As someone who suffered from acne in my early twenties, I became increasingly dissatisfied and desirous of putting an end to the incessant "speed humps" on my face and correcting my hyperpigmentation. I was dead set on finding a remedy that would work and finally get rid of it all. I didn't want to be in my 30s or 40s with any discolouration and the prospect of this becoming a reality made me feel uneasy. Besides, I wanted to have days where I could let my skin breathe and go to a nearby coffee shop with only the bare essentials (face cream, lip balm, and sunscreen). Being as highly ambitious as I was, I set out on a trip that took me to various dermatologists, researching different brands in the hopes of finding a solution and I came across the OBAGI Nuderm System. This skincare system has worked wonders for me, alongside other products prescribed by a dermatologist so I couldn't help but gush about it to you all.
Obagi nu derm skincare set focuses on brightening your skin (different from skin bleaching) and is effective at correcting hyperpigmentation such as dark spots caused by acne. The kit comes with 6 products, namely:
Gentle Cleanser - a gentle face wash that helps remove any impurities and promotes clean and clear skin
Toner - an alcohol-free, hydrating toner that helps adjust the pH level of your skin.
Clearing Agent - this helps correct hyperpigmentation (dark spots, sun spots, and other discolouration) due to the 4% hydroquinone within the product. To put it simply, hydroquinone is a skin lightening agent which can be incorporated into both your morning and night skincare routine for the best results.
Exfoderming Cream- a morning face cream that helps exfoliate the top layer of skin while promoting new skin cell growth for a brighter and better complexion. At the same time, this removes dull, dead and old skin cells.
Blending Cream - an evening-based cream that contains 4% hydroquinone. This works overnight.
Obagi Hydrating Cream - due to the way the ingredients work in the other products of this hyperpigmentation kit, you might experience some dryness and flaking of the skin. This hydrating cream will help soothe those areas.
Sun Shield Matte Broad Spectrum Cream - this is a sunscreen, that contains both UVA and UVB elements to protect your skin with a non-greasy, matte finish. Also (I can't stress this enough), sunscreen is crucial to skincare because if you expose yourself to even the smallest amount of sunlight with no protective sunscreen, this can restart your natural melanocytic activity (responsible for making your skin darker) and will counteract the purpose of this hyperpigmentation kit.
The professional Nu-Derm Skin Care System comes in two variations: the normal to dry system, which is perfect for normal to dry skin, and the normal to the oily system, which is ideal for oily skin. As well, when using the Nu-Derm kit, some individuals also add Tretinoin. This is a prescription based cream for acne vulgaris that comes in 3 strengths ( 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1%.). This may be something to consider for additional support with acne breakouts. |
If you are on a budget and looking to try out the Obagi system, they also sell a travel set that is under 100mil and perfect for taking in your carry-on when travelling. If you are still looking to lower the cost, consider purchasing separately the cleaning agent, exfordeming cream, blending cream, hydrating cream and, of course, my favourite product being prescription-basedsunscreen.
Considering that our skin is different, consult with a dermatologist and give yourself a patch test to ensure no allergic reactions. Before I forget, due to some of the ingredients, the kit can only be purchased with a valid prescription at least to my knowledge in the UK. I am unsure about other markets, but I always recommend speaking to a professional and taking your time doing so. Finally using the right products from the start of your day to overnight use — and everything in between — like me you’ll be able to enjoy healthy, happy and young skin that will help you step out into the world with the confidence you’ve been craving.
Quick Tips for better skin Don't wait until summer for applying sunscreen! This should be part of your daily skincare routine to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Proper skincare through sunscreen use helps prevent skin issues such as dark spots, which are signs of premature ageing in the skin caused by sun damage. |