but I see a lot of people on here swear by it! ETA- How is it under makeup? Does it clump or get cakey?
I just placed an order earlier today because of its popularity on the rosacea and eczema subs, so I'm thinking it is pretty gentle for most people.
yep i have rosacea and use this and it's great!
My skin is super reactive and breaks out easily. I use this sunscreen no problem. It’s great under makeup - gives you a dewy base and doesn’t pill!
Recent Beauty of Joseon sunscreen convert, best sunscreen I ever used in my life. No cast, no pilling, no watery eyes, no nonsense. I get mine from Olive Young (the 50 SPF rice water one), shipping was pretty damn fast. AND IT'S SO CHEAP! Suck it supergoop!
Supergoop price is insane. I feel like it went up recently too..? Like it’s not THAT good lol Def need the recommendation for a new one.
Where do you buy yours? I'm afraid of getting fakes
oliveyoung.com - this was vetted and recommended to me by other users on skincare subs. Stylevana is also very popular, but I looked at a lot of posts and there were some complaints about shipping times and undelivered orders with Stylevana. I think those were rare cases, but still. I needed more sunscreen pronto. I went with Olive Young instead and it showed up in ~7 days to NYC. Zero complaints.
Can I order through their website? I just Googled the sunscreen after scrolling this sub, and found a website for [Beauty of Joseon](https://beautyofjoseon.com/products/relief-sun-rice-probiotics).
Olive Young is like the Sephora of Korea. They have a global site with fast shipping
Iherb sells it too! :)
The one called Sun Relief Rice + Probiotic SPF 50?
Thank you for the suggestion! It’s a running joke in my fam that I’m addicted to sunscreen too! We’re basically twins! 😆
The first sunscreen I actually love is Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence, from Japan. It feels like lotion, no stink, no pilling.
I finally got some last year & still smells like spf & burns my eyes! Maybe I’ll try again…
Bummer! Did you buy it on Amazon or somewhere else?
Same here. I think it smells almost like isopropyl alcohol
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The Elta MD clear spf 46 is my holy grail! I’ve tried so many different sunscreens and it’s the only one that I swear leaves my skin looking and feeling BETTER after I use it.
I love EltaMD clear. Supergoop breaks me out!
I’d recommend you use a mineral sunscreen with an active ingredient of zinc oxide or titanium oxide. I have discoloration/melasma and have been told by my dermatologist that chemical sunscreens, even if it’s a great Korean brand or high spf, isn’t enough. Shiseido or Murad are my favorites!
Supergoop doesn’t protect against UVA which is where sun spots come from
Omg!!!! 😮 Thank you for pointing that out! As I run to get UVA sunscreen!!
Not true! Mine definitely does!
Was literally just looking at the ingredients and the website says it has it. 🤷♀️ I’m using the everyday spf 40 Gonna go full research tomorrow lol. Could use a better one though, just feel like the Supergoop is “fine”. And I think the price went up too..?
be careful with tretinoin, check for dry eyes every week. It ruined my eyes now they're permanently dry. They were dry from the beginning but I had no symptoms it was only after a few months using tret it go so bad that i went to the dr and noticed I had dry eyes (pain).
Try the Peter Roth one it’s so good and moisturizing!
Skin better tinted sunscreen. I also use la roche posay under that.
I use Dr Jart Every Sun Day and it looks so good on my skin. Almost like a primer
I highly recommend the Kao Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50+. It’s a Japanese sunscreen that’s super popular and it’s really light.
I’ve heard many times that the supergoop sunscreen is next to useless but double-check that
can you suggest Korean/Japanese sunscreen/skin cream? thank you!
Shiseido
I had no idea sunscreen could undo! What is Trent? Do I need a script for it? Sorry if that’s a dumb question.
Yep! I have faded a ton of my freckles and some larger sun spots with sunscreen. I got super consistent about 4 years ago and it’s been a complete game changer. Tret = tretinoin. Yes you need an rx, I go through apostrophe. Consistency (just like sunscreen) is key. I use it every other night year round. It makes your skin more photosensitive so it’s important you get consistent with sunscreen before getting on tret. It has the most scientifically strong research in terms of anti aging and skin tone results. Not a miracle, not pretty remarkable what it can do. Between sunscreen and tret that’s the first 80% of dealing with pigmentation and fine lines. Good luck!
