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Before I started on the Obagi Nu Derm products, I researched online to see what users had to say. It was not easy to find clear, concise reviews that answered my questions, so I figured I wasn’t alone. To address that problem, I decided to take you along with me on the Nu Derm journey, through weekly reviews of my 18 week program on Obagi Nu Derm. Here is a synopsis of each of the weeks, with links to those full reviews so you can learn more week by week from my own personal experience. Keep in mind, several of the products I used require a prescription so your doctor is really the final say as to if you are a good candidate for Obagi Nu Derm.
Week 1
After beginning the Obagi Nu Derm realm of products, my skin reacted as expected. Week one brought some redness that was similar to a mild to moderate sunburn, along with a tiny bit of peeling. Integrating six products into my daily regiment seemed like a challenge, but was much easier than I had anticipated. This was the beginning of my frequent Obagi Nu Derm reviews and set a tone of exploration along with fact finding.
The second week of the Obagi regimen brought increased discomfort and redness. The most intense discomfort came directly after applying the Obagi Nu Derm Exfoderm Forte, which is an aggressive exfoliator using two different types of alpha hydroxy acids. There was slightly more peeling as well in the area around my eyes and above my upper lip. While the discomfort was increased over week one, it was still bearable. During week two I also switched the retinoid used in conjunction with the Obagi Nu Derm Blender product, though the change was nothing significant within the Nu Derm regimen, as both products were acceptable to pair with the Blender.
Left Cheek After
Increased peeling is noted during week three of the Obagi Nu Derm reviews. This week things seemed to kick into high gear with increased sensitivity, some random blemishes and more visible redness. This was the week when I began avoiding going outdoors as much as possible due to the redness, but also the flaky skin. The increased sensitivity following application of the Nu Derm Exfoderm Forte
Week 4
Some blemishes lingered during week four, in addition to continued redness and sensitivity. Peeling was also pronounced during week four of the Obagi Nu Derm reviews. Another observation during week four was that there was some small portions of dead skin peeling off during application of the Obagi Nu-Derm Toner
The breakout that was noticed during weeks three and four finally disspated in week five. There was still some peeling and redness but it had started to decrease a bit in week five. Peeling during application of Nu Derm Toner was still present. Overall skin was more comfortable and less sensitive, than previous weeks, though still reacting to the products. Marked lightening of melasma and sun damage was noted in week five as well.
Even with sunscreen from the Obagi Nu Derm line applied liberally, I still noticed my skin burning quickly while out at an amusement park during week six. This underscores how vitally important appropriate sun protection is when using any sort of exfoliation, but even more so with aggressive regimens like the Obagi one I was on. I also noticed some extra peeling after applying the sunscreen daily and had to make sure I didn’t have white flakes all over my face before going on about my day.
Sensitivity associated with the sun exposure during week six only lasted a day or two, though week seven brought some new and unexpected increased overall sensitivity. It was like I had gone back in time two or three weeks with the return of the intense stingling after applying the Exfoderm Forte. This was just a reminder that it was just week seven of a 18 week program and that I needed to have patience.
A state of normalcy approached during week eight, where my skin was used to the aggressive products, still responding to them appropriately, but also sort of used to them. This was nice because my skin was no longer quite as reactive to certain products and environmental factors, though I did double check with the product expert I have worked with to make sure it was normal. Results continued to show, making me very happy with the first portion of this program.
Increased sensitivity due to sun exposure popped up again during week nine, underscoring yet again how crucial it is to make sure you are protected from the sun when using aggressive skin care. I had applied sunscreen, but expect I had sweated much of it off, then just 20 minutes outside led to flushing and excess redness. Exposures like this can also reverse some of the effect of the entire Nu Derm regimen so it is important to be aware of any sun exposure you might get.
During the tenth week of Obagi Nu Derm Reviews I experienced some extra dryness of the skin around the eye area so I added in an eye cream twice a day to combat that. This dryness was associated with the change in seasons in my geographic area so it was normal in my experience and not associated with the Nu Derm line. I also got my fifth random compliment from family and friends on how good my skin looked. The compliments started early on, but really became more common in the tenth week and forward.
Some unattractive peeling on the cheeks areas came into play during Weeks 11 and 12. This peeling, like the dryness in the eye area the week prior, seemed linked to the change in season and less humidity in the air. I added a gentle moisturizer from Cetaphil as the last step in my night time routine to add some moisture back to the skin and minimize peeling. Otherwise my skin was looking great at this point, with little to no sensitivity or redness.
The dryness associated with dryer winter air was more pronounced during weeks 13 and 14. I was using the Cetaphil moisturizer twice a day and when I applied it I applied larger than normal amounts and left a layer of the moisturizer on top of my skin to allow even more to penetrate overnight. This also marked another round of comments from family and friends about how great my skin was looking, even with some peeling associated with the winter-related dryness.
During weeks 15 and 16 I noticed a firmness to my skin that was absent prior to using the Nu Derm line. Prior to beginning the 18 week Nu Derm program I didn’t realize that my skin lacked firmness, but the subtle change was definitely there towards the end of the 18 weeks.
The final entry in my series of Obagi Nu Derm reviews I experienced a bit more sun exposure again. This was an accidental exposure, of small bits of walking around a school campus interspersed with being indoors during the winter time, but it still felt a bit tender and sensitive later that day. Just one more final reminder that sunscreen does not work all day and does indeed need to be reapplied from time to time. All in all, though, my results are more than worth the side effects from this aggressive skin care regimen.
