See Spot Run - How to get rid of hyperpigmentation

Not to sound all dramatic but dealing with hyper-pigmentation  is pretty much the bane of my adult existence.  Caused by increased melanin, those of us with darker skin tones such as Asian, Mediterranean and African are plagued by this darkening of certain areas of our skin and/or nails.  Sometimes the sun is the culprit but often times its due to an injury or inflammation of the skin.  The most common cause of course is a bout with acne...don't even get me started on that topic.

While it is a pain to deal with there are ways to ward off the dreaded spots.  First and foremost if we just exercise a bit of restraint and refrain from excessive touching of the skin during times of an acne outbreak, though hard to resist, it would save our skin from having to heal the darkened areas.

Also preparedness helps, if you know you will be in the sun, apply sunscreen/block beforehand.  Why not toss a sample size version in your makeup bag to take along just in case.  Also worth mentioning is that sun protection should be used all year round, not just when the rays are warm enough to rock tanks and shorts.

In the event that the warnings go ignored there is hope.  Home remedies in the form of avocado, lemon/lime juice and raw potato juice applied to the skin for about 10 minutes daily will aid in lightening.  Cocoa butter is a go to item for many as well.  There are also a number of products available over the counter at your nearest drugstore.  Of course all of these should be used in tandem with a diligent skincare routine to include exfoliation which will aid in the turnover of skin cells. 

As you all know I am currently using the Clarisonic along with an exfoliating cleanser that contains salicylic acid.  I just recently decided to up the ante and take charge of this skin of mine by adding a new product.  The Vichy ProEven Total Dark Spot Corrector retails for $42.50 and is said to be safe for sensitive skin, so much so that it can be used daily.  I just started using it so I can't report on how effective it is just yet but I will say that it is very hydrating and because I apply it with my nighttime skincare routine, when I wake up in the morning my skin has seemed a bit brighter, not as dull.

I will be reporting back on my results with this in a few weeks to let you all know if I notice a change in my hyper-pigmentation but if you can't wait and want to give it a try yourself you can pick up ProEVEN at any CVS, Walgreens or DuaneReed.  If you do decide to pick some up let me know how it works for you.  Or if you have a tried and true way of revealing your skin's glow let me know in the comments below - y'all see my rhyming skills?  :)


Disclosure: I was provided a sample of this product to try.  The views expressed in this post are my own and in no way influenced by said sample

T&T Beauty Haul: Origins

As stated in previous posts my skin is in total rebellion mode. I have admitted defeat, backtracked my steps to pinpoint the exact reasons why, shed a tear or two and now its time to fight back.

With steadfast determination I marched into the nearest Origins boutique armed with my credit card and an open mind. As this was my first time trying the brand, my Origins beauty advisor walked me through each step after listening to me lament my contribution to my skin troubles. At this point I am determined to see results so I didnt even flinch as she added to my skin improvement arsenal. I now have a very thorough skincare regimen as follows:

Never A Dull Moment is a gel cleanser especially formulated for combination skin that with a small drop produces an amazing amount of lather and results in your skin feeling cleansed not stripped.

Modern Friction is one of Origins best sellers and is a microdermabrasion cream that gently exfoliates your skin to reveal a brighter complexion. Use this two to three times per week.


Clear Improvement is a clay mask that draws out impurities and cleanses pores. This product is to be alternated with the Modern Friction, maybe used just twice a week and not on the same day as Modern Friction. It dries very tight on your skin which for some reason I like but it may not be for everybody.

United States is a toner used as a follow up to your cleanser.
Plantidote is a serum chock full of mushrooms that is used to calm your skin and helps in the fight against aging.

Have A Nice Day is the moisturizer and contains SPF 15. It has a wonderful citrus scent, reminds me of a lemon verbena.

Of course I had to get some heavy artillery. Spot Remover is a blemish fighting gel that contains salicyllic acid. A plus is that its clear so it can be used throughout the day.

Zero Oil is a mattifying agent that I will pop in my purse to combat oil slicks throughout the day.

As an added bonus I was given two samples (yall know how I am about samples and GWP opportunities): Plantidote Eye Serum and Ginger Souffle Whipped Body Cream - can we say yum? The scent of the body cream is amazing! I will be going back to pick that up ASAP!

If you want to give Origins a try for yourself you are in luck! Right now they are having their Friends and Family Sale (I had no idea until I got home!), by entering the code FF at checkout you can receive 25% off your purchase! AWESOME!

I will keep you posted on my progress, I hope to emerge victorious!

T&T Beauty Bummer: Adult Breakouts

oh woe is me! I try not to throw pity parties too often but I have been down in the dumps lately about my skin. I tried a product recently that I really did enjoy but my skin gave me a mean case of the blues because of it. I tried to blame the breakout on everything else but once I stopped using this particular item (which shall not be revealed in this post) my skin has been improving on the daily.

From Acne.org - According to a 2004 International Journal of Cosmetic Science article "Recent epidemiological studies show that there appears to be an increase in post-adolescent acne, and that the disease is lasting longer and is requiring treatment well into the mid forties." *long record scratch" Oh HELL no! Thats all we need on top of everything else going on. A huge NO THANK YOU! to that one. If it means I have to change every single aspect of my lifestyle I refuse to revisit puberty any longer than I had to back in the day. Im good, really.

In order to help the healing process along I stopped all face cosmetics *sigh* and upped my cleansing routine by incorporating a facial cleansing brush, no no, not that high priced whositwhatsit that everyone was on real hard for a while there (I love a bargain so until that bad boy offers one I will NOT be partaking), no my pretties I picked one up from my tried and true beauty supply store around the way.

I am still using my Neutrogena products, in particular the Clear Pore Cleanser Mask and toner, I discussed here, so I should be back to normal within a week...I hope!