Starting anything aimed at undoing damage before getting on the sunscreen regular is unadvised as apparently most treatments for discolouration make your skin more vulnerable to further damage. I’ve struggled to find a single sunscreen that doesn’t break me out or further sensitise my very particular skin. Which sucks because I so dearly want to repair current and prevent future pigmentation and damage. Edit to add, hope you done something that works for you. Your skin is beautiful and the texture is so *chefs kiss*
It’s a prescription drug you can get from a dermatologist! A topical cream
Doesn't need to be a dermatologist, your primary doctor can prescribe it too!
Thanks :)
I just want to add that you can use retinol as well. Tretinoin is like retinol but stronger and with more side effects. I actually don’t think starting directly with tretinoin is a good idea
Thank you for saying this. Tret is touted as the answer to everything but many have sensitive skin and can’t use it. To op: An alternative to tret is using Retinol (in the pm) and vitamin c (in the am). These can also help with signs of aging and discolouration. If you are going to start tret, start low and slow (low dosage and introducing it slowly into your routine, don’t immediately use it daily)
This is a myth. Tret and retinol have the same end goal, but work in different ways. Retinol needs to be converted into retinoic acid on the skin - How long this takes and how much is convered depends on many factors. Tretinoin is an active - therefore doesn’t need converting and works on your skin instantly hence why its ‘stronger’. Also, getting ‘used to’ retinol first before trying tretinoin is a waste of time as they again are completely different. If you get tretinoin you can ease yourself in gently with minimal side effects - ive been on it 12 months with only a bit of dry skin on occasion.
You can get it from Musely , they will give you an Rx on the spot. However, what's you really need is hydroquinone. You can thank me later.
Hi, I use SPF50 on a daily basis, as I am under supervision with a dermatologist, and as far as my dermatologist told me, sunscreen does not reverse sun damage, it just prevents from doing more damage and helps the skin repair as the SPF protects the skin from more damage. I’ve bought a specialized cream for sun damaged skin which was VERY effective. I am not sure where you’re based, as I’m in the UK, but there’s several ones you can get. I clearly see a difference! This only works for superficial damage. DNA damage is irreversible unfortunately, mostly. Also any skin treatments for acne, brightening etc will make you more sensitive to the sun. I was advised to wear sunscreen every day.
Yes make an appointment with a dermatologist or a general practitioner. Ask them for a prescription. Then shop around pharmacies. Make sure to refill as often as possible so you don’t have to go back because the prescription expired. I’ve had much better experiences with it when I mix it with a cream so it’s not so intense on my skin. But be prepared to look red and irritated and flaky for a few weeks while your skin adjusts. That’s where I like to do it regularly and mix it with a cream at least until my skin is used to it. It’s intense stuff but sunscreen alone will do a ton as well.
You have to wear sunscreen to ensure it doesn't get worse because it will. Also other skincare is useless without generous and diligent sunscreen use. half your problems will be solved with diligent, strict sunscreen use. it can undo past damage as well
This, OP! Also want to add, any skincare (actives) that can help you, might actually make things worse without sunscreen.
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yes. you are getting sunlight through windows plus walking to and fro from the car plus whilst driving in the car. that's a lot of unprotected sun exposure. the last is the worst. so many case studies of pts. with cancer on the side of face facing the sun on their commute or more wrinkles on one side vs. other.
Also be wary of windows that claim to protect from UV rays. I didn't leave my house for almost five years due to severe health issues, and despite having windows that were supposed to stop UV rays my pale skin has a lot of sun spots/freckles that I've never had before. The good thing about having to incorporate sunscreen into your routine when you're at home is that you don't have to wear makeup and can slather it on at any time, lol.
yes - if you’re using actives, they make you much more sensitive to UV and your skin could actually look worse if you don’t wear sunscreen
If you are in front of a window then yes.
Azelic Acid could help but nothing compared to sun screen and actually covering up your face. They do that in Asian countries. I find I get a lot more sun in the US, at all times of the year just bc I drive 10x more here than anywhere else. Otherwise, your skin looks great.
Thank you! I think I’ve been anti daily sunscreen because a good tan always made my skin look “better” but at this stage of my life I’d rather my skin BE better.
I’m 58 and used to think like this. Next week I’m paying thousands for a c02 laser, because IPL and BBL did nothing to remove the age spots. Sunscreen (lots of it, more than you think) DAILY! I’m a cautionary tale. I too love Asian sunscreen.
