Guide Skin Mega Guide (UPDATED) (3 Viewers)

[DirtbagTeenager]

How long did this take, should def make a thread on this

Planning on making one on this! but my transformation took around almost two years oral isotret had the heavy lifting BUT I was hyper responsive to it so not all people get the same results and it has risk for your lipids

 

[pussyeater]

GHK-cu topical

for topical, if i cant make one myself whatd you use?

 

[misanthrope]

Dutasteride

Biology/ How it works

It is a novel dual 5α-reductase inhibitor. This means it stops both Type I and II DHT from being converted from test.

Benefits

Practically stops the production of type 1 DHT which is the form of DHT which causes the greatest damage to the skin. (26)

Negatives

ED is a potential side effect. Although this is very uncommon side effect it is still noteworthy. The study shows after 6 months around 4-6% got ed. However what’s really interesting is after 2 years it shows that ed was similar to that of the placebo group. (27)

Dosing/ Information

The best dosage of Dutasteride for the most benefits is 0.5-10 mg per day.

Final verdict

Dutasteride should be a staple in your looksmaxxing routine. Practically no negatives and only upsides

For these reasons I’m giving it a 10/10

amazing thread but isn't 10mg of dutasteride pure rap? surely you meant 1

 

[Alyx]

for topical, if i cant make one myself whatd you use?

It's Cope.

 

[iCarly]

dnrd

 

[brownkeephittin]

Mirin great thread

 

[mtn ethnic]

Some of you might know I made a skin mega guide on .org. So I thought I might as well make one here. However it’s .gg so I made this thread bigger (8 more products than the .org thread) and corrected all the previous mistakes I made.

So hope you guys enjoy.

Btw this is the theme song of the thread.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x51YI9fROWw

Spoiler: Read before starting

Read Before starting

Each section will have 5 sections

Biology/ How it works- how the product/ peptide/ drug works

Benefits- some of the benefits you can experience

Negatives- the side effects

Dosing/ information- how to use the product/ peptide/ drug

Final verdict- a score out of 10 the higher the score the better

Spoiler: 0 carb Diet

0 carb Diet

Biology/ How it works

0 carbs diet work for improving skin by reducing insulin and IGF-1 levels. It also reduces advanced glycation end-products.

Benefits

Reduced inflammation. However 0 carb diets haven’t specifically been studied for inflammation low carb diets have and it’s been shown to reduce inflammation. Therefore we can concur that 0 carb diets will have a similar effect or be even more effective. This in turn will reduce acne as it is caused by inflammation (1)

Negatives

Reduces motor unit recruitment which worsens your gym performance and growth (2)

Dosing/ information

Just eat 0 carbs in a day.

Final verdict

0 carb diets have been shown to reduce acne and theoretically can decrease aging. However I think the benefits are overrated and side effects are kinda brutal.

That being said I’m going to give it 5.5/10, a decent method but not a must.

Spoiler: Adapalene

Adapalene

Biology/ How it works

It works by binding to specific RAR’s (nuclear retinoic acid receptors) which then upregulates genes that help with differentiation and improves keratinocyte shedding. The two main RAR’s that adapalene binds to are RARb (Beta) and RARy(Gamma). In addition Adapalene gel inhibits AP-1 transcription factor and TLR signaling.

Benefits

It is less irritating than other retinols like Tretenoin due to not/ minimally binding to RARa receptor which is associated with most of the retinoids problems. This means Adapalene has less severe negatives than the other retinoids we’ll cover in this thread. (3)

Reduces acne through less inflammation and improved keratinocyte shedding. And has been shown to be a better acne treatment than Tretenoin (0.025%) (4)

Anti aging effects due to improved keratinocyte shedding. (5)

Negatives

However due to not binding to the RARa Adapalene will be weaker than other retinoids like Tarazotene. (3)

It makes you more photosensitive due to a two-part process involving cellular turnover and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). (6)

Dosing/ information

Apply 1-1.5 pea sized amounts for the whole face. Then apply moisturizer to not dry out your skin. As well as using sunscreen due to the photosensitivity effects.

Final verdict

Adapalene is a useful retinoid if you have very sensitive skin. However it has less powerful effects than other retinoids like Tarazotene.

I’m going to give it 6.5/10, a decent product for people with hyper sensitive skin but only useful for <1% of people

Spoiler: Alfatradiol

Alfatradiol

Biology/ How it works

Alfatradiol is 17𝛼-estradiol. It is basically a weaker form of 17β-estradiol. It works by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase through estrogen receptors. This means it reduces testosterone conversion to DHT. Alfatradiol also binds weakly to estrogen receptors and has very low estrogenic effects

Benefits

It reduces DHT levels (because it reduces the conversion of testosterone to DHT) which can contribute to aging your skin. (7)

It has weak estrogen effects so their estrogen levels will remain practically unchanged. (8)

Negatives

Slight irritation and dryness. (7)

Not as powerful as other 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors in this thread (9)

Dosing/ information

Use a dropper to apply the solution to your face like any other serum. Make sure to apply across your whole face.

Final verdict

Alfatradiol is basically a weaker version of 17β-estradiol but only with its ability to reduce the 5-alpha-reductase. But even then there are more superior methods to do so like Dutasteride(inhibits type 1 and 2 dht).

That’s why I’m giving it a 4/10

Spoiler: Aqualyx

Aqualyx

Biology/ How it works

Aqualyx or Deoxycholic acid breaks down cells by disrupting their membranes, leading to a process called adipocytolysis. This process ends in the fat cells death. Efferocytosis removes the remains of the dying fat cells. It mostly affects low-protein subcutaneous fat, sparing protein-rich tissues like muscle and skin due to how it is weakened by albumin and proteins. This means you don’t need to worry about losing collagen using Aqualyx

Benefits

The main benefit of Aqualyx in terms of for your skin is in improving your Nasolabial folds. It does this because the malar fat pads can contribute to your Nasolabial folds, it’s not the root cause, but it exaggerates what’s already there. Aqualyx will basically reduce this fat pad which will improve your Nasolabial folds. Obviously the more severe Nasolabial folds need other methods like dermal filler or surgery to fix.

Negatives

Won’t fix your nasolabial folds if it’s more a bone structure problem. As Aqualyx removes the fat around the Nasolabial area to make it appear less recessed.

Dosing/ information

View attachment 25539

Inject 0.05-0.1ml of Aqualyx into the blue areas (they should be about 1.5-2cm spacing between each injection site). Use a 31 G (6mm) needle to inject.

Final verdict

Aqualyx is a very useful tool in reducing Nasolabial folds and if combined with filler it can eradicate them completely. However if we focus completely on Aqualyx itself, because it is not able to change the actual bone structure, it has to be lower than something like filler.

That’s why I’m giving it a 6.5/10

Spoiler: BB cream

BB cream

Biology/ How it works

BB cream is a multifunctional skincare and makeup hybrid. It provides light to medium coverage through pigments (similar to foundation)

Benefits

BB clears/ covers up blemishes.

Most BB creams don’t contain ingredients that irritate your skin like other makeup products might.

Negatives

Can look uncanny if you overdo it, or just put it on your face and forget your neck.

Can cause acne if left on for too long

Dosing/ information

Squeeze a pea-sized amount onto your hand. Use your fingertips to put the product on your face. Making sure to cover your whole face as well your neck.

Final verdict

BB cream can be a mogger product for your skin, and is one of the best makeup products. However due to how it can sometimes look obvious and being mogged by CC cream it isn’t quite top tier

I think I have to give it a 7.5/10

Spoiler: Blush

Blush

Biology/ How it works

It’s usually made of red-coloured talcum-based powder, the colouring is often made from safflowers or carmine.

It works by adding color to your face

Benefits

It improves coloring and makes you look more youthful (10)

Negatives

Can be obvious if you overdo it

Dosing/ information

Use a small amount of blush. Blend it upwards and outwards from the top of your cheekbones, starting around where your pupils are and going towards your hairline. Do a circular motion and build the color slowly. Make sure to blend thoroughly.

Final verdict

Blush can be a useful color maxxing tool however it is not a necessity to use as the results are subtle.

That’s why I’m giving it a 6/10

Spoiler: Botox

Botox

Biology/ How it works

Botox is the brand name for botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin. It works by temporarily relaxing muscles which block nerve signals.

Benefits

Reduces wrinkles by temporarily relaxing muscles which soften the appearance of wrinkles. (11)

It also is a preventative measure for wrinkles in the future. (12)

Reduced pores by blocking nerve signals to the oil glands, and by relaxing the muscles attached to the hair follicles. (13)

Negatives

If you over inject it’s possible to look unnatural

Dosing/ information

There are two types of uses you can use botox for in terms of the skin

1. Microbotox for your skin/ oil production
2. Proper Botox for wrinkles and/ or wrinkle prevention

How to do microbotox?

It involves injecting a diluted solution of Botox into the superficial layers of the skin

How to inject Botox for wrinkle?

Inject Botox into the specific muscle that causes the wrinkle. The amount to actually inject depends on the specific muscle and how badly the wrinkling is

Final verdict

Botox is an extremely useful and versatile tool for the skin and has few side effects if done correctly

That’s why I’m giving it a 8.5/10

Spoiler: CB-03-01

CB-03-01

Biology/ How it works

CB-03-01 (cortexolone 17α-propionate, Clascoterone) competes with natural androgens, mostly DHT, for binding to androgen receptors in skin cells. Because it binds to the androgen receptors with high affinity, it prevents androgens from attaching and activating the receptor. This prevents androgen-receptor binding, CB-03-01 halts the signaling cascade which promotes acne.

Benefits

CB-03-01 has been FDA approved since 2020 as a first class topical treatment of acne. (14)

It also is a powerful Anti androgen meaning it reduces the amount of androgens like DHT from fucking up your skin. (15)

Negatives

It doesn’t really have many risks the main ones being low rates of skin irritation (16)

Dosing/ information

Make sure to make it topically for yourself, and use a dropper to apply the solution to your face like any other serum. Make sure to apply it evenly and everywhere.

How to make it topically yourself

Create a solution of 1:1:1 ratio of Ethanol, Propelyneglycol, and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, because as stated in this patent it is most effective solvent (17).

Then add the amount of CB-03-01 you want to make your percentage. For example if you wanted a 5% solution you’d need 50mg CB per ml of solvent.

Final verdict

CB is extremely useful tool for your skin as not only is it a AA but also FDA approved.

That’s why I’m giving it 9.5/10

Spoiler: CC cream

CC cream

Biology/ How it works

BB cream is a multifunctional skincare and makeup hybrid. It works by using color-correcting pigments to reduce discoloration on your skin. For example, green pigments counteract redness.

Benefits

Can cover up blemishes and imperfections.

Can creates a more appealing skin tone.

Negatives

Can cause acne if left on for too long

Dosing/ information

Squeeze a pea-sized amount onto your hand. Use your fingertips to put the product on your face. Making sure to cover your whole face as well as covering your neck.

Final verdict

CC cream is a must for anyone. It has practically no failos as well as being less obvious and more effective than BB cream. It’s a must for everyone who’s skin maxxing

That’s why I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Chemical peel

Chemical peel

Biology/ How it works

It works by applying a chemical solution to the skin, which causes an injury to the outer layers of your skin, promoting exfoliation and shedding of damaged skin cells.

Benefits

Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines (18)

Reduces acne scars (19)

Reduces uneven skin coloring (18)

Increases collagen (18)

Negatives

Temporary redness as well as irritation (20)

Weaker chemical peels are far less effective

Dosing/ Information

Cleanse your face before applying the chemical peel solution. Protect sensitive areas with petroleum jelly, then apply an even coat of the chemical peel solution to your skin. Leave it on for the recommended amount of time or less. Remove the peel and apply a neutralizing solution.

Final verdict

Weak chemical peels are far less effective than stronger ones. However if you go for a stronger chemical peel they come with a bunch of benefits and should be done every so often

For this reason I’m giving it a 7/10

Spoiler: Cleanser

Cleanser

Biology/ How it works

They contain agents that lower the surface tension of water, allowing them to emulsify oil-soluble substances so they become water-soluble and can be rinsed off.

Benefits

Removes away dirt, makeup, sunscreen, oils so they don’t stay on your skin and potentially give you acne. (21)

Negatives

You can over cleanse and strip too much of the natural oils and make your skin overly dry.

Dosing/ Information

wet your face with lukewarm water, apply a small amount of cleanser, and gently massage it into your skin. Rinse with lukewarm water, then gently dry your skin with a towel

Final verdict

It’s a must in your skincare routine. However it doesn’t really have any significant effect other than getting rid of makeup and sunscreen

For this reason I’m giving it a 6.5/10

Spoiler: CO2 laser

CO2 laser

Biology/ How it works

It works by directing a powerful beam of infrared light at the skin. This is then absorbed by water molecules, causing controlled damage.

Benefits

Better at Reducing acne scars than micro needling (22)

Improve collagen (23)

Reduces wrinkles and fine lines significantly (24)

Negatives

Dryness and peeling are the main side effect. However they subside after a couple of weeks. (25)

Dosing/ Information

consult with a qualified dermatologist or plastic surgeon

Final verdict

CO2 laser has tons of upsides with minimal to no side effects. It should be done at least once every one to two years

For this reason I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Concealer

Concealer

Biology/ How it works

Concealer provides full coverage of the targeted area through pigments

Benefits

Covers up imperfections and bigger pimples that CC cream or BB cream couldn’t

Negatives

More obvious and easier to look overdone

Can cause acne if left on for too long

Dosing/ Information

Dot concealer on areas of imperfection and blend outwards using a damp sponge or your fingers. Use CC cream or BB cream as well to get a more natural look

Final verdict

Concealer if done right can be an effective way for concealing your imperfections. However, because most people either have minimal imperfections or will reduce them through skinmaxxing, concealer eventually becomes unnecessary.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 6/10

Spoiler: Dutasteride

Dutasteride

Biology/ How it works

It is a novel dual 5α-reductase inhibitor. This means it stops both Type I and II DHT from being converted from test.

Benefits

Practically stops the production of type 1 DHT which is the form of DHT which causes the greatest damage to the skin. (26)

Negatives

ED is a potential side effect. Although this is very uncommon side effect it is still noteworthy. The study shows after 6 months around 4-6% got ed. However what’s really interesting is after 2 years it shows that ed was similar to that of the placebo group. (27)

Dosing/ Information

The best dosage of Dutasteride for the most benefits is 0.5-10 mg per day.

Final verdict

Dutasteride should be a staple in your looksmaxxing routine. Practically no negatives and only upsides

For these reasons I’m giving it a 10/10

Spoiler: Epitalon

Epitalon

Biology/ How it works

Epitalon enhances telomerase activity, which protects telomeres from shortening during cell division.

Benefits

Delays cellular aging by up to 25% (27)

provides antioxidant and mitochondrial protection (28)

Negatives

Theoretically it can increase cancer but real world evidence has proven the opposite to be true (29)

Dosing/ Information

The most optimal dosing is 10mg/day for a 10-day cycle every 6 months

Final verdict

Epitalon has very few negatives whilst having pretty decent benand should be cycled for any true skin maxxer

For these reasons I’m giving it a 7.5/10

Spoiler: Face lift

Face lift

Biology/ How it works

A face lift is done by making incisions, around the hairline and ears,then the surgeon removes excess skin, as well as repositions fat and tissue, and then closes the incisions.

Benefits

Tightens sagging skin, which can create the impression of fewer wrinkles (30)

Negatives

It’s quite expensive (can range from £15,000-£50,000).(31)

Scarring is a slim chance, but still a chance nonetheless (32)

Same with hematoma (blood pooling under the skin), it’s a slim chance but still noteworthy (33)

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

Final verdict

Due to the cost and lackluster results I believe this surgery to be ineffective for most people. However for a very tiny percent this surgery might be worthwhile

For these reasons I’m giving it a 3/10

Spoiler: Fake tan

Fake tan

Biology/ How it works

Fake tan works through a chemical reaction between an ingredient, typically dihydroxyacetone, and the amino acids in the outer layer of your skin. This reaction produces a brown pigment called melanoidin.

Benefits

You can get a tan without damaging your skin

Negatives

Can look a bit uncanny if overdone

If you buy the wrong tanner you can get acne from it

Dosing/ Information

I’d recommend using this tanner and leaving it on for 3-4 hours.

Final verdict

Fake tans can be a very effective way to get a tan though I think there are some better ways to get the same results and ones that look more natural.

For this reasons I’m giving it a 6.5/10

Spoiler: Fat Grafting

Fat Grafting

Biology/ How it works

by removing fat from one part of the body, processing it, and then injecting it into another area.

Benefits

It improve wrinkles by restoring volume (34)

Could fix Nasolabial folds by restoring volume. (35)

This is basically a permanent version of fillers (which I’ll cover in the next section)

Negatives

Can be quite expensive (between £2,000 all the way up to £8,000)(36)

Can make you look fat if not properly done

Can’t control the exact increase in fat, due to some of the donor fat dying off (37)

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

Final verdict

It’s an effective method for increasing collagen especially in a specific area. However considering the price and how filler can do practically the same thing for cheaper.

I’m giving it a 7/10

Spoiler: Filler

Filler

Biology/ How it works

For this section I’m specifically talking about collagen fillers.

It restores volume through filler by triggering the body's own production of collagen through injectable substances like poly-L-lactic acid or calcium hydroxylapatite

Benefits

Smooths fine lines and wrinkles by restoring volume. (38)

Can fix Nasolabial folds by restoring volume. (39)

Improves collagen by 50-150% (40)

Negatives

Risk of having an uncanny/ pillow face look if you overfill.

Risk of migrations however this is usually under 1% (41)

Dosing/ Information

Injection into the areas which you feel you are lacking collagen in. Use a filler which stimulates collagen like Calcium Hydroxylapatite and get it done by a professional as collagen fillers can last up to 18 months. Inject into areas like Nasolabial folds and your forehead area.

Final verdict

It’s mostly pointless for those with no wrinkles etc who are looking to increasing their overall collagen. However it is the most effective method for an increase collagen in a specific area.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 7/10

Spoiler: Fluorouracil

Fluorouracil

Biology/ how it work

Now first off what is 5-FU used for?

Well it’s widely used as a chemotherapy medication to treat various cancers and to treat actinic keratosis (similarly to Tirbanibulin).

How does it work?

5-FU is a pyrimidine analog (meaning it looks a lot like Uracil and Thymine). This means that enzymes mistake it for legitimate nucleotides, thus acting similarly to a competitive inhibitor. Though differing from it in the sense it is effectively irreversible. This is due to 5-FU actually being a pro drug in the cell for 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine monophosphate (I’m gonna call it C₉H₁₂FN₂O₈P for short). To clarify 5-FU does not directly form C₉H₁₂FN₂O₈P but rather theres an intermediate metabolite of 5-faluoro-2′-deoxyuridine. C₉H₁₂FN₂O₈P forms a stable covalent ternary complex with thymidylate synthase. Thus preventing the formation of deoxythymidine monophosphate (precursor for deoxythymidine triphosphate which is the actual form of thymidine used by DNA polymerase during DNA replication) and so prevents cell replication. Thus eventually leading to the cells death.

5-FU is also incorporated into the RNA disruptting RNA folding and protein synthesis.

In addition it targets more specifically harmful cells which divide more rapidly (e.g. actinic keratoses, precancerous cells etc). It doesn’t harm healthy cells as much because they divide slower.

Benefits

Now what’s the benefit of actually using 5-FU.

Well we can target and eliminate sun damaged skin. This is through as stated earlier being a pyrimidine analog.

Now although it’s not its primary use (which is as a chemotherapy treatment for skin) it has been used for a while by dermatologists to do reduce sun damage.

It’s also been touted as the most effective field directed therapy for reducing AK counts in sun damaged skin compared to other topical agents.

Now why does this matter?

Well 5-FU could reverse skin damage from tanning. Minimizing the negative effects of the sun enabling us to tan more regularly.

It’s also much stronger and selective than an alternative I’ll go over later called Klysri which also can reduce sun damage.

Negatives

redness is common (42)

Crusting, scaling are both common (43)

Erosions / oozing is rather common (43)

Burning, stinging, pain isn’t rare (43)

Swelling isn’t uncommon to experience (43)

Treatment can last for 2-6 weeks meaning recovery can last 6-8 weeks.

It’s also not perfectly selective meaning it could potentially damage healthy cells.

Also if you’re darker skinned you could get pigmentation.

Dosing/ Information

Now whats the optimal percentage to use?

Well theres 3 main percentages used 0.5%, 1% and 5%. 0.5% is used for individuals with sensitive skin (though if you do have this I’d opt for Klyrsi instead). 1% isn’t shown to have any significant difference from 0.5% so I wouldn’t use it. Finally 5% is the most well studied concentration as well as being the most effective.

Some studies do show a higher effectiveness when combined with Calcipotriol (0.005%) however it’s not a must. If you’re combing add a 1:1 ratio of Calc and 5-FU as a solution. Just under a pea sized amount of each. (44)

Now how long should you use it for?

Well standard 5-FU 5% is usually used for once or twice a day for 2-4 weeks. Stopping when reach brisk erythema and/ or crusting, not full ulceration. Downtime is usually 4-8 weeks.

However 5-FU 5% + Calc is only used twice a day for 4 days. Relying more on immune activation rather than prolonged cytotoxic injury. Downtime is usually 2-3 weeks.

People usually cycle this every year.

For application use a pea sized amount of 5-FU and apply it all over your face.

Final Verdict

5-FU could potentially be an invaluable tool especially for those who are tanning. It mogs Klysri in terms of effectiveness but it’s got more side effects especially for those with sensitive skin.

That being said I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: GHK-cu injection

GHK-cu injection

Biology/ How it works

It works by binding with copper ions, acting as a naturally occurring human signaling peptide

Benefits

Good at anti aging (45)

Has has shown to have good collagen results however not as good as topical (46)

theoretically GHK-cu could be more effective than topical as it could penetrate deeper into the dermis and could have higher bioavailability. However this hasn’t been proven

Negatives

Has been shown to reduce IGF-1 levels (47)

It has very limited studies to prove its effectiveness compared to topical

It takes a while to actually see results

Dosing/ Information

First reconstitute the peptide

You can do this by following these steps

Use around 3ml (300 units) of water per 50 mg of GHK cu

First, gather your supplies;

1 vial of GHK cu (50 mg)
1 vial/ampule of water (use bacteriostatic if you’re only concerned with collagen/ skin but use Phosphate Buffered Saline if you want all the benefits)
1 syringe
1 alcohol swap

1. Take your GHK cu vial and take off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper. Wipe with the antibacterial swab.

2.Draw 3.0 mL of bacteriostatic water/ Phosphate Buffered Saline into a sterile syringe.

3.Inject the water slowly along the vial wall to reduce foaming.

4.Gently swirl the vial—avoid vigorous shaking.

5.Store the reconstituted solution at 2–8 °C (refrigerator), protected from light.

For best results inject it in your face. Your cheeks are probably the best.

Recommended dosages is to start at 2.5 mg every day to help your body acclimatize to the peptide and minimize the side effects. You can continue with this dose indefinitely if you are intending to do a low dosage regimen. But if you want to increase it titrate it up to 10-20 mg as this is most optimal (most people underdose quite significantly and so see barely any benefits).

Make sure to split the doses to 2-3 times a day because of it only having a ~2 hours. For example if you want to inject 3 mg a day inject 1 mg of it in the morning, 1 mg at midday and 1 mg at the end of the day.

