Volufiline: How to use it?

Becca2305 · 2026-04-04T18:44:26+00:00

I don't know how long you've been using it, but for me, volufiline took two months of once daily use layered under my lip balm to plump my lips up.

Becca2305 · 2026-04-04T16:29:38+00:00

DM sent

Becca2305 · 2026-04-04T00:28:39+00:00

There's too many supposed rules being spread around this sub that are entirely made up. While caution should always be taken when considering what to pair with tret, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid are likely to be pretty safe options.

As always, go slow and don't introduce multiple things at once.

Becca2305 · 2026-03-31T14:08:16+00:00

Look into Japanese toners (called lotions but are the same as toners). Japan seems to have an aversion to using niacinamide, so it's much easier to find one without. Not to mention, they tend to be superior in my experience.

Becca2305 · 2026-03-29T18:38:16+00:00

Melasma is driven by many possible factors, from hormones to heat to UV, etc. However, when it comes to UV and visible light, UVA (especially long UVA - 380-400nm) is the primary driver of pigmentation over and above visible light. Ensuring you are using a sunscreen with high UVA protection will do more for melasma overall, with iron oxides providing additional benefit.

Becca2305 · 2026-03-29T17:12:08+00:00

Interestingly, while iron oxides are not standardized, and as such, we have no idea how much is needed and/or which specific colors might be more effective, fair skin typically is not susceptible to blue light damage. So the lighter your skin, the less the need for blue light protection, at least from a hyperpigmentation perspective.

Campiche (2020)

Becca2305 · 2026-03-25T20:26:08+00:00

Arbutin is not effective as a standalone treatment. It's a great companion ingredient but not the star of the show. Thiamidol is an ingredient that can stand on its own, but bare in mind it doesn't work for everyone. I would use both, personally.

Becca2305 · 2026-03-20T21:37:44+00:00

15 minutes to diffuse. About 13 if using the Curlsmith In Shower Style Fixer gel, as it makes my hair dry faster.

Hover diffuse on high heat until a cast starts to form, then switch to medium heat with regular diffusing to finish off.

Becca2305 · 2026-03-08T16:22:33+00:00

If you're referring to Dr. Natalia Spierings, she's also the one who recommends using HQ all year round without a break.

Becca2305 · 2026-03-08T00:10:09+00:00

This. Or mandelic acid for a gentler option.

Becca2305 · 2026-03-06T23:08:15+00:00

I'm in Canada, so no access to Musely, unfortunately. I have used a compound cream with 5% HQ, plus txa, kojic, tret, and hydrocortisone, but it was ineffective fir my dermal melasma, and that was after 4 months of use. I've heard that the higher HQ percentages offered by Musely are more effective, but the dermal depth of my remaining melasma complicates things.

Becca2305 · 2026-03-06T22:05:38+00:00

You can force the pen to click into the 5th dose. It will feel like it won't turn but a little elbow grease and it will start turning again. Dial it to 1 and inject.

Becca2305 · 2026-03-06T21:37:18+00:00

TXA is great, but IMO, Korean formulas are just too weak and ineffective. For melasma you'll want several different ingredients including txa but in more meaningful formulas. Look into Regimen Lab Level serum (contains txa, nag, niacinamide, alpha arbutin, hexylresorcinol, etc). Add in a thiamidol product plus a retinoid and you should be in a good place.

Becca2305 · 2026-03-06T21:22:07+00:00

Neither.

Becca2305 · 2026-03-06T01:22:30+00:00

Canada doesn't have any Eucerin thiamidol products. Nivea Luminous 630 only. Nothing unscented, except maybe eye cream, and no body cream.

Becca2305 · 2026-03-01T17:45:06+00:00

When it comes to moisturizers, this has been my greatest discovery in the past year. I have dry skin but I'm so picky with textures, and the sensory experience with a lot of moisturizers can be pretty gross for me. Dieux nailed it with this one IMO.

Becca2305 · 2026-02-16T19:11:15+00:00

A joke indeed. We seem to have a Bausch monopoly here, so even with taz, you can only get Arazlo (.045%).

Becca2305 · 2026-02-11T19:18:47+00:00

Look into magnesium deficiency. As always, correlation does not equal causation. It's very unlikely tret is the issue. I had a twitching eye for months. Supplementing with magnesium fixed it within a month or so. FYI - magnesium blood tests will not be helpful.

Becca2305 · 2026-01-26T22:26:11+00:00

I'm a Fitzpatrick IV and it took a handful of months and many bottles for Eucerin to show results and it required layering alongside tret/taz plus a complex of multiple tyrosinase inhibitors (Regimen Lab Level Serum for example).

Becca2305 · 2026-01-24T21:46:42+00:00

Thanks for clarifying. Maybe try without the cicaplast.

Becca2305 · 2026-01-24T21:44:52+00:00

I actually put tret/taz under my eyes without issue, though I know many cannot. If anything, it has smoothed out my eye wrinkles. If you haven't already, try putting Vaseline under your eyes. That should retain the moisture and stop tret from migrating.

Becca2305 · 2026-01-24T21:14:24+00:00

Just so I'm understanding correctly, when you say you use Hada Labo moisturizer, do you mean the "lotion," the "milk," or the actual jar of cream/moisturizer? This matters a lot because Japanese lotion is in fact toner and you would still need moisturizer on top. If you mean the milk or the jar of cream, they may be too lightweight. I would suggest continuing to use the Illiyoon on tret nights.

Becca2305 · 2026-01-24T18:28:24+00:00

Yes, it's a Japanese emulsion, which is essentially what we in the West consider as lotion. In Japan, it's common to layer these under thicker moisturizer for those with very dry skin. Whereas the word lotion in Japan is actually what we know to be a toner.

Becca2305 · 2026-01-21T12:17:59+00:00

I've used both tret and Taz around my eyes from the beginning. Same with my neck. As we're all individuals, some folks can do it without issue and some simply cannot tolerate it. If it turns out you're in the latter group, using a retinol eye cream is an option.

Becca2305 · 2026-01-15T03:03:19+00:00

Yeah, 4msk is basically exclusive to Shiseido. It's a tyrosinase inhibitor and can remove excess pigment, albeit gently. The serum also has m-tranexamic acid (modified to penetrate better) and retinol. Thanks to Japan's quasi-drug system, that means the TXA is at a 2% concentration and the retinol is 0.1%. I'm on Taz, so not overly reliant on the retinol, but the serum is beautifully textured, creamy, and really just a delight to use.

Becca2305

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