You should not use Pro-C, Exfoderm, or Toner on your eye lids. Under your eyes is fine. Retin-A and Blender (make sure it is the cream form of Retin-A or Tretinoin in the 0.1% or 0.05%) should only be used around the eyes 2 times a week. The Pro-C is used after the Toner. It is applied before CLEAR, not after or before Exfoderm. 1) Cleanse 2) Toner 3) Vit-C, 4) Clear, 5) Exfoderm 6) Ommerse and Eye Cream 7) Sunscreen Your evening program looks fine, just incorporate the Eye Cream and Ommerse into your program. We want you comfortable while achieving results.

An Eye Cream such as, the ZO Skin Health Olluminate or Obagi ElastiDerm Cream (not gel) is an excellent idea to enhance results, stimulate collagen, and reduce irritation from the use of Retin-A and Blender. Using Retin-A cream around the eyes will temporarily make wrinkles around your eyes appear worse, as fine lines and wrinkles are enhanced when skin is dry. You probably over did it, by applying daily. Just stop around your eyes for a few days, and when you resume only apply 2 times a week. Eye Cream can be applied two times a day. In the AM apply before sunscreen and at night, apply as your last step.

Think of moisturizers as a dessert… They should not be relied on solely to deliver nutrients and stimulate skin (the same way dessert- shouldn’t be viewed as your daily meal). Occasional use is fine, especially to alleviate occasional dryness, to have a better base for makeup, or to enhance skin for a special occasion.

I am quite fond of the ZO Skin Health Ommerse Daily Renewal Crème and the Ommerse Overnight Recovery Crème, as these are “functional” moisturizers – providing stimulative benefits to the skin, while hydrating skin. These can be incorporated into your current program, without any reservations. Based on your age, you should apply the Ommerse Day Crème after your Retin-A and Blender step. If you are dry in the AM, apply before sunscreen (same time as Eye Cream). We use 1 gram of Clear (amount of toothpaste on a toothbrush), ½ gram of Exfoderm, 6-8 drops of Vit-C, and ½ gram of Blender and ½ gram of Retin-A. However, confirm with your doctor first. Congrats on your wedding.
Best,
Sandra Obagi, MBA
Medical Esthetician

also can i use the Professional -C Serum 10% all over my eyes?

can i please get the steps for the obagi nuderm products (eyes) that i use type out for me. (i already know what to use for my face and the steps for it but it’s my eyes that i’m confused about and also if Retin A 0.1% is ok for me to use around my eyes) Thank u soo much for all ur help.

Tahmina

I live in Canada, Ontario Toronto, and i got the Obagi Nuderm through my dermatologist and I loveeeee the products because i saw my sister using it and her skin looks very pretty, raidiant, even skin tone and no breakouts at all.

i use the obagi products all over my face and this monday april 12, 2010 will be my 2nd week completed.

these are the steps that i was told to do:

Nuderm products:

Step 1: Foaming Get -wash whole face and then pat dry.

Step 2: Toner- pour onto cotton ball for the whole face except eyelids.

Step3: Clear- Put pea size amount on whole face + eyelids.

Step4: Obagi Professional – c Serum 10% and after use Exforderm – put pea size amount on whole face except eyelids. *exfoliation may cause burning sensation*

Step 5: put sunblock on 10 minuts prior to going outside.

NIGHT TIME:

Repeat steps 1 to 3 and skip step 4 (no C-Serum and no Exfoderm for night time) and do step 5: Blender + retin A put pea size amount on whole face and eyelids**exfoliation and redness occurs**

(STOP step 4+5 for 2 days only if burning sensation occurs) (Apply Moisturizer: ALYRIA only when burning / redness or peeling occurs in AM/PM)

My questions:
1) i was also told to use clear, blender and retin A 0.1% all over my eyes(under and above)with an eye cream. so i started doing that but i’m getting alot of wrinkles and i’m also getting a long wrinkle under my eyes which extends to my check. should i be using these products around my eyes? if not then should i only stick with an eye cream and will my wrinkles go away? I mean, i would love to use the products around my eyes if i will see improvements if not then which eye cream u would recommend to fix this?. My conern about my eyes are lines, wrinkles, and dark circles and i only use a little amount of these products around my eyes.

2) I was also told to use a moisturizer on my face only if my face is extremly flaky, peeling, tight or burning. I don’t want to use a moisturizer because i read that the moisturizer slows down the process and i really don’t want the process to slow down ( i can take the peeling, red skin etc, because i’m home for 2 months) also because i will be getting married on june 25, 2010. so should i stop the moisturizer or it’s a “must” to use one.

3) I’m 28 year old woman. I have light brown skin. My only concern that i have is dullness, uneven skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles. I get 2 to 3 pimples once every 2 months or so and that’s about it.

Please help me out and thank u for ur time,

Tahmina

I live in Canada, Ontario Toronto, and i got the Obagi Nuderm through my dermatologist and I loveeeee the products because i saw my sister using it and her skin looks very pretty, raidiant, even skin tone and no breakouts at all.

i use the obagi products all over my face and this monday april 12, 2010 will be my 2nd week completed.

these are the steps that i was told to do:

Nuderm products:

Step 1: Foaming Get -wash whole face and then pat dry.

Step 2: Toner- pour onto cotton ball for the whole face except eyelids.

Step3: Clear- Put pea size amount on whole face + eyelids.