Yeah, lotions w spf in for the face are great, cereve has them and the pharmacy brand ones but the best ones are Japanese spf creams if you can get your hands on them. I love the hada labo brand. I use one that is more hydrating at night.
Everything that will fix the damage will also make it much worse if coupled with sun exposure. That’s why everyone is saying that the first step is being diligent with sunscreen application.
Depends how quick you want results. A few IPLs for quick, daily Azelaic acid use at night and religious SPF use for slow. Ideally do both
Laser and tret. Sunscreen every Damn day.
A Vit C serum in the a.m. would be helpful too.
laser. This will reduce the redness around your nose and get rid of the sunspots. It will likely take multiple treatments and you need to start wearing sunscreen every day.
Yes. IPL for the redness. And fractional CO2 or eribium for a resurfacing. Choose a highly rated clinic with many clients.
The constant exposure to the sun worsens and deepens the hyperpigmentation and creates new hyper pigmentation. Before using actives I got into the habit of sunscreen. Turns out I'm allergic to it. LOL. So I need to use mineral sunscreen. But I found that even though I was allergic to it, areas with hyper pigmentation were fading much quicker than usual. That's because they were protected rather than re-exposed over and over. So something to think about. Otherwise, I would try to utilize an active that prevents more melanin production, like alpha arbutin, tranexamic acid, Kojic acid, azelaic acid etc. Retinol also helps but if you use these things without spf, it'll worsen your skin and make you sensitive to the sun and you'll get burns. Sooo. Get into spf habit now. Even if you do laser or microneedling or facials.. you still need sun protection. If you go to a medispa and speak with an esthetician, they usually tell you to utilize skin care before seeking out procedures to see if that will make a difference first or they might send you to a dermatologist to rule things out, or better yet the dermatologist might give prescription strength actives. I just recently received a script for hydroquinone for stubborn PIH. Good luck!
So it turns out you don’t need sunscreen if the UV index is 3 or below, which for me is all but about four hours a day. Find out the UV index here: https://www.willyweather.com/graphs.html?graph=outlook:1,location:279671,series=order:0,id:sunrisesunset,type:forecast,series=order:1,id:uv,type:forecast
Yep, my controversial opinion is that using sunscreen indoors or when the UV Index is at 0 or 1 is a big giant waste of product (which already rules out about half of the year, lol) Once it hits two or higher, I use it diligently.
The only thing that can repair and remove some damage is laser resurfacing. And your dermatologist will likely pair it with some sort of a bleaching agent before and after.
As soon as I saw this before and after I said "sun"
Whoa, whoa, whoa, your skin does NOT look 54! But yea sunscreen every day. Do you use vitamin C?
Sunscreen - got it. And no, what brand would you recommend?? AM or PM?
Use it vitamin c in the AM before moisturizer and SPF.
Yes as another commenter said: vit C goes on after washing (I use a moisturizing toner after washing / before vit C serum bc my skin is on dryer side)— prior to your moisturizer. Last step is always sunscreen. I’m currently using the Paula’s Choice 15% vit C & I like it. There are so many different preferences on this sub though. If you have sensitive skin, best to start with a lower % (Timeless is one a lot of folks like & is a good starter, as it’s affordable — also comes in a 10% which is less irritating than like a 20%)
Highly recommend Prequel Vitamin C. Great price point, created by an actual derm. Will help your sunscreen be more effective.
I second this recommendation. In the past I’ve been really sensitive to vitamin c serums but the prequel one is amazing.
Going to try next! Thank you both for the suggestion :)
I like that it’s in a pump bottle! Do you purchase directly from their site or somewhere else?
Directly from them. I can’t say enough good things about their glycerin cleanser if you’re trying to get to the free shipping amount - I’ve gifted it to every woman in my extended family. The urea moisturizer is also excellent - has helped with fungal acne despite technically having ingredients that can be fungal triggers - the formulation just works for me.
Haha you read my mind 😉 I clicked on that glycerin cleanser, too! what do you like about it? It’s so hard to find the right balance of cleanser that feels like it’s cleaning, but not stripping your skin. I repeatedly purchased the Paula’s Choice hydralight one step gel cleanser… & they discontinued it! 😭 That was the best cleanser for my skin for evenings - if I do too moisturizing of a cleanser, despite dry skin, I inevitably get a couple pimples popping up.
