(Part 2) Best products from r/tretinoin

depends on what your skin type is: mine is on the drier side. i would say start off slow. use it once every 2-3 nights for a couple weeks and see how your skin reacts. if it's tolerating the tret well, gradually begin bumping it up. my skin took quite a while to get used to but others have had success using it nightly after only a month. it takes a while to see noticeable results so i'd recommend taking progress pics every few days or every week. that definitely helped me in the beginning.

i'm still trying to find my perfect moisturizer. for a long time i would just use eucerin but it's heavy and a bit greasy. i still use it but only at night.

i'm currently using this sunblock and LOVE it. there's a stronger version with spf 50 which i'm going to buy next time. nice formula, not too thick, no white cast.

putting moisturizer on before applying tret is called buffering. i definitely had to buffer the first 2-3 months of application. you only need to buffer if your skin seems to be extra dry.

hope this was helpful!

I use both! Currently using this 10% azelaic acid serum and 0.05% cream tretinoin (Retino-A), although I'm switching to 0.1% gel tretinoin (A-Ret).

I actually use both of them on a daily basis, at night only. No irritation whatsoever, but my skin's moisture barrier is extremely healthy, so I would advise caution if your skin tends to sting or otherwise get irritated.

My nightly routine is:

>Kose Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil

>Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser

>Cezanne Skin Conditioner High Moist

>Naruko Taiwan Magnolia Brightening and Firming Toner EX

>Cos de BAHA 10% Azelaic Acid Serum

>Wait 20 minutes

>0.05% Tretinoin Cream

>Wait 20 minutes

>Vaseline

The addition of azelaic acid was almost magic. It's really incredible just how much it healed my acne and calmed redness overnight. So glad I finally found an (affordable!) azelaic acid product free of all my acne triggers. What a godsend. It has a pleasant liquidy texture with plenty of slip. I was worried about it potentially irritating sensitive skin such as under my eyes since I apply tretinoin there. But surprisingly, my undereye area has been just fine. I wouldn't attribute any apparent anti aging effect to azelaic acid though. It just healed my existing acne by a good at least 50% overnight, calmed my skin redness (including my PIE!), and made my skin so much brighter and radiant in tone. Oh and it made my skin ridiculously smooth. Not chemical peel smooth of course. But I could tell the morning after my first application when cleansing my face how the texture from my closed comedones just wasn't touchably there. It visibly reduced my closed comedones too, but I expect fully getting rid of them will take time as it usually does for me. Currently have a single active pimple on my face when I had hm, twenty-thirty (now just PIE marks) thanks to neglecting self-care. For just one week, I'd say that's as close to instant magic in skincare as we can get.

Ok, so firstly, do better than I have and remind yourself not to do this again! It's always worth just waiting for pimples to heal on their own, and if you absolutely cannot (like me), lance them with a sterile needle (insulin needles are cheap and sterile), and put a hydrocolloid bandage over until it gets everything out.

Ok, so with prevention out of the way, my #1 product in this situation is snail based products. Snail mucin is one of the few ingredients that's been clinically shown to help repair skin (admittedly not extensively, but in my personal experience, it does help). This is the one I get. In lieu of that, keep them clean, but not overdried. Moisture can help prevent and reduce scarring. I recommend a lotion with HA since it has the potential to help PIE clear up more quickly. I like CeraVe's HA+ceramides lotion.

Hang in there, we've all been there.

My all-time favorite cleanser is this one if you're interested. Don't order it right now though, it's usually $10 and the price will go back down

That Avene sunscreen is good on sun protection but has two major cons - it's expensive and it's gonna leave a white caste. If you have even a bit of melanin in you, trust me it's gonna leave a caste. Btw don't wear multiple sunscreens at once, there are some ingredients that don't work well together and can degrade each other. Pick one and apply liberally. A really great Japanese sunscreen that I recommend like this one is cheaper and will look much better on your skin. I also thought I couldn't access Japanese sunscreen because I didn't know I could order it on Amazon. I seriously couldn't recommend them enough. They're affordable, look better on the skin, and have FAR better sun protection.

I second this. Even the cheapest patches get really costly pretty fast if you're using them frequently. Cutting up larger bandages is definitely the way to go. I thought bandaid brand worked really well, but the adhesive was a bit too strong for my face. I always felt like it took off some skin (this was pre-tret). (They were perfect when I got a deep gash on my hand though. That thing stayed put through handwashing, showers, taking gloves on & off, etc., & completely sealed the wound.)

Duoderm is the classic medical brand for real (non-acne) wounds. I used to buy these on amazon & cut them up and they worked well. If you're going to use enough to make it through a whole box, these come out cheaper than the bandaid bandages even though they're on the high end for large medical grade hydrocolloids. There's 10 4x4 inch bandages per box for ~$20.

Dynadex is a good dupe for Duoderm. I switched to these b/c they're half the price and work just as well. ~$10 for ten 4x4 in. bandages.

I realized a while ago that I have to apply my moisture in layers. So yes I do use a ton of moisture products, but my skin has proper hydration and a consistent moisture barrier that no active has ever been able to penetrate.

OP I would stop washing your face unless maybe once at night, and only oil cleansing. Oil cleanses oil. Your face doesn’t need extreme cleansing or other cleansing products.

