Obagi C Rx System Review

She suggested that I start out with the Obagi–C Rx Complete System. Although you may read that you can only get this through a doctor’s office everything is available online. I paid $299 for this system. You’ll find it for less online. In addition you can buy products individually.

What is Obagi and what does the C RX System do?

Obagi has various lines. This is a good starting point. My skin was dry, sensitive, red and prone to rashes.

This product was developed by Zein E. Obagi, M.D, a Board-Certified Diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.

The company uses the term “Photolumines Skin” to describe the more radiant, luminescent skin that results from the combination of the ingredients.

The System:

C-Cleansing Gel; C-Clarifying Serum; C-Exfoliating Day Lotion; C-SunGuard SPF 30; C-Cleansing Gel; and C-Therapy Night Cream.

My morning routine:

C-Cleansing Gel

The purpose of the cleansing gel is to clean my skin. When I first started using this pink gel like lotion that smells pleasant, sort of like a nice smelling soap, I wondered why I was paying $31.00 for a 6-ounce container. I knew it was supposed to condition and prepare my skin for better penetration of the next product I was putting on but still it seemed like a lot of money to clean my skin. It did remove my make up. In addition I felt no tightness after washing my face with it. Putting on a moisturizer immediately didn’t feel like something I had to do.

It goes on easily. It doesn’t lather rather it is more like soap. In fact it starts absorbing into my skin quickly if I rub it in too long. I start with my skin wet and gently rub the gel into my face and neck. I then rinse it with warm water and pat dry. I only need a dime size squirt for my entire face so that was one relief when I thought of how much I was paying.

It contains Purified Water, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Extract, Borago Officinalis (Borage) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Sodium Chloride, Saponins, Xantham Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Glycerin, Fragrance, Yellow 5, Red 33.

C-Clarifying Serum

This serum is a formula combining 10% Vitamin C with 4% hydroquinone. It comes in a.1 fluid ounce glass bottle with a squeeze dropper. The purpose we are told is that
“We are told that this serum penetrates deep into the skin's dermal layers where it enhances collagen production thereby reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Hydroquinone decreases the formation of melanin in the skin. Melanin is the pigment in the skin that gives it a brown color. Therefore, hydroquinone applied topically is used to gradually lighten areas of darkened skin such as freckles, age spots, chloasma, and melasma. This results in more radiant, luminescent skin.”

I read that I might feel a tingling initially and I did but that went away after several days. Rather than rubbing it in which is what the directions say I just put my hands on each part of my face. At $84 I was really worried about how quickly this was going to be used up. Really two to four drops is all I need.

Each gram of Obagi-C Rx Clarifying Serum contains Hydroquinone 4% USP mg/gm in a base of Propylene Glycol, Propylene Carbonate, L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Purified Water and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.

C-Exfoliating Day Lotion

This pleasant smelling white lotion comes in a 2-ounce plastic bottle. Squeezing the lotion out is my only complain. At the beginning too much was coming out. I’ve gotten the technique down but at $39.00 I wanted to use every speck. The purpose is to gently exfoliate and accelerates skin cell turnover, while hydrating and protecting the skin. I put a drop or two on my finger and start with my forehead. A little goes a long way. That drop or two could go all the way down to my temples. I continue to gently rub it in until it disappears.

It contains 7% Glycolic Acid Ascorbyl Glucoside Hyaluronic Acid Vitamin E SPF 12 pH 3.5 - 4.0 Octinoxate Octisalate Oxybenzone.

C-Sunguard SPF 30 Broad –Spectrum UVA/UVB Sunscreen

This is recommended by the Skin Cancer Society though probably many are. Truly I have no idea and I am not going to compare product to product to figure out why I’m spending $34 on 3 ounces of sunscreen. I’ve decided to use this system so I try not to think about the price.

This is also a white lotion. It is light and absorbs quickly. It has what Obagi calls a Z-Cote formula that “provides a superior measure of sun protection from UVA/UVB damage and against long UVA rays linked to premature aging of the skin.”

I use this every day even if I am in the house!

It contains Octinoxate 7.5%, Zinc Oxide 9.0%, which is traditional in a lot of sun products. The inactive ingredients are Butylparaben, Cetearyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Diethanolamine Cetyl Phosphate, Disodium Edetate, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Isopropyl Palmitate, Laureth-7, Methylparaben, Octyl Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Polyether-1, Polysorbate 60, Propylparaben, Purified Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Triethoxycaprylyisilane.

My night routine:

I wash my face with the Gel as I do in the morning. I then apply:

C-Therapy Night Cream

On the bottle it says PM and “skin lightening cream with vitamins C and E, hydroquinone USP 4%." It also says RX only however as I started I will say again this is all readily available at dozens of sites online. This comes in the same bottle as the C-Exfoliating Day Lotion but this white non-greasy cream doesn’t smell as nice. This 2-ounce bottle costs $75 and I apply it just as I do the AM lotion.

Each gram of Obagi-C Rx C-Therapy Night Cream contains Hydroquinone 40 mg/gm in a base of Purified Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), TEA-Salicylate, Lactic Acid, Saponins, Methylparaben, Edetate Disodium, Propylparaben, BHT, Phenyl Trimethicone, Sodium Metabisulfite.


Warning: ”Products containing hydroquinone should not be used when contemplating pregnancy or when pregnant or nursing. This product also contains sodium metabisulfite, a sulfite that may cause serious allergic type reactions (e.g., hives, itching, wheezing, anaphylaxis severe asthma attacks) in certain susceptible persons.“

My experience:

I was really very leery. I have used too many moisturizers to mention but my skin was still dry and flaky. It was red and blotchy. Robin told me to give it 2 weeks preferably a month before I judged it. She warned me that I might not want to go out for a couple of days so you might want to use this over a weekend if you work outside the home. Why? Because the dead skin literally comes off. They don't come off in layers or chunks! The skin comes off in the form of very, very dry feeling skin. I couldn’t put on makeup. I called Robin and told her I needed a moisturizer. I was so used to putting moisturizer on my face several times a day.

She comforted me and told me that Obagi has moisturizers and just to get over this period and give it a bit more time since it had only been a few days into this process. One month later my skin looks like it never has.

I am now totally free of any dryness. After my morning routine I don’t need any moisturizer during the day at all – ever.

Jo's Viewpoint

The best. I never say never but I can't imagine using anything else.