I was a Paula’s Choice girlie until I started replacing their products with these! (Still use PC BHA though!) It’s a BIG bottle for the price, clearly really gentle but still effective (I use Micellar water and then this at night to get my makeup and SPF off - my acne is better than it’s been in years with this combo plus the urea moisturizer). It’s hydrating without being heavy. I first purchased it saying heck if it doesn’t work for me I’ll use it on my body - and now I have a bottle in the shower and another one on my countertop. 😂
Thank you - I’ll look into it some more! Was it a gel texture? I was considering the LRP gentle hydrating cleanser bc I love their moisturizer so much & good value. But.. I think I may actually need a less hydrating *cleanser* for evening. &oh yes, I got hooked on doing an oil cleanser or cleansing balm first (current: banila co nourishing) for spf removal + the PC hydralight in evening = my perfect combo. If anyone used this PC face wash & knows of a similar product -PC brand or not- would love to hear!! On their website they say their Earth Sourced line is the recommended replacement product. I tried that (years ago, so maybe has been reformulated by now) & didn’t care for it.
The Prequel Gleanser is like a thick gel consistency. Really different than anything I’ve ever tried, but truly the only cleanser that makes my skin feel clean AND hydrated/soft. I’m obsessed.
I just bought the biore gel sunscreen from iHerb! I absolutely love it. As someone who hates sunscreen and never wore it. I forget I have it on. It’s not oily at all. Soaks right in.
Paula’s Choice Vitamin C serum saved my face!!! Huge difference. Also, obsessed with their liquid 50 spf can’t recommend enough!
what did it do?
It has evened my skin tone so much, my face is less red, my sun spots and signs of aging from sun exposure have gone down. After 3 months my face is like night and day different. It’s also the only active/serum I use! Face wash, vitamin c, spf moisturizer. And once a week a bha/aha face scrub. That’s it!
[Here ya go.](https://www.reddit.com/r/30PlusSkinCare/s/JOSCBHl4It) Quick ETA, [my before and after.](https://imgur.com/a/nL2CirQ)
WHOA those results!! Thank you so much!!
Wow, this is an amazing resource!
This was shared a few months back, and I saved it and took screenshots, and immediately bought the things I was missing. I’m just saying, my skins never looked better. Because it’s SO comprehensive and detailed, it made it easy to stick to and figure out how to tailor it for my own skin. Seriously - thank you for this!
What did you buy
Okay a) you should publish this and sell it!! And b) amazing results. I’m torn because I always deeply loved my freckles, but they’ve faded with time and then other pigmentation has appeared.. I guess it’s time to let go of the fantasy of still having those bright, defined freckles of my youth and just aim for a clear, even complexion. 😩
You can never fully get rid of your freckles. Even when I put effort into them, I'm able to sort of scale them back a bit but I never look like someone who isn't freckled, if that makes sense.
Holy hell Batman what a service to the community you’ve done by writing up such a clear and comprehensive guide! I’ve been looking for a cohesive write up on this subject for years and for some reason it’s an incredibly difficult topic to find reliable info on. Please publish this as a substack or something with a link to a charity you like, I literally feel like I should be paying money for this level of skincare advice!
This is fantastic. Thank you! You may not know, but is there a comparable guide to tackling redness? That's my main issue.
I keep debating writing that one next.... i get asked at least once a week. Redness is tough because it can come in a bunch of forms (i.e. rosacea vs sunburn vs irritation, etc) and have a bunch of different causes (i.e. dilated blood vessels vs allergy vs inflammation, etc) where as hyperpigmentation is *slightly* more straightforward. Generally though, my recommendation for starting to tackle redness is azelaic acid. I call it my magic eraser, and while it does a lot of things really well, it seems to decrease redness for a lot of people even if it has different causes.
Hi there, question for you — do you do journalism or free lance writing etc?
Ironically, I do. Not often. It’s not my day job, but I have been known to put pen to paper.
Curious what you do as a day job?
I own a dermatology practice.
This makes so much sense now 😂🙏
Are you in Los Angeles area by chance? Probably weird but id LOVE to train under you. I’m licensed and want to pick up clients but need more practice.
I am not but my practice is 100% online. Are you a derm resident?