Final verdict

GHK-cu injectable is a good peptide with strong results if you stay consistent as well as minimal downsides. However it’s not as effective as topical.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 7.5/10

Spoiler: GHK-cu topical

GHK-cu topical

Biology/ How it works

It works by binding to copper ions, acting as a naturally occurring human signaling peptide

Benefits

Effective in removing acne scars (48)

Good anti aging effects (49)

Good at improving collagen and Directly targets the skin (50)

Has far more studies backing up its benefits rather than injectable

Negatives

the amount absorbed by the skin is uncertain and likely lower than injectable GHK-cu

Dosing/ Information

I’d recommend making it yourself rather than buying it online.

You can do this by:

First approximately weigh out percentages of 1.2% GHK-Cu, 0.8% Carbopol 934, 3.0% Transcutol P, 0.7% Triethanolamine, and 94.3% distilled water.

First dissolve the GHK-Cu in water, dispersing Carbopol in water, mixing the two, and adding Transcutol P,

Finally add Triethanolamine to achieve a pH of approximately 7.4 (0.7% is merely a approximation and what was done in the patent but could be more or less just make sure to get the gel to a pH of 7.4),

Doing all these steps should result in a stable, translucent blue gel.

You can obviously add more GHK-cu if you want but the patent found this to be most preferable (51)

It has a ~4-12 hour half life meaning it’s optimal to do it AM and PM.

To apply it, use a dropper to apply the solution to your face like any other serum. Make sure to apply it evenly and everywhere.

Final verdict

GHK-cu topical is a miracle peptide with very good results if you stay consistent . In addition to basically no downsides. However it should be a staple in everyone’s skin maxxing stack

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: GT 20029

GT 20029

Biology/ How it works

uses a proteolysis-targeting chimera mechanism to degrade androgen receptors reducing the sensitivity to androgens like DHT. By breaking down the AR, it prevents androgens from binding.

Benefits

It has completed phase 1 in clinical trials in China, showing a good safety profile and promising results for skin. Although phase 2 and 3 haven’t been completed yet so the results might not be as good as initially thought. However the results might be even better (52)

It has the strongest theoretical anti androgen effect on this list. Although no actual studies have been done on this based on current available data, GT20029 appears to be the most effective AA in this thread.

Negatives

It’s extremely hard to source it reliably

No studies for the long term use yet.

Dosing/ Information

There is no information online about making it so I messaged the research team

View attachment 25540

But they never responded

This means rn it’s impossible to make it or use it.

However they plan to release more information about GT in the coming months or years so fingers crossed they can talk about their formulation.

Final Verdict

Right now it would get a 0/10 as you can’t physically make it. However in the next few years (I’m expecting late 2020’s to early 2030’s) it will become readily available (and we’ll learn about the formulation) and when it does it will be the most effective product on the market

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9.5/10 (in the future)

Spoiler: HGH

HGH

Biology/ How it works

It works by mimicking the body's endogenous human growth hormone (HGH), binding to specific receptors on cells

Benefits

HGH can make your skin look younger by improving elasticity and reducing wrinkles. It also helps your body produce collagen (53)

HGH helps improve sleep quality, so you get deeper, more restful sleep. Which can indirectly affect your skin. (54)

Negatives

Could lead to organ growth (55)

May cause also lead to bloat (56)

As well as draining your thyroid (57)

It may also lead to hyperglycemia due to promoting insulin resistance. (58)

Dosing/ Information

There are 2 different types of HGH regular and pharma, each with different ways of injecting

First, we’ll cover regular HGH

First reconstitute the peptide by adding 1 ml of bac per 10 IU of HGH. Then inject the bac water into your HGH vial.

Now each 10 units on an insulin syringe equals 1 IU of HGH. If you’re aiming for 4 IU of HGH, you’d fill the syringe up to the 40-unit mark.

Once you have your dosage inject it into your belly area, around 3 fingers away from the navel. Clean the skin, pinch it, insert the needle and inject slowly.

Now for pharma

Set the desired dose on the HGH pen, inject it into your belly area, around 3 fingers away from the navel. Clean the skin, pinch it, insert the needle and inject slowly.

Inject 2-4 IU’s and always inject at night.

Final Verdict

HGH has some decent skin improvement properties. However I wouldn’t recommend taking it for skin improvements, instead I’d think of all the benefits you get as a indirect side effect

For these reasons I’m giving it a 5.5/10

Spoiler: Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone

Biology/ How it works

Hydroquinone lightens skin color through reducing melanin overtime. It does this by blocking tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is the enzyme which melanocytes use to make melanin, thus disrupting this process.

Another thing it does is disrupt melanosomes so pigments dont transfer as easily to surrounding cells.

Benefits

The biggest upside to hydroquinone it has been shown to lighten your skin. With a randomized, double-blind trial 2003 study showing that it works and is more effective than a ‘skin whitening complex’. (59)

Negatives

Hydroquinone may cause skin irritation. (60)

It also rarely causes exogenous ochronosis. This is basically blue-black or grayish discoloration. (61)

It also could cause uneven lightning if done improperly.

Dosing/ Information

There are two main concentrations of hydroquinone, 4% and 6%.

What percentage you use is dependent on your Fitzpatrick use the picture below to figure out yours. Imo Fitzpatrick 3 is ideal so a olivey skin tone.

View attachment 25543

If you’re Fitzpatrick 4 try Hydroquinone 4% for 4-8 weeks.

If you’re Fitzpatrick 5 try Hydroquinone 4% for 8 weeks. Then give it a 8 week break from using it before doing another 8 week cycle.

For Fitzpatrick 6 try Hydroquinone 6% for 8 weeks on and 8 weeks off for around a year.

Obviously the timings will somewhat vary from person to person but they’re just guidelines to follow. Never I mean never go over 8 weeks on Hydroquinone otherwises you’ll develop problems.

Final Verdict

Hydroquinone is the best skin lightening product on the market. It’s also relatively safe if done correctly. It’s a must for any ethnic imo.

That’s why it gets a 9/10

Spoiler: IPL

IPL

Biology/ How it works

It works by emitting a broad-spectrum light pulses which is absorbed by the hair pigment. This light energy converts to heat, which travels down to the hair follicle and damages it.

Benefits

May reducing wrinkles and improves collagen (62)

Can improves sun damage (63)

Can help in treating acne or rosacea (64)

May removes your beard and the failo of its blue/ green undertones (65)

Negatives

Requires multiple sessions

Unlike laser hair removal which destroys follicles, IPL only weakens them, meaning that hair regrowth can happen

May cause pain and irritation (66)

Dosing/ Information

Consult with a professional who will assess your skin type and create a plan

Multiple sessions are typically required to achieve the desired result and after that you’ll probably need a session every 3-6 months for maintenance

Final Verdict

IPL is a useful skin max with great results. However due to its semi permanent nature and getting brutally mogged by laser hair removal, meaning its score will slightly lower.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Isotretenoin

Isotretenoin

Biology/ How it works

Isotretinoin works by reducing oil (sebum) production in the skin by shrinking the sebaceous glands.

Isotretinoin also stops the hair follicle cells from being so sticky. This means it stops hair follicles from getting clogged up by skin cells.

Benefits

Most effective product for acne (67)

Insane collagen and anti aging effects (68)

Actually affects deeper layers of your skin compared to topical retinoids

Negatives

Can cause liver damage, however liver abnormalities are uncommon on accutane (<15%) and even more uncommon to have anything serious happen (<1%) (69)

May cause dry skin/ lips (70)

Could make you more photosensitive (71)

Dosing/ Information

It can range from 5-60 mg depending on your situation

If you have severe acne blasting 60 mg of accutane for 6-18 months is the best option

If you have mild- little amount of acne doing 45 mg for 6-18 months is the best option

If you have little to no acne blasting 10-20 mg for 6-18 months is a good option so you basically have perma clear skin no matter what you do

You can do these cycles 2-3 times to get the best results

And perma microdosing 5-10 mg of accutane after doing the cycles for anti aging effects is very good

Final Verdict

Accutane is a must for any looksmaxer and it’s practically impossible to have permanent flawless skin without it

For these reasons I’m giving it a 10/10

Spoiler: Klisyri

Klisyri

Biology/ How it works

Similarly to Klisyri targets rapidly-dividing abnormal skin cells. It does this from 2 main mechanisms.

The first is microtubule inhibition. Abnormal cells rely on microtubules to split and multiply. By blocking microtubules in these abnormal cells, we are stopping them from dividing, thus causing them to die off.

The second is through SRC Tyrosine Kinase (c-Src) inhibition. In abnormal cells c-Src is overactive, which helps these cells to grow continuously, instead of dying. So inhibiting c-Src takes away this function rom these unwanted cells, and so they can die.

Benefits

Now what’s the benefit of actually using Klysri.

Well we can target and eliminate sun damaged skin. This is because Klisyri targets rapidly-dividing abnormal skin cells. Also as healthy cells divide much slower, they are relatively unaffected even if Klisyri is applied to them

Now although it’s not its primary use (which is treating actinic keratosis on the face and/or the scalp) it has been used off label for sun damage and skin rejuvenation.

However there are no specific studies looking into its effects for this.

It’s also less irritating to the skin than 5-FU

Negatives

That being said it’s still common to experience:

Erythema (72)

Scaling (72)

Crusting (72)

Pruritus (72)

It’s also weaker and less selective than 5-FU.

Dosing/ Information

The best concentration is 1%.

Some people microneedle beforehand to enhance the effects. However it is not a necessity to use.

The treatment time last around 5 days. Do this treatment every 6-12 months.

Klisyri comes in packets of wipes. Rub each packet all over your face.

Final Verdict

Although Klisyri is effective and very useful, there’s not really much point using it when 5-FU exists. As 5-FU is just much more effective. That being said it’s still a viable option for those with sensitive skin.

That’s why it gets a 7.5/10

Spoiler: Kojic Acid

Kojic Acid

Biology/ How it works

It inhibits the production of melanin

Benefits

Lightens your skin, which can halo ethnics (73)

Negatives

Can cause an increase in sun sensitivity (74)

May cause drier more irritated skin

Dosing/ Information

wet the soap to create a lather, then massage the lather onto the skin and let it sit for 0.5-10 minutes (depending on your skin darkness) before rinsing off

Final Verdict

It can be an effective tool for lightening your skin and can have moderate results

That’s why I’m giving it a 5/10

Spoiler: Laser hair removal

Laser hair removal

Biology/ How it works

It works by emitting a concentrated light pulse that is absorbed by the hair's pigment. This light energy converts to heat, which travels down to the hair follicle and damages it. It’s similar to IPL, but instead of using broad-spectrum light, it delivers a concentrated beam.

Benefits

Removes hair for a long period of time (results last longer than ipl) (75)

Negatives

It requires multiple sessions as hair grows in three phases. Laser treatment is only effective on hairs in the active growth phase, so multiple sessions are needed to catch all the hairs that weren’t in that stage at the time (76)

May cause Pain and irritation (77)

Dosing/ Information

Consult with a professional who will assess your skin type and create a plan

You will probably require many sessions to get the desired result. After that you’ll probably need a session every 6-12 months for maintenance

Final Verdict

It is essentially ipl that lasts longer. It’s a must for any skin maxxer with the potential of giving insane jb appeal

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9.5/10

Spoiler: Mega dosing beta carotene and lycopene

Mega dosing beta carotene and lycopene

Biology/ How it works

they can lead to a change in skin tone by accumulating in the skin

Benefits

It can give mogger undertones if done correctly.

Negatives

Beta carotene can sometimes look uncanny if overdone

Dosing/ Information

I’d recommend having 50-75mg per day of lycopene and 10,000 IU of beta carotene (you can increase the beta carotene to the 50k range if you want but I found this dosage (10k) to have a more natural looking undertone than higher dosages)

Final Verdict

It can give a small coloring halo and there is really no reason not to take it, definitely should be a staple

For these reasons, I’m giving it a 6.5/10

Spoiler: Micro needling

Micro needling

Biology/ How it works

It works by creating tiny punctures in the skin using fine needles to trigger the body's natural healing process

Benefits

An insane boost in collagen (78)

Reduces acne scars (79)

Can remove mild acne (80)

Negatives

May cause Temporary redness/ irritation (81)

Dosing/ Information

First apply a numbing cream to your face and wait for it to fully dry.

Coat your skin with Hyaluronic acid solution

The technique for Microneedling is you want to first go horizontally down.

View attachment 25544

I used the forehead area as an example in this image I also left a couple gaps to make it easier to see but when you actually do it make sure to cover every last bit.

Then after you want to micro needle landscape direction

View attachment 25541

As stated before I used the forehead area as an example in this image I also left a couple gaps to make it easier to see but when you actually do it make sure to cover every last bit.

You want to do these areas I state in the order I state them in with the setting I say at first, obviously once you get the hang of it change it to what ever settings suit you best

1ST AREA: FOREHEAD

1.0MM DEEPNESS, 2 SPEED

DO THIS ONCE

2ND AREA: LEFT SIDE OF FACE [except zygos should be 1.0mm]

1.5MM DEEPNESS, 2 SPEED

DO THIS TWICE

3RD AREA: BOTTOM OF FACE [Avoid the lips entirely.]

1.0MM DEEPNESS, 2 SPEED

DO THIS TWICE

4TH AREA: RIGHT SIDE OF FACE [except zygos should be 1.0mm]

1.5MM DEEPNESS, 2 SPEED

DO THIS TWICE

5TH AREA: EYEBROWS, UNDER EYES AND NOSE

0.5MM DEEPNESS, 1 SPEED

DO THIS ONCE

Then after apply Hyaluronic acid solution again

Wait 24 hours before washing, and 48 hours before applying other skincare products

Final Verdict

Micro needling is an insane tool for skin maxxing and should be done fairly frequently

For these reasons, I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion

Biology/ How it works

It works by using a handheld device to either spray fine crystals or use a diamond-tipped wand to buff away the outermost layer of skin. This provides a more controlled and effective form of exfoliation compared to regular methods

Benefits

Helps to Reduce the appearance of acne scars (83)

Helps Reduce wrinkles and signs of aging (84)

Helps Unclog pores (85)

Negatives

May overly dry out your skin (86)

Dosing/ Information

As for how to do it I’d recommend watching this video

Initially, perform sessions every 1–2 weeks, then maintain results with monthly treatments

Final Verdict

It has beneficial results and can greatly improve your skin especially if you’re prone to clogged pores however there are some better treatments but it’s good nonetheless

For these reasons I’m giving it a 6.5/10

Spoiler: Moisturizer

Moisturizer

Biology/ How it works

It works by adding water to the skin and preventing water loss through occlusion

Benefits

Protects your skin barrier (87)

Smooths and moisturizes the skin (88)

Negatives

May clog up your pores if you buy a low quality and comedogenic product (89)

Dosing/ Information

Apply moisturizer last in your routine, using one with low-comedogenic ingredients

Apply moisturizer to damp skin, massage it into your skin evenly and all over.

Final Verdict

Moisturizer is a must as it’s one of the only products that protects your skin barrier which many of these products damage. It’s a staple in any skincare routine.

For these reasons, I’m giving it a 7/10

Spoiler: Monobenzone

Monobenzone

Biology

It induces a type of hypersensitivity reaction where the body's immune system recognizes melanocytes as targets. So the body tries to destroy them. It also generates reactive oxygen species and quinones, which are cytotoxic to pigmented cells.

Benefits

It is one of the best skin lighteners on the market. It can take a Fitzpatrick 4 to 1 if used consistently enough.

View attachment 25546

View attachment 25542

Negatives

Skin irritation, redness, or swelling. (90)

Peeling/ cracking of your skin (similar to tret). (91)

Increased photosensitivity. (92)

No long term human studies, so we don’t know if it’s carcinogenic or has more long term adverse side effects etc.

Extremely common to get uneven results.

Can cause Vitiligo. (93)

Dosing/ Information

What to take with it:

• Sunscreen should always be used because of how it makes your skin photosensitive
• Only use it if you’re Fitzpatrick 6 or higher

Who/ how often should you take it:

• Use monobenzone until you reached your desired result this is usually between 3-12 months depending on your starting Fitzpatrick and the other products you use on top of monobenzone
• Then you can you can maintain it by using it once of twice a week

How to apply it:

• First use get just a bit more than a pea sized amount in your hands
• Then apply it to all your desired areas for skin lightening (top tip don’t forget the neck and arms as you’ll look stupid if you have a white face but a very dark neck and arms)

Final verdict

Although Monobenzone does work it has quite severe side effect which could potentially cause unwanted results. In addition hydroquinone exists so it makes no sense to use it. For these reasons I’m giving it a 4/10.

Spoiler: MT1

MT1

Biology/ How it works

It is a synthetic analogue of the naturally occurring alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It works by mimicking the action of -MSH and binding more specifically to the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R). Compared to MT2 which is less selective.

Benefits

MT1 can produce a tan with minimal UV-induced skin damage (94)

Negatives

May cause nausea and vomiting (95)

May cause facial flushing/redness (96)

Dosing/ Information

First reconstitute your MT1

You can do this through

For injection

For doses of less than 500mcg it would be best to use 2ml of water.

First, gather your supplies;

1 vial of Melanotan

1 vial/ampule of water

1 syringe

1 alcohol swab

1. Take your Melanotan vial and take off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper. Wipe with the antibacterial swab.

2.a. If using bacteriostatic water, pop off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper. Wipe with the swab.

b. If using sodium chloride, twist off the top of the ampule

3. Next insert a syringe into the vial/ampule and hold it upside down.

4. Withdraw your water and inject it slowly into the Melanotan vial aiming at the side, not the powder.

5. Place in the fridge for a few hours or overnight while the powder dissolves, you can swirl or tilt the vial to help.

For Nasal

First, gather your supplies;

1 vial of Melanotan

1 vial/ampule of water

1 empty nasal spray bottle or 1 OTC nasal mist

1 syringe

1. Take your Melanotan vial and take off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper.

2.a. If using bacteriostatic water, pop off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper.

b. If using sodium chloride, twist off the top of the ampule

3. Next insert a syringe into the vial/ampule and hold it upside down.

4. Withdraw 50 units of water and inject it slowly into the Melanotan vial aiming at the side, not the powder.

5. Place in the fridge for a few hours or overnight while the powder dissolves,

6. Insert the syringe again and turn upside down.

7. Withdraw all of the liquid and remove the syringe.

8. Unscrew the cap of your nasal spray and slowly inject the liquid into the bottle.

9. If using an empty bottle you can now transfer the remainder of the water. Wait 2 hours before use.

For injecting inject it into your belly area, around 3 fingers away from the navel. Clean the skin, pinch it, insert the needle and inject slowly.

For nasal put the nasal applicator up your nostril and push it down on the applicator twice.

For MT1 you have to inject it twice a day due to its half life (AM and PM)

Recommend dosages starting from 500mcg (250mcg twice daily) for Melanotan 1 due to the lower side effects associated with it.

After 4-6 days increase to 1mg (500mcg twice daily) if you feel like you need to, and stick at this point.

Once you have reached your desired level of tan then you can enter what is known as the 'maintenance phase'.

Although the level is different for most people it levels out at around 1mg every 3 or 4 days and a sunbed session with every or every other dose.

This will allow you to maintain your tan through winter without much work.

If you notice at any point you're becoming darker, reduce the dose.

If you notice you are getting lighter, add in an extra dose or take up the second sunbed session if you didn't already

Final Verdict

MT1 is an insane peptide for your skin with the ability of giving insanely tanned skin with minimal to negligible skin damage.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: MT2

MT2

Biology/ How it works

It is a synthetic analog of the naturally occurring alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It works by acting as a non-selective agonist that binds to and activates several melanocortin receptors found throughout the body, including in the skin and brain.

Benefits

For specific skin beneficial effects of MT2 are that it can give you a nice tan with minimal UV damage (97)

Negatives

May cause nausea and vomiting (97)

May cause facial flushing/redness (97)

May cause acne because MT2 binds to MCR3 and 4 with a decent affinity (unlike MT1 which does bond to MCR3 and 4 but does not cross the blood-brain barrier to a significant extent when administered systemically unlike MT2) which have hormonal implications.

Dosing/ Information

First reconstitute your MT2

You can do this through

For injection

For doses of less than 500mcg it would be best to use 2ml of water.

First, gather your supplies;

1 vial of Melanotan

1 vial/ampule of water

1 syringe

1 alcohol swab

1. Take your Melanotan vial and take off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper. Wipe with the antibacterial swab.

2.a. If using bacteriostatic water, pop off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper. Wipe with the swab.

b. If using sodium chloride, twist off the top of the ampule

3. Next insert a syringe into the vial/ampule and hold it upside down.

4. Withdraw your water and inject it slowly into the Melanotan vial aiming at the side, not the powder.

5. Place in the fridge for a few hours or overnight while the powder dissolves, you can swirl or tilt the vial to help.

For Nasal

First, gather your supplies;

1 vial of Melanotan

1 vial/ampule of water

1 empty nasal spray bottle or 1 OTC nasal mist

1 syringe

1. Take your Melanotan vial and take off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper.

2.a. If using bacteriostatic water, pop off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper.

b. If using sodium chloride, twist off the top of the ampule

3. Next insert a syringe into the vial/ampule and hold it upside down.

4. Withdraw 50 units of water and inject it slowly into the Melanotan vial aiming at the side, not the powder.

5. Place in the fridge for a few hours or overnight while the powder dissolves,

6. Insert the syringe again and turn upside down.

7. Withdraw all of the liquid and remove the syringe.

8. Unscrew the cap of your nasal spray and slowly inject the liquid into the bottle.

9. If using an empty bottle you can now transfer the remainder of the water. Wait 2 hours before use.

For injecting, administer it into your belly area, around 3 fingers away from the navel. Clean the skin, pinch it, insert the needle and inject slowly.

For nasal put the nasal applicator up your nostril and push it down on the applicator twice.

it will always be better to inject in the morning or midday if getting natural UV exposure. If you are using sunbeds then inject about 20 minutes before exposure.

The recommended dosages start at 250mcg once daily to help your body acclimatize to the peptide and minimize the side effects. You can continue with this dose indefinitely if you are intending to do a low dosage regimen.

If you want to dose higher, after 2-4 days, whenever you feel comfortable, up the dose to 500mcg and stick at this point.

Once you have reached your desired level of tan then you can enter what is known as the 'maintenance phase'.

Although the level is different for most people it levels out at around 500mcg every 3 or 4 days and a sunbed session with every or every other dose.

This will allow you to maintain your tan through winter without much work.

If you notice at any point you're becoming darker, reduce the dose.

If you notice you are getting lighter, add in an extra dose or take up the second sunbed session if you didn't already

Final Verdict

MT2 is a good peptide for giving you a insane tan halo however it gets brutally mogged by MT1 due to having less downsides

That being said it still scores highly with an 8.5/10

Spoiler: Neck lift

Neck lift

Biology/ How it works

A neck lift works by removing excess skin and fat and tightening the underlying neck muscles through incisions typically made under the chin and behind the ears

Benefits

Tightens sagging skin, which can create the impression of fewer wrinkles (98)

Negatives

It’s expensive (can range from £5000 to £10,000) (99)

Slight risk of scarring (100)

Hematoma is a fairly common occurrence (~15%) (101)

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

Final Verdict

It’s a decent procedure but the downsides are quite brutal

For these reasons, I’m giving it a 4/10

Spoiler: Phenol peel

Phenol peel

Biology/ How it works

Ik a phenol peel is a deep chemical peel but I’d like to focus on it due to its insane results. It works by using a deep chemical solution of carbolic acid (phenol) to remove the top and middle layers of skin

Benefits

Just look at this result for yourself

View attachment 25547

It removes fine lines, sun damage, wrinkles and imperfections. (102)

Stimulates new collagen production (103)

It also has significant skin lightening effects for people with darker skin tones (104)

Negatives

A cause may be Scabbing, irritation and infection (105)

It may cause Cardiac arrest however it’s extremely unlikely (<0.01%) (106)

Heart, kidney, or liver damage is a risk (107)

It makes you hyper photosensitive so stay inside and use sunscreen for 3-4 weeks

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

Final Verdict

Final peels have unparalleled results with no other method really coming close. Even though it has significant side effects I’d still recommend doing it if you have moderate to severe signs of aging. I’d also only recommend doing 1 of these in your life.

