What Works Best with Maxi Peel Exfoliant 3

There has been a lot of bad reviews about Maxi Peel Exfoliant 3, some reviews were through blogs and some were through the word of the mouth. Even I myself, proved that many people do not trust this product because whenever I answered that Maxi Peel Exfoliant 3 was the product I used whenever I experienced breakouts - people were quick to say that:

1. It isn't advisable to be used (Why was it manufactured in the first place?)
2. It will harm/damage your skin (Only if you used it wrongly.)
3. It will only worsen the acne on your face (Clearly, you have no idea how it works.)

The list goes on, but these were the usual reaction I got from people whenever I said that I used Maxi Peel Exfoliant 3.



First, let us read the information written in the packaging.

Maxi-Peel #3 (Tretinoin & Hydroquinone Formula) Exfoliant Anti-Acne Skin Lightener #3 - Advanced 60ml

It is dermatologist-tested safe for use especially among women from 18-35 years old. Maxi-Peel is approved by the DOH-BFAD so consumers are assured that the product adheres to its labeling.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Place a small amount of the solution on a swab of cotton and spread evenly on your face with an upward motion. Use once or twice daily for 2 months. Resume treatment after a month of rest.

FORMULATION: Each 100 mL contains tretinoin - 25mg and hydroquinone - 2.0g

PRECAUTION: Test the for sensitivity to the product prior to use. Clean a small patch of skin in the inner arm. Place a small amount of MAXI-PEEL solution on a piece of cotton then apply lightly. Do this 3 times (morning, afternoon, evening) for one day in the same area of application. In case severe redness and itchiness occur, refrain from using the product (this is a sign of allergy). If no allergies occur, you may start using the product. Do not apply on sunburned or abraded skin or on more that 10% of total body surface. Avoid direct exposure to sunlight. Apply Extraderm Sunblock Cream for protection. Avoid the use of other brands while using the product as these may not complement with MAXI-PEEL.

ADVERSE EFFECT: MAXI-PEEL causes slight stinging, burning, reddening, and peeling at the site of application. If irritation becomes severe and persists, discontinue treatment and consult your dermatologist. STORAGE: Store at room temperature not exceeding 30 degrees C.

WARNING: - Prolonged use of hydroquinone (beyond 2 months) may cause ochronosis (hyperpigmentation) in areas exposed to sunlight. - This product is not recommended for use by pregnant women. - It should not be used on children under 12 years of age.

(Source: http://www.yollieorientalonline.com/maxi-peel-exfoliant-3-tretinoin-hydroquinone-formula-60ml/)

Why I Used Maxi Peel Exfoliant 3

I first tried this product on year 2011. This method was taught to me by a friend, and I did what she told me because I visibly saw the good effect of the product on her face.

When I was in college, there was that time of my life that I had too many acne, in tagalog term "para akong tigyawat na tinubuan ng mukha.", I am dead serious when I tell you that it was a worst case of acne problem.

The acne's were big, reddish and itchy - it really was a bad acne problem to the point that I even ditched classes whenever my acne's made me feel bad. At that time, I felt hideous and dirty. I have tried a lot of products that would make them disappear - Neutrogena, Ponds, Eskinol, Olay, name it I may have tried it - unfortunately none of it worked.I even agreed to my grandmother's suggestion to consult a hilot, because maybe I was being cursed(kulam) - it's hilarious right? But could you blame me if I got frustrated because it has been months since my acne problems started and everything I had used just didn't work.

Here was a photo I have when acne was my worst enemy...

This was the clearest photo I could get, I really didn't take a lot of photos when I was having my acne problem, but here you could still see that they were so visible and big that my cheeks looked like swollen cratered moon.

And this is the result after 2 months of Using the Product.

How Do I Use Maxi Peel Exfoliant 3?

I used the product twice a day, in the morning and in the evening.

At night, wash your face with your desired soap, I use an RDL Tawas Whitening Soap. I put 4-5 drops of Maxi Peel Exfoliant 3 on a cotton ball and wipe it all over my face and neck ONCE (don't wipe the cotton ball on your face over and over again as if you were erasing a pencil drawing." Wait for 5-10 seconds before applying A LOT of Mena Facial Whitening cream (which cost around Php20), by A LOT I mean to say that the more Geisha-ish you looked, the better.

