Beauty

[San Antonio Gal]

Do you apply moisturizer after applying Retin A (tretinoin).  If so, do you wait awhile or apply it immediately after?

Just wondering if you're supposed to wait until it soaks in first.

[SilleeMee]

@San Antonio Gal 

Moisturizers can be applied before, after or even mixed with tret. No need to wait for moisturizers to soak in either.  In any case it won't affect the efficacy of the tret. 

I mix mine with moisturizer and apply that way. Just use a very small amount of moisturizer when I do.

[Foxxee]

I follow my dermatologist's directions.

Wash face in the evening.

Apply gel immediately after washing.

Do not apply anything to face until next morning. 

Apply moisturizer next morning after washing face.  

[San Antonio Gal]

Thanks for setting me straight @SilleeMee .  I always wondered if applying moisturizer immediately after affected it in any way.

[San Antonio Gal]

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@Foxxee wrote:

I follow my dermatologist's directions.

Wash face in the evening.

Apply gel immediately after washing.

Do not apply anything to face until next morning. 

Apply moisturizer next morning after washing face.  

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Do you apply it everynight or skip nights @Foxxee ?

[SilleeMee]

What destroys tret's efficacy is mostly sunlight and using it with other products which contain peroxides and/or with salicylic acid. I think most people know not to use those kinds of products with tret. It's worth mentioning anyways.

Since tret is destroyed by sunlight, application is recommended at night. But that doesn't mean you have to use at night always. It can be used during the day just as long as a sunscreen is applied to prevent the UV from destroying the tret. Sunscreen should be used anyways no matter what the situation involves while on a tret regiment.

[SurferWife]

@San Antonio Gal 

@SilleeMee answered the question best, but I will add my input on what I do in my nighttime routine.

1. Double-cleanse - duh!
2. Apply Tretinoin to clean, dry skin - I apply it from forehead to décolletage, then wait 5 minutes (I've read differing opinions, anywhere from 2-30 minutes before applying other skincare products; 5 minutes works fine for me.)
3. Hydrating liquids - toner, "essence" (I use WEN RTM), WEN dry oil spray
4. Hydrating Serums - Hyaluronic Acid booster mixed with Peptide booster
5. Eye cream
6. Moisturizer

This routine works well for my dry skin and I've never had any sensitivity or reactions.

[Foxxee]

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@San Antonio Gal wrote:

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@Foxxee wrote:

I follow my dermatologist's directions.

Wash face in the evening.

Apply gel immediately after washing.

Do not apply anything to face until next morning. 

Apply moisturizer next morning after washing face.  

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Do you apply it everynight or skip nights @Foxxee ?

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@San Antonio Gal 

Usually, no, because even after using 1% for years, sometimes, it results in too much peeling.  I think I might be too heavy handed applying the gel at times.  I may wait a day or more to see how my skin reacts.  I may hold off until it settles down.  

[tends2dogs]

If I have the time after washing my face at night, I wait 20 minutes or so and then apply Retin A.  I wait maybe 20 minutes again and use my moisturizer.  I rotate what I use for moisturizer depending how dry I am.  When I was still up north and in a house with a furnace running, I used my RA every other day because I was getting too much peeling.  Now that I am down south, it is more humid and I can use it everyday.  

If we go out and I just want to wash my face and get ready for bed, I do the above routine, but without the waiting between steps.  

I use Alpha glycolic serum during the day.

[SilleeMee]

The more products you layer with tret will only delay tret's ultimate goal and that is to reduce lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. If you want to see results as they were intended with tret then use it w/o any other product(s).