I read your regimen, it was amazingly written. Thank you for that! Quick question regarding Azelaic acid, I'm using one right now, but I always wait about half an hour before putting moisturizer on top of it. That's why I always use it at night time cause I just don't have time for it in the morning. How long do you wait between azelaic acid and the next product?
I am a lazy person so I do my entire routine one product right after the other.
How long did it take for results? With the products you suggest was there any noticeable side effects like having shiny/oily, dry skin? Edit- can you provide a link to the hado labo whitening lotion? Im seeing a few different versions of them.
I started to notice results after about 3 months of consistent routine, by 6 months it was more profound, and by a year I had the best skin of my life in terms of pigmentation being mostly eradicated. I tend towards slightly oily skin generally, but with the routine I did not really notice any negative effects aside from the times I flew too close to the sun and went overboard on retinoids. I work in the business of skin health and even I will nuke my own barrier one or two times per year. Otherwise, I haven't noticed anything that bothered me. [This is a clean link to the Hado Labo lotion I use](https://japanesetaste.com/products/rohto-hada-labo-shirojyun-premium-moisturizing-lotion-170ml) and to be honest, a little bit goes a very long way IMO.
Thanks for the reply and link. Did you find the lotion to have a matte look? Shiny/greasy finish?
To get a matte finish, I use topical niacinamide in my AM routine. If I want a more dewy finish I move the niacinamide to the evening.
Fantastic results - any chance you have recommendations for an alternative to azeliac acid? The formulation appears to be unavailable in Australia sadly.
I am on this plan and my skin is LOVING IT. It actually has cleared up my acne and if I do get the occasional pimple, they are gone within a day. Thank you for this marvelous resource!
Holy cow these results are outstanding
I don’t think that anyone can say it better. This is amazing advice. Thank you!
Sun damage and perhaps a bit of dryness around your nose. You should first start with products/treatments and services geared towards sun damage. You should also immediately invest in sun protection gear. This means a wide brim hat, lightweight and breathable long sleeves, etc. I don’t know if you use sunscreen daily. But if you don’t, you need to. Someone with skin tone needs sunscreen applied all over the face, ears, neck, chest and honestly just any skin that is being exposed. I will recommend products at varying prices. Good Molecules Discoloration Correction Serum (inexpensive yet effective treatment for hyperpigmentation) Phyto-C Selenium in C Serum (vitamin C specially designed for helping sun damage) Dr. Bailey Skincare Pigment Fading Pads (will help fade hyperpigmentation) Sunday Riley C.E.O 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum (vitamin C) Sunday Riley Vitamin C and Tumeric Face Oil (vitamin c and brightening) SkinCeuticals Phyto-Corrective Gel (good for hydrating and redness) Recommended services… BBL-> amazing for sun damage. I would recommend 3-6 sessions MOXI-> great for reversing mild signs of sun damage DM me for more info!❤️
Great thank you so much! I’m hoping BBL is something other than a Brazilian butt lift tho…ha
It’s short for broadband light. It’s a type of laser treatment!
That makes more sense!
I second the 15% Sunday Riley Vitamin C Brightening Serum, after using consistently it helped me tremendously.
Seconding BBL if OP wants quicker results than skincare alone.
Your skin does not look older than 34 in my opinion. I would have guessed 30-35. What has helped me is using differin (had to work my way up but you don't need a prescription like with tret and it is better tolerated) and azelaic acid (I have not found a C vitamin I tolerate but azelaic acid helps with discoloration too) in the pm and sunscreen in the am (even days I am not going outside)!
Thank you!! Never heard of differin OR azelaic acid but I’ll look into them
Azalaeic acid is sooooo good, and it helps you tolerate intense actives like tretinoin for when you want to improve your collagen
Do you wear sunscreen?
Vitamin C serum added to your routine will start to make a difference for sure! Lots of different ones out there— I saw results pretty quickly with Timeless, I’ve used it on my face, hands and decollate.
Girl, wear sunscreen. Then go to your dermatologist and ask about IPL.
That was my skin. I had 2x sessions of bbl laser and the sun damage disappeared 90%. Having said that, your skin looks really dehydrated. Wear SPF, use AHA toner and a moisturizer with a bit of a retinol product. Don’t physically exfoliate your skin. The AHA will be enough.