Taking into account everything I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Pico Laser

Pico Laser

Biology/ How it works

Pico laser uses ultra-short pulses of energy (measured in picoseconds, or trillionths of a second) to fragment pigment in the skin

Benefits

The most effective method at treating hyperpigmentation (108)

Highly effective at reducing fine lines and wrinkles (109)

Great at improving acne scars (110)

Negatives

It makes you photosensitive (111)

May cause irritation, swelling and discomfort (112)

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

Final Verdict

This is the best treatment for hyperpigmentation and should be a must if you have any. However it’s pretty useless if you don’t have it as many other methods have better results for collagen, aging, wrinkles etc

For this reason I’m giving it a 6.5/10 (but it does have its uses)

Spoiler: Platelet-Rich Plasma

Platelet-Rich Plasma

Biology/ How it works

drawing a patient's blood, spinning it in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets, and then injecting this platelet-rich plasma

Benefits

One of the best methods for improving collagen (103)

Reduces inflammation (104)

Negatives

slight risk of infection (105)

May cause pain, swelling, and bruising at the injection site

A small risk of an allergic reaction (106)

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

The first 3-5 sessions should be around a month apart and then for maintenance you can do it 2-3 times a year

Final Verdict

PRP is low risk and with insane results. It’s a must for anyone who’s serious about skin maxxing

For these reasons I’m giving it an 8.5/10

Spoiler: Polydeoxyribonucleotide

Polydeoxyribonucleotide

Biology/ how it works

PDRN is a DNA fragment derived from salmon sperm (Ik it sounds super weird but stick with me). It works by activating the adenosine A2A receptor and utilizing the nucleotide salvage pathway. It’s A2A activation has a cascading effect with it inhibiting certain pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6, as well as stimulating anti-inflammatory ones like IL-10. It also significantly increases the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and increases cellular proliferation.

Benefits

Speeds up healing and repair through activating cell receptors leading to faster cell turnover. This means it will help with acne scars, burns and other kinds of scars. (107)

Boosts collagen by stimulating fibroplasts. (108)

Strengthens the skin barrier, by helping the skin retain onto more moisture and reducing transepidermal water loss. (109)

Reduces inflammation by inhibiting certain pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6, as well as stimulating anti-inflammatory ones like IL-10. (110)

Some results of PDRN
View attachment 25618View attachment 25619

Negatives

Allergies as PDRN is derived from salmon. So if anyone with an allergy to salmon/ seafood shouldn’t use it.

Bruising at injection sites.

Swelling but it goes away after 1-2 days.

Dosing/ Information

First you need to reconstitute your PDRN solution

Materials needed for reconstitution (111) (Ik the patent isn’t purely for skin but rather for the treatment of osteoarticular diseases but it can still show us an idea of what is an effective PDRN injection composition):

• PDRN powder in a vial (a purity of over 95% is preferred)
• 0.9% sterile normal saline solution (preferably contains sodium chloride and a mixture of sodium dihydrogen phosphate and sodium hydrogen phosphate)
• Insulin syringe
• Alcohol wipes

How to reconstitute it (111) (Ik the patent isn’t purely for skin but rather for the treatment of osteoarticular diseases but it can still show us an idea of what is an effective PDRN injection composition):

• Clean the rubber stopper of both the saline solution and PDRN vial with the alcohol wipe
• Inject the saline solution slowly into the PDRN via,l you want around a 0.5% to 3% by weight of PDRN powder in saline solution. For example per 30 mg of PDRN powder/ ml of saline for a 3% solution. Optimally the entire PDRN solution should be 2-3ml and have a pH of 6.5-7.5.
• Remove the needle
• Mix the solution gently by slowly swirling it
• Allow the powder to dissolve completely
• Draw the reconstituted solution into a fresh, sterile syringe for administration. To avoid drawing in bubbles, ensure the needle tip is below the fluid level without touching the bottom of the glass

How long will it last reconstituted:

• At 2-8 °C (36–46°F) can last around 3 months [90% of users report no degradation (112)]

Materials needed for injection (113):

• Reconstituted vial of PDRN
• 34G, 2mm Insulin Syringe as you’re injecting intradermaly
• Numbing cream
• Alcohol wipe

Where/ how much to inject (114):

• You should target cheeks, nasolabial folds, tear troughs, forehead, chin and jaw area
• You should do each injection around 0.5-1 cm apart in a grid like fashion
• Inject between 0.02–0.05 mL per injection

How to actually inject (115):

• First wipe/ cleanse your face with the alcohol wipe
• Then apply a thin layer of numbing cream (you don’t need to do this, it’s only for people with a low pain tolerance)
• Map out your injection points
• Pinch the area you want to inject with the PDRN
• Inject slowly at a 30 degrees angle
• Take out the needle and repeat

How often to do it:

• Start off by having 3-4 sessions around 2-4 weeks apart
• Then maintain with 4-6 weeks

Final verdict

PDRN is a very useful and underrated skin max. It should almost always be used with accutane due to how it can counteract some of the adverse side effects, like a weak skin barrier and dryness. I think this should be something that is heavily considered for any real looksmaxxers.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 8.5/10

Spoiler: Rapamycin

Rapamycin

Biology/ how it works

Rapamycin enters cells and binds to intracellular proteins called FKBP. This FKBP-rapamycin complex then interferes with the function of mTOR, a protein kinase that controls many cellular processes. (And one of the main processes that ages you). By inhibiting mTOR, rapamycin decreases cell growth and proliferation. It also promotes autophagy, a cellular process of self-cleaning and recycling.

Benefits

Oral Rapamycin has not been studied yet for its collagen effects. However topical rapamycin has in addition to mTOR inhibitors, with both showing very good results for skin collagen / aging. Which is a very good signs that oral will have a very similar effect. (116)

Negatives

There are many studies showing that oral Rap can cause birth defects. This means if you’re using oral Rapamycin and want to have a child make sure it’s out of your system. (117)

Many studies show a long consistent use of oral ramycin (over 6 months) can lead to significant muscle loss. Aa MTOR is required for muscle growth (118)

However this can be lessened if you do a biweekly schedule of Rapamycin as well as using a relatively low dose.

Fluid retention is a common side effect of oral repa. This occurs because rapamycin is an mTOR inhibitor, and the mTOR pathway plays a role in regulating fluid balance. (119)

Oral Rapamycin has been shown to increase cholesterol, this means drugs like SR9009 or SR9011 are a must if you use Rapamycin. (120)

Oral Rapamycin use has been associated with increased risks of blood clotting, this is because it enhances the activity of tissue factors in endothelial cells, affecting platelet procoagulant function. (121)

Topical rapa may cause dry skin, acne, pruritus and erythema. (122)

Dosing/ Information

Oral

What to take with it:

• Take trametinib as Rapamycin has shown to have great synergy with it. So it will give better results than just using it by itself. Take 0.5 mg daily, if you haven’t got any side effects titrate it up every week by 0.5 mg, until you reach 2 mg. If you get side effects titrate it down by 0.5 mg every week until you don’t. (123)
• SR9009 or SR9011 for cholesterol. Make sure to dissolve it in DMSO and apply transdermal as it is rubbish oral bioavailability. Use 10-40 mg
• Test and HGH as Rapamycin can reduce these hormones. Use 15-25 mg of test P daily as we’re more trying to use it as TRT rather than blasting it. And use 2-4 IU of HGH daily

Schedule/ dosage for Repamycin:

• Generally aim for 20 mg/ week
• But start with small doses and titrate up
• Also make sure to a week off week on cycle
• As well as to stop Rapamycin if you get a cold/ illness until you fully recover

Here’s an example of dosing:

• Week 1- 5 mg
• Week 2-0 mg
• Week 3- 10 mg
• Week 4- 0 mg
• Week 5- 15 mg
• Week 6- 0 mg
• Week 7- 20 mg
• Week 8- 0 mg
• Week 9- 20 mg
• Week 10- 0 mg
• Week 11- 20 mg
• Etc

Topical

If you want to learn how to make rapa I’d recommend looking at this

https://www.rapamycin.news/t/diy-rapamycin-skin-cream/1522

Final verdict

Although Rapamycin has some great upsides and don’t think it’s worth taking in your ‘prime’ due to the brutal sides. However I think it could be very useful tool for after looksmaxxing/ when you settle down and could possibly counteract some adverse side effects of other pharmaceuticals. In addition I don’t think topical rapa should be taken due to its adverse side effects of acne and minimal benefits.

For these reasons I’m giving oral a 6/10 and topical a 5/10

Spoiler: Red light therapy (mask)

Red light therapy (mask)

Biology/ How it works

exposes the face/body to low-level red and near-infrared light wavelengths

Benefits

Stimulates collagen production (124)

Reduced fine lines and wrinkles (125)

Improves mild to moderate acne (126)

Negatives

May cause some Skin irritation (127)

Dosing/ Information

Purchase a high quality red light therapy mask.

Secure device on your face and then follow the manufacturer's instructions for treatment duration, which is usually 10 minutes. Then titrate up 1 minute every time you use it until you reach 30 minutes.

Do it 3-5 times a week

Final Verdict

Don’t expect insane results but minimal ones if you use it consistently. It’s a decent product with practically no downsides but it’s not essential

For these reasons I’m giving it a 6/10

Spoiler: RU 58841

RU 58841

Biology/ How it works

It works by acting as a topical anti-androgen that blocks androgens from binding to androgen receptors

Benefits

Stops any androgens from fucking up your skin and is the second most potent AA on this list (behind GT20029)

Anecdotally people have said it can improve acne

Negatives

It may cause skin irritation

It’s not FDA approved for acne/ skin use

Formulating a good vehicle for RU58841 that doesn't dry out your skin is hard (if not impossible rn)

Dosing/ Information

I’d recommend making the solution yourself

You can do this by:

First getting your ingredients

RU58841
Ethanol
Propylene glycol

As for the solvent create it by mixing Ethanol and Propylene Glycol at a ration of 7:3. For example if you’re making a 50 ml solution 35 ml is Ethanol and 15 ml is Propylene Glycol.

To make a 5% solution, add 50 mg RU58841 per 1 mL of solvent. For 50 mL of solvent, this would equals 2,500 mg RU58841

Then once you measured out your ingredients first make the solvent by mixing the ethanol and propylene glycol. Then mix the ru in.

Once you have made it you can apply it like this:

Use a dropper to apply the solution to your face like any other serum. Make sure to apply it evenly and everywhere.

Final Verdict

Ru is a very effective AA for the skin and can be very effective however due to the lack of studies for it’s direct effect on the skin it’s score has to be lowered. It drys out your skin quite significantly. And considering CB has similar mechanisms of action yet doesn’t do this it’s a no brainer to opt for CB.

That’s why I’m giving it an 7.5/10

Spoiler: Sunscreen

Sunscreen

Biology/ How it works

It works by using active ingredients that block or absorb the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays

Benefits

Effectively stops uv rays which can dramatically age your skin. (128)

Helps to protect your skin barrier. (129)

Negatives

Can be comedogenic if you buy from the wrong brand which will clog up your pores.

Dosing/ Information

Choose a sunscreen with 50 pa ++++ and make sure it has as little comedogenic ingredients as possible.

Apply the sunscreen evenly to all exposed areas of skin.

Final Verdict

Sunscreen is a must and there is no reason to not use it. It is a god tier product

This is why it is a 10/10

Spoiler: Tanning drops

Tanning drops

Biology/ How it works

It’s a specific type of fake tanner. It contains the active ingredient dihydroxyacetone (DHA). When applied, DHA reacts with the amino acids in the top layer of your skin to create a temporary browning effect, or tan

Benefits

Provides a natural looking tan without sun damage.

Negatives

May cause Skin irritation

Dosing/ Information

mix a few drops with your moisturizer. Then apply the mixture evenly to clean, dry skin.

Final Verdict

This is my personal favorite tanning method as I have found to have the best results compared to other kinds of fake tanner like foam. I found combining it with MT1 gives me the best results but using it on its own is effective as well. However it can sometimes look unnatural

For these reasons I’m giving it a 7.5/10

Spoiler: Tazarotene

Tazarotene

Biology/ How it works

Although the exact mechanism of tazarotene action is not known, studies have shown that the active form of the drug (tazarotenic acid) binds to all three members of the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) family: RARa, RARb, and RARg, but shows relative selectivity for RARb, and RARg.

Benefits

It’s more potent than Tretenoin (130)

Provides similar anti aging effects to topical tret (131)

Theoretically less irritating than tret as it’s more selective in its RAR selectivity but in practice they have about the same irritation

You see quicker results than tret (132)

Negatives

May still cause irritation and peeling (133)

Dosing/ Information

Start with a low concentration and low frequency. Then titrate up to every other day using a 0.1% concentration

Final Verdict

It’s just a better version of tret. However it gets brutally mogged by accutane so I’d only recommend it if you want its anti-aging properties or you’re against Isotret for some reason.

That’s why I’m giving it a 8.5/10

Spoiler: Topical Estradiol

Topical Estradiol

Biology/ How it works

17β-estradiol works through many pathways including Receptor Binding and Gene Regulation, Dermal Structural Enhancement, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Actions.

Benefits

Increases collagen (more than Tretenoin) (134)

Effective at anti aging (135)

Boosts antioxidants (136)

Negatives

Some estrogen can be absorbed systemically but it’s extremely minimal (137)

Dosing/ Information

Use a 0.01% and apply it daily

put a pea sized and slather it all over my face

Final Verdict

Estradiol cream has a huge array of benefits, with minimal and easy to combat side effects. It should be used for anyone who’s serious at skin maxxing

For these reasons it’s a 8.5/10

Spoiler: Topical Estriol

Topical Estriol

Biology/ How it works

It works by locally delivering the hormone estriol to the vaginal area to counteract the effects of low estrogen

Benefits

Increases collagen (138)

Effective at anti aging (139)

Boosts antioxidants

Has been shown to outperformed estradiol (140)

Negatives

Some estrogen may be absorbed systematically but it’s extremely minimal (141)

Dosing/ Information

Use a 0.3%, applying it daily.

put a pea sized and slather it all over my face

Final Verdict

Estriol has a lot of great benefits and also has been shown to outperform estradiol (however I’d recommend using both).

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Tretenoin

Tretenoin

Biology/ How it works

Tretinoin is believed to work by binding to and activating two types of nuclear receptors - retinoic acid receptors (RARs) alpha, beta, and gamma and retinoid X receptors (RXRs).

Benefits

Provides strong anti aging effects (142)

Boosts collagen boost (143)

Negatives

May cause peeling and irritation (144)

Dosing/ Information

Start at a low concentration and low frequency. Then titrate up to 0.025-0.05% and applying it every other day.

apply a pea-sized amount to your entire face, avoiding the corners of your mouth and eyes, and finish with a moisturizer

Final Verdict

Although tret has really good effects there is just no point taking it as tarz has the same effects whilst being faster

That being said it gets a 8/10

Spoiler: Zero sebum

Zero sebum

Biology/ How it works

It works by absorbing excess oil

Benefits

Gets rid of any gay skin glow and gives it a matte finish instead

View attachment 25545

Negatives

May cause Irritation

May cause Dry skin

Dosing/ Information

Watch this video to learn more about it

Final Verdict

If you have oily skin or shiny skin I’d highly recommend this. I was scrolling on edodalic29 (on .org) threads and came across this and it’s literally a game changer.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 7.5/10

Tagging
@Admincel @Godveil Heir @Circadex @Mandy @Orka

i will read every single word. mirin. i nutted

 

[bob08674]

DO THIS TWICE

3RD AREA: BOTTOM OF FACE [Avoid the lips entirely.]

1.0MM DEEPNESS, 2 SPEED

DO THIS TWICE
4TH AREA: RIGHT SIDE OF FACE [except zygos should be 1.0mm]

1.5MM DEEPNESS, 2 SPEED

DO THIS TWICE

5TH AREA: EYEBROWS, UNDER EYES AND NOSE

0.5MM DEEPNESS, 1 SPEED

DO THIS ONCE

Then after apply Hyaluronic acid solution again

Wait 24 hours before washing, and 48 hours before applying other skincare products

Final Verdict

Micro needling is an insane tool for skin maxxing and should be done fairly frequently

For these reasons, I’m giving it a 9/10

[/SPOILER]

"DO THIS TWICE" you cant reuse needles tho

 

[ysl]

Mirin

 

[Matty]

Should be pinned BOTB

Some of you might know I made a skin mega guide on .org. So I thought I might as well make one here. However it’s .gg so I made this thread bigger (8 more products than the .org thread) and corrected all the previous mistakes I made.

So hope you guys enjoy.

Btw this is the theme song of the thread.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x51YI9fROWw

Spoiler: Read before starting

Read Before starting

Each section will have 5 sections

Biology/ How it works- how the product/ peptide/ drug works

Benefits- some of the benefits you can experience

Negatives- the side effects

Dosing/ information- how to use the product/ peptide/ drug

Final verdict- a score out of 10 the higher the score the better

Spoiler: 0 carb Diet

0 carb Diet

Biology/ How it works

0 carbs diet work for improving skin by reducing insulin and IGF-1 levels. It also reduces advanced glycation end-products.

Benefits

Reduced inflammation. However 0 carb diets haven’t specifically been studied for inflammation low carb diets have and it’s been shown to reduce inflammation. Therefore we can concur that 0 carb diets will have a similar effect or be even more effective. This in turn will reduce acne as it is caused by inflammation (1)

Negatives

Reduces motor unit recruitment which worsens your gym performance and growth (2)

Dosing/ information

Just eat 0 carbs in a day.

Final verdict

0 carb diets have been shown to reduce acne and theoretically can decrease aging. However I think the benefits are overrated and side effects are kinda brutal.

That being said I’m going to give it 5.5/10, a decent method but not a must.

Spoiler: Adapalene

Adapalene

Biology/ How it works

It works by binding to specific RAR’s (nuclear retinoic acid receptors) which then upregulates genes that help with differentiation and improves keratinocyte shedding. The two main RAR’s that adapalene binds to are RARb (Beta) and RARy(Gamma). In addition Adapalene gel inhibits AP-1 transcription factor and TLR signaling.

Benefits

It is less irritating than other retinols like Tretenoin due to not/ minimally binding to RARa receptor which is associated with most of the retinoids problems. This means Adapalene has less severe negatives than the other retinoids we’ll cover in this thread. (3)

Reduces acne through less inflammation and improved keratinocyte shedding. And has been shown to be a better acne treatment than Tretenoin (0.025%) (4)

Anti aging effects due to improved keratinocyte shedding. (5)

Negatives

However due to not binding to the RARa Adapalene will be weaker than other retinoids like Tarazotene. (3)

It makes you more photosensitive due to a two-part process involving cellular turnover and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). (6)

Dosing/ information

Apply 1-1.5 pea sized amounts for the whole face. Then apply moisturizer to not dry out your skin. As well as using sunscreen due to the photosensitivity effects.

Final verdict

Adapalene is a useful retinoid if you have very sensitive skin. However it has less powerful effects than other retinoids like Tarazotene.

I’m going to give it 6.5/10, a decent product for people with hyper sensitive skin but only useful for <1% of people

Spoiler: Alfatradiol

Alfatradiol

Biology/ How it works

Alfatradiol is 17𝛼-estradiol. It is basically a weaker form of 17β-estradiol. It works by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase through estrogen receptors. This means it reduces testosterone conversion to DHT. Alfatradiol also binds weakly to estrogen receptors and has very low estrogenic effects

Benefits

It reduces DHT levels (because it reduces the conversion of testosterone to DHT) which can contribute to aging your skin. (7)

It has weak estrogen effects so their estrogen levels will remain practically unchanged. (8)

Negatives

Slight irritation and dryness. (7)

Not as powerful as other 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors in this thread (9)

Dosing/ information

Use a dropper to apply the solution to your face like any other serum. Make sure to apply across your whole face.

Final verdict

Alfatradiol is basically a weaker version of 17β-estradiol but only with its ability to reduce the 5-alpha-reductase. But even then there are more superior methods to do so like Dutasteride(inhibits type 1 and 2 dht).

That’s why I’m giving it a 4/10

Spoiler: Aqualyx

Aqualyx

Biology/ How it works

Aqualyx or Deoxycholic acid breaks down cells by disrupting their membranes, leading to a process called adipocytolysis. This process ends in the fat cells death. Efferocytosis removes the remains of the dying fat cells. It mostly affects low-protein subcutaneous fat, sparing protein-rich tissues like muscle and skin due to how it is weakened by albumin and proteins. This means you don’t need to worry about losing collagen using Aqualyx

Benefits

The main benefit of Aqualyx in terms of for your skin is in improving your Nasolabial folds. It does this because the malar fat pads can contribute to your Nasolabial folds, it’s not the root cause, but it exaggerates what’s already there. Aqualyx will basically reduce this fat pad which will improve your Nasolabial folds. Obviously the more severe Nasolabial folds need other methods like dermal filler or surgery to fix.

Negatives

Won’t fix your nasolabial folds if it’s more a bone structure problem. As Aqualyx removes the fat around the Nasolabial area to make it appear less recessed.

Dosing/ information

View attachment 25539

Inject 0.05-0.1ml of Aqualyx into the blue areas (they should be about 1.5-2cm spacing between each injection site). Use a 31 G (6mm) needle to inject.

Final verdict

Aqualyx is a very useful tool in reducing Nasolabial folds and if combined with filler it can eradicate them completely. However if we focus completely on Aqualyx itself, because it is not able to change the actual bone structure, it has to be lower than something like filler.

That’s why I’m giving it a 6.5/10

Spoiler: BB cream

BB cream

Biology/ How it works

BB cream is a multifunctional skincare and makeup hybrid. It provides light to medium coverage through pigments (similar to foundation)

Benefits

BB clears/ covers up blemishes.

Most BB creams don’t contain ingredients that irritate your skin like other makeup products might.

Negatives

Can look uncanny if you overdo it, or just put it on your face and forget your neck.

Can cause acne if left on for too long

Dosing/ information

Squeeze a pea-sized amount onto your hand. Use your fingertips to put the product on your face. Making sure to cover your whole face as well your neck.

Final verdict

BB cream can be a mogger product for your skin, and is one of the best makeup products. However due to how it can sometimes look obvious and being mogged by CC cream it isn’t quite top tier

I think I have to give it a 7.5/10

Spoiler: Blush

Blush

Biology/ How it works

It’s usually made of red-coloured talcum-based powder, the colouring is often made from safflowers or carmine.

It works by adding color to your face

Benefits

It improves coloring and makes you look more youthful (10)

Negatives

Can be obvious if you overdo it

Dosing/ information

Use a small amount of blush. Blend it upwards and outwards from the top of your cheekbones, starting around where your pupils are and going towards your hairline. Do a circular motion and build the color slowly. Make sure to blend thoroughly.

