iabsolvejordan
meghanrochelover911
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Thanks bhai, I appreciate it.
Same here, I’m planning to tan using mt2 and lycopene for those mogger red undertones. I just dug into this rabbit hole right now since I found it interesting.
Yeah, the thing is it’s not really a tanning/lightening tool in it of itself, but more so helps to smoothen the tone out, for a more-even outcome. I’ll include a proper routine below for the ones interested:
Using it optimally would imply:
In the AM: applying a 15-20% L-AA serum (must be pH < 3.5, and ideally stabilized, including vitamin E and ferulic acid, which help with penetration and photoprotection), on clean skin (after cleansing if you do it in the morning), letting it absorb for 5-10 min, following it up with the moisturizer and sunscreen of your choice (a glycerin/ceramide/hyaluronic acid-based moisturizer, and a zinc oxide/avobenzone sunscreen is preferred).
In the PM: same routine (except for the sunscreen of course), after cleansing (which I recommend you do at least once a day), but right before applying the moisturizer (preferably a peptide-based one in this case, for collagen support and repair — especially if you’ve been in the sun a lot that day), either apply a 4-5% niacinamide serum, supplement with it orally, or use an azelaic acid serum. The niacinamide helps reduce blotchiness, inflammation, and supports skin barrier, while the azelaic acid suppresses melanin and calms the skin. Pick one based on tolerance and goals. Optionally, you can finish it off with retinol serum a few times a week, for pigment and wrinkle control. Skip the vitamin C serum on nights you plan to use it (for example, on days where you rotted inside).
Personally, to look like I have an even more mogger tan, I’ll also use the Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam 1 Hour Express, applying 0.5-1 pumps every night and distributing them in circular motions using a Nitrylex Classic textured glove (nitrile gloves are optimal for applying tanner, one glove is enough, facially at least), letting it set in overnight. Those gloves are the best ones that I found are accessible where I live. Since I’ve never used a tanner before, I’ll titrate into it under the following plan, to eliminate the possibility of irritating myself:
- Weeks 1-2: Mix 1/2 pump in with the moisturizer. Monday, Thursday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.
- Weeks 3-4: Mix 1 pump in with the moisturizer. Tuesday, Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.
- Weeks 5-6: Mix 0.5-1 pumps in with the moisturizer. Daily. I’ll have to see how I tolerate it up to that point.
- Weeks 7-8: Apply 0.5-1 pumps after moisturizer. Daily.
- Week 9 and onwards: Apply 1 pump after moisturizer. Daily.
I also plan on experimenting with either of the following, to achieve Thom Strijd-level coloring: lycopene, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, astaxanthin, omega 3-s (dha/epa), zinc picolinate, polypodium leucotomos, and/or mt2.
Depends on the goal. Almost any compound would have a superior effect when injected compared to administrating it orally, but that doesn’t mean it’s practical to do so. For mild, long-term skintone support, high-dose oral liposomal glutathione and cofactors like vit c/e/b2/b6, zinc, to name a few, are preferred. For fast pigment correction and brightening, you’re right, injections blow oral administration out of the water, especially when synergized with oral vitamin c.
As with everything though, a balance would probably be ideal for most people. Glutathione for a few weeks at first, coupled with vitamin c, both administered intravenously or intramuscularly. After the desired tone is achieved, it can be maintained with daily oral liposomal glutathione, vit c, lycopene, and carotenoids, among others for specific needs, such as polypodium leucotomos for pigment enhancement and UV defense (this one is really interesting since it may also offer protection against visible light, which comprises 50% of electromagnetic radiation that reaches the earth's surface, and currently available sunscreens do not protect against it), silymarin/milk thistle for increasing hepatic glutathione levels, to not hoard from skintone, and/or copper being essential for tyrosinase function, balancing melanin production. Curcumin is good too, since it’s a NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 — a cellular resistance regulator to oxidants) activator. Here’s a study showing it upregulates glutathione synthesis, reducing the GSH/GSSG ratio by 94%.
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