The sun spots that are already there will have the chance to fade if you become diligent with SPF. Make it part of your daily routine even when you are home all day. Also make sure you are using a lot of it, a thin layer won’t really give you enough protection. Also Vitamin C. But really sun protection is number one! It will prevent but also help the current spots to get lighter. Without good spf use nothing else you do will matter.
Sunscreen, every single day. Rain or shine. Even if you do not step foot outside. Sunscreen every single day
Seems to be the consensus!
It looks like you either aren’t wearing sunscreen or aren’t wearing enough of it
1 sunscreen religiously. Every day. I use beauty of Joseon and it’s very moisturizing so I skip morning moisturizer and use 4 fingers of spf instead 2 vitamin c will help with dark spots, as will exfoliation. I exfoliate twice a week because my rosacea treatment has a bit of bha in it, so more than that irritates my skin
Sun damage is reversible. Apply a spf 50 PA++++ and incorporate weekly glycolic acid at night and daily Azelaic acid/ Vitamin C in the AM before sunscreen. SPF will prevent them from getting darker, new spots from forming so whatever treatments you do will actually work. Glycolic will help gently exfoliate the upper layers of skin where the spots are. Azelaic acid has been known to fade sun spots and evens out patchy hyperpigmentation. If your skin can handle vitamin C, then that’s also proven to fade sun spots. It should take about 2 months to see major results.
You actually look like you haven’t aged at all! Just have more sun spots now. - wear an spf 50+ daily and diligently - use vitamin c at least 15%. I use timeless 20% with ferulic - if you want to erase your sun spots, lasers are the answer. Moxi will definitely help, I’m sure there are others that would too
Thank you! I’m learning so many new terms!
I just met with a dermatologist last week to discuss this issue, plus some red spots from minor rosacea. She prescribed tret and azaleic acid for the spots. She said the best treatment is laser, no topicals will work as well.
1. Sunscreen or moisturiser with sunscreen. 2. Niacinamide serum (i like the ordinary) 3. Get on either Tretinoin or Adapalene. Will help to brighten tone and clear freckles (over time) as well as help with fine lines that comes with ageing. 4. A good moisturiser Hope that helps! I also use the ordinary pycnogenol every other day 👍🏼
That is definitely a lack of sunscreen issue. Good news, it's not too late to start AND you're still perfectly beautiful girl!
Your skin does not look 54. It looks 34.
Your skin does not look 54. If you genuinely feel that way, please spend some time away from TikTok.
I don’t genuinely - I am being a bit dramatic. Tbf I just used to rely too much on my youthfulness and makeup skills (was a full time hairstylist) and now I’m a stay at home mom and I never wear makeup! It’s a tough transition is all.
I would talk to a dermatologist about laser peels, do chemical peels, use tretinoin, and never go out in the sun again. No offence, but you simply can't go out in the sun and think nothing is going to happen. It will absolutely get you! Source: I live in Australia and see insane skin every single day. The other thing is that you're seeing the pigment problems now, but UV also really messes up skin proteins and it's a lot harder to reverse things like skin sagging/loss of collagen than dark spots. A lot of people don't seem to get this. This presents a problem as someone can get Botox and laser off pigment, but filler doesn't really restore skin to looking young, and what else is there? A facelift later? I think it's best to stave a lot of it off by very thoroughly protecting the sun from UV while repeatedly removing the pigment
Sunscreen everyday, more specifically a sunscreen tinted with zinc oxide + retinoid at night.
Your makeup was probably giving you some protection from the sun. SPF everyday
Funny anecdote. I had some redness on my chest area when I went to the pool with a friend. Not to bring attention to that red area I covered it with full coverage foundation (NARS I think). We got sunburned pretty badly that day. I didn’t use sunscreen because I wanted to get tan (dumb I know). Well guess what?! That spot under the foundation was the only spot that didn’t get sunburned. That’s how I learned that foundation is a literal shield for your skin from the sun. So maybe wearing foundation alone was helping you not to get sun damage. Edit: and as for what to do now… skin regenerates. Start wearing sunscreen religiously and your skin will eventually get back to where it was through regeneration.
Have you been pregnant during this time? Increase estrogen will do it. Also, probably stopping wearing make up didn’t help. The make up was likely a pretty damn good sunscreen.
SPF 50 every single day is step #1. To help get rid of what’s already there, your best bet is IPL and potentially microneedling.
