Vanicream in the tub.

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.

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.

I use it every third night to help with the dryness

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok, please HELP!

What is a moisturizer that can help the dryness and redness from using tretinoin, but not contribute to breakouts and clog pores? Which is once of the reasons I’m in tretinoin in the first place, plus anti aging. Everything seems to make my face sting and more red

Are you sandwiching the tretinoin between moisturizer? Have you started slowly getting used to it (eg, 1x/week, 2x/week, etc.)?l whether you’re new to it or just going up a %?

I am not new to tret, I use 0.05 nightly and have for about 2 years. BUT my favorite moisturizers, the Avene tolerance light emulsion and heavier cream have been discontinued. I was using tret with this sometimes buffering with one, sometimes not, depending on the season and my skin. All seemed well. But not that I’ve been searching for a new moisturizer, I can’t seem to find one and got a big deep pimple in the process!

Some strike outs:

Neutrogenia hydra boost gel- too much silicon feel and not moisturizing enough
Cerave/cetaphil- makes my skin patchy red and sting
Vanicream face- stings and redness
La roche posay double wear- not moisturizing enough and pills
Squalane oil pure- redness and stinging
Jojoba oil- I like a lot and don’t react, but isn’t enough moisture alone
The *new avene tolerance control line- horrible burning and redness
Avene cicalfate emulsion- I like but need a little more moisture in winter

OP again. Trying Dr Rogers restore line next, possibly Sanita skincare vitamin c moisturizer or their sensitive skin one if Dr rogers doesn’t go well. Anyone use these?

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.

SkinMedica's TNS Ceramide Treatment Cream is the ONLY moisturizer that's worked for me. Pricey, but a little goes a long way.

Anything with HA makes my skin sting

I use Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Crème.

Anonymous wrote:Squalene oil.

+1 The Ordinary brand

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

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 use First Aid moisturizer and slug with Aquaphor. I use the highest concentration of tret.

Drunk Elephant Protini

Get a serum with HA. That will help build up your skins moisture.

Then cerave cream on top.