Final verdict

Blush can be a useful color maxxing tool however it is not a necessity to use as the results are subtle.

That’s why I’m giving it a 6/10

Spoiler: Botox

Botox

Biology/ How it works

Botox is the brand name for botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin. It works by temporarily relaxing muscles which block nerve signals.

Benefits

Reduces wrinkles by temporarily relaxing muscles which soften the appearance of wrinkles. (11)

It also is a preventative measure for wrinkles in the future. (12)

Reduced pores by blocking nerve signals to the oil glands, and by relaxing the muscles attached to the hair follicles. (13)

Negatives

If you over inject it’s possible to look unnatural

Dosing/ information

There are two types of uses you can use botox for in terms of the skin

1. Microbotox for your skin/ oil production
2. Proper Botox for wrinkles and/ or wrinkle prevention

How to do microbotox?

It involves injecting a diluted solution of Botox into the superficial layers of the skin

How to inject Botox for wrinkle?

Inject Botox into the specific muscle that causes the wrinkle. The amount to actually inject depends on the specific muscle and how badly the wrinkling is

Final verdict

Botox is an extremely useful and versatile tool for the skin and has few side effects if done correctly

That’s why I’m giving it a 8.5/10

Spoiler: CB-03-01

CB-03-01

Biology/ How it works

CB-03-01 (cortexolone 17α-propionate, Clascoterone) competes with natural androgens, mostly DHT, for binding to androgen receptors in skin cells. Because it binds to the androgen receptors with high affinity, it prevents androgens from attaching and activating the receptor. This prevents androgen-receptor binding, CB-03-01 halts the signaling cascade which promotes acne.

Benefits

CB-03-01 has been FDA approved since 2020 as a first class topical treatment of acne. (14)

It also is a powerful Anti androgen meaning it reduces the amount of androgens like DHT from fucking up your skin. (15)

Negatives

It doesn’t really have many risks the main ones being low rates of skin irritation (16)

Dosing/ information

Make sure to make it topically for yourself, and use a dropper to apply the solution to your face like any other serum. Make sure to apply it evenly and everywhere.

How to make it topically yourself

Create a solution of 1:1:1 ratio of Ethanol, Propelyneglycol, and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, because as stated in this patent it is most effective solvent (17).

Then add the amount of CB-03-01 you want to make your percentage. For example if you wanted a 5% solution you’d need 50mg CB per ml of solvent.

Final verdict

CB is extremely useful tool for your skin as not only is it a AA but also FDA approved.

That’s why I’m giving it 9.5/10

Spoiler: CC cream

CC cream

Biology/ How it works

BB cream is a multifunctional skincare and makeup hybrid. It works by using color-correcting pigments to reduce discoloration on your skin. For example, green pigments counteract redness.

Benefits

Can cover up blemishes and imperfections.

Can creates a more appealing skin tone.

Negatives

Can cause acne if left on for too long

Dosing/ information

Squeeze a pea-sized amount onto your hand. Use your fingertips to put the product on your face. Making sure to cover your whole face as well as covering your neck.

Final verdict

CC cream is a must for anyone. It has practically no failos as well as being less obvious and more effective than BB cream. It’s a must for everyone who’s skin maxxing

That’s why I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Chemical peel

Chemical peel

Biology/ How it works

It works by applying a chemical solution to the skin, which causes an injury to the outer layers of your skin, promoting exfoliation and shedding of damaged skin cells.

Benefits

Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines (18)

Reduces acne scars (19)

Reduces uneven skin coloring (18)

Increases collagen (18)

Negatives

Temporary redness as well as irritation (20)

Weaker chemical peels are far less effective

Dosing/ Information

Cleanse your face before applying the chemical peel solution. Protect sensitive areas with petroleum jelly, then apply an even coat of the chemical peel solution to your skin. Leave it on for the recommended amount of time or less. Remove the peel and apply a neutralizing solution.

Final verdict

Weak chemical peels are far less effective than stronger ones. However if you go for a stronger chemical peel they come with a bunch of benefits and should be done every so often

For this reason I’m giving it a 7/10

Spoiler: Cleanser

Cleanser

Biology/ How it works

They contain agents that lower the surface tension of water, allowing them to emulsify oil-soluble substances so they become water-soluble and can be rinsed off.

Benefits

Removes away dirt, makeup, sunscreen, oils so they don’t stay on your skin and potentially give you acne. (21)

Negatives

You can over cleanse and strip too much of the natural oils and make your skin overly dry.

Dosing/ Information

wet your face with lukewarm water, apply a small amount of cleanser, and gently massage it into your skin. Rinse with lukewarm water, then gently dry your skin with a towel

Final verdict

It’s a must in your skincare routine. However it doesn’t really have any significant effect other than getting rid of makeup and sunscreen

For this reason I’m giving it a 6.5/10

Spoiler: CO2 laser

CO2 laser

Biology/ How it works

It works by directing a powerful beam of infrared light at the skin. This is then absorbed by water molecules, causing controlled damage.

Benefits

Better at Reducing acne scars than micro needling (22)

Improve collagen (23)

Reduces wrinkles and fine lines significantly (24)

Negatives

Dryness and peeling are the main side effect. However they subside after a couple of weeks. (25)

Dosing/ Information

consult with a qualified dermatologist or plastic surgeon

Final verdict

CO2 laser has tons of upsides with minimal to no side effects. It should be done at least once every one to two years

For this reason I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Concealer

Concealer

Biology/ How it works

Concealer provides full coverage of the targeted area through pigments

Benefits

Covers up imperfections and bigger pimples that CC cream or BB cream couldn’t

Negatives

More obvious and easier to look overdone

Can cause acne if left on for too long

Dosing/ Information

Dot concealer on areas of imperfection and blend outwards using a damp sponge or your fingers. Use CC cream or BB cream as well to get a more natural look

Final verdict

Concealer if done right can be an effective way for concealing your imperfections. However, because most people either have minimal imperfections or will reduce them through skinmaxxing, concealer eventually becomes unnecessary.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 6/10

Spoiler: Dutasteride

Dutasteride

Biology/ How it works

It is a novel dual 5α-reductase inhibitor. This means it stops both Type I and II DHT from being converted from test.

Benefits

Practically stops the production of type 1 DHT which is the form of DHT which causes the greatest damage to the skin. (26)

Negatives

ED is a potential side effect. Although this is very uncommon side effect it is still noteworthy. The study shows after 6 months around 4-6% got ed. However what’s really interesting is after 2 years it shows that ed was similar to that of the placebo group. (27)

Dosing/ Information

The best dosage of Dutasteride for the most benefits is 0.5-10 mg per day.

Final verdict

Dutasteride should be a staple in your looksmaxxing routine. Practically no negatives and only upsides

For these reasons I’m giving it a 10/10

Spoiler: Epitalon

Epitalon

Biology/ How it works

Epitalon enhances telomerase activity, which protects telomeres from shortening during cell division.

Benefits

Delays cellular aging by up to 25% (27)

provides antioxidant and mitochondrial protection (28)

Negatives

Theoretically it can increase cancer but real world evidence has proven the opposite to be true (29)

Dosing/ Information

The most optimal dosing is 10mg/day for a 10-day cycle every 6 months

Final verdict

Epitalon has very few negatives whilst having pretty decent benand should be cycled for any true skin maxxer

For these reasons I’m giving it a 7.5/10

Spoiler: Face lift

Face lift

Biology/ How it works

A face lift is done by making incisions, around the hairline and ears,then the surgeon removes excess skin, as well as repositions fat and tissue, and then closes the incisions.

Benefits

Tightens sagging skin, which can create the impression of fewer wrinkles (30)

Negatives

It’s quite expensive (can range from £15,000-£50,000).(31)

Scarring is a slim chance, but still a chance nonetheless (32)

Same with hematoma (blood pooling under the skin), it’s a slim chance but still noteworthy (33)

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

Final verdict

Due to the cost and lackluster results I believe this surgery to be ineffective for most people. However for a very tiny percent this surgery might be worthwhile

For these reasons I’m giving it a 3/10

Spoiler: Fake tan

Fake tan

Biology/ How it works

Fake tan works through a chemical reaction between an ingredient, typically dihydroxyacetone, and the amino acids in the outer layer of your skin. This reaction produces a brown pigment called melanoidin.

Benefits

You can get a tan without damaging your skin

Negatives

Can look a bit uncanny if overdone

If you buy the wrong tanner you can get acne from it

Dosing/ Information

I’d recommend using this tanner and leaving it on for 3-4 hours.

Final verdict

Fake tans can be a very effective way to get a tan though I think there are some better ways to get the same results and ones that look more natural.

For this reasons I’m giving it a 6.5/10

Spoiler: Fat Grafting

Fat Grafting

Biology/ How it works

by removing fat from one part of the body, processing it, and then injecting it into another area.

Benefits

It improve wrinkles by restoring volume (34)

Could fix Nasolabial folds by restoring volume. (35)

This is basically a permanent version of fillers (which I’ll cover in the next section)

Negatives

Can be quite expensive (between £2,000 all the way up to £8,000)(36)

Can make you look fat if not properly done

Can’t control the exact increase in fat, due to some of the donor fat dying off (37)

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

Final verdict

It’s an effective method for increasing collagen especially in a specific area. However considering the price and how filler can do practically the same thing for cheaper.

I’m giving it a 7/10

Spoiler: Filler

Filler

Biology/ How it works

For this section I’m specifically talking about collagen fillers.

It restores volume through filler by triggering the body's own production of collagen through injectable substances like poly-L-lactic acid or calcium hydroxylapatite

Benefits

Smooths fine lines and wrinkles by restoring volume. (38)

Can fix Nasolabial folds by restoring volume. (39)

Improves collagen by 50-150% (40)

Negatives

Risk of having an uncanny/ pillow face look if you overfill.

Risk of migrations however this is usually under 1% (41)

Dosing/ Information

Injection into the areas which you feel you are lacking collagen in. Use a filler which stimulates collagen like Calcium Hydroxylapatite and get it done by a professional as collagen fillers can last up to 18 months. Inject into areas like Nasolabial folds and your forehead area.

Final verdict

It’s mostly pointless for those with no wrinkles etc who are looking to increasing their overall collagen. However it is the most effective method for an increase collagen in a specific area.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 7/10

Spoiler: Fluorouracil

Fluorouracil

Biology/ how it work

Now first off what is 5-FU used for?

Well it’s widely used as a chemotherapy medication to treat various cancers and to treat actinic keratosis (similarly to Tirbanibulin).

How does it work?

5-FU is a pyrimidine analog (meaning it looks a lot like Uracil and Thymine). This means that enzymes mistake it for legitimate nucleotides, thus acting similarly to a competitive inhibitor. Though differing from it in the sense it is effectively irreversible. This is due to 5-FU actually being a pro drug in the cell for 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine monophosphate (I’m gonna call it C₉H₁₂FN₂O₈P for short). To clarify 5-FU does not directly form C₉H₁₂FN₂O₈P but rather theres an intermediate metabolite of 5-faluoro-2′-deoxyuridine. C₉H₁₂FN₂O₈P forms a stable covalent ternary complex with thymidylate synthase. Thus preventing the formation of deoxythymidine monophosphate (precursor for deoxythymidine triphosphate which is the actual form of thymidine used by DNA polymerase during DNA replication) and so prevents cell replication. Thus eventually leading to the cells death.

5-FU is also incorporated into the RNA disruptting RNA folding and protein synthesis.

In addition it targets more specifically harmful cells which divide more rapidly (e.g. actinic keratoses, precancerous cells etc). It doesn’t harm healthy cells as much because they divide slower.

Benefits

Now what’s the benefit of actually using 5-FU.

Well we can target and eliminate sun damaged skin. This is through as stated earlier being a pyrimidine analog.

Now although it’s not its primary use (which is as a chemotherapy treatment for skin) it has been used for a while by dermatologists to do reduce sun damage.

It’s also been touted as the most effective field directed therapy for reducing AK counts in sun damaged skin compared to other topical agents.

Now why does this matter?

Well 5-FU could reverse skin damage from tanning. Minimizing the negative effects of the sun enabling us to tan more regularly.

It’s also much stronger and selective than an alternative I’ll go over later called Klysri which also can reduce sun damage.

Negatives

redness is common (42)

Crusting, scaling are both common (43)

Erosions / oozing is rather common (43)

Burning, stinging, pain isn’t rare (43)

Swelling isn’t uncommon to experience (43)

Treatment can last for 2-6 weeks meaning recovery can last 6-8 weeks.

It’s also not perfectly selective meaning it could potentially damage healthy cells.

Also if you’re darker skinned you could get pigmentation.

Dosing/ Information

Now whats the optimal percentage to use?

Well theres 3 main percentages used 0.5%, 1% and 5%. 0.5% is used for individuals with sensitive skin (though if you do have this I’d opt for Klyrsi instead). 1% isn’t shown to have any significant difference from 0.5% so I wouldn’t use it. Finally 5% is the most well studied concentration as well as being the most effective.

Some studies do show a higher effectiveness when combined with Calcipotriol (0.005%) however it’s not a must. If you’re combing add a 1:1 ratio of Calc and 5-FU as a solution. Just under a pea sized amount of each. (44)

Now how long should you use it for?

Well standard 5-FU 5% is usually used for once or twice a day for 2-4 weeks. Stopping when reach brisk erythema and/ or crusting, not full ulceration. Downtime is usually 4-8 weeks.

However 5-FU 5% + Calc is only used twice a day for 4 days. Relying more on immune activation rather than prolonged cytotoxic injury. Downtime is usually 2-3 weeks.

People usually cycle this every year.

For application use a pea sized amount of 5-FU and apply it all over your face.

Final Verdict

5-FU could potentially be an invaluable tool especially for those who are tanning. It mogs Klysri in terms of effectiveness but it’s got more side effects especially for those with sensitive skin.

That being said I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: GHK-cu injection

GHK-cu injection

Biology/ How it works

It works by binding with copper ions, acting as a naturally occurring human signaling peptide

Benefits

Good at anti aging (45)

Has has shown to have good collagen results however not as good as topical (46)

theoretically GHK-cu could be more effective than topical as it could penetrate deeper into the dermis and could have higher bioavailability. However this hasn’t been proven

Negatives

Has been shown to reduce IGF-1 levels (47)

It has very limited studies to prove its effectiveness compared to topical

It takes a while to actually see results

Dosing/ Information

First reconstitute the peptide

You can do this by following these steps

Use around 3ml (300 units) of water per 50 mg of GHK cu

First, gather your supplies;

1 vial of GHK cu (50 mg)
1 vial/ampule of water (use bacteriostatic if you’re only concerned with collagen/ skin but use Phosphate Buffered Saline if you want all the benefits)
1 syringe
1 alcohol swap

1. Take your GHK cu vial and take off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper. Wipe with the antibacterial swab.

2.Draw 3.0 mL of bacteriostatic water/ Phosphate Buffered Saline into a sterile syringe.

3.Inject the water slowly along the vial wall to reduce foaming.

4.Gently swirl the vial—avoid vigorous shaking.

5.Store the reconstituted solution at 2–8 °C (refrigerator), protected from light.

For best results inject it in your face. Your cheeks are probably the best.

Recommended dosages is to start at 2.5 mg every day to help your body acclimatize to the peptide and minimize the side effects. You can continue with this dose indefinitely if you are intending to do a low dosage regimen. But if you want to increase it titrate it up to 10-20 mg as this is most optimal (most people underdose quite significantly and so see barely any benefits).

Make sure to split the doses to 2-3 times a day because of it only having a ~2 hours. For example if you want to inject 3 mg a day inject 1 mg of it in the morning, 1 mg at midday and 1 mg at the end of the day.

Final verdict

GHK-cu injectable is a good peptide with strong results if you stay consistent as well as minimal downsides. However it’s not as effective as topical.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 7.5/10

Spoiler: GHK-cu topical

GHK-cu topical

Biology/ How it works

It works by binding to copper ions, acting as a naturally occurring human signaling peptide

Benefits

Effective in removing acne scars (48)

Good anti aging effects (49)

Good at improving collagen and Directly targets the skin (50)

Has far more studies backing up its benefits rather than injectable

Negatives

the amount absorbed by the skin is uncertain and likely lower than injectable GHK-cu

Dosing/ Information

I’d recommend making it yourself rather than buying it online.

You can do this by:

First approximately weigh out percentages of 1.2% GHK-Cu, 0.8% Carbopol 934, 3.0% Transcutol P, 0.7% Triethanolamine, and 94.3% distilled water.

First dissolve the GHK-Cu in water, dispersing Carbopol in water, mixing the two, and adding Transcutol P,

Finally add Triethanolamine to achieve a pH of approximately 7.4 (0.7% is merely a approximation and what was done in the patent but could be more or less just make sure to get the gel to a pH of 7.4),

Doing all these steps should result in a stable, translucent blue gel.

You can obviously add more GHK-cu if you want but the patent found this to be most preferable (51)

It has a ~4-12 hour half life meaning it’s optimal to do it AM and PM.

To apply it, use a dropper to apply the solution to your face like any other serum. Make sure to apply it evenly and everywhere.

Final verdict

GHK-cu topical is a miracle peptide with very good results if you stay consistent . In addition to basically no downsides. However it should be a staple in everyone’s skin maxxing stack

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: GT 20029

GT 20029

Biology/ How it works

uses a proteolysis-targeting chimera mechanism to degrade androgen receptors reducing the sensitivity to androgens like DHT. By breaking down the AR, it prevents androgens from binding.

Benefits

It has completed phase 1 in clinical trials in China, showing a good safety profile and promising results for skin. Although phase 2 and 3 haven’t been completed yet so the results might not be as good as initially thought. However the results might be even better (52)

It has the strongest theoretical anti androgen effect on this list. Although no actual studies have been done on this based on current available data, GT20029 appears to be the most effective AA in this thread.

Negatives

It’s extremely hard to source it reliably

No studies for the long term use yet.

Dosing/ Information

There is no information online about making it so I messaged the research team

View attachment 25540

But they never responded

This means rn it’s impossible to make it or use it.

However they plan to release more information about GT in the coming months or years so fingers crossed they can talk about their formulation.

Final Verdict

Right now it would get a 0/10 as you can’t physically make it. However in the next few years (I’m expecting late 2020’s to early 2030’s) it will become readily available (and we’ll learn about the formulation) and when it does it will be the most effective product on the market

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9.5/10 (in the future)

Spoiler: HGH

HGH

Biology/ How it works

It works by mimicking the body's endogenous human growth hormone (HGH), binding to specific receptors on cells

Benefits

HGH can make your skin look younger by improving elasticity and reducing wrinkles. It also helps your body produce collagen (53)

HGH helps improve sleep quality, so you get deeper, more restful sleep. Which can indirectly affect your skin. (54)

Negatives

Could lead to organ growth (55)

May cause also lead to bloat (56)

As well as draining your thyroid (57)

It may also lead to hyperglycemia due to promoting insulin resistance. (58)

Dosing/ Information

There are 2 different types of HGH regular and pharma, each with different ways of injecting

First, we’ll cover regular HGH

First reconstitute the peptide by adding 1 ml of bac per 10 IU of HGH. Then inject the bac water into your HGH vial.

Now each 10 units on an insulin syringe equals 1 IU of HGH. If you’re aiming for 4 IU of HGH, you’d fill the syringe up to the 40-unit mark.

Once you have your dosage inject it into your belly area, around 3 fingers away from the navel. Clean the skin, pinch it, insert the needle and inject slowly.

Now for pharma

Set the desired dose on the HGH pen, inject it into your belly area, around 3 fingers away from the navel. Clean the skin, pinch it, insert the needle and inject slowly.

Inject 2-4 IU’s and always inject at night.

Final Verdict

HGH has some decent skin improvement properties. However I wouldn’t recommend taking it for skin improvements, instead I’d think of all the benefits you get as a indirect side effect

For these reasons I’m giving it a 5.5/10

Spoiler: Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone

Biology/ How it works

Hydroquinone lightens skin color through reducing melanin overtime. It does this by blocking tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is the enzyme which melanocytes use to make melanin, thus disrupting this process.

Another thing it does is disrupt melanosomes so pigments dont transfer as easily to surrounding cells.

Benefits

The biggest upside to hydroquinone it has been shown to lighten your skin. With a randomized, double-blind trial 2003 study showing that it works and is more effective than a ‘skin whitening complex’. (59)

Negatives

Hydroquinone may cause skin irritation. (60)

It also rarely causes exogenous ochronosis. This is basically blue-black or grayish discoloration. (61)

It also could cause uneven lightning if done improperly.

Dosing/ Information

There are two main concentrations of hydroquinone, 4% and 6%.

What percentage you use is dependent on your Fitzpatrick use the picture below to figure out yours. Imo Fitzpatrick 3 is ideal so a olivey skin tone.

View attachment 25543

If you’re Fitzpatrick 4 try Hydroquinone 4% for 4-8 weeks.

If you’re Fitzpatrick 5 try Hydroquinone 4% for 8 weeks. Then give it a 8 week break from using it before doing another 8 week cycle.

For Fitzpatrick 6 try Hydroquinone 6% for 8 weeks on and 8 weeks off for around a year.

Obviously the timings will somewhat vary from person to person but they’re just guidelines to follow. Never I mean never go over 8 weeks on Hydroquinone otherwises you’ll develop problems.

Final Verdict

Hydroquinone is the best skin lightening product on the market. It’s also relatively safe if done correctly. It’s a must for any ethnic imo.

That’s why it gets a 9/10

Spoiler: IPL

IPL

Biology/ How it works

It works by emitting a broad-spectrum light pulses which is absorbed by the hair pigment. This light energy converts to heat, which travels down to the hair follicle and damages it.

Benefits

May reducing wrinkles and improves collagen (62)

Can improves sun damage (63)

Can help in treating acne or rosacea (64)

May removes your beard and the failo of its blue/ green undertones (65)

Negatives

Requires multiple sessions

Unlike laser hair removal which destroys follicles, IPL only weakens them, meaning that hair regrowth can happen

May cause pain and irritation (66)

Dosing/ Information

Consult with a professional who will assess your skin type and create a plan

Multiple sessions are typically required to achieve the desired result and after that you’ll probably need a session every 3-6 months for maintenance

Final Verdict

IPL is a useful skin max with great results. However due to its semi permanent nature and getting brutally mogged by laser hair removal, meaning its score will slightly lower.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Isotretenoin

Isotretenoin

Biology/ How it works

Isotretinoin works by reducing oil (sebum) production in the skin by shrinking the sebaceous glands.

Isotretinoin also stops the hair follicle cells from being so sticky. This means it stops hair follicles from getting clogged up by skin cells.

Benefits

Most effective product for acne (67)

Insane collagen and anti aging effects (68)

Actually affects deeper layers of your skin compared to topical retinoids

Negatives

Can cause liver damage, however liver abnormalities are uncommon on accutane (<15%) and even more uncommon to have anything serious happen (<1%) (69)

May cause dry skin/ lips (70)

Could make you more photosensitive (71)

Dosing/ Information

It can range from 5-60 mg depending on your situation

If you have severe acne blasting 60 mg of accutane for 6-18 months is the best option

If you have mild- little amount of acne doing 45 mg for 6-18 months is the best option

If you have little to no acne blasting 10-20 mg for 6-18 months is a good option so you basically have perma clear skin no matter what you do

You can do these cycles 2-3 times to get the best results

And perma microdosing 5-10 mg of accutane after doing the cycles for anti aging effects is very good

Final Verdict

Accutane is a must for any looksmaxer and it’s practically impossible to have permanent flawless skin without it

For these reasons I’m giving it a 10/10

Spoiler: Klisyri

Klisyri

Biology/ How it works

Similarly to Klisyri targets rapidly-dividing abnormal skin cells. It does this from 2 main mechanisms.