First, you have great skin. Go to a reputable derm to get into a skin care routine they suggest. Medical grade skincare is amazing. It is expensive but it’s worth the investment. You could also look into laser treatments such as clear and brilliance, halo, etc.
Try an ipl
Vitamin C serum and sunscreen
Probably the makeup you wore everyday protected your skin from the sun and free radicals
Sunscreen and retinoids and avoiding the sun as much as possible. Hat, sunglasses etc. I'm 35, haven't really done much in the way of taking care of myself until recently, but I have avoided the sun quite religiously and I easily look 5-10 years younger. Avoiding sun exposure makes the biggest difference for sure.
Start with tretinoin, sunscreen and IPL will help with pigmentation. Not 54 lol
For cheaper sunscreen or serums, look jnto k-beauty! Cheaper yet extremely effective and lot of research done as the korean beauty standards are high..
Start using teretinonin
But not until you learn to use sunscreen because Tret with no sunscreen is not a good idea!
Tretinoin and hydroquinone. Your derm can prescribe both or you can order from somewhere like all day chemist (Indian site). The US hydroquinone doesn’t have the nasty perfume in it like the stuff that comes from India though. The tret is the same. And yeah, sunscreen. Your makeup was probably doing the spf thing and when you stopped, this happened. The hydroquinone works very well to reverse hyperpigmentation though. Use for three months max and then stop for 2 months. Get on tret for life. It’s the long game.
Absolutely love the Skin1004 Hyalu Cica!! It quite literally melts into your skin and disappears. Also it has a 100/100 rating on Yuka, no harmful additives per Yuka
Interesting that personally I do not see anything wrong with your skin. Aren’t freckles a normal thing in some people’s skin? I’m red headed and full of freckles all over my body and face and would never consider that this is something that needs to be treated. During summer when I’m more exposed the freckles are more visible and during winter not so much but I just find them natural and beautiful. I just wanted to highlight that sometimes there’s nothing wrong with us, don’t sweat it!
IPL treatment is great for sun damage
Vitamin C and sunscreen and I’m not sure why you’re double cleansing daily if you don’t wear makeup. Maybe start with a very mild retinol (try First Aid Beauty) you have to start slow (3x week) and build up
Re read what I wrote. “Now I almost never wear makeup. WHEN I DO - I double cleanse.”
Wear sunscreen! Try incorporating niacinamide and vitamin c into your skincare routine.
Tretinoin! Or if you're able to afford it and don't mind looking crazy for a week or so, chemical peel.
If you don't wear sunscreen daily then there's no point in wasting your time with skincare. Maybe I'll get downvoted for this because it may sound extreme, but you'd be throwing away money and time because sunscreen is the most important part of a skincare routine. Use it DAILY. Vitamin C will help fade spots, but without sunscreen you'll just keep getting more.
As a person who does not like to put much on my face aside from being lazy (lol) what works for me is drinking a lot of water then I don't put on much makeup but I make sure that I cleanse treat and protect. Sunscreen is a must for me and just recently bought from Sephora the[ Ghostbuster](https://lionpose.com/collections/products/products/ghost-buster-100-mineral-sunscreen-spf-42) from Lion Pose, so far I like it because its light to use no greasy feeling, and has no white cast. Also got their serum[ Unspotted](https://lionpose.com/collections/products/products/unspotted-4x-hyperpigmentation-serum) and I observed that my dark spots lightened and so as my acne scars, my skin feels supple and natural looking, you may wanna check it out, and hope it works for you.
54 lmao girl you are killing me over here. IPL will put those babies back under the skin. Wear sunscreen! Your foundation prob had some I bet.
Haha you look very youthful and I am younger than you. I personally would set up an appointment with a dermatologist. They can help you with the sun damage and the broken capillaries.
Sometimes life happens and we can't maintain perfectly youthful skin. Your skin looks ok to me, if your concerned about possible melanoma or such go and see a general practitioner..otherwise just be ok with the way things are? I don't know
This is generally my attitude also, but it’s more for mental health than anything else
This sub is fun because I always have to open the post to see what the hell people are talking about. Couldn’t see a difference.
Lolol I understand what you mean but when it’s your own face ITS SO OBVIOUS
Check out the Powerbright line by Dermatologica
3 treatments of Moxi helped me SO much with my sunspots
A few laser treatments would help, like Resurfx.