30yo Asian Female Using Cosmelan for the First Time - Dubai

This post was exactly a year ago. Unfortunately, I didn't continue using cosmelan. After 1 month I completely stopped. I can't bear the pain and since it hot in UAE that made it worse. I was always red. After stopping, I was fairer but pale. I didn't like the pale look on my face. Also, my face became so sensitive and dry - until now.

Anyway, it did get rid of my fresh pimple scars but my age spots remained.

Now I just learnt to love my skin the way it is and learned to went back to organic or DIY cosmetics.

To those who wanna try cosmelan, I'd say it's maybe okay for those who really have extremely bad problems but if you just wanna be fair like I was go for something less harsh. Most importantly, please ask your doctor for other options and not just go with whatever they say.

Good luck Ladies!!!!

I am Asian and whenever I come back to my home country from Middle East, my skin is always irritated. Somehow, I became allergic to the weather (this is just my personal diagnosis). Whenever I am back to ME, I will start to peel and after a few weeks becomes fine. When I travel to Europe, the same thing happens. Since I travel a lot and this constant peeling-healing goes on, my face showed uneven pigmentation.

I was reading face peels and read about a great dermatologist and immediately went there and then. Unfortunately, she only takes patient by appointment. There are a lot of people waiting for her schedule to open so I just booked myself for the next available schedule.

On my first visit, my face was checked for irregularities, bacteria %, wrinkles, moisture, etc.
After a few minutes of explanation and discussion as to what I wanted to happen, the doctor recommend I do Cosmelan. She said it will be done once unlike other peels.

Anyway, it is very costly but I agreed to it.
This is my first time and I don't know what'll happen but I was determined to get a better skintone.

My Cosmelan treatment was scheduled on 2nd November and here is my most detailed review:

02/11 - I arrived 30 mins before my time and the doctors assistant helped me through the medical room. She cleansed my face, wrapped my hair so it wont fall over my face during application. A few minutes after, the doctor came in and applied Cosmelan1 on my face. She avoided the area around my eyes. The cream is brownish. Just like a regular foundation. She said my skin is so dry so she wants me totally hydrated (not sure if this will be helpful to the readers). After the application she was giving me instruction on what to do. Here are what she instructs me to do:

To dos right after application (November 2):
The application was done @ 3pm and was told to remove it @10pm.
Apply Hydra-Vital Factor K (bought from the clinic and paid separately @ 63USD)

To dos for the next 2 days (November 3&4):
Morning and Night
Cleanse using Codexial Dermo-Nettoyant Visage (bought from the clinic and paid separately @ 35.50 USD)
Apply Hydra-Vital Factor K
Apply Nimue Sun-C Sunscreen and Antioxidants SPF 40 in the morning only (bought from the clinic and paid separately @ 49 USD)

To dos from the 3rd day after application for 2 weeks (November 5 to November 18):
Morning and Night
Cleanse using Codexial Dermo-Nettoyant Visage
Apply your eye cream, spread ample amount of vaseline around the lips and edges of your nose.(These areas are very sensitive and will be very sore since my skin is very dry so I have to hydrate them besides, these needs to be avoided during Cosmelan2 application)
Apply Cosmelan2 avoiding corners of lips, eyes, and nose.
Apply Hydra-Vital Factor K
Apply Nimue Sun-C Sunscreen and Antioxidants SPF 40 in the morning only

November 20 onwards:
Morning and Night
Cleanse using Codexial Dermo-Nettoyant Visage
Apply your eye cream, spread ample amount of vaseline around the lips and edges of your nose.
Apply Cosmelan2 avoiding corners of lips, eyes, and nose once per day in the evening.
Apply Hydra-Vital Factor K
Apply Nimue Sun-C Sunscreen and Antioxidants SPF 40 in the morning only.

Cosmelan1 is yellowish brown in color after application to my face (I dont know why or maybe this is really the color). I dont care much about what people think at this point, all I needed is to kill time for I know I cant wash my face for another 7 hours so I decided to eat out and watch a movie. They cant see my face in the cinema anyway :). And so I did. Surprisingly, after an hour or so, it doesn't feel like I had Cosmelan1 on. I went through the day just like how I normally would. In the night, I read somewhere that you have to leave it on for 8-10 hours so instead of washing my face @ 10 pm, I decided to keep it on until around 1am.
I washed my face with soap and water then cleansed with Codexial and applied hydra K then slept.

03/11 - My skin is red! A bit sore but fine. A few visible peeling. I committed to go to Ferrari World with my fiance and I went around 3pm with him. After my morning routine (codexial, hydra k, sun c), to cover the redness, I applied Garnier BB Cream and patted face powder to reduce the oiliness. The day turned out well. My red cheeks just looked like I had blush on :).
Evening comes and I washed my face with soap and water then cleansed with Codexial and put on hydra K before bed.

04/11 - Peeling! It is still red though but not sore enough for me to complain. I don't have to go out until evening for the premiere of Big Hero 6 movie (I was invited by Disney!) so after the morning routine (codexial, hydra k, sun c) i left my face bare. I put a few vaseline around the lips & nose just to make sure it is well hydrated. In the evening before going out I washed my face with Garnier Pure Active 3in1 (Cleanse, Scrub, Mask). I thought the beads can reduce the visibility of the peeling but of course it didn't. I even rub my face with my hand and a lot of peeled skin just rolled over and come off. Anyway, I cleansed after that with codexial, applied hydra k, put on bb cream, and patted my face with face powder. But then, BB cream and powder made the peeling very visible. I cannot back out because the premiere is RSVP and it is a shame if I won't come after confirming. So i went in just in time for the movie to start trying to avoid the people I know. I looked terrible, need I say more?! :) I was almost the last person to leave the theater as well for the same reason. Nonetheless i managed to use the toilet and go home fine. After washing my face with soap and water, I put on Hollywood Styke Deep Cleansing Peel Off Mask Lemon, Mint & Ginseng. I am perhaps stupid to think this will help in peeling off my skin fast because it didn't work! Anyhow, I religiously followed the evening evening routine (codexial, hydra k) just like yesterday. I made sure I applied vaseline on my lips and corners of nose and lips as well to keep them hydrated.

05/11 - The peeling is not as bad as yesterday when i woke up. Im not sure if i am excited to put on Cosmelan 2 but I did woke up early today. Washed my face with soap and water, followed by codexial cleanser, applied my eye cream, applied vaseline on the corners or lips and nose. Using a make up brush (this is what the doctor used when applying Cosmelan1 so I am imitating her), I applied Cosmelan2. Nothing near the eyes, more on the problem areas, and just a swipe on the upper lip. I figured I can't put hydra k right away because it will disturb Cosmelan2. Its pretty wet so I waited for a few minutes to get them dry a bit before Hydra K. I am not sure if this is the right thing but it is better for me. Since I am not going out (I took a week off from work just in case you are wondering), I did not apply Sun C after until an hour just to make sure Cosmelan2 and Hydra K combination on my face is completely dry before another cream is added to the mixture.

Thats it for now! :)