topic Re: Questions for Retin-A users in Beauty

Questions for Retin-A users

dollgal — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 18:03:30 GMT

Hello - I started Trentinoin (Retin-A) a week ago in a low dose of 0.025%. I have not had any flaking, peeling or redness so I am wondering if I am not using it correctly or the dose is too low. I wanted to start out slowly but maybe this is too low and slow.

I cleanse my face at night, wait until it is completely dry, then use a very small amount of Retin-A all over my face. I wait 15 to 20 minutes then I apply my moisturizer. Should I not be moisturizing afterwards?

In the morning I use Kaplans 1 minute Diamond Daily Facial scrub, then Philospophy When Hope is Not Enough serum, followed by my sunscreen.

Am I using too many moisturizing products? My skin is not usually sensitive but I did expect to have some flaking.

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

World Traveler — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 18:06:14 GMT

@SilleeMee will probably stop by and answer your questions. She knows a lot about Retin-A and do's/dont's.

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

SilleeMee — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 18:18:09 GMT

@World Traveler

Thanks! for saying so.

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

SilleeMee — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 18:40:25 GMT

@dollgal

I would say you are doing just fine for starters. Just b/c you are not experiencing flaking and redness doesn't mean the RA is not working. It is working but at a dose where your skin can handle it. The goal is to get to highest strength possible w/o irritation and use it everyday. Try applying just the RA alone, w/o the moisturizer, and see how that goes. Then you could go up to the 0.05% and use that intermittently and still use the 0.025 on the other nights until the 0.025% is all used up. A little bit of dryness and flaking is okay but if it's extremely that way with redness then you could back off and use it less frequently until your skin adjusts.

Flaking and dryness are side-effects of using RA and those effects should not be your goals. The anti-aging benefits of using RA happen deeper in the skin and not on the surface. RA works best when you use it everyday. If you can't use it everyday b/c of irritation then use a lower dose and/or with moisturizer.

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

LuvmyLab — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 18:59:12 GMT

@dollgal Everything you are doing is exactly what I do. I would wait a few weeks and if you are still not having any peeling or flaking you may be able to increase the percentage of the retin A. I also started slowly but did have some flaking, no redness. Once I adjusted to that the doctor increased my dosage and I was fine.

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

dollgal — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 21:45:17 GMT

Thank you everyone! I will keep at it

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

SilleeMee — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 22:26:32 GMT

This Hot&Flashy video is a good one to see for RA beginners:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQqOa6QcjMQ

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

ECBG — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 00:23:16 GMT

@dollgal

Only your dermatologist knows! He has seen your skin and we haven't.

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

dollgal — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 04:56:10 GMT

Thank you SilleeMee- I watched the video and extremely helpful. 😀

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

Shanus — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 15:12:48 GMT

@SilleeMee Once again, spot on advice.

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

SilleeMee — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 15:26:36 GMT

Thank you! @Shanus

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

Shanus — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 16:13:16 GMT

@SilleeMee We're usually on the same skincare page.

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

Tricolor — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 15:33:11 GMT

I have been using Retin A for a little over 20 years and have never experienced the redness and peeling that has been associated with this product. My skin has always been dry so I have just learned how to deal with that. You can talk to your doctor to see if you should increase your strength. If you are not seeing results they may recommend bumping it up a little. Good luck.

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

tends2dogs — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 13:17:53 GMT

@SilleeMee I am ready to take the plunge and purchase Retin A. I went to All Day Chemist's site and there are several choices. Cream, gel, micro, and of course strengths. My skin is not dry nor oily, although I have had a few breakouts since wearing a mask. I use Paula's Choice retinol, AHA, and BHA with no problems, but I want to bump it up. Am I too old to go down this road? I am 67 and have a lot of sun damage and sag . I am not asking for miracles, but perhaps texture improvement. I realize, too, that this is not an overnight fix, but a forever commitment.

I didn't get as far as the check out process, but wondered if this company is foreign and what is the payment process.

As always, thank you for all your help on this forum.

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

lkat — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 14:11:22 GMT

@tends2dogs Have you considered getting your retin-a from Curology rather than ADC? Because you consult with a derm (send a few photos and answer some questions), they will recommend what strength to start out with and it can be adjusted higher or lower as you go along. It's not very expensive, the first bottle is free and you can return within 90 days. They also will mix two other ingredients depending on your skin's needs.

I've found them to be very responsive and helpful.

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

SilleeMee — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 14:11:50 GMT

@tends2dogs wrote:
@SilleeMee I am ready to take the plunge and purchase Retin A. I went to All Day Chemist's site and there are several choices. Cream, gel, micro, and of course strengths. My skin is not dry nor oily, although I have had a few breakouts since wearing a mask. I use Paula's Choice retinol, AHA, and BHA with no problems, but I want to bump it up. Am I too old to go down this road? I am 67 and have a lot of sun damage and sag . I am not asking for miracles, but perhaps texture improvement. I realize, too, that this is not an overnight fix, but a forever commitment.

I didn't get as far as the check out process, but wondered if this company is foreign and what is the payment process.

As always, thank you for all your help on this forum.

@tends2dogs

I'm glad you are thinking about trying RA. I don't think it's ever too late to start using it. That Hot&Flashy video is very helpful for starters. I highly recommend watching it.

AllDayChemist is located in India. Their only accepted method of payment is an eCheck. No PayPal or credit cards. If you are not familiar with echecks, please read what PayPal has to say about them here:

https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/what-is-an-echeck-faq1082

I have been using eChecks to pay for my RA from ADC for a very long time. Never a problem. It just takes a few days to clear through your bank and then your order takes about two to three weeks to arrive at your door. If you need help placing your order please don't hesitate to ask! I'll try my best to help you.

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

SilleeMee — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 14:24:48 GMT

@tends2dogs

If you've been using Paula's 1% retinol, that would be almost like using a 0.02% RA but not quite the same effects. RA is approx twenty times the strength of retinol. The main difference between RA and retinol is that RA goes deeper into the skin where it has been formulated to bind to the third most deepest retionoid receptor there. Our skin has three retinoid receptors and RA is the only product which can react with the deepest one. No other product can do that including any retinol. When it comes to choosing a RA cream vs gel...creams are usually prescribed for normal to dry skin and gels for oily skin.

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

tends2dogs — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 17:07:29 GMT

@SilleeMee I just placed my order with ADC. It was a snap. No prescription needed and I paid by e check. Now, I wait. I ordered .05% because I have used that in the past. Someone brought me a tube from London and it was .05% and I had no issue with it except to say I wasn't compliant. I came across the tube (not expired) and I have been slowly integrating it back into my routine. I want to use fresh product. I am excited. I did watch the video the other day that you posted and found it extremely informative.

BTW they had two prices for the product. The sale price was for an earlier expiration date: 7/2021. I opted to pay the higher price and get a later date.

Thanks for your help, honest advice, and informitive explanations.

Let me add: This order was less $$$ than the order I placed to Paula's Choice 6 months ago!

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

tends2dogs — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 17:10:13 GMT

@goldensrbest I saw on an old thread that you were considering ordering this through All Day Chemist. It was back in January of 2018. Did you ever take the plunge? If so, what changes did you see?

Re: Questions for Retin-A users

goldensrbest — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 17:15:16 GMT

No, but i had ordered from them several years ago, no trouble with it, but i will say i thought for the same strength as i had got from a doctor ,there was a difference, but who knows,i gave up,since my husband died in 2013,and all the stress i have had, i accepted my wrinkles,and do i ever have them,also sun damage from being a kid . By the way your hair is pretty,from another thread,and you look great,so go for it!!