Get a serum with HA. That will help build up your skins moisture.
Then cerave cream on top. |
Drunk Elephant Protini |
I use First Aid moisturizer and slug with Aquaphor. I use the highest concentration of tret. |
What worked for me -- after trying MANY other products in lots of prices ranges -- was Skinceuticals Triple Lipid. I know it's $$$, but it's the ONLY moisturizer that works for me while on Tret. I only use it at night given the cost. In the morning I use La Roche Posay Double Repair. |
I've been using Tretinoin 0.025% (nightly) and recently increased to 0.05% (starting with twice a week, other nights with the lower dose) for the past 5 months.
I haven't experienced any redness or irritation the entire time I think because I started slowly, because of my moisturizers which are the only ones I've found that don't break me out, and because I've always done a retinoid sandwich. I started once a week for a month, twice a week for a month, three times a week for a month, then everyday. I probably could have moved faster, but I really wanted to avoid irritation or purging if possible. My holy grail mosturizers are Paula's Choice Omega moisturizer (in the morning and the bottom layer of the sandwich at night) and Paula's Choice Replenishing moisturizer (at night, top of the sandwich). They don't break me out, and I love them! I also use EltaMD UV Clear tinted sunscreen to further avoid irritation during the day from the sun. I can't believe I waited so long to try that sunscreen. I really think a lot of my acne may have been caused by my old one! https://www.paulaschoice.com/omegaand-complex-moisturizer/339.html https://www.paulaschoice.com/skin-recovery-replenishing-moisturizer/186.html https://www.dermstore.com/eltamd-uv-clear-tinted-broad-spectrum-spf46/11370312.html?utm_egbu=DS+::+DERM+::+US+::+EN+::+GGL+::+PMAX+::+LP/SF+::+Shopping-Only&utm_egb=&utm_ega=&utm_egc=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpczNpfvK_QIVY_rjBx2WvA5hEAQYAiABEgJuyvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds |
+1 The Ordinary brand |
I use Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Crème. |
Anything with HA makes my skin sting |
SkinMedica's TNS Ceramide Treatment Cream is the ONLY moisturizer that's worked for me. Pricey, but a little goes a long way. |
I tried Dr Rogers and it made me red and irritated! I don’t use trey but have dry sensitive skin. Basically the skin they designed it for. Thankfully they have a nice return/refund deal. |
Over time your skin will adjust to Tretinoin. I use 1% almost every day and have been for years. But the first few months were rough.
That said I swear by Drunk Elephant Marula Oil for moisture. |
I use it every third night to help with the dryness |
If your face is stinging like that your tret strength is too high or you're using it too often. It did this to me the first year because I started on 0.1% and tried to use it everyday and anything with ingredients just made it worse. Literally blistered my skin. Now, I use .05 every night with Cerave moisturizer with the ceramides and hyaluronic acid. |
Vanicream sensitive daily moisturizer is the only thing that doesn’t make my skin burn. I sometimes mix in a little extra oil (squalane now but I’ve used argan too) to make it, well, oilier. |
Vanicream in the tub. |