Step4: Obagi Professional – c Serum 10% and after use Exforderm – put pea size amount on whole face except eyelids. *exfoliation may cause burning sensation*

Step 5: put sunblock on 10 minuts prior to going outside.

NIGHT TIME:

Repeat steps 1 to 3 and skip step 4 (no C-Serum and no Exfoderm for night time) and do step 5: Blender + retin A put pea size amount on whole face and eyelids**exfoliation and redness occurs**

(STOP step 4+5 for 2 days only if burning sensation occurs) (Apply Moisturizer: ALYRIA only when burning / redness or peeling occurs in AM/PM)

My questions:
1) i was also told to use clear, blender and retin A 0.1% all over my eyes(under and above)with an eye cream. so i started doing that but i’m getting alot of wrinkles and i’m also getting a long wrinkle under my eyes which extends to my check. should i be using these products around my eyes? if not then should i only stick with an eye cream and will my wrinkles go away? I mean, i would love to use the products around my eyes if i will see improvements if not then which eye cream u would recommend to fix this?. My conern about my eyes are lines, wrinkles, and dark circles and i only use a little amount of these products around my eyes.

2) I was also told to use a moisturizer on my face only if my face is extremly flaky, peeling, tight or burning. I don’t want to use a moisturizer because i read that the moisturizer slows down the process and i really don’t want the process to slow down ( i can take the peeling, red skin etc, because i’m home for 2 months) also because i will be getting married on june 25, 2010. so should i stop the moisturizer or it’s a “must” to use one.

3) I’m 28 year old woman. I have light brown skin. My only concern that i have is dullness, uneven skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles. I get 2 to 3 pimples once every 2 months or so and that’s about it.

Please help me out and thank u for ur time,

Tahmina

Best,
Sandra Obagi MBA
Medical Esthetician

Let’s establish some basics. You should be using the cream form of Tretinoin in the 0.1% or the 0.05% concentration. No Renova®, Triluma®, Micro-Release, gel, etc.. Alone these are great products. However, mixing with Blender (or Obagi Nu-Derm in general), is not recommended, as they will cause more irritation than the cream form of Tretinoin.

Most physicians have patients start by using either 1/2 gram or 1 gram every single night mixed with 1/2 gram of Blender. If extremely sensitive, reduce to 2-3 times a week only at 1/2 gram + 1/2 gram mixture. Yes, we state NOT to apply a generic or conventional moisturizer that inhibits the growth of new and healthy skin cells (and slows down the removal of damaged ones). However, the Obagi Nu-Derm Action cream or the Ommerse Day or Night creams by ZO Skin Health are perfectly fine to use, especially with the reaction you are describing.

For patients that experience what you are describing, I have them use the Ommerse Daily Renewal Crème every morning PRIOR to the sunscreen, and EVERY night as the last step. You can apply on TOP of the Tretinoin & Blender those 2-3 days a week and on the OFF days from this step, apply after the CLEAR. Ommerse enhances results, reduces irritation, and should not slow down your program too much.

If you are also using the Exfoderm, reduce this to 3 times a week as well. Again use the Ommerse on your off days in the morning. Start this specific protocol after 2-3 days of rest from the Tretinoin & Blender step. In other words, stop your Tretinoin & Blender step for 3 days, then resume with the slower protocol just outlined. Use less of this step around your mouth. Also, only apply around your eyes 2 times a week.

Don’t rub skin too hard when apply creams. Only use your fingertips to gently massage into skin until fully absorbed. Once you feel that you have built “more tolerance” to this protocol, we can increase your frequency of Exfoderm and the Tretinoin + Blender step. This usually occurs after 1 month of use. Thanks!
Best,
Sandra Obagi
Medical Esthetician

Lets clarify the correct usage of each item.

Cleansers: Used all over the entire face, including eyelids.
Toner: Used UNDER the eyes and the entire face (no eyelids).
Clear: Used over the entire face INCLUDING under your eyes and your eye lids.

Exfoderm: Used under the eyes (avoid the eyelids)

Blender & Tretinoin Cream: Used around the entire eye area as well 2 days a week. The skin around the eye area is much thinner (epidermis) in comparison to the skin on the rest of the face (such as the cheeks). It takes a lot less product to induce correction, thus results.. Also, a lot less product induces the temporary reaction associated with the entire Nu-Derm system.

Eye Cream: An excellent idea to complement/enhance results and provide comfort. The best ones for anti-aging are either the ZO Skin Health Olluminate (especially if you also have dark circles) OR the Elastiderm (Obagi Nu-Derm). Use 2xs a day, before sunscreen in the AM and as your last step during your PM routine.

Remember, as with the face, the skin around the eyes may TEMPORARILY look worse, as the program dries skin out to shed damaged layers and stimulate the growth of new cells and healthy layers. The dryness causes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to be more prominent. You are NOT getting more wrinkles. If you do become overly irritated around the eyes, back off for a few days then resume again.

You don’t need to saturate the eye area with product. Apply to your entire face first, and spread in a thin layer around eyes.

Best,
Sandra Obagi
Medical Esthetician

Please enlighten me on the use of retin a. 0.1 strength was prescribed together with the Nu Derm set I bought. I was told that ALL of the clear, blender, exfoderm are not to be used under the eyes. However, its my undereye area that needs correction because there are lines already. Can I use the blender with retin a? or only the retin A to correct it?

thanks