The first is microtubule inhibition. Abnormal cells rely on microtubules to split and multiply. By blocking microtubules in these abnormal cells, we are stopping them from dividing, thus causing them to die off.

The second is through SRC Tyrosine Kinase (c-Src) inhibition. In abnormal cells c-Src is overactive, which helps these cells to grow continuously, instead of dying. So inhibiting c-Src takes away this function rom these unwanted cells, and so they can die.

Benefits

Now what’s the benefit of actually using Klysri.

Well we can target and eliminate sun damaged skin. This is because Klisyri targets rapidly-dividing abnormal skin cells. Also as healthy cells divide much slower, they are relatively unaffected even if Klisyri is applied to them

Now although it’s not its primary use (which is treating actinic keratosis on the face and/or the scalp) it has been used off label for sun damage and skin rejuvenation.

However there are no specific studies looking into its effects for this.

It’s also less irritating to the skin than 5-FU

Negatives

That being said it’s still common to experience:

Erythema (72)

Scaling (72)

Crusting (72)

Pruritus (72)

It’s also weaker and less selective than 5-FU.

Dosing/ Information

The best concentration is 1%.

Some people microneedle beforehand to enhance the effects. However it is not a necessity to use.

The treatment time last around 5 days. Do this treatment every 6-12 months.

Klisyri comes in packets of wipes. Rub each packet all over your face.

Final Verdict

Although Klisyri is effective and very useful, there’s not really much point using it when 5-FU exists. As 5-FU is just much more effective. That being said it’s still a viable option for those with sensitive skin.

That’s why it gets a 7.5/10

Spoiler: Kojic Acid

Kojic Acid

Biology/ How it works

It inhibits the production of melanin

Benefits

Lightens your skin, which can halo ethnics (73)

Negatives

Can cause an increase in sun sensitivity (74)

May cause drier more irritated skin

Dosing/ Information

wet the soap to create a lather, then massage the lather onto the skin and let it sit for 0.5-10 minutes (depending on your skin darkness) before rinsing off

Final Verdict

It can be an effective tool for lightening your skin and can have moderate results

That’s why I’m giving it a 5/10

Spoiler: Laser hair removal

Laser hair removal

Biology/ How it works

It works by emitting a concentrated light pulse that is absorbed by the hair's pigment. This light energy converts to heat, which travels down to the hair follicle and damages it. It’s similar to IPL, but instead of using broad-spectrum light, it delivers a concentrated beam.

Benefits

Removes hair for a long period of time (results last longer than ipl) (75)

Negatives

It requires multiple sessions as hair grows in three phases. Laser treatment is only effective on hairs in the active growth phase, so multiple sessions are needed to catch all the hairs that weren’t in that stage at the time (76)

May cause Pain and irritation (77)

Dosing/ Information

Consult with a professional who will assess your skin type and create a plan

You will probably require many sessions to get the desired result. After that you’ll probably need a session every 6-12 months for maintenance

Final Verdict

It is essentially ipl that lasts longer. It’s a must for any skin maxxer with the potential of giving insane jb appeal

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9.5/10

Spoiler: Mega dosing beta carotene and lycopene

Mega dosing beta carotene and lycopene

Biology/ How it works

they can lead to a change in skin tone by accumulating in the skin

Benefits

It can give mogger undertones if done correctly.

Negatives

Beta carotene can sometimes look uncanny if overdone

Dosing/ Information

I’d recommend having 50-75mg per day of lycopene and 10,000 IU of beta carotene (you can increase the beta carotene to the 50k range if you want but I found this dosage (10k) to have a more natural looking undertone than higher dosages)

Final Verdict

It can give a small coloring halo and there is really no reason not to take it, definitely should be a staple

For these reasons, I’m giving it a 6.5/10

Spoiler: Micro needling

Micro needling

Biology/ How it works

It works by creating tiny punctures in the skin using fine needles to trigger the body's natural healing process

Benefits

An insane boost in collagen (78)

Reduces acne scars (79)

Can remove mild acne (80)

Negatives

May cause Temporary redness/ irritation (81)

Dosing/ Information

First apply a numbing cream to your face and wait for it to fully dry.

Coat your skin with Hyaluronic acid solution

The technique for Microneedling is you want to first go horizontally down.

View attachment 25544

I used the forehead area as an example in this image I also left a couple gaps to make it easier to see but when you actually do it make sure to cover every last bit.

Then after you want to micro needle landscape direction

View attachment 25541

As stated before I used the forehead area as an example in this image I also left a couple gaps to make it easier to see but when you actually do it make sure to cover every last bit.

You want to do these areas I state in the order I state them in with the setting I say at first, obviously once you get the hang of it change it to what ever settings suit you best

1ST AREA: FOREHEAD

1.0MM DEEPNESS, 2 SPEED

DO THIS ONCE

2ND AREA: LEFT SIDE OF FACE [except zygos should be 1.0mm]

1.5MM DEEPNESS, 2 SPEED

DO THIS TWICE

3RD AREA: BOTTOM OF FACE [Avoid the lips entirely.]

1.0MM DEEPNESS, 2 SPEED

DO THIS TWICE

4TH AREA: RIGHT SIDE OF FACE [except zygos should be 1.0mm]

1.5MM DEEPNESS, 2 SPEED

DO THIS TWICE

5TH AREA: EYEBROWS, UNDER EYES AND NOSE

0.5MM DEEPNESS, 1 SPEED

DO THIS ONCE

Then after apply Hyaluronic acid solution again

Wait 24 hours before washing, and 48 hours before applying other skincare products

Final Verdict

Micro needling is an insane tool for skin maxxing and should be done fairly frequently

For these reasons, I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion

Biology/ How it works

It works by using a handheld device to either spray fine crystals or use a diamond-tipped wand to buff away the outermost layer of skin. This provides a more controlled and effective form of exfoliation compared to regular methods

Benefits

Helps to Reduce the appearance of acne scars (83)

Helps Reduce wrinkles and signs of aging (84)

Helps Unclog pores (85)

Negatives

May overly dry out your skin (86)

Dosing/ Information

As for how to do it I’d recommend watching this video

Initially, perform sessions every 1–2 weeks, then maintain results with monthly treatments

Final Verdict

It has beneficial results and can greatly improve your skin especially if you’re prone to clogged pores however there are some better treatments but it’s good nonetheless

For these reasons I’m giving it a 6.5/10

Spoiler: Moisturizer

Moisturizer

Biology/ How it works

It works by adding water to the skin and preventing water loss through occlusion

Benefits

Protects your skin barrier (87)

Smooths and moisturizes the skin (88)

Negatives

May clog up your pores if you buy a low quality and comedogenic product (89)

Dosing/ Information

Apply moisturizer last in your routine, using one with low-comedogenic ingredients

Apply moisturizer to damp skin, massage it into your skin evenly and all over.

Final Verdict

Moisturizer is a must as it’s one of the only products that protects your skin barrier which many of these products damage. It’s a staple in any skincare routine.

For these reasons, I’m giving it a 7/10

Spoiler: Monobenzone

Monobenzone

Biology

It induces a type of hypersensitivity reaction where the body's immune system recognizes melanocytes as targets. So the body tries to destroy them. It also generates reactive oxygen species and quinones, which are cytotoxic to pigmented cells.

Benefits

It is one of the best skin lighteners on the market. It can take a Fitzpatrick 4 to 1 if used consistently enough.

View attachment 25546

View attachment 25542

Negatives

Skin irritation, redness, or swelling. (90)

Peeling/ cracking of your skin (similar to tret). (91)

Increased photosensitivity. (92)

No long term human studies, so we don’t know if it’s carcinogenic or has more long term adverse side effects etc.

Extremely common to get uneven results.

Can cause Vitiligo. (93)

Dosing/ Information

What to take with it:

• Sunscreen should always be used because of how it makes your skin photosensitive
• Only use it if you’re Fitzpatrick 6 or higher

Who/ how often should you take it:

• Use monobenzone until you reached your desired result this is usually between 3-12 months depending on your starting Fitzpatrick and the other products you use on top of monobenzone
• Then you can you can maintain it by using it once of twice a week

How to apply it:

• First use get just a bit more than a pea sized amount in your hands
• Then apply it to all your desired areas for skin lightening (top tip don’t forget the neck and arms as you’ll look stupid if you have a white face but a very dark neck and arms)

Final verdict

Although Monobenzone does work it has quite severe side effect which could potentially cause unwanted results. In addition hydroquinone exists so it makes no sense to use it. For these reasons I’m giving it a 4/10.

Spoiler: MT1

MT1

Biology/ How it works

It is a synthetic analogue of the naturally occurring alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It works by mimicking the action of -MSH and binding more specifically to the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R). Compared to MT2 which is less selective.

Benefits

MT1 can produce a tan with minimal UV-induced skin damage (94)

Negatives

May cause nausea and vomiting (95)

May cause facial flushing/redness (96)

Dosing/ Information

First reconstitute your MT1

You can do this through

For injection

For doses of less than 500mcg it would be best to use 2ml of water.

First, gather your supplies;

1 vial of Melanotan

1 vial/ampule of water

1 syringe

1 alcohol swab

1. Take your Melanotan vial and take off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper. Wipe with the antibacterial swab.

2.a. If using bacteriostatic water, pop off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper. Wipe with the swab.

b. If using sodium chloride, twist off the top of the ampule

3. Next insert a syringe into the vial/ampule and hold it upside down.

4. Withdraw your water and inject it slowly into the Melanotan vial aiming at the side, not the powder.

5. Place in the fridge for a few hours or overnight while the powder dissolves, you can swirl or tilt the vial to help.

For Nasal

First, gather your supplies;

1 vial of Melanotan

1 vial/ampule of water

1 empty nasal spray bottle or 1 OTC nasal mist

1 syringe

1. Take your Melanotan vial and take off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper.

2.a. If using bacteriostatic water, pop off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper.

b. If using sodium chloride, twist off the top of the ampule

3. Next insert a syringe into the vial/ampule and hold it upside down.

4. Withdraw 50 units of water and inject it slowly into the Melanotan vial aiming at the side, not the powder.

5. Place in the fridge for a few hours or overnight while the powder dissolves,

6. Insert the syringe again and turn upside down.

7. Withdraw all of the liquid and remove the syringe.

8. Unscrew the cap of your nasal spray and slowly inject the liquid into the bottle.

9. If using an empty bottle you can now transfer the remainder of the water. Wait 2 hours before use.

For injecting inject it into your belly area, around 3 fingers away from the navel. Clean the skin, pinch it, insert the needle and inject slowly.

For nasal put the nasal applicator up your nostril and push it down on the applicator twice.

For MT1 you have to inject it twice a day due to its half life (AM and PM)

Recommend dosages starting from 500mcg (250mcg twice daily) for Melanotan 1 due to the lower side effects associated with it.

After 4-6 days increase to 1mg (500mcg twice daily) if you feel like you need to, and stick at this point.

Once you have reached your desired level of tan then you can enter what is known as the 'maintenance phase'.

Although the level is different for most people it levels out at around 1mg every 3 or 4 days and a sunbed session with every or every other dose.

This will allow you to maintain your tan through winter without much work.

If you notice at any point you're becoming darker, reduce the dose.

If you notice you are getting lighter, add in an extra dose or take up the second sunbed session if you didn't already

Final Verdict

MT1 is an insane peptide for your skin with the ability of giving insanely tanned skin with minimal to negligible skin damage.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: MT2

MT2

Biology/ How it works

It is a synthetic analog of the naturally occurring alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It works by acting as a non-selective agonist that binds to and activates several melanocortin receptors found throughout the body, including in the skin and brain.

Benefits

For specific skin beneficial effects of MT2 are that it can give you a nice tan with minimal UV damage (97)

Negatives

May cause nausea and vomiting (97)

May cause facial flushing/redness (97)

May cause acne because MT2 binds to MCR3 and 4 with a decent affinity (unlike MT1 which does bond to MCR3 and 4 but does not cross the blood-brain barrier to a significant extent when administered systemically unlike MT2) which have hormonal implications.

Dosing/ Information

First reconstitute your MT2

You can do this through

For injection

For doses of less than 500mcg it would be best to use 2ml of water.

First, gather your supplies;

1 vial of Melanotan

1 vial/ampule of water

1 syringe

1 alcohol swab

1. Take your Melanotan vial and take off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper. Wipe with the antibacterial swab.

2.a. If using bacteriostatic water, pop off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper. Wipe with the swab.

b. If using sodium chloride, twist off the top of the ampule

3. Next insert a syringe into the vial/ampule and hold it upside down.

4. Withdraw your water and inject it slowly into the Melanotan vial aiming at the side, not the powder.

5. Place in the fridge for a few hours or overnight while the powder dissolves, you can swirl or tilt the vial to help.

For Nasal

First, gather your supplies;

1 vial of Melanotan

1 vial/ampule of water

1 empty nasal spray bottle or 1 OTC nasal mist

1 syringe

1. Take your Melanotan vial and take off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper.

2.a. If using bacteriostatic water, pop off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper.

b. If using sodium chloride, twist off the top of the ampule

3. Next insert a syringe into the vial/ampule and hold it upside down.

4. Withdraw 50 units of water and inject it slowly into the Melanotan vial aiming at the side, not the powder.

5. Place in the fridge for a few hours or overnight while the powder dissolves,

6. Insert the syringe again and turn upside down.

7. Withdraw all of the liquid and remove the syringe.

8. Unscrew the cap of your nasal spray and slowly inject the liquid into the bottle.

9. If using an empty bottle you can now transfer the remainder of the water. Wait 2 hours before use.

For injecting, administer it into your belly area, around 3 fingers away from the navel. Clean the skin, pinch it, insert the needle and inject slowly.

For nasal put the nasal applicator up your nostril and push it down on the applicator twice.

it will always be better to inject in the morning or midday if getting natural UV exposure. If you are using sunbeds then inject about 20 minutes before exposure.

The recommended dosages start at 250mcg once daily to help your body acclimatize to the peptide and minimize the side effects. You can continue with this dose indefinitely if you are intending to do a low dosage regimen.

If you want to dose higher, after 2-4 days, whenever you feel comfortable, up the dose to 500mcg and stick at this point.

Once you have reached your desired level of tan then you can enter what is known as the 'maintenance phase'.

Although the level is different for most people it levels out at around 500mcg every 3 or 4 days and a sunbed session with every or every other dose.

This will allow you to maintain your tan through winter without much work.

If you notice at any point you're becoming darker, reduce the dose.

If you notice you are getting lighter, add in an extra dose or take up the second sunbed session if you didn't already

Final Verdict

MT2 is a good peptide for giving you a insane tan halo however it gets brutally mogged by MT1 due to having less downsides

That being said it still scores highly with an 8.5/10

Spoiler: Neck lift

Neck lift

Biology/ How it works

A neck lift works by removing excess skin and fat and tightening the underlying neck muscles through incisions typically made under the chin and behind the ears

Benefits

Tightens sagging skin, which can create the impression of fewer wrinkles (98)

Negatives

It’s expensive (can range from £5000 to £10,000) (99)

Slight risk of scarring (100)

Hematoma is a fairly common occurrence (~15%) (101)

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

Final Verdict

It’s a decent procedure but the downsides are quite brutal

For these reasons, I’m giving it a 4/10

Spoiler: Phenol peel

Phenol peel

Biology/ How it works

Ik a phenol peel is a deep chemical peel but I’d like to focus on it due to its insane results. It works by using a deep chemical solution of carbolic acid (phenol) to remove the top and middle layers of skin

Benefits

Just look at this result for yourself

View attachment 25547

It removes fine lines, sun damage, wrinkles and imperfections. (102)

Stimulates new collagen production (103)

It also has significant skin lightening effects for people with darker skin tones (104)

Negatives

A cause may be Scabbing, irritation and infection (105)

It may cause Cardiac arrest however it’s extremely unlikely (<0.01%) (106)

Heart, kidney, or liver damage is a risk (107)

It makes you hyper photosensitive so stay inside and use sunscreen for 3-4 weeks

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

Final Verdict

Final peels have unparalleled results with no other method really coming close. Even though it has significant side effects I’d still recommend doing it if you have moderate to severe signs of aging. I’d also only recommend doing 1 of these in your life.

Taking into account everything I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Pico Laser

Pico Laser

Biology/ How it works

Pico laser uses ultra-short pulses of energy (measured in picoseconds, or trillionths of a second) to fragment pigment in the skin

Benefits

The most effective method at treating hyperpigmentation (108)

Highly effective at reducing fine lines and wrinkles (109)

Great at improving acne scars (110)

Negatives

It makes you photosensitive (111)

May cause irritation, swelling and discomfort (112)

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

Final Verdict

This is the best treatment for hyperpigmentation and should be a must if you have any. However it’s pretty useless if you don’t have it as many other methods have better results for collagen, aging, wrinkles etc

For this reason I’m giving it a 6.5/10 (but it does have its uses)

Spoiler: Platelet-Rich Plasma

Platelet-Rich Plasma

Biology/ How it works

drawing a patient's blood, spinning it in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets, and then injecting this platelet-rich plasma

Benefits

One of the best methods for improving collagen (103)

Reduces inflammation (104)

Negatives

slight risk of infection (105)

May cause pain, swelling, and bruising at the injection site

A small risk of an allergic reaction (106)

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

The first 3-5 sessions should be around a month apart and then for maintenance you can do it 2-3 times a year

Final Verdict

PRP is low risk and with insane results. It’s a must for anyone who’s serious about skin maxxing

For these reasons I’m giving it an 8.5/10

Spoiler: Polydeoxyribonucleotide

Polydeoxyribonucleotide

Biology/ how it works

PDRN is a DNA fragment derived from salmon sperm (Ik it sounds super weird but stick with me). It works by activating the adenosine A2A receptor and utilizing the nucleotide salvage pathway. It’s A2A activation has a cascading effect with it inhibiting certain pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6, as well as stimulating anti-inflammatory ones like IL-10. It also significantly increases the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and increases cellular proliferation.

Benefits

Speeds up healing and repair through activating cell receptors leading to faster cell turnover. This means it will help with acne scars, burns and other kinds of scars. (107)

Boosts collagen by stimulating fibroplasts. (108)

Strengthens the skin barrier, by helping the skin retain onto more moisture and reducing transepidermal water loss. (109)

Reduces inflammation by inhibiting certain pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6, as well as stimulating anti-inflammatory ones like IL-10. (110)

Some results of PDRN
View attachment 25618View attachment 25619

Negatives

Allergies as PDRN is derived from salmon. So if anyone with an allergy to salmon/ seafood shouldn’t use it.

Bruising at injection sites.

Swelling but it goes away after 1-2 days.

Dosing/ Information

First you need to reconstitute your PDRN solution

Materials needed for reconstitution (111) (Ik the patent isn’t purely for skin but rather for the treatment of osteoarticular diseases but it can still show us an idea of what is an effective PDRN injection composition):

• PDRN powder in a vial (a purity of over 95% is preferred)
• 0.9% sterile normal saline solution (preferably contains sodium chloride and a mixture of sodium dihydrogen phosphate and sodium hydrogen phosphate)
• Insulin syringe
• Alcohol wipes

How to reconstitute it (111) (Ik the patent isn’t purely for skin but rather for the treatment of osteoarticular diseases but it can still show us an idea of what is an effective PDRN injection composition):

• Clean the rubber stopper of both the saline solution and PDRN vial with the alcohol wipe
• Inject the saline solution slowly into the PDRN via,l you want around a 0.5% to 3% by weight of PDRN powder in saline solution. For example per 30 mg of PDRN powder/ ml of saline for a 3% solution. Optimally the entire PDRN solution should be 2-3ml and have a pH of 6.5-7.5.
• Remove the needle
• Mix the solution gently by slowly swirling it
• Allow the powder to dissolve completely
• Draw the reconstituted solution into a fresh, sterile syringe for administration. To avoid drawing in bubbles, ensure the needle tip is below the fluid level without touching the bottom of the glass

How long will it last reconstituted:

• At 2-8 °C (36–46°F) can last around 3 months [90% of users report no degradation (112)]

Materials needed for injection (113):

• Reconstituted vial of PDRN
• 34G, 2mm Insulin Syringe as you’re injecting intradermaly
• Numbing cream
• Alcohol wipe

Where/ how much to inject (114):

• You should target cheeks, nasolabial folds, tear troughs, forehead, chin and jaw area
• You should do each injection around 0.5-1 cm apart in a grid like fashion
• Inject between 0.02–0.05 mL per injection

How to actually inject (115):

• First wipe/ cleanse your face with the alcohol wipe
• Then apply a thin layer of numbing cream (you don’t need to do this, it’s only for people with a low pain tolerance)
• Map out your injection points
• Pinch the area you want to inject with the PDRN
• Inject slowly at a 30 degrees angle
• Take out the needle and repeat

How often to do it:

• Start off by having 3-4 sessions around 2-4 weeks apart
• Then maintain with 4-6 weeks

Final verdict

PDRN is a very useful and underrated skin max. It should almost always be used with accutane due to how it can counteract some of the adverse side effects, like a weak skin barrier and dryness. I think this should be something that is heavily considered for any real looksmaxxers.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 8.5/10

Spoiler: Rapamycin

Rapamycin

Biology/ how it works

Rapamycin enters cells and binds to intracellular proteins called FKBP. This FKBP-rapamycin complex then interferes with the function of mTOR, a protein kinase that controls many cellular processes. (And one of the main processes that ages you). By inhibiting mTOR, rapamycin decreases cell growth and proliferation. It also promotes autophagy, a cellular process of self-cleaning and recycling.

Benefits

Oral Rapamycin has not been studied yet for its collagen effects. However topical rapamycin has in addition to mTOR inhibitors, with both showing very good results for skin collagen / aging. Which is a very good signs that oral will have a very similar effect. (116)

Negatives

There are many studies showing that oral Rap can cause birth defects. This means if you’re using oral Rapamycin and want to have a child make sure it’s out of your system. (117)

Many studies show a long consistent use of oral ramycin (over 6 months) can lead to significant muscle loss. Aa MTOR is required for muscle growth (118)

However this can be lessened if you do a biweekly schedule of Rapamycin as well as using a relatively low dose.

