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Fri Sep 14, 2007 2:28 am  |
Hi everyone,
I've been using Retin-A for about a week now, and I've surfed the net for application information, and its a little misleading, so i thought i'd ask you guys.
At the moment i wash my face and then wait 30 mins, before i apply retin-a. I then wait another 30 minutes before i apply moisturizer, i use sudocrem. Is this right or should i use the moisturizer first, i dont think i could leave out the moisturizer, because my face feels like its about to crack. I was using retin-a every night but i was beginning to look like the Flake Monster! I now use every other night.
 nick |
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Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:34 am |
Personally I am very "old school" about using Retin A. I would not put ANY moisturizer over it...not 30 mins later, or an hour or 3 hours! In my humble opinion, to get the full benefit, use it straight!  |
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Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:56 am |
Hi mountaingirl,
thanks for the reply, but my face feels so tight that i couldn't wait any longer before i had to put something on. Are you saying that Retin-a doesn't work aswell the way i'm using it, i don't want the moisturiser to have any negative effect on it.
nick |
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Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:21 pm |
| Nicola - Are you using it in a gel form? My face has never felt "dry" after using it, but I have always used a cream-based forumula. There are plenty of ladies on this forum that will support the idea of using a moisturizer after applying Retin A. Personally I think you get the maximum benefit by NOT diluting it with ANYTHING. I can understand getting burning and redness, but I can't relate to feeling dryness. In the winter my skin does peel more and is definitely dryer in general from using it...so my remedy is typically to sleep with a humidifier on in my room. So, hmmmm....Get some other opinions on this forum...and decide what's best for you! |
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Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:33 pm |
Hey nicola,
It's been a few years since I used Retin-A, but even back on my teenage skin it was quite drying to me, too. Here are a few tips (if memory serves me well):
1) As mountaingirl said, try getting the cream formula instead of the gel. In addition to being more moisturizing, it'll blend better with other products (and the gel has a high alcohol content that makes it extra-drying).
2) Keep in mind that there is a significant initial curve with Retin-A - you will be a flake monster, like it or not, for the first couple weeks, but with regular use this chills out and your skin adjusts quite well... eventually. Hang in there!
3) Personally, I would mix a bit of moisturizer with my Retin-A directly, thereby diluting it a bit. I realize you may not want to do that, but I think it's better to mix and apply evenly than to wait and then apply moisturizer, as you may effectively be wiping the Retin-A off completely with this second application.
4) Have you thought about this: wash, pat dry, rub on a few drops of a moisturizing oil, and THEN applying Retin-A? I think if you moisturize first you may have better results, and using just an oil instead of a cream with many ingredients may help minimize the dilution. It also may be gentler on your skin, as it sounds like you are quite sensitive to the Retin-A (as many people are at first).
Hope this helps! |
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32, fair hair/eyes/skin, always a mix of dry/oily/sensitive/acne/clogged pores. But I keep getting compliments on my skin, so something must be working! Beauty blog at http://heliotro.pe; online dating coaching at http://theheartographer.com |
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Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:01 pm |
Hiya,
Yeah its the cream called Retino A 0.5% , i dont have dry skin, its oily , however its always felt really tight straight after ive washed it, so i dont think the retin a has changed anything there. I'm going to try and use no moisturiser tonight if i can see what happens. I'm quite excited about this cream theres so much hype surrounding it, hard not to be. nick xx  |
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Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:00 pm |
| mua is like, the ultimate resource when it comes to retinoids. at any rate, it seems to be a consensus that applying a moisturizer (esp thirty minutes after the retinoid) won't really affect the potency of the retin-a very much at all. however, applying a moisturizer BEFORE the retinoid, or mixing the moisturizer with your retin-a, will "buffer" (that is, mitigate) its effects. this can be a good thing, as retin-a can cause irritation for some, especially upon initial usage. i used taz, which is another (arguably stronger) retinoid, and i was more than grateful for anything that would control those goshdarned flakies! |
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Sat Sep 15, 2007 5:12 am |
Seems to be different theories around about this.
Ive been told by a few people on MUA to moisturise before applying retin a half an hour/hour later.
Thats what im doing and i still peel sometimes so its obviously still doing its thing.
Going without moisturiser isnt an option for me, even the cream makes me feel dry.
Im sure if you let your moisturiser sink in thoroughly it should be fine. Tetrakis who has the great notepad on retin a mixes hers with metrocream and is still getting good results.
I think she actually says if you really need to moisturise you should do it before applying retin a.
I prefer it that way as i hate waiting half an hour after washing to apply anything. It makes me feel dry. |
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39, in Australia, using retin a, Skin actives I Bright and Antiaging Cream, change sunscreen regularly currently. |
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Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:49 am |
| don't forget sunscreen everyday. |
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Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:11 am |
Hi All,
These last couple of nights iv'e used only retin-a and to be honest i've had less flaking.
I think its because the moisturiser is irrating my skin, i didn't before i used retin-a but it has since. I also religiously use Skin ceuticals defence sun screen 30spf.
nick  |
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Thu Oct 04, 2007 4:24 pm |
| In my experience, I put Retin A first, then wait for 30 mins or more to put the moisturizer. Using Retin A alone will make your skin very dry. My recommendation is make sure your moisturizer doesn't contain any ingredient that irritate your skin such as AHA. |
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Thu Oct 04, 2007 7:52 pm |
| I use the cream Retin-a and it does make my skin dry. When it got really dry I would put Aquaphor on top and that fixes things. But, Aquaphor is thick and like vaseline so it can be annoying. Does work. Another thing you can do is use Retin-a every other night or every third night. This is what I currently do. |
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late 20s in nyc |
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Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:02 pm |
| Just wondering if it would be okay to mix gel RA with Emu or HA? TIA! |
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Darlene, 45, oily, dehydrated sundamaged skin. |
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