I would spray with a moisturizing toner (there are a million, choose one that you like) then layer 1-2 layers of a hyaluronic Acid over your face when it’s wet with Toner. I like Korean brands, like this one and this one. Then layer that with a snail mucus which sounds awful but it’s crazy hydrating, like this one. Layer that with a gel, like this. Then a cream like this one and finally a sleeping mask like this one. Bonus points for applying a wet sheet mask over it for 30 minutes.

It seems absolutely extra and I personally wish I could slap on a moisturizer and call it a night but it’s the only way to truly hydrate and nourish the moisture barrier.

AM:

La Roche-Posay Hydrating Cleanser, sometimes on a konjac sponge if I need exfoliation

La Roche-Posay Double Repair Moisturizer

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Shaka Fluid SPF if I'm going out

PM:

Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water -- I use this as my standalone cleanser if I'm not wearing sunscreen. If I am, I follow it up with the LRP morning cleanser.

Tretinoin gel 0.1%

LRP Double Repair Moisturizer

LRP Cicaplast Baume B5 over my whole face as a final occlusive layer just like you use. One of the best skin purchases I've ever made and I'll never use vaseline again lol.

---------------

I feel like I've tried everything... Cetaphil and Cerave gave me the worst breakouts of my life, Vanicream dried out my skin, Sebamed didn't do anything, Eucerin made my face hot, FAB has the worst smelling products EVER (seriously why is nobody talking about that smell) etc. I've wasted so much money over the years. The biggest waste of time/money was trying to do a k-beauty multistep routine, I never saw any results from those products.

LRP is my HG but I know how expensive it is. My close second HG are the basic Neutrogena products, specifically this cleanser and this moisturizer, plus I like their sunscreens. If I'm ever having to budget more, I'll go back into Neutrogena's arms for sure lol. Garnier micellar water too, which I see you use.

I hope that helps, it sounds like we have similar skin reactions to several brands and less is more for us. I know how it is to be extremely frustrated, I've spent years researching and experimenting and blahblahblah almost nothing has worked for me but azelaic acid, tret, and now the cicaplast. I'm thinking of incorporating azelaic acid again a few times a week because it really does smooth out the skin, but otherwise that's it, I'm done lol.

Before I came to this sub and the SCA sub I was using glycolic acid peels and apple cider vinegar/Indian clay masks multiple times a week, salicylic acid face wash daily, and scrubbing my face to death. I burned myself with undiluted tea tree oil. The whole time I was wondering why my skin was a raw dehydrated acne ridden mess lol! We've all been there, don't beat yourself up! :)

Just check your products on CosDNA.com. I would generally try to use products that don't have ingredients higher than a 2 on the comedogenic scale, and avoid harsh actives until your skin is acclimated to tret! A great place to start would be a non-foaming cleanser like Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gentle Cleansing Lotion (I use this too), wait 15 minutes, apply tret, wait 15 minutes, the gel cream moisturizer, thin layer of Vaseline. That's all non-comedogenic, fragrance free, and fatty alcohol free! Personally I like to apply my tret over the moisturizer to buffer, so that's another option too if you're still a bit dry/irritated.

Hi, this one is one of my favourite ones that I use. It is SPF 50+, the UVA protection is ++++ (the highest category in the Asian rating system, meaning that the product is at least a UVA PPD of 16) and it *dries completely matte, leaves zero whitecast and it feels like you’re wearing nothing.

Idk where you are based, but if there are any Japanese or Asian beauty stores near you, they may carry it (I found mine locally). Otherwise you can order online via Amazon or some of the popular Asian Beauty websites.

The only issue with using the retinoid + benzoyl combo is dryness. I think there is some research showing that benzoyl peroxide reduces the effectiveness of retinoids but that is only if they are applied at the same time. So by using the wash off version of benzoyl peroxide you eliminate the possibility of them coming into contact with each other, does that make sense? I think using the retinoid 3x a week is enough.

Using these two products has caused some dryness issues for me but I much prefer that to acne. I have a pretty intense moisturizing routine that I built thanks to r/asianbeauty but the two things that I absolutely can't do without are Benton Steam Cream and Aquaphor. I apply the Benton lotion morning and night and add the Aquaphor only at night.

ETA yes you can absolutely try this out for a month or two and then reassess your progress. Getting my acne under control has been about a two year process but it has been so worth it!

I use one of these on my face and love it! Gentle but effective. I use one for my dishes and one for my body and one for my face haha. They are cool cuz you can sterilize them in the dishwasher too.

silicon sponges

Well, I use an r/Asianbeauty moisturizing routine which usually consists of:

1. An essence: Corsx snail Mucin or sinic honey all in one or hadalabo premium hyaluronic solution which has 7 weights of hyaluronic acid!
   
   
2. Argan oil or fortify which is a perfect blend of all 3 omega fatty acids
   
   
3. Liquid gold which is a ceramide based serum
   
   
4. My night pack, which is occlusive heavy. Something like cerave in the tub or aquaphor.
   
   Essentially for optimal hydration from a moisturizer you want:
   
5. Emollient 2. Humectant 3. Occlusive
   
   And make sure your cleanser is PH balanced and gentle!

I've been using these from Amazon, but any hyaluronic acid/ collagen eye mask is pretty great. They really plump things out and make you look alive https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07KFNXN6C?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Here is is!

I do micellar water to cleanse in the evening. Then: Peter Thomas Roth un-wrinkle turbo peptide lotion, Cosrx hyaluronic acid, Mizon AIO snail, Stratia Liquid Gold. Wait 20min then apply 0.02% tret and azealic acid. Then the Cosrx Balancium I'm talking about above and an occlusive.