Fluid retention is a common side effect of oral repa. This occurs because rapamycin is an mTOR inhibitor, and the mTOR pathway plays a role in regulating fluid balance. (119)

Oral Rapamycin has been shown to increase cholesterol, this means drugs like SR9009 or SR9011 are a must if you use Rapamycin. (120)

Oral Rapamycin use has been associated with increased risks of blood clotting, this is because it enhances the activity of tissue factors in endothelial cells, affecting platelet procoagulant function. (121)

Topical rapa may cause dry skin, acne, pruritus and erythema. (122)

Dosing/ Information

Oral

What to take with it:

• Take trametinib as Rapamycin has shown to have great synergy with it. So it will give better results than just using it by itself. Take 0.5 mg daily, if you haven’t got any side effects titrate it up every week by 0.5 mg, until you reach 2 mg. If you get side effects titrate it down by 0.5 mg every week until you don’t. (123)
• SR9009 or SR9011 for cholesterol. Make sure to dissolve it in DMSO and apply transdermal as it is rubbish oral bioavailability. Use 10-40 mg
• Test and HGH as Rapamycin can reduce these hormones. Use 15-25 mg of test P daily as we’re more trying to use it as TRT rather than blasting it. And use 2-4 IU of HGH daily

Schedule/ dosage for Repamycin:

• Generally aim for 20 mg/ week
• But start with small doses and titrate up
• Also make sure to a week off week on cycle
• As well as to stop Rapamycin if you get a cold/ illness until you fully recover

Here’s an example of dosing:

• Week 1- 5 mg
• Week 2-0 mg
• Week 3- 10 mg
• Week 4- 0 mg
• Week 5- 15 mg
• Week 6- 0 mg
• Week 7- 20 mg
• Week 8- 0 mg
• Week 9- 20 mg
• Week 10- 0 mg
• Week 11- 20 mg
• Etc

Topical

If you want to learn how to make rapa I’d recommend looking at this

https://www.rapamycin.news/t/diy-rapamycin-skin-cream/1522

Final verdict

Although Rapamycin has some great upsides and don’t think it’s worth taking in your ‘prime’ due to the brutal sides. However I think it could be very useful tool for after looksmaxxing/ when you settle down and could possibly counteract some adverse side effects of other pharmaceuticals. In addition I don’t think topical rapa should be taken due to its adverse side effects of acne and minimal benefits.

For these reasons I’m giving oral a 6/10 and topical a 5/10

Spoiler: Red light therapy (mask)

Red light therapy (mask)

Biology/ How it works

exposes the face/body to low-level red and near-infrared light wavelengths

Benefits

Stimulates collagen production (124)

Reduced fine lines and wrinkles (125)

Improves mild to moderate acne (126)

Negatives

May cause some Skin irritation (127)

Dosing/ Information

Purchase a high quality red light therapy mask.

Secure device on your face and then follow the manufacturer's instructions for treatment duration, which is usually 10 minutes. Then titrate up 1 minute every time you use it until you reach 30 minutes.

Do it 3-5 times a week

Final Verdict

Don’t expect insane results but minimal ones if you use it consistently. It’s a decent product with practically no downsides but it’s not essential

For these reasons I’m giving it a 6/10

Spoiler: RU 58841

RU 58841

Biology/ How it works

It works by acting as a topical anti-androgen that blocks androgens from binding to androgen receptors

Benefits

Stops any androgens from fucking up your skin and is the second most potent AA on this list (behind GT20029)

Anecdotally people have said it can improve acne

Negatives

It may cause skin irritation

It’s not FDA approved for acne/ skin use

Formulating a good vehicle for RU58841 that doesn't dry out your skin is hard (if not impossible rn)

Dosing/ Information

I’d recommend making the solution yourself

You can do this by:

First getting your ingredients

RU58841
Ethanol
Propylene glycol

As for the solvent create it by mixing Ethanol and Propylene Glycol at a ration of 7:3. For example if you’re making a 50 ml solution 35 ml is Ethanol and 15 ml is Propylene Glycol.

To make a 5% solution, add 50 mg RU58841 per 1 mL of solvent. For 50 mL of solvent, this would equals 2,500 mg RU58841

Then once you measured out your ingredients first make the solvent by mixing the ethanol and propylene glycol. Then mix the ru in.

Once you have made it you can apply it like this:

Use a dropper to apply the solution to your face like any other serum. Make sure to apply it evenly and everywhere.

Final Verdict

Ru is a very effective AA for the skin and can be very effective however due to the lack of studies for it’s direct effect on the skin it’s score has to be lowered. It drys out your skin quite significantly. And considering CB has similar mechanisms of action yet doesn’t do this it’s a no brainer to opt for CB.

That’s why I’m giving it an 7.5/10

Spoiler: Sunscreen

Sunscreen

Biology/ How it works

It works by using active ingredients that block or absorb the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays

Benefits

Effectively stops uv rays which can dramatically age your skin. (128)

Helps to protect your skin barrier. (129)

Negatives

Can be comedogenic if you buy from the wrong brand which will clog up your pores.

Dosing/ Information

Choose a sunscreen with 50 pa ++++ and make sure it has as little comedogenic ingredients as possible.

Apply the sunscreen evenly to all exposed areas of skin.

Final Verdict

Sunscreen is a must and there is no reason to not use it. It is a god tier product

This is why it is a 10/10

Spoiler: Tanning drops

Tanning drops

Biology/ How it works

It’s a specific type of fake tanner. It contains the active ingredient dihydroxyacetone (DHA). When applied, DHA reacts with the amino acids in the top layer of your skin to create a temporary browning effect, or tan

Benefits

Provides a natural looking tan without sun damage.

Negatives

May cause Skin irritation

Dosing/ Information

mix a few drops with your moisturizer. Then apply the mixture evenly to clean, dry skin.

Final Verdict

This is my personal favorite tanning method as I have found to have the best results compared to other kinds of fake tanner like foam. I found combining it with MT1 gives me the best results but using it on its own is effective as well. However it can sometimes look unnatural

For these reasons I’m giving it a 7.5/10

Spoiler: Tazarotene

Tazarotene

Biology/ How it works

Although the exact mechanism of tazarotene action is not known, studies have shown that the active form of the drug (tazarotenic acid) binds to all three members of the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) family: RARa, RARb, and RARg, but shows relative selectivity for RARb, and RARg.

Benefits

It’s more potent than Tretenoin (130)

Provides similar anti aging effects to topical tret (131)

Theoretically less irritating than tret as it’s more selective in its RAR selectivity but in practice they have about the same irritation

You see quicker results than tret (132)

Negatives

May still cause irritation and peeling (133)

Dosing/ Information

Start with a low concentration and low frequency. Then titrate up to every other day using a 0.1% concentration

Final Verdict

It’s just a better version of tret. However it gets brutally mogged by accutane so I’d only recommend it if you want its anti-aging properties or you’re against Isotret for some reason.

That’s why I’m giving it a 8.5/10

Spoiler: Topical Estradiol

Topical Estradiol

Biology/ How it works

17β-estradiol works through many pathways including Receptor Binding and Gene Regulation, Dermal Structural Enhancement, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Actions.

Benefits

Increases collagen (more than Tretenoin) (134)

Effective at anti aging (135)

Boosts antioxidants (136)

Negatives

Some estrogen can be absorbed systemically but it’s extremely minimal (137)

Dosing/ Information

Use a 0.01% and apply it daily

put a pea sized and slather it all over my face

Final Verdict

Estradiol cream has a huge array of benefits, with minimal and easy to combat side effects. It should be used for anyone who’s serious at skin maxxing

For these reasons it’s a 8.5/10

Spoiler: Topical Estriol

Topical Estriol

Biology/ How it works

It works by locally delivering the hormone estriol to the vaginal area to counteract the effects of low estrogen

Benefits

Increases collagen (138)

Effective at anti aging (139)

Boosts antioxidants

Has been shown to outperformed estradiol (140)

Negatives

Some estrogen may be absorbed systematically but it’s extremely minimal (141)

Dosing/ Information

Use a 0.3%, applying it daily.

put a pea sized and slather it all over my face

Final Verdict

Estriol has a lot of great benefits and also has been shown to outperform estradiol (however I’d recommend using both).

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Tretenoin

Tretenoin

Biology/ How it works

Tretinoin is believed to work by binding to and activating two types of nuclear receptors - retinoic acid receptors (RARs) alpha, beta, and gamma and retinoid X receptors (RXRs).

Benefits

Provides strong anti aging effects (142)

Boosts collagen boost (143)

Negatives

May cause peeling and irritation (144)

Dosing/ Information

Start at a low concentration and low frequency. Then titrate up to 0.025-0.05% and applying it every other day.

apply a pea-sized amount to your entire face, avoiding the corners of your mouth and eyes, and finish with a moisturizer

Final Verdict

Although tret has really good effects there is just no point taking it as tarz has the same effects whilst being faster

That being said it gets a 8/10

Spoiler: Zero sebum

Zero sebum

Biology/ How it works

It works by absorbing excess oil

Benefits

Gets rid of any gay skin glow and gives it a matte finish instead

View attachment 25545

Negatives

May cause Irritation

May cause Dry skin

Dosing/ Information

Watch this video to learn more about it

Final Verdict

If you have oily skin or shiny skin I’d highly recommend this. I was scrolling on edodalic29 (on .org) threads and came across this and it’s literally a game changer.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 7.5/10

Tagging
@Admincel @Godveil Heir @Circadex @Mandy @Orka

 

[GunnerW]

MIRIN

 

[coldesttruecel]

mirin effort bhai, great thread

 

[Dr. Nate]

There are a lot of horror stories from reddit foids about how their skin got completely raped the second they stopped Clascoterone

 

[Griffith]

Some of you might know I made a skin mega guide on .org. So I thought I might as well make one here. However it’s .gg so I made this thread bigger (8 more products than the .org thread) and corrected all the previous mistakes I made.

So hope you guys enjoy.

Btw this is the theme song of the thread.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x51YI9fROWw

Spoiler: Read before starting

Read Before starting

Each section will have 5 sections

Biology/ How it works- how the product/ peptide/ drug works

Benefits- some of the benefits you can experience

Negatives- the side effects

Dosing/ information- how to use the product/ peptide/ drug

Final verdict- a score out of 10 the higher the score the better

Spoiler: 0 carb Diet

0 carb Diet

Biology/ How it works

0 carbs diet work for improving skin by reducing insulin and IGF-1 levels. It also reduces advanced glycation end-products.

Benefits

Reduced inflammation. However 0 carb diets haven’t specifically been studied for inflammation low carb diets have and it’s been shown to reduce inflammation. Therefore we can concur that 0 carb diets will have a similar effect or be even more effective. This in turn will reduce acne as it is caused by inflammation (1)

Negatives

Reduces motor unit recruitment which worsens your gym performance and growth (2)

Dosing/ information

Just eat 0 carbs in a day.

Final verdict

0 carb diets have been shown to reduce acne and theoretically can decrease aging. However I think the benefits are overrated and side effects are kinda brutal.

That being said I’m going to give it 5.5/10, a decent method but not a must.

Spoiler: Adapalene

Adapalene

Biology/ How it works

It works by binding to specific RAR’s (nuclear retinoic acid receptors) which then upregulates genes that help with differentiation and improves keratinocyte shedding. The two main RAR’s that adapalene binds to are RARb (Beta) and RARy(Gamma). In addition Adapalene gel inhibits AP-1 transcription factor and TLR signaling.

Benefits

It is less irritating than other retinols like Tretenoin due to not/ minimally binding to RARa receptor which is associated with most of the retinoids problems. This means Adapalene has less severe negatives than the other retinoids we’ll cover in this thread. (3)

Reduces acne through less inflammation and improved keratinocyte shedding. And has been shown to be a better acne treatment than Tretenoin (0.025%) (4)

Anti aging effects due to improved keratinocyte shedding. (5)

Negatives

However due to not binding to the RARa Adapalene will be weaker than other retinoids like Tarazotene. (3)

It makes you more photosensitive due to a two-part process involving cellular turnover and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). (6)

Dosing/ information

Apply 1-1.5 pea sized amounts for the whole face. Then apply moisturizer to not dry out your skin. As well as using sunscreen due to the photosensitivity effects.

Final verdict

Adapalene is a useful retinoid if you have very sensitive skin. However it has less powerful effects than other retinoids like Tarazotene.

I’m going to give it 6.5/10, a decent product for people with hyper sensitive skin but only useful for <1% of people

Spoiler: Alfatradiol

Alfatradiol

Biology/ How it works

Alfatradiol is 17𝛼-estradiol. It is basically a weaker form of 17β-estradiol. It works by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase through estrogen receptors. This means it reduces testosterone conversion to DHT. Alfatradiol also binds weakly to estrogen receptors and has very low estrogenic effects

Benefits

It reduces DHT levels (because it reduces the conversion of testosterone to DHT) which can contribute to aging your skin. (7)

It has weak estrogen effects so their estrogen levels will remain practically unchanged. (8)

Negatives

Slight irritation and dryness. (7)

Not as powerful as other 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors in this thread (9)

Dosing/ information

Use a dropper to apply the solution to your face like any other serum. Make sure to apply across your whole face.

Final verdict

Alfatradiol is basically a weaker version of 17β-estradiol but only with its ability to reduce the 5-alpha-reductase. But even then there are more superior methods to do so like Dutasteride(inhibits type 1 and 2 dht).

That’s why I’m giving it a 4/10

Spoiler: Aqualyx

Aqualyx

Biology/ How it works

Aqualyx or Deoxycholic acid breaks down cells by disrupting their membranes, leading to a process called adipocytolysis. This process ends in the fat cells death. Efferocytosis removes the remains of the dying fat cells. It mostly affects low-protein subcutaneous fat, sparing protein-rich tissues like muscle and skin due to how it is weakened by albumin and proteins. This means you don’t need to worry about losing collagen using Aqualyx

Benefits

The main benefit of Aqualyx in terms of for your skin is in improving your Nasolabial folds. It does this because the malar fat pads can contribute to your Nasolabial folds, it’s not the root cause, but it exaggerates what’s already there. Aqualyx will basically reduce this fat pad which will improve your Nasolabial folds. Obviously the more severe Nasolabial folds need other methods like dermal filler or surgery to fix.

Negatives

Won’t fix your nasolabial folds if it’s more a bone structure problem. As Aqualyx removes the fat around the Nasolabial area to make it appear less recessed.

Dosing/ information

View attachment 25539

Inject 0.05-0.1ml of Aqualyx into the blue areas (they should be about 1.5-2cm spacing between each injection site). Use a 31 G (6mm) needle to inject.

Final verdict

Aqualyx is a very useful tool in reducing Nasolabial folds and if combined with filler it can eradicate them completely. However if we focus completely on Aqualyx itself, because it is not able to change the actual bone structure, it has to be lower than something like filler.

That’s why I’m giving it a 6.5/10

Spoiler: BB cream

BB cream

Biology/ How it works

BB cream is a multifunctional skincare and makeup hybrid. It provides light to medium coverage through pigments (similar to foundation)

Benefits

BB clears/ covers up blemishes.

Most BB creams don’t contain ingredients that irritate your skin like other makeup products might.

Negatives

Can look uncanny if you overdo it, or just put it on your face and forget your neck.

Can cause acne if left on for too long

Dosing/ information

Squeeze a pea-sized amount onto your hand. Use your fingertips to put the product on your face. Making sure to cover your whole face as well your neck.

Final verdict

BB cream can be a mogger product for your skin, and is one of the best makeup products. However due to how it can sometimes look obvious and being mogged by CC cream it isn’t quite top tier

I think I have to give it a 7.5/10

Spoiler: Blush

Blush

Biology/ How it works

It’s usually made of red-coloured talcum-based powder, the colouring is often made from safflowers or carmine.

It works by adding color to your face

Benefits

It improves coloring and makes you look more youthful (10)

Negatives

Can be obvious if you overdo it

Dosing/ information

Use a small amount of blush. Blend it upwards and outwards from the top of your cheekbones, starting around where your pupils are and going towards your hairline. Do a circular motion and build the color slowly. Make sure to blend thoroughly.

Final verdict

Blush can be a useful color maxxing tool however it is not a necessity to use as the results are subtle.

That’s why I’m giving it a 6/10

Spoiler: Botox

Botox

Biology/ How it works

Botox is the brand name for botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin. It works by temporarily relaxing muscles which block nerve signals.

Benefits

Reduces wrinkles by temporarily relaxing muscles which soften the appearance of wrinkles. (11)

It also is a preventative measure for wrinkles in the future. (12)

Reduced pores by blocking nerve signals to the oil glands, and by relaxing the muscles attached to the hair follicles. (13)

Negatives

If you over inject it’s possible to look unnatural

Dosing/ information

There are two types of uses you can use botox for in terms of the skin

1. Microbotox for your skin/ oil production
2. Proper Botox for wrinkles and/ or wrinkle prevention

How to do microbotox?

It involves injecting a diluted solution of Botox into the superficial layers of the skin

How to inject Botox for wrinkle?

Inject Botox into the specific muscle that causes the wrinkle. The amount to actually inject depends on the specific muscle and how badly the wrinkling is

Final verdict

Botox is an extremely useful and versatile tool for the skin and has few side effects if done correctly

That’s why I’m giving it a 8.5/10

Spoiler: CB-03-01

CB-03-01

Biology/ How it works

CB-03-01 (cortexolone 17α-propionate, Clascoterone) competes with natural androgens, mostly DHT, for binding to androgen receptors in skin cells. Because it binds to the androgen receptors with high affinity, it prevents androgens from attaching and activating the receptor. This prevents androgen-receptor binding, CB-03-01 halts the signaling cascade which promotes acne.

Benefits

CB-03-01 has been FDA approved since 2020 as a first class topical treatment of acne. (14)

It also is a powerful Anti androgen meaning it reduces the amount of androgens like DHT from fucking up your skin. (15)

Negatives

It doesn’t really have many risks the main ones being low rates of skin irritation (16)

Dosing/ information

Make sure to make it topically for yourself, and use a dropper to apply the solution to your face like any other serum. Make sure to apply it evenly and everywhere.

How to make it topically yourself

Create a solution of 1:1:1 ratio of Ethanol, Propelyneglycol, and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, because as stated in this patent it is most effective solvent (17).

Then add the amount of CB-03-01 you want to make your percentage. For example if you wanted a 5% solution you’d need 50mg CB per ml of solvent.

Final verdict

CB is extremely useful tool for your skin as not only is it a AA but also FDA approved.

That’s why I’m giving it 9.5/10

Spoiler: CC cream

CC cream

Biology/ How it works

BB cream is a multifunctional skincare and makeup hybrid. It works by using color-correcting pigments to reduce discoloration on your skin. For example, green pigments counteract redness.

Benefits

Can cover up blemishes and imperfections.

Can creates a more appealing skin tone.

Negatives

Can cause acne if left on for too long

Dosing/ information

Squeeze a pea-sized amount onto your hand. Use your fingertips to put the product on your face. Making sure to cover your whole face as well as covering your neck.

Final verdict

CC cream is a must for anyone. It has practically no failos as well as being less obvious and more effective than BB cream. It’s a must for everyone who’s skin maxxing

That’s why I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Chemical peel

Chemical peel

Biology/ How it works

It works by applying a chemical solution to the skin, which causes an injury to the outer layers of your skin, promoting exfoliation and shedding of damaged skin cells.

Benefits

Reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines (18)

Reduces acne scars (19)

Reduces uneven skin coloring (18)

Increases collagen (18)

Negatives

Temporary redness as well as irritation (20)

Weaker chemical peels are far less effective

Dosing/ Information

Cleanse your face before applying the chemical peel solution. Protect sensitive areas with petroleum jelly, then apply an even coat of the chemical peel solution to your skin. Leave it on for the recommended amount of time or less. Remove the peel and apply a neutralizing solution.

Final verdict

Weak chemical peels are far less effective than stronger ones. However if you go for a stronger chemical peel they come with a bunch of benefits and should be done every so often

For this reason I’m giving it a 7/10

Spoiler: Cleanser

Cleanser

Biology/ How it works

They contain agents that lower the surface tension of water, allowing them to emulsify oil-soluble substances so they become water-soluble and can be rinsed off.

Benefits

Removes away dirt, makeup, sunscreen, oils so they don’t stay on your skin and potentially give you acne. (21)

Negatives

You can over cleanse and strip too much of the natural oils and make your skin overly dry.

Dosing/ Information

wet your face with lukewarm water, apply a small amount of cleanser, and gently massage it into your skin. Rinse with lukewarm water, then gently dry your skin with a towel

Final verdict

It’s a must in your skincare routine. However it doesn’t really have any significant effect other than getting rid of makeup and sunscreen

For this reason I’m giving it a 6.5/10

Spoiler: CO2 laser

CO2 laser

Biology/ How it works

It works by directing a powerful beam of infrared light at the skin. This is then absorbed by water molecules, causing controlled damage.

Benefits

Better at Reducing acne scars than micro needling (22)

Improve collagen (23)

Reduces wrinkles and fine lines significantly (24)

Negatives

Dryness and peeling are the main side effect. However they subside after a couple of weeks. (25)

Dosing/ Information

consult with a qualified dermatologist or plastic surgeon

Final verdict

CO2 laser has tons of upsides with minimal to no side effects. It should be done at least once every one to two years

For this reason I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Concealer

Concealer

Biology/ How it works

Concealer provides full coverage of the targeted area through pigments

Benefits

Covers up imperfections and bigger pimples that CC cream or BB cream couldn’t

Negatives

More obvious and easier to look overdone

Can cause acne if left on for too long

Dosing/ Information

Dot concealer on areas of imperfection and blend outwards using a damp sponge or your fingers. Use CC cream or BB cream as well to get a more natural look

Final verdict

Concealer if done right can be an effective way for concealing your imperfections. However, because most people either have minimal imperfections or will reduce them through skinmaxxing, concealer eventually becomes unnecessary.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 6/10

Spoiler: Dutasteride

Dutasteride

Biology/ How it works

It is a novel dual 5α-reductase inhibitor. This means it stops both Type I and II DHT from being converted from test.

Benefits

Practically stops the production of type 1 DHT which is the form of DHT which causes the greatest damage to the skin. (26)

Negatives

ED is a potential side effect. Although this is very uncommon side effect it is still noteworthy. The study shows after 6 months around 4-6% got ed. However what’s really interesting is after 2 years it shows that ed was similar to that of the placebo group. (27)

Dosing/ Information

The best dosage of Dutasteride for the most benefits is 0.5-10 mg per day.

Final verdict

Dutasteride should be a staple in your looksmaxxing routine. Practically no negatives and only upsides

For these reasons I’m giving it a 10/10

Spoiler: Epitalon

Epitalon

Biology/ How it works

Epitalon enhances telomerase activity, which protects telomeres from shortening during cell division.

Benefits

Delays cellular aging by up to 25% (27)

provides antioxidant and mitochondrial protection (28)

Negatives

Theoretically it can increase cancer but real world evidence has proven the opposite to be true (29)

Dosing/ Information

The most optimal dosing is 10mg/day for a 10-day cycle every 6 months

Final verdict

Epitalon has very few negatives whilst having pretty decent benand should be cycled for any true skin maxxer

For these reasons I’m giving it a 7.5/10

Spoiler: Face lift

Face lift

Biology/ How it works

A face lift is done by making incisions, around the hairline and ears,then the surgeon removes excess skin, as well as repositions fat and tissue, and then closes the incisions.

Benefits

Tightens sagging skin, which can create the impression of fewer wrinkles (30)

Negatives

It’s quite expensive (can range from £15,000-£50,000).(31)

Scarring is a slim chance, but still a chance nonetheless (32)

Same with hematoma (blood pooling under the skin), it’s a slim chance but still noteworthy (33)

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

Final verdict

Due to the cost and lackluster results I believe this surgery to be ineffective for most people. However for a very tiny percent this surgery might be worthwhile

For these reasons I’m giving it a 3/10

Spoiler: Fake tan

Fake tan

Biology/ How it works

Fake tan works through a chemical reaction between an ingredient, typically dihydroxyacetone, and the amino acids in the outer layer of your skin. This reaction produces a brown pigment called melanoidin.

Benefits

You can get a tan without damaging your skin

Negatives

Can look a bit uncanny if overdone

If you buy the wrong tanner you can get acne from it

Dosing/ Information

I’d recommend using this tanner and leaving it on for 3-4 hours.

Final verdict

Fake tans can be a very effective way to get a tan though I think there are some better ways to get the same results and ones that look more natural.

