Repairing Sun Damage

Like many girls my age, I was a bit daft (as the British would say) in my younger years, never wearing enough sunscreen and not realizing the harmful long term effects of getting burnt.  As a result, I developed some slightly noticeable sun spots, most visible around the hair line at the top of my forehead.

I tried the basics - lightening creams and serums for fading spots.  Nothing worked well, and some of the products smelled awful.

So, I basically gave up and decided to move on with my life. 

Knowing the importance of exfoliation and cell turnover, I just happened to be using three products around the time I got a microderm treatment.  And the combination of these products and the MD - amazing - began lifting the damaged spots like nothing I'd seen before.

They were:

1. Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator ($34)
http://www.birchbox.com/shop/skincare/exfoliators/vasanti-enzymatic-face-brighten-up

"How It Works: This powerful exfoliator mimics the results of professional microdermabrasion, minus the potential for redness and sensitivity. First, papaya enzymes break down dead cells while evening out your skin tone. Next, dermatologist-approved microderm crystals fade the appearance of fine lines and acne scars, leaving skin smooth and free of imperfections. Finally, aloe vera, coconut, and vitamins B and E nourish and soothe skin"

I use this maybe once a week in the shower.  It's a slightly gritty exfoliant, but, as it promises, it leaves your face looking alive.  Because it uses enzymes, it's not nearly as rough on skin as most scrubs.

2.  Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant ($52)
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=prod2152621

 

"How It Works: Rice Bran and Rice Extract gently microfoliate skin surface to facilitate penetration of the Skin Brightening Complex. Papain Enzyme and Salicylic Acid help dissolve excess surface cells. Skin Brightening Complex of Licorice and Bearberry helps even skin tone."

At $52, this seemed expensive to me - except that now I've been using the same bottle for two years.  Seriously.  It takes a very small amount of this powder and a tiny bit of water to make it creamy to use for every-other-day exfoliation, or when I am not using the Vasanti scrub.  It's incredibly gentle, no smell, easy to use.

3. Kate Somerville 2-in-1 ResAsphere Retinol Night Cream ($85)
http://www.sephora.com/retasphere-2-in-1-retinol-night-cream-P377369?skuId=1490341

"How It Works: The RetAsphere Smart Release™ Carrier System protects pure Retinol in a lipid shell that melts evenly into the skin, helping prevent irritation and dryness. By penetrating deep into the epidermis, this patented, time-release technology helps diminish the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and leaves the skin looking and feeling smoother and firmer. Seaweed Extract, with bio-derived Hyaluronic Acid, locks in moisture for sustained hydration, keeping the complexion healthy."

The key here is basically just the retinol. It's a night cream that can pack a punch, and I used it lightly (once a week) for maybe 4 weeks.  It has a slightly weird smell, but only for about 10 seconds.  No redness, no tingling, no irritation.  The retinol helps cells turnover faster.

When I visited my aesthetician (About Face Atlanta) for micro-derm, she was shocked at how fast the dark spots on my skin were coming up, even with the machine on a light setting. In my past micro-derm experiences, that was not the case. She asked if I had been exfoliating well or using retinol - and the answer to both was, of course, yes.  With the removal of dead skin cells and the faster turnover of new ones, the damaged spots on my skin were disappearing quickly - and they've stayed gone.  I likely need another round of this same routine to remove them completely, but this was terrific progress, with three products I highly recommend. 

Buh-bye, ugly spots.