About four weeks ago, I told you about my issues with hyper-pigmentation and mentioned some products I planned to try. I also promised an update once I have my routine figured out and that’s what this post is about. For me, using the same products day in, day out is very difficult, so I still rotate some of them: mostly cleansers, but sometimes also acids and moisturisers and other things.

The bright (hah!) side is that being disciplined seems to be working. The discoloured areas on my forehead and cheeks are definitely less visible. About a week ago, I left the house without any foundation on – something I refused to do right after the holidays, when the damage was the worst. I assume some of the improvement is simply down to time and fading, but I’m quite convinced I would not have seen such progress in less than a month without a targeted skincare regimen (and diligent SPF use!).

As always, when you introduce several new products to your routine, it’s difficult to say what exactly is making the difference. That said, I’ve also used all the heavy hitters on my list alone at least once and I started them at slightly different times. Based on my observations, overall results and ‘female intuition’*, I’m inclined to think that these are all effective products. Possibly even more noteworthy than the fading of the sunspots is the fact that I managed to go through my cycle this month without any breakouts – I cannot remember the last time this happened. And believe me, my eating and sleeping habits have not improved.

In a way, I think it’s not that important what the exact products are that I’m using, it’s more about focusing on my main concern and being consistent. Obviously, the products need to be good quality, but you could use a different retinol and different brightening serum, as long as you use them every night and day. Please keep in mind, however, that I have very, very rarely any problems with retinol products or strong acids. If you are more sensitive, you may need to be more careful.

These are the products I’ve been using:

MORNING
1. Cleanser: Zelens Z Pure Cleansing Liquid Balm. Cleansers change, but I use this one often in the mornings – it’s very nice, with a lovely texture, but too expensive for what it is.
2. Acid toner: Radical Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads. Excellent pads, rivaling my all-time-favourite Zelens ones.
3. Essence: SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. I use this basically as an amped-up toner. If you are a disciple of Caroline Hirons – this is what I do in the spritz phase.
4. Serum: Oskia Renaissance Brightlight. One reason I use the essence is that it makes this serum less tacky, I apply it when the face is still damp. Otherwise, great ingredients, no complaints.
5. Eye cream: Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Eye Cream. Officially my favourite eye cream. Results.
6. Moisturiser: Kate Somerville Nourish or SK-II R.N.A. Power. I don’t like this Kate Somerville cream as much as I thought I would. It’s a perfectly good product, but it’s not love (partly because of the smell). I have therefore been using my SK-II mini quite a lot, too.
7. SPF: Eve Lom Daily Protection SPF 50. If there’s one good thing that came out of my sun spot saga, it’s that I’ve become really good at using sunscreen. Most days it’s this one.

EVENING
1. First cleanse: Caudalie Make-Up Remover Cleansing Oil. Great product, still love it.
2. Second cleanse: Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser. This one is my new love, probably my favourite cleanser at the moment – a soft, gentle, effective (it works as a first cleanse, too) balm in a tube. It has a very sweet smell, but weirdly, I love even that.
3. Acid toner: Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Peel. These are supposed to be used as a treatment, once or twice a week, but I used them almost nightly with great results and no ill effects. Well, with the unfortunate effect that now I’m out of them. I’ve ordered the serum.
4. Serum: Dr Brandt Overnight Resurfacing Serum. This is empty now (I had used some of it earlier already, although not consistently) and I’ve been very happy with it. But not happy enough to stop me from trying something else (see above). I have been using Ren Bio Retinoid Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate Oil in the mean time and like this, too.
5. Eye cream: Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Eye Cream. The only product that features on both morning and evening lists. Enough said. Have ordered another one.
6. Moisturiser: Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream. Very nice, this. It’s like those trendy Asian water creams, but with some added action.

To answer the question in the title, I’m not quite there yet, but I’m a happy traveller at the moment. I will make some changes to my routine – mostly because I’ve run out of product – and come back for another update. If you’d like to hear more about any of the products mentioned above, let me know. Things can be arranged.

*I’m being sarcastic. I hate that phrase.