For this reasons I’m giving it a 6.5/10

Spoiler: Fat Grafting

Fat Grafting

Biology/ How it works

by removing fat from one part of the body, processing it, and then injecting it into another area.

Benefits

It improve wrinkles by restoring volume (34)

Could fix Nasolabial folds by restoring volume. (35)

This is basically a permanent version of fillers (which I’ll cover in the next section)

Negatives

Can be quite expensive (between £2,000 all the way up to £8,000)(36)

Can make you look fat if not properly done

Can’t control the exact increase in fat, due to some of the donor fat dying off (37)

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

Final verdict

It’s an effective method for increasing collagen especially in a specific area. However considering the price and how filler can do practically the same thing for cheaper.

I’m giving it a 7/10

Spoiler: Filler

Filler

Biology/ How it works

For this section I’m specifically talking about collagen fillers.

It restores volume through filler by triggering the body's own production of collagen through injectable substances like poly-L-lactic acid or calcium hydroxylapatite

Benefits

Smooths fine lines and wrinkles by restoring volume. (38)

Can fix Nasolabial folds by restoring volume. (39)

Improves collagen by 50-150% (40)

Negatives

Risk of having an uncanny/ pillow face look if you overfill.

Risk of migrations however this is usually under 1% (41)

Dosing/ Information

Injection into the areas which you feel you are lacking collagen in. Use a filler which stimulates collagen like Calcium Hydroxylapatite and get it done by a professional as collagen fillers can last up to 18 months. Inject into areas like Nasolabial folds and your forehead area.

Final verdict

It’s mostly pointless for those with no wrinkles etc who are looking to increasing their overall collagen. However it is the most effective method for an increase collagen in a specific area.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 7/10

Spoiler: Fluorouracil

Fluorouracil

Biology/ how it work

Now first off what is 5-FU used for?

Well it’s widely used as a chemotherapy medication to treat various cancers and to treat actinic keratosis (similarly to Tirbanibulin).

How does it work?

5-FU is a pyrimidine analog (meaning it looks a lot like Uracil and Thymine). This means that enzymes mistake it for legitimate nucleotides, thus acting similarly to a competitive inhibitor. Though differing from it in the sense it is effectively irreversible. This is due to 5-FU actually being a pro drug in the cell for 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine monophosphate (I’m gonna call it C₉H₁₂FN₂O₈P for short). To clarify 5-FU does not directly form C₉H₁₂FN₂O₈P but rather theres an intermediate metabolite of 5-faluoro-2′-deoxyuridine. C₉H₁₂FN₂O₈P forms a stable covalent ternary complex with thymidylate synthase. Thus preventing the formation of deoxythymidine monophosphate (precursor for deoxythymidine triphosphate which is the actual form of thymidine used by DNA polymerase during DNA replication) and so prevents cell replication. Thus eventually leading to the cells death.

5-FU is also incorporated into the RNA disruptting RNA folding and protein synthesis.

In addition it targets more specifically harmful cells which divide more rapidly (e.g. actinic keratoses, precancerous cells etc). It doesn’t harm healthy cells as much because they divide slower.

Benefits

Now what’s the benefit of actually using 5-FU.

Well we can target and eliminate sun damaged skin. This is through as stated earlier being a pyrimidine analog.

Now although it’s not its primary use (which is as a chemotherapy treatment for skin) it has been used for a while by dermatologists to do reduce sun damage.

It’s also been touted as the most effective field directed therapy for reducing AK counts in sun damaged skin compared to other topical agents.

Now why does this matter?

Well 5-FU could reverse skin damage from tanning. Minimizing the negative effects of the sun enabling us to tan more regularly.

It’s also much stronger and selective than an alternative I’ll go over later called Klysri which also can reduce sun damage.

Negatives

redness is common (42)

Crusting, scaling are both common (43)

Erosions / oozing is rather common (43)

Burning, stinging, pain isn’t rare (43)

Swelling isn’t uncommon to experience (43)

Treatment can last for 2-6 weeks meaning recovery can last 6-8 weeks.

It’s also not perfectly selective meaning it could potentially damage healthy cells.

Also if you’re darker skinned you could get pigmentation.

Dosing/ Information

Now whats the optimal percentage to use?

Well theres 3 main percentages used 0.5%, 1% and 5%. 0.5% is used for individuals with sensitive skin (though if you do have this I’d opt for Klyrsi instead). 1% isn’t shown to have any significant difference from 0.5% so I wouldn’t use it. Finally 5% is the most well studied concentration as well as being the most effective.

Some studies do show a higher effectiveness when combined with Calcipotriol (0.005%) however it’s not a must. If you’re combing add a 1:1 ratio of Calc and 5-FU as a solution. Just under a pea sized amount of each. (44)

Now how long should you use it for?

Well standard 5-FU 5% is usually used for once or twice a day for 2-4 weeks. Stopping when reach brisk erythema and/ or crusting, not full ulceration. Downtime is usually 4-8 weeks.

However 5-FU 5% + Calc is only used twice a day for 4 days. Relying more on immune activation rather than prolonged cytotoxic injury. Downtime is usually 2-3 weeks.

People usually cycle this every year.

For application use a pea sized amount of 5-FU and apply it all over your face.

Final Verdict

5-FU could potentially be an invaluable tool especially for those who are tanning. It mogs Klysri in terms of effectiveness but it’s got more side effects especially for those with sensitive skin.

That being said I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: GHK-cu injection

GHK-cu injection

Biology/ How it works

It works by binding with copper ions, acting as a naturally occurring human signaling peptide

Benefits

Good at anti aging (45)

Has has shown to have good collagen results however not as good as topical (46)

theoretically GHK-cu could be more effective than topical as it could penetrate deeper into the dermis and could have higher bioavailability. However this hasn’t been proven

Negatives

Has been shown to reduce IGF-1 levels (47)

It has very limited studies to prove its effectiveness compared to topical

It takes a while to actually see results

Dosing/ Information

First reconstitute the peptide

You can do this by following these steps

Use around 3ml (300 units) of water per 50 mg of GHK cu

First, gather your supplies;

1 vial of GHK cu (50 mg)
1 vial/ampule of water (use bacteriostatic if you’re only concerned with collagen/ skin but use Phosphate Buffered Saline if you want all the benefits)
1 syringe
1 alcohol swap

1. Take your GHK cu vial and take off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper. Wipe with the antibacterial swab.

2.Draw 3.0 mL of bacteriostatic water/ Phosphate Buffered Saline into a sterile syringe.

3.Inject the water slowly along the vial wall to reduce foaming.

4.Gently swirl the vial—avoid vigorous shaking.

5.Store the reconstituted solution at 2–8 °C (refrigerator), protected from light.

For best results inject it in your face. Your cheeks are probably the best.

Recommended dosages is to start at 2.5 mg every day to help your body acclimatize to the peptide and minimize the side effects. You can continue with this dose indefinitely if you are intending to do a low dosage regimen. But if you want to increase it titrate it up to 10-20 mg as this is most optimal (most people underdose quite significantly and so see barely any benefits).

Make sure to split the doses to 2-3 times a day because of it only having a ~2 hours. For example if you want to inject 3 mg a day inject 1 mg of it in the morning, 1 mg at midday and 1 mg at the end of the day.

Final verdict

GHK-cu injectable is a good peptide with strong results if you stay consistent as well as minimal downsides. However it’s not as effective as topical.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 7.5/10

Spoiler: GHK-cu topical

GHK-cu topical

Biology/ How it works

It works by binding to copper ions, acting as a naturally occurring human signaling peptide

Benefits

Effective in removing acne scars (48)

Good anti aging effects (49)

Good at improving collagen and Directly targets the skin (50)

Has far more studies backing up its benefits rather than injectable

Negatives

the amount absorbed by the skin is uncertain and likely lower than injectable GHK-cu

Dosing/ Information

I’d recommend making it yourself rather than buying it online.

You can do this by:

First approximately weigh out percentages of 1.2% GHK-Cu, 0.8% Carbopol 934, 3.0% Transcutol P, 0.7% Triethanolamine, and 94.3% distilled water.

First dissolve the GHK-Cu in water, dispersing Carbopol in water, mixing the two, and adding Transcutol P,

Finally add Triethanolamine to achieve a pH of approximately 7.4 (0.7% is merely a approximation and what was done in the patent but could be more or less just make sure to get the gel to a pH of 7.4),

Doing all these steps should result in a stable, translucent blue gel.

You can obviously add more GHK-cu if you want but the patent found this to be most preferable (51)

It has a ~4-12 hour half life meaning it’s optimal to do it AM and PM.

To apply it, use a dropper to apply the solution to your face like any other serum. Make sure to apply it evenly and everywhere.

Final verdict

GHK-cu topical is a miracle peptide with very good results if you stay consistent . In addition to basically no downsides. However it should be a staple in everyone’s skin maxxing stack

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: GT 20029

GT 20029

Biology/ How it works

uses a proteolysis-targeting chimera mechanism to degrade androgen receptors reducing the sensitivity to androgens like DHT. By breaking down the AR, it prevents androgens from binding.

Benefits

It has completed phase 1 in clinical trials in China, showing a good safety profile and promising results for skin. Although phase 2 and 3 haven’t been completed yet so the results might not be as good as initially thought. However the results might be even better (52)

It has the strongest theoretical anti androgen effect on this list. Although no actual studies have been done on this based on current available data, GT20029 appears to be the most effective AA in this thread.

Negatives

It’s extremely hard to source it reliably

No studies for the long term use yet.

Dosing/ Information

There is no information online about making it so I messaged the research team

View attachment 25540

But they never responded

This means rn it’s impossible to make it or use it.

However they plan to release more information about GT in the coming months or years so fingers crossed they can talk about their formulation.

Final Verdict

Right now it would get a 0/10 as you can’t physically make it. However in the next few years (I’m expecting late 2020’s to early 2030’s) it will become readily available (and we’ll learn about the formulation) and when it does it will be the most effective product on the market

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9.5/10 (in the future)

Spoiler: HGH

HGH

Biology/ How it works

It works by mimicking the body's endogenous human growth hormone (HGH), binding to specific receptors on cells

Benefits

HGH can make your skin look younger by improving elasticity and reducing wrinkles. It also helps your body produce collagen (53)

HGH helps improve sleep quality, so you get deeper, more restful sleep. Which can indirectly affect your skin. (54)

Negatives

Could lead to organ growth (55)

May cause also lead to bloat (56)

As well as draining your thyroid (57)

It may also lead to hyperglycemia due to promoting insulin resistance. (58)

Dosing/ Information

There are 2 different types of HGH regular and pharma, each with different ways of injecting

First, we’ll cover regular HGH

First reconstitute the peptide by adding 1 ml of bac per 10 IU of HGH. Then inject the bac water into your HGH vial.

Now each 10 units on an insulin syringe equals 1 IU of HGH. If you’re aiming for 4 IU of HGH, you’d fill the syringe up to the 40-unit mark.

Once you have your dosage inject it into your belly area, around 3 fingers away from the navel. Clean the skin, pinch it, insert the needle and inject slowly.

Now for pharma

Set the desired dose on the HGH pen, inject it into your belly area, around 3 fingers away from the navel. Clean the skin, pinch it, insert the needle and inject slowly.

Inject 2-4 IU’s and always inject at night.

Final Verdict

HGH has some decent skin improvement properties. However I wouldn’t recommend taking it for skin improvements, instead I’d think of all the benefits you get as a indirect side effect

For these reasons I’m giving it a 5.5/10

Spoiler: Hydroquinone

Hydroquinone

Biology/ How it works

Hydroquinone lightens skin color through reducing melanin overtime. It does this by blocking tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is the enzyme which melanocytes use to make melanin, thus disrupting this process.

Another thing it does is disrupt melanosomes so pigments dont transfer as easily to surrounding cells.

Benefits

The biggest upside to hydroquinone it has been shown to lighten your skin. With a randomized, double-blind trial 2003 study showing that it works and is more effective than a ‘skin whitening complex’. (59)

Negatives

Hydroquinone may cause skin irritation. (60)

It also rarely causes exogenous ochronosis. This is basically blue-black or grayish discoloration. (61)

It also could cause uneven lightning if done improperly.

Dosing/ Information

There are two main concentrations of hydroquinone, 4% and 6%.

What percentage you use is dependent on your Fitzpatrick use the picture below to figure out yours. Imo Fitzpatrick 3 is ideal so a olivey skin tone.

View attachment 25543

If you’re Fitzpatrick 4 try Hydroquinone 4% for 4-8 weeks.

If you’re Fitzpatrick 5 try Hydroquinone 4% for 8 weeks. Then give it a 8 week break from using it before doing another 8 week cycle.

For Fitzpatrick 6 try Hydroquinone 6% for 8 weeks on and 8 weeks off for around a year.

Obviously the timings will somewhat vary from person to person but they’re just guidelines to follow. Never I mean never go over 8 weeks on Hydroquinone otherwises you’ll develop problems.

Final Verdict

Hydroquinone is the best skin lightening product on the market. It’s also relatively safe if done correctly. It’s a must for any ethnic imo.

That’s why it gets a 9/10

Spoiler: IPL

IPL

Biology/ How it works

It works by emitting a broad-spectrum light pulses which is absorbed by the hair pigment. This light energy converts to heat, which travels down to the hair follicle and damages it.

Benefits

May reducing wrinkles and improves collagen (62)

Can improves sun damage (63)

Can help in treating acne or rosacea (64)

May removes your beard and the failo of its blue/ green undertones (65)

Negatives

Requires multiple sessions

Unlike laser hair removal which destroys follicles, IPL only weakens them, meaning that hair regrowth can happen

May cause pain and irritation (66)

Dosing/ Information

Consult with a professional who will assess your skin type and create a plan

Multiple sessions are typically required to achieve the desired result and after that you’ll probably need a session every 3-6 months for maintenance

Final Verdict

IPL is a useful skin max with great results. However due to its semi permanent nature and getting brutally mogged by laser hair removal, meaning its score will slightly lower.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Isotretenoin

Isotretenoin

Biology/ How it works

Isotretinoin works by reducing oil (sebum) production in the skin by shrinking the sebaceous glands.

Isotretinoin also stops the hair follicle cells from being so sticky. This means it stops hair follicles from getting clogged up by skin cells.

Benefits

Most effective product for acne (67)

Insane collagen and anti aging effects (68)

Actually affects deeper layers of your skin compared to topical retinoids

Negatives

Can cause liver damage, however liver abnormalities are uncommon on accutane (<15%) and even more uncommon to have anything serious happen (<1%) (69)

May cause dry skin/ lips (70)

Could make you more photosensitive (71)

Dosing/ Information

It can range from 5-60 mg depending on your situation

If you have severe acne blasting 60 mg of accutane for 6-18 months is the best option

If you have mild- little amount of acne doing 45 mg for 6-18 months is the best option

If you have little to no acne blasting 10-20 mg for 6-18 months is a good option so you basically have perma clear skin no matter what you do

You can do these cycles 2-3 times to get the best results

And perma microdosing 5-10 mg of accutane after doing the cycles for anti aging effects is very good

Final Verdict

Accutane is a must for any looksmaxer and it’s practically impossible to have permanent flawless skin without it

For these reasons I’m giving it a 10/10

Spoiler: Klisyri

Klisyri

Biology/ How it works

Similarly to Klisyri targets rapidly-dividing abnormal skin cells. It does this from 2 main mechanisms.

The first is microtubule inhibition. Abnormal cells rely on microtubules to split and multiply. By blocking microtubules in these abnormal cells, we are stopping them from dividing, thus causing them to die off.

The second is through SRC Tyrosine Kinase (c-Src) inhibition. In abnormal cells c-Src is overactive, which helps these cells to grow continuously, instead of dying. So inhibiting c-Src takes away this function rom these unwanted cells, and so they can die.

Benefits

Now what’s the benefit of actually using Klysri.

Well we can target and eliminate sun damaged skin. This is because Klisyri targets rapidly-dividing abnormal skin cells. Also as healthy cells divide much slower, they are relatively unaffected even if Klisyri is applied to them

Now although it’s not its primary use (which is treating actinic keratosis on the face and/or the scalp) it has been used off label for sun damage and skin rejuvenation.

However there are no specific studies looking into its effects for this.

It’s also less irritating to the skin than 5-FU

Negatives

That being said it’s still common to experience:

Erythema (72)

Scaling (72)

Crusting (72)

Pruritus (72)

It’s also weaker and less selective than 5-FU.

Dosing/ Information

The best concentration is 1%.

Some people microneedle beforehand to enhance the effects. However it is not a necessity to use.

The treatment time last around 5 days. Do this treatment every 6-12 months.

Klisyri comes in packets of wipes. Rub each packet all over your face.

Final Verdict

Although Klisyri is effective and very useful, there’s not really much point using it when 5-FU exists. As 5-FU is just much more effective. That being said it’s still a viable option for those with sensitive skin.

That’s why it gets a 7.5/10

Spoiler: Kojic Acid

Kojic Acid

Biology/ How it works

It inhibits the production of melanin

Benefits

Lightens your skin, which can halo ethnics (73)

Negatives

Can cause an increase in sun sensitivity (74)

May cause drier more irritated skin

Dosing/ Information

wet the soap to create a lather, then massage the lather onto the skin and let it sit for 0.5-10 minutes (depending on your skin darkness) before rinsing off

Final Verdict

It can be an effective tool for lightening your skin and can have moderate results

That’s why I’m giving it a 5/10

Spoiler: Laser hair removal

Laser hair removal

Biology/ How it works

It works by emitting a concentrated light pulse that is absorbed by the hair's pigment. This light energy converts to heat, which travels down to the hair follicle and damages it. It’s similar to IPL, but instead of using broad-spectrum light, it delivers a concentrated beam.

Benefits

Removes hair for a long period of time (results last longer than ipl) (75)

Negatives

It requires multiple sessions as hair grows in three phases. Laser treatment is only effective on hairs in the active growth phase, so multiple sessions are needed to catch all the hairs that weren’t in that stage at the time (76)

May cause Pain and irritation (77)

Dosing/ Information

Consult with a professional who will assess your skin type and create a plan

You will probably require many sessions to get the desired result. After that you’ll probably need a session every 6-12 months for maintenance

Final Verdict

It is essentially ipl that lasts longer. It’s a must for any skin maxxer with the potential of giving insane jb appeal

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9.5/10

Spoiler: Mega dosing beta carotene and lycopene

Mega dosing beta carotene and lycopene

Biology/ How it works

they can lead to a change in skin tone by accumulating in the skin

Benefits

It can give mogger undertones if done correctly.

Negatives

Beta carotene can sometimes look uncanny if overdone

Dosing/ Information

I’d recommend having 50-75mg per day of lycopene and 10,000 IU of beta carotene (you can increase the beta carotene to the 50k range if you want but I found this dosage (10k) to have a more natural looking undertone than higher dosages)

Final Verdict

It can give a small coloring halo and there is really no reason not to take it, definitely should be a staple

For these reasons, I’m giving it a 6.5/10

Spoiler: Micro needling

Micro needling

Biology/ How it works

It works by creating tiny punctures in the skin using fine needles to trigger the body's natural healing process

Benefits

An insane boost in collagen (78)

Reduces acne scars (79)

Can remove mild acne (80)

Negatives

May cause Temporary redness/ irritation (81)

Dosing/ Information

First apply a numbing cream to your face and wait for it to fully dry.

Coat your skin with Hyaluronic acid solution

The technique for Microneedling is you want to first go horizontally down.

View attachment 25544

I used the forehead area as an example in this image I also left a couple gaps to make it easier to see but when you actually do it make sure to cover every last bit.

Then after you want to micro needle landscape direction

View attachment 25541

As stated before I used the forehead area as an example in this image I also left a couple gaps to make it easier to see but when you actually do it make sure to cover every last bit.

You want to do these areas I state in the order I state them in with the setting I say at first, obviously once you get the hang of it change it to what ever settings suit you best

1ST AREA: FOREHEAD

1.0MM DEEPNESS, 2 SPEED

DO THIS ONCE

2ND AREA: LEFT SIDE OF FACE [except zygos should be 1.0mm]

1.5MM DEEPNESS, 2 SPEED

DO THIS TWICE

3RD AREA: BOTTOM OF FACE [Avoid the lips entirely.]

1.0MM DEEPNESS, 2 SPEED

DO THIS TWICE

4TH AREA: RIGHT SIDE OF FACE [except zygos should be 1.0mm]

1.5MM DEEPNESS, 2 SPEED

DO THIS TWICE

5TH AREA: EYEBROWS, UNDER EYES AND NOSE

0.5MM DEEPNESS, 1 SPEED

DO THIS ONCE

Then after apply Hyaluronic acid solution again

Wait 24 hours before washing, and 48 hours before applying other skincare products

Final Verdict

Micro needling is an insane tool for skin maxxing and should be done fairly frequently

For these reasons, I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion

Biology/ How it works

It works by using a handheld device to either spray fine crystals or use a diamond-tipped wand to buff away the outermost layer of skin. This provides a more controlled and effective form of exfoliation compared to regular methods

Benefits

Helps to Reduce the appearance of acne scars (83)

Helps Reduce wrinkles and signs of aging (84)

Helps Unclog pores (85)

Negatives

May overly dry out your skin (86)

Dosing/ Information

As for how to do it I’d recommend watching this video

Initially, perform sessions every 1–2 weeks, then maintain results with monthly treatments

Final Verdict

It has beneficial results and can greatly improve your skin especially if you’re prone to clogged pores however there are some better treatments but it’s good nonetheless

For these reasons I’m giving it a 6.5/10

Spoiler: Moisturizer

Moisturizer

Biology/ How it works

It works by adding water to the skin and preventing water loss through occlusion

Benefits

Protects your skin barrier (87)

Smooths and moisturizes the skin (88)

Negatives

May clog up your pores if you buy a low quality and comedogenic product (89)

Dosing/ Information

Apply moisturizer last in your routine, using one with low-comedogenic ingredients

Apply moisturizer to damp skin, massage it into your skin evenly and all over.

Final Verdict

Moisturizer is a must as it’s one of the only products that protects your skin barrier which many of these products damage. It’s a staple in any skincare routine.

For these reasons, I’m giving it a 7/10

Spoiler: Monobenzone

Monobenzone

Biology

It induces a type of hypersensitivity reaction where the body's immune system recognizes melanocytes as targets. So the body tries to destroy them. It also generates reactive oxygen species and quinones, which are cytotoxic to pigmented cells.

Benefits

It is one of the best skin lighteners on the market. It can take a Fitzpatrick 4 to 1 if used consistently enough.

View attachment 25546

View attachment 25542

Negatives

Skin irritation, redness, or swelling. (90)

Peeling/ cracking of your skin (similar to tret). (91)

Increased photosensitivity. (92)

No long term human studies, so we don’t know if it’s carcinogenic or has more long term adverse side effects etc.

Extremely common to get uneven results.

Can cause Vitiligo. (93)

Dosing/ Information

What to take with it:

• Sunscreen should always be used because of how it makes your skin photosensitive
• Only use it if you’re Fitzpatrick 6 or higher

Who/ how often should you take it:

• Use monobenzone until you reached your desired result this is usually between 3-12 months depending on your starting Fitzpatrick and the other products you use on top of monobenzone
• Then you can you can maintain it by using it once of twice a week

How to apply it:

• First use get just a bit more than a pea sized amount in your hands
• Then apply it to all your desired areas for skin lightening (top tip don’t forget the neck and arms as you’ll look stupid if you have a white face but a very dark neck and arms)

Final verdict

Although Monobenzone does work it has quite severe side effect which could potentially cause unwanted results. In addition hydroquinone exists so it makes no sense to use it. For these reasons I’m giving it a 4/10.

