Beauty

[monicakm]

@bmorechick 

My hot weather chant is you can put on enough clothse to get warm but you can't take off enough to cool down.

You will just realize your skin continues to be even, smooth and plump.

That's what my complexion looked like BEFORE tret lol.  Now it's a mess.  Not smooth.  I have a pimple on my forehead and one on my chin.  Cross-hatch lines under my eyes and one line on the outside of my left eye.  Needless to say, this is not what I envisioned   Oh and oily in the t-zone.  I've been bone dry for 20 years.  Plenty of hydrating products and moisturizers day and night kept my face smooth and plump.

[monicakm]

@Trinity11 

Thank you.  I'll watch it.

[monicakm]

@San Antonio Gal 

That's the same size I have.  This is my second tube (1st tube was a lower strength and I didn't quit finish it).  I also apply a pea size amt to the back of my hands.  Admittedly, I've always had an "if a little bit is good, more is better" mentality

[monicakm]

@Love2Laugh 

Thank you for all your good tips   I already do most of what you mentioned.  I've never "sandwiched" it tho.  I think perhaps I should cut back to every other night.  I think I've met my match with Tretinonin. I have a "hearty" complexion and have never had to take it slow or have any complications with products...till now.

[monicakm]

@Steffdoggy10 

Does moisturizing under the tret make it less effective? 

That is my concern too.  And last night I mixed it with my Cosrx Overnight Rice Mask.  IIRC, @SilleeMee said using buffers slows down the results.

[SilleeMee]

As long as you use the pea-size amount of tret, mixing it into a moisturizer won't change the effects of the tret. Same goes for applying on top or under a moisturizer. The only thing different when you layer or mix tret with a moisturizer is that just slows down how fast the tret is absorbed into the skin. When you slow down any active ingredient then that gives the skin time to process it. Otherwise for some people it can cause irritation.

[teganslaw]

I won't be starting tretinoin after reading some of these posts. Not worth it when there's too much that can go wrong.

Monicakm, maybe you could check with a dermatologist about the tretinoin issues? He/she could help you decide the best way to discontinue this or guide you to another step. 

[Texasmouse]

@monicakm I remember @SilleeMee making a good analogy once that was something like, if a runner ran 100 yards on pavement, then ran 100 yards through water, he'd run 100 yards either way, it would just take him longer to do it through the water. That's what putting tretinoin on over a moisturizer is like. The end result is the same, it just takes a little longer. (For me, it also means less irritation.) You have to remember though, your journey on tretinoin is a marathon, not a sprint. 😉

[monicakm]

@SilleeMee 

The only thing different...is that just slows down how fast the tret is absorbed into the skin

This sounds like it won't take longer for tret to work overall, just slows down the absorption rate for that application.  Is that right?

[monicakm]

I'M DONE!  I'm going back to what was working.  My complexion was lovely before Retin-A.  I'm going to make an appt with a derm and let him tell me what he thinks I need.  By the time I'm able to get an appt, my face should (hopefully) be back to normal.