In the morning, wash your face with your desired soap and towel dry it. Put 1-2 drops of Maxi Peel Exfoliant 3 on a cotton ball and wipe it on your face once (note that I use less drops of Maxi Peel in the morning because our face is more expose to sunlight and using less drops would lessen the possibility that it would burn our face). 5-10 seconds after applying the exfoliant, put a good amount of sunblock on your face (I use Maxi Peel Sunblock Cream SPF20), then apply a thin layer of Mena Facial Whitening cream. (Note: You can apply powder if you desired, but there are two options for this - 1. Use baby powder only, because using cosmetic powder or foundation may not have a good reaction with Maxi Peel, 2. Try not to apply anything else on you face for at least the first 2-3weeks.)

Patiently do this routine for 2 months, and you will have a better, smoother and lighter skin.



What I experienced while using Maxi Peel Exfoliant 3:

1. Skin Peeling (it was expected since the product removes dry and dead skin, basically what was peeling of was your dry and dead skin)
2. Itching (I have experience slight itching from time to time for the first 2 weeks, however, do not scratch it. Slight pat it or wipe it with tissue or cotton if you can't contain the itchiness of your face)
3. Stinging (for the first 3 weeks I experience slight stinging whenever I applied the product, what I do to ease the stinging is while I applied Maxi Peel Exfoliant 3 on my face, I face the electric fan *wink*)
4. More acne on the first week (because the product is discharging all the dirt inside our pores which causes the pimples in the first place, do not panic if more acne was sprouting out your face - it is a normal effect of the product)



The Do's and Don'ts:

1. Do not let your face be exposed directly from the sunlight's heat. Always bring an umbrella if you can't avoid walking under the sun.
2. Avoid  eating slimy/fishy foods when your face is on the itchy stage (fishes, eggs, chicken etc)
3. Always drink water (12-15 glasses a day would be better)
4. Always use sunscreen.
5. After 2 months of using the product, STOP! Let your face rest for 1 month. After a month, repeat the routine but this time use Maxi Peel Exfoliant 2.


Note: After a year, I stopped using the product because I was confident that I won't have the same acne problem anymore. I stopped applying anything on my face that's why my face became darker that my body. (That was 1 thing I regretted when I stopped using the product). After I realize that my face was dark, I tried another product that a friend referred to me again, the Beauche set.

It has been a year since I stopped using anything on my face since I was able to maintain a clean, smooth, and fair face after using Beauche. But now that I started to live in another country (Dubai), my face started to have a lot of acne again, (see picture below for reference). Since I am busy working here, I really don't have the time and patience to use the Beauche set again (because a lot has to be applied on the face and most of the time, once I get home - I just want to rest already).

That's why I decided to use Maxi Peel Exfoliant 3 again, and I am on my 3rd week now. I will update this blog once I finished the 2months routine. :)

Teehee!





UPDATE:

Dear Readers, sorry if it took me too long to update this blog. It has been a busy last quarter of 2014 for me. Anyway, without further adieu, here are my end result photos.

 (W/o Makeup, w/o filter - November 2014)

(w/ makeup, w/o filter -  December 2014)

Sketching : Inspired by the Architectural Building Designs at Dubai Internet City

Some of the buildings around Dubai Internet City

 Sketch #1 (Hardly sketches)

Sketch #2 (the buildings as I interpreted it to clothes)

Sketch #3 (Doodle sketches)

Earlier, I posted that I was exploring Dubai Internet City. Actually I was trying my luck by submitting my CVs, from one office to another. I was lucky to land my first interview on the same day. I have 3 hours of spare time before the interview. I decided to wait for my mom’s lunch break at a coffee shop on Dell’s building. I was sitting near the window and looking outside. Across the cafe was the IBM building. I stared at it for a while and realized that most of the building there has the same architectural structures. What I noticed about most of the buildings there are they have similar structures, rectangle or square in shape (very masculine because of the pointy edges) and the buildings are mostly made of glasses (that looks like mirrors to me). Then I took out scrap papers in my file case and took the pen mom put in my bag earlier that morning. I was happy the the ink is blue, perfect for the mirror like glasses that inspired me. I began sketching just so I can kill the boredom I was feeling while waiting in the cafe. Annnnd Voila! I know, it’s a rough ‘rough sketch’ but hey, I think I really translated those buildings into clothes. (at Dubai Internet City)

Xoxo Kim