Spoiler: MT1

MT1

Biology/ How it works

It is a synthetic analogue of the naturally occurring alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It works by mimicking the action of -MSH and binding more specifically to the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R). Compared to MT2 which is less selective.

Benefits

MT1 can produce a tan with minimal UV-induced skin damage (94)

Negatives

May cause nausea and vomiting (95)

May cause facial flushing/redness (96)

Dosing/ Information

First reconstitute your MT1

You can do this through

For injection

For doses of less than 500mcg it would be best to use 2ml of water.

First, gather your supplies;

1 vial of Melanotan

1 vial/ampule of water

1 syringe

1 alcohol swab

1. Take your Melanotan vial and take off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper. Wipe with the antibacterial swab.

2.a. If using bacteriostatic water, pop off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper. Wipe with the swab.

b. If using sodium chloride, twist off the top of the ampule

3. Next insert a syringe into the vial/ampule and hold it upside down.

4. Withdraw your water and inject it slowly into the Melanotan vial aiming at the side, not the powder.

5. Place in the fridge for a few hours or overnight while the powder dissolves, you can swirl or tilt the vial to help.

For Nasal

First, gather your supplies;

1 vial of Melanotan

1 vial/ampule of water

1 empty nasal spray bottle or 1 OTC nasal mist

1 syringe

1. Take your Melanotan vial and take off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper.

2.a. If using bacteriostatic water, pop off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper.

b. If using sodium chloride, twist off the top of the ampule

3. Next insert a syringe into the vial/ampule and hold it upside down.

4. Withdraw 50 units of water and inject it slowly into the Melanotan vial aiming at the side, not the powder.

5. Place in the fridge for a few hours or overnight while the powder dissolves,

6. Insert the syringe again and turn upside down.

7. Withdraw all of the liquid and remove the syringe.

8. Unscrew the cap of your nasal spray and slowly inject the liquid into the bottle.

9. If using an empty bottle you can now transfer the remainder of the water. Wait 2 hours before use.

For injecting inject it into your belly area, around 3 fingers away from the navel. Clean the skin, pinch it, insert the needle and inject slowly.

For nasal put the nasal applicator up your nostril and push it down on the applicator twice.

For MT1 you have to inject it twice a day due to its half life (AM and PM)

Recommend dosages starting from 500mcg (250mcg twice daily) for Melanotan 1 due to the lower side effects associated with it.

After 4-6 days increase to 1mg (500mcg twice daily) if you feel like you need to, and stick at this point.

Once you have reached your desired level of tan then you can enter what is known as the 'maintenance phase'.

Although the level is different for most people it levels out at around 1mg every 3 or 4 days and a sunbed session with every or every other dose.

This will allow you to maintain your tan through winter without much work.

If you notice at any point you're becoming darker, reduce the dose.

If you notice you are getting lighter, add in an extra dose or take up the second sunbed session if you didn't already

Final Verdict

MT1 is an insane peptide for your skin with the ability of giving insanely tanned skin with minimal to negligible skin damage.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: MT2

MT2

Biology/ How it works

It is a synthetic analog of the naturally occurring alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It works by acting as a non-selective agonist that binds to and activates several melanocortin receptors found throughout the body, including in the skin and brain.

Benefits

For specific skin beneficial effects of MT2 are that it can give you a nice tan with minimal UV damage (97)

Negatives

May cause nausea and vomiting (97)

May cause facial flushing/redness (97)

May cause acne because MT2 binds to MCR3 and 4 with a decent affinity (unlike MT1 which does bond to MCR3 and 4 but does not cross the blood-brain barrier to a significant extent when administered systemically unlike MT2) which have hormonal implications.

Dosing/ Information

First reconstitute your MT2

You can do this through

For injection

For doses of less than 500mcg it would be best to use 2ml of water.

First, gather your supplies;

1 vial of Melanotan

1 vial/ampule of water

1 syringe

1 alcohol swab

1. Take your Melanotan vial and take off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper. Wipe with the antibacterial swab.

2.a. If using bacteriostatic water, pop off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper. Wipe with the swab.

b. If using sodium chloride, twist off the top of the ampule

3. Next insert a syringe into the vial/ampule and hold it upside down.

4. Withdraw your water and inject it slowly into the Melanotan vial aiming at the side, not the powder.

5. Place in the fridge for a few hours or overnight while the powder dissolves, you can swirl or tilt the vial to help.

For Nasal

First, gather your supplies;

1 vial of Melanotan

1 vial/ampule of water

1 empty nasal spray bottle or 1 OTC nasal mist

1 syringe

1. Take your Melanotan vial and take off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper.

2.a. If using bacteriostatic water, pop off the top of the vial to reveal the rubber stopper.

b. If using sodium chloride, twist off the top of the ampule

3. Next insert a syringe into the vial/ampule and hold it upside down.

4. Withdraw 50 units of water and inject it slowly into the Melanotan vial aiming at the side, not the powder.

5. Place in the fridge for a few hours or overnight while the powder dissolves,

6. Insert the syringe again and turn upside down.

7. Withdraw all of the liquid and remove the syringe.

8. Unscrew the cap of your nasal spray and slowly inject the liquid into the bottle.

9. If using an empty bottle you can now transfer the remainder of the water. Wait 2 hours before use.

For injecting, administer it into your belly area, around 3 fingers away from the navel. Clean the skin, pinch it, insert the needle and inject slowly.

For nasal put the nasal applicator up your nostril and push it down on the applicator twice.

it will always be better to inject in the morning or midday if getting natural UV exposure. If you are using sunbeds then inject about 20 minutes before exposure.

The recommended dosages start at 250mcg once daily to help your body acclimatize to the peptide and minimize the side effects. You can continue with this dose indefinitely if you are intending to do a low dosage regimen.

If you want to dose higher, after 2-4 days, whenever you feel comfortable, up the dose to 500mcg and stick at this point.

Once you have reached your desired level of tan then you can enter what is known as the 'maintenance phase'.

Although the level is different for most people it levels out at around 500mcg every 3 or 4 days and a sunbed session with every or every other dose.

This will allow you to maintain your tan through winter without much work.

If you notice at any point you're becoming darker, reduce the dose.

If you notice you are getting lighter, add in an extra dose or take up the second sunbed session if you didn't already

Final Verdict

MT2 is a good peptide for giving you a insane tan halo however it gets brutally mogged by MT1 due to having less downsides

That being said it still scores highly with an 8.5/10

Spoiler: Neck lift

Neck lift

Biology/ How it works

A neck lift works by removing excess skin and fat and tightening the underlying neck muscles through incisions typically made under the chin and behind the ears

Benefits

Tightens sagging skin, which can create the impression of fewer wrinkles (98)

Negatives

It’s expensive (can range from £5000 to £10,000) (99)

Slight risk of scarring (100)

Hematoma is a fairly common occurrence (~15%) (101)

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

Final Verdict

It’s a decent procedure but the downsides are quite brutal

For these reasons, I’m giving it a 4/10

Spoiler: Phenol peel

Phenol peel

Biology/ How it works

Ik a phenol peel is a deep chemical peel but I’d like to focus on it due to its insane results. It works by using a deep chemical solution of carbolic acid (phenol) to remove the top and middle layers of skin

Benefits

Just look at this result for yourself

View attachment 25547

It removes fine lines, sun damage, wrinkles and imperfections. (102)

Stimulates new collagen production (103)

It also has significant skin lightening effects for people with darker skin tones (104)

Negatives

A cause may be Scabbing, irritation and infection (105)

It may cause Cardiac arrest however it’s extremely unlikely (<0.01%) (106)

Heart, kidney, or liver damage is a risk (107)

It makes you hyper photosensitive so stay inside and use sunscreen for 3-4 weeks

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

Final Verdict

Final peels have unparalleled results with no other method really coming close. Even though it has significant side effects I’d still recommend doing it if you have moderate to severe signs of aging. I’d also only recommend doing 1 of these in your life.

Taking into account everything I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Pico Laser

Pico Laser

Biology/ How it works

Pico laser uses ultra-short pulses of energy (measured in picoseconds, or trillionths of a second) to fragment pigment in the skin

Benefits

The most effective method at treating hyperpigmentation (108)

Highly effective at reducing fine lines and wrinkles (109)

Great at improving acne scars (110)

Negatives

It makes you photosensitive (111)

May cause irritation, swelling and discomfort (112)

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

Final Verdict

This is the best treatment for hyperpigmentation and should be a must if you have any. However it’s pretty useless if you don’t have it as many other methods have better results for collagen, aging, wrinkles etc

For this reason I’m giving it a 6.5/10 (but it does have its uses)

Spoiler: Platelet-Rich Plasma

Platelet-Rich Plasma

Biology/ How it works

drawing a patient's blood, spinning it in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets, and then injecting this platelet-rich plasma

Benefits

One of the best methods for improving collagen (103)

Reduces inflammation (104)

Negatives

slight risk of infection (105)

May cause pain, swelling, and bruising at the injection site

A small risk of an allergic reaction (106)

Dosing/ Information

Simply go to a surgeon with results that look good and book a consultation.

The first 3-5 sessions should be around a month apart and then for maintenance you can do it 2-3 times a year

Final Verdict

PRP is low risk and with insane results. It’s a must for anyone who’s serious about skin maxxing

For these reasons I’m giving it an 8.5/10

Spoiler: Polydeoxyribonucleotide

Polydeoxyribonucleotide

Biology/ how it works

PDRN is a DNA fragment derived from salmon sperm (Ik it sounds super weird but stick with me). It works by activating the adenosine A2A receptor and utilizing the nucleotide salvage pathway. It’s A2A activation has a cascading effect with it inhibiting certain pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6, as well as stimulating anti-inflammatory ones like IL-10. It also significantly increases the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and increases cellular proliferation.

Benefits

Speeds up healing and repair through activating cell receptors leading to faster cell turnover. This means it will help with acne scars, burns and other kinds of scars. (107)

Boosts collagen by stimulating fibroplasts. (108)

Strengthens the skin barrier, by helping the skin retain onto more moisture and reducing transepidermal water loss. (109)

Reduces inflammation by inhibiting certain pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6, as well as stimulating anti-inflammatory ones like IL-10. (110)

Some results of PDRN
View attachment 25618View attachment 25619

Negatives

Allergies as PDRN is derived from salmon. So if anyone with an allergy to salmon/ seafood shouldn’t use it.

Bruising at injection sites.

Swelling but it goes away after 1-2 days.

Dosing/ Information

First you need to reconstitute your PDRN solution

Materials needed for reconstitution (111) (Ik the patent isn’t purely for skin but rather for the treatment of osteoarticular diseases but it can still show us an idea of what is an effective PDRN injection composition):

• PDRN powder in a vial (a purity of over 95% is preferred)
• 0.9% sterile normal saline solution (preferably contains sodium chloride and a mixture of sodium dihydrogen phosphate and sodium hydrogen phosphate)
• Insulin syringe
• Alcohol wipes

How to reconstitute it (111) (Ik the patent isn’t purely for skin but rather for the treatment of osteoarticular diseases but it can still show us an idea of what is an effective PDRN injection composition):

• Clean the rubber stopper of both the saline solution and PDRN vial with the alcohol wipe
• Inject the saline solution slowly into the PDRN via,l you want around a 0.5% to 3% by weight of PDRN powder in saline solution. For example per 30 mg of PDRN powder/ ml of saline for a 3% solution. Optimally the entire PDRN solution should be 2-3ml and have a pH of 6.5-7.5.
• Remove the needle
• Mix the solution gently by slowly swirling it
• Allow the powder to dissolve completely
• Draw the reconstituted solution into a fresh, sterile syringe for administration. To avoid drawing in bubbles, ensure the needle tip is below the fluid level without touching the bottom of the glass

How long will it last reconstituted:

• At 2-8 °C (36–46°F) can last around 3 months [90% of users report no degradation (112)]

Materials needed for injection (113):

• Reconstituted vial of PDRN
• 34G, 2mm Insulin Syringe as you’re injecting intradermaly
• Numbing cream
• Alcohol wipe

Where/ how much to inject (114):

• You should target cheeks, nasolabial folds, tear troughs, forehead, chin and jaw area
• You should do each injection around 0.5-1 cm apart in a grid like fashion
• Inject between 0.02–0.05 mL per injection

How to actually inject (115):

• First wipe/ cleanse your face with the alcohol wipe
• Then apply a thin layer of numbing cream (you don’t need to do this, it’s only for people with a low pain tolerance)
• Map out your injection points
• Pinch the area you want to inject with the PDRN
• Inject slowly at a 30 degrees angle
• Take out the needle and repeat

How often to do it:

• Start off by having 3-4 sessions around 2-4 weeks apart
• Then maintain with 4-6 weeks

Final verdict

PDRN is a very useful and underrated skin max. It should almost always be used with accutane due to how it can counteract some of the adverse side effects, like a weak skin barrier and dryness. I think this should be something that is heavily considered for any real looksmaxxers.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 8.5/10

Spoiler: Rapamycin

Rapamycin

Biology/ how it works

Rapamycin enters cells and binds to intracellular proteins called FKBP. This FKBP-rapamycin complex then interferes with the function of mTOR, a protein kinase that controls many cellular processes. (And one of the main processes that ages you). By inhibiting mTOR, rapamycin decreases cell growth and proliferation. It also promotes autophagy, a cellular process of self-cleaning and recycling.

Benefits

Oral Rapamycin has not been studied yet for its collagen effects. However topical rapamycin has in addition to mTOR inhibitors, with both showing very good results for skin collagen / aging. Which is a very good signs that oral will have a very similar effect. (116)

Negatives

There are many studies showing that oral Rap can cause birth defects. This means if you’re using oral Rapamycin and want to have a child make sure it’s out of your system. (117)

Many studies show a long consistent use of oral ramycin (over 6 months) can lead to significant muscle loss. Aa MTOR is required for muscle growth (118)

However this can be lessened if you do a biweekly schedule of Rapamycin as well as using a relatively low dose.

Fluid retention is a common side effect of oral repa. This occurs because rapamycin is an mTOR inhibitor, and the mTOR pathway plays a role in regulating fluid balance. (119)

Oral Rapamycin has been shown to increase cholesterol, this means drugs like SR9009 or SR9011 are a must if you use Rapamycin. (120)

Oral Rapamycin use has been associated with increased risks of blood clotting, this is because it enhances the activity of tissue factors in endothelial cells, affecting platelet procoagulant function. (121)

Topical rapa may cause dry skin, acne, pruritus and erythema. (122)

Dosing/ Information

Oral

What to take with it:

• Take trametinib as Rapamycin has shown to have great synergy with it. So it will give better results than just using it by itself. Take 0.5 mg daily, if you haven’t got any side effects titrate it up every week by 0.5 mg, until you reach 2 mg. If you get side effects titrate it down by 0.5 mg every week until you don’t. (123)
• SR9009 or SR9011 for cholesterol. Make sure to dissolve it in DMSO and apply transdermal as it is rubbish oral bioavailability. Use 10-40 mg
• Test and HGH as Rapamycin can reduce these hormones. Use 15-25 mg of test P daily as we’re more trying to use it as TRT rather than blasting it. And use 2-4 IU of HGH daily

Schedule/ dosage for Repamycin:

• Generally aim for 20 mg/ week
• But start with small doses and titrate up
• Also make sure to a week off week on cycle
• As well as to stop Rapamycin if you get a cold/ illness until you fully recover

Here’s an example of dosing:

• Week 1- 5 mg
• Week 2-0 mg
• Week 3- 10 mg
• Week 4- 0 mg
• Week 5- 15 mg
• Week 6- 0 mg
• Week 7- 20 mg
• Week 8- 0 mg
• Week 9- 20 mg
• Week 10- 0 mg
• Week 11- 20 mg
• Etc

Topical

If you want to learn how to make rapa I’d recommend looking at this

https://www.rapamycin.news/t/diy-rapamycin-skin-cream/1522

Final verdict

Although Rapamycin has some great upsides and don’t think it’s worth taking in your ‘prime’ due to the brutal sides. However I think it could be very useful tool for after looksmaxxing/ when you settle down and could possibly counteract some adverse side effects of other pharmaceuticals. In addition I don’t think topical rapa should be taken due to its adverse side effects of acne and minimal benefits.

For these reasons I’m giving oral a 6/10 and topical a 5/10

Spoiler: Red light therapy (mask)

Red light therapy (mask)

Biology/ How it works

exposes the face/body to low-level red and near-infrared light wavelengths

Benefits

Stimulates collagen production (124)

Reduced fine lines and wrinkles (125)

Improves mild to moderate acne (126)

Negatives

May cause some Skin irritation (127)

Dosing/ Information

Purchase a high quality red light therapy mask.

Secure device on your face and then follow the manufacturer's instructions for treatment duration, which is usually 10 minutes. Then titrate up 1 minute every time you use it until you reach 30 minutes.

Do it 3-5 times a week

Final Verdict

Don’t expect insane results but minimal ones if you use it consistently. It’s a decent product with practically no downsides but it’s not essential

For these reasons I’m giving it a 6/10

Spoiler: RU 58841

RU 58841

Biology/ How it works

It works by acting as a topical anti-androgen that blocks androgens from binding to androgen receptors

Benefits

Stops any androgens from fucking up your skin and is the second most potent AA on this list (behind GT20029)

Anecdotally people have said it can improve acne

Negatives

It may cause skin irritation

It’s not FDA approved for acne/ skin use

Formulating a good vehicle for RU58841 that doesn't dry out your skin is hard (if not impossible rn)

Dosing/ Information

I’d recommend making the solution yourself

You can do this by:

First getting your ingredients

RU58841
Ethanol
Propylene glycol

As for the solvent create it by mixing Ethanol and Propylene Glycol at a ration of 7:3. For example if you’re making a 50 ml solution 35 ml is Ethanol and 15 ml is Propylene Glycol.

To make a 5% solution, add 50 mg RU58841 per 1 mL of solvent. For 50 mL of solvent, this would equals 2,500 mg RU58841

Then once you measured out your ingredients first make the solvent by mixing the ethanol and propylene glycol. Then mix the ru in.

Once you have made it you can apply it like this:

Use a dropper to apply the solution to your face like any other serum. Make sure to apply it evenly and everywhere.

Final Verdict

Ru is a very effective AA for the skin and can be very effective however due to the lack of studies for it’s direct effect on the skin it’s score has to be lowered. It drys out your skin quite significantly. And considering CB has similar mechanisms of action yet doesn’t do this it’s a no brainer to opt for CB.

That’s why I’m giving it an 7.5/10

Spoiler: Sunscreen

Sunscreen

Biology/ How it works

It works by using active ingredients that block or absorb the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays

Benefits

Effectively stops uv rays which can dramatically age your skin. (128)

Helps to protect your skin barrier. (129)

Negatives

Can be comedogenic if you buy from the wrong brand which will clog up your pores.

Dosing/ Information

Choose a sunscreen with 50 pa ++++ and make sure it has as little comedogenic ingredients as possible.

Apply the sunscreen evenly to all exposed areas of skin.

Final Verdict

Sunscreen is a must and there is no reason to not use it. It is a god tier product

This is why it is a 10/10

Spoiler: Tanning drops

Tanning drops

Biology/ How it works

It’s a specific type of fake tanner. It contains the active ingredient dihydroxyacetone (DHA). When applied, DHA reacts with the amino acids in the top layer of your skin to create a temporary browning effect, or tan

Benefits

Provides a natural looking tan without sun damage.

Negatives

May cause Skin irritation

Dosing/ Information

mix a few drops with your moisturizer. Then apply the mixture evenly to clean, dry skin.

Final Verdict

This is my personal favorite tanning method as I have found to have the best results compared to other kinds of fake tanner like foam. I found combining it with MT1 gives me the best results but using it on its own is effective as well. However it can sometimes look unnatural

For these reasons I’m giving it a 7.5/10

Spoiler: Tazarotene

Tazarotene

Biology/ How it works

Although the exact mechanism of tazarotene action is not known, studies have shown that the active form of the drug (tazarotenic acid) binds to all three members of the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) family: RARa, RARb, and RARg, but shows relative selectivity for RARb, and RARg.

Benefits

It’s more potent than Tretenoin (130)

Provides similar anti aging effects to topical tret (131)

Theoretically less irritating than tret as it’s more selective in its RAR selectivity but in practice they have about the same irritation

You see quicker results than tret (132)

Negatives

May still cause irritation and peeling (133)

Dosing/ Information

Start with a low concentration and low frequency. Then titrate up to every other day using a 0.1% concentration

Final Verdict

It’s just a better version of tret. However it gets brutally mogged by accutane so I’d only recommend it if you want its anti-aging properties or you’re against Isotret for some reason.

That’s why I’m giving it a 8.5/10

Spoiler: Topical Estradiol

Topical Estradiol

Biology/ How it works

17β-estradiol works through many pathways including Receptor Binding and Gene Regulation, Dermal Structural Enhancement, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Actions.

Benefits

Increases collagen (more than Tretenoin) (134)

Effective at anti aging (135)

Boosts antioxidants (136)

Negatives

Some estrogen can be absorbed systemically but it’s extremely minimal (137)

Dosing/ Information

Use a 0.01% and apply it daily

put a pea sized and slather it all over my face

Final Verdict

Estradiol cream has a huge array of benefits, with minimal and easy to combat side effects. It should be used for anyone who’s serious at skin maxxing

For these reasons it’s a 8.5/10

Spoiler: Topical Estriol

Topical Estriol

Biology/ How it works

It works by locally delivering the hormone estriol to the vaginal area to counteract the effects of low estrogen

Benefits

Increases collagen (138)

Effective at anti aging (139)

Boosts antioxidants

Has been shown to outperformed estradiol (140)

Negatives

Some estrogen may be absorbed systematically but it’s extremely minimal (141)

Dosing/ Information

Use a 0.3%, applying it daily.

put a pea sized and slather it all over my face

Final Verdict

Estriol has a lot of great benefits and also has been shown to outperform estradiol (however I’d recommend using both).

For these reasons I’m giving it a 9/10

Spoiler: Tretenoin

Tretenoin

Biology/ How it works

Tretinoin is believed to work by binding to and activating two types of nuclear receptors - retinoic acid receptors (RARs) alpha, beta, and gamma and retinoid X receptors (RXRs).

Benefits

Provides strong anti aging effects (142)

Boosts collagen boost (143)

Negatives

May cause peeling and irritation (144)

Dosing/ Information

Start at a low concentration and low frequency. Then titrate up to 0.025-0.05% and applying it every other day.

apply a pea-sized amount to your entire face, avoiding the corners of your mouth and eyes, and finish with a moisturizer

Final Verdict

Although tret has really good effects there is just no point taking it as tarz has the same effects whilst being faster

That being said it gets a 8/10

Spoiler: Zero sebum

Zero sebum

Biology/ How it works

It works by absorbing excess oil

Benefits

Gets rid of any gay skin glow and gives it a matte finish instead

View attachment 25545

Negatives

May cause Irritation

May cause Dry skin

Dosing/ Information

Watch this video to learn more about it

Final Verdict

If you have oily skin or shiny skin I’d highly recommend this. I was scrolling on edodalic29 (on .org) threads and came across this and it’s literally a game changer.

For these reasons I’m giving it a 7.5/10

Tagging
@Admincel @Godveil Heir @Circadex @Mandy @Orka

mirin guide bro, can't wait to see more of them

 

[4upac]

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