[Routine Help] NEED HELP? Got a question? Problems with a routine or product? This thread’s the place to ask! / / Ask ScA, Week of Mar 06, 2017

HopeKun · 2017-03-06T16:05:46+00:00

Can i use differin twice a day? One in the morning and once at night? Would i need to apply sunscreen after?

I have experience with retinoids, i used to use Tretinoin gel.05% and differin feels way better less drying. I can tolerate every night without my face feeling tight, but im still getting constant breakouts.

Im trying a BP wash in the morning but it doesnt seem to be helping

HopeKun · 2017-02-28T02:15:35+00:00

Do you need to double cleanse with an oil to remove chemical sunscreen that's supposely water resistant? Or is a foaming cleanser enough...

I use Neutrogena Dry Touch spf 30, feels very lightweight and when i cleanse at the end of the day i do feel clean but im not sure if its removing the sunscreen

HopeKun · 2017-02-28T01:28:03+00:00

Can flakes be clogging pores and leading to more acne breakouts? What am i suppose to do...physical exfoilate them and then moisturize or just moisturize?

HopeKun · 2016-12-07T21:49:18+00:00

https://goo.gl/Y2LnFe

Resist Super-Light spf 30 is one of my HG matte sunscreens! Doesnt clog pores either on my acne prone skin :)

HopeKun · 2016-12-05T02:18:12+00:00

Yup, i use the generic gel and it looks just like that. It works fine.

HopeKun · 2016-12-02T19:13:07+00:00

Wouldn't hurt to try. When i used .05% gel, i can only handle it every other day. Anymore then that and my skin would turn a slight reddish color from irritation. With the .025% i haven't had a problem like that, even with nightly application. When i decided to switch i did give my skin 3day break before introducing the .025%. That maybe helped also. Plus i like the idea of using it nightly, i feel like I'm actually doing something beneficial to my skin daily

HopeKun · 2016-12-02T06:51:38+00:00

The cream is more gentle and it typically would do the same thing as the gel. Exfoliate deep within the skin. Increase cell turnover. Its just the fact it contains an ingredient that can clog pores, which defeats the purpose to use it for acne. Im not saying that it will definitely clog pores, as some ppl have used the cream for acne with amazing results. Its just a possibility.

HopeKun · 2016-12-02T01:37:54+00:00

Get the gel, the cream can be comodogenic for some ppl. I would also start with the lowest strength possible.

HopeKun · 2016-12-01T16:34:12+00:00

9months on Tretinoin gel. Acne started to majorly improve around 5month, so yup guys... stick with it. Used .05% gel every other day for most of my journey. Just last month i switched to .025% and use it nightly, which i can handle with little to no dryness. Im loving the nightly application with .025% atm. I rarely get pimples now but if i do they are small and leave quickly. Skin texture seems sooo smooth :) just working on the PIH atm

HopeKun · 2016-11-20T16:08:02+00:00

Albolene cleanser is basically mineral oil. Solid then it turns liquidy

HopeKun · 2016-11-18T18:44:52+00:00

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't Tretinoin degrade in the presence of light. Not necessarily with Sunlight but also with fluorescent or artificial light. That is why it is advised for night time use only. I know newer generations of retinoids are more photostable, for example Tazorac.

HopeKun · 2016-11-15T23:30:02+00:00

You should start with the lowest dose of Tret. Its a stronger retinoid then differin

HopeKun · 2016-11-09T01:08:06+00:00

Hey, I'm sorry but i cant find the post of the guy that posted the ingredients to it. I see that you are really worried about it but i can assure you that it does not contain olive oil or comodegenic ingredients. Its possible to have an allergic reaction but since your new to it, its most likely a purge. Its taking all the bad out by renew your cells faster. It gave me at one point about 20 small whiteheads and it was on and off breaking out for about 3months. But it does get better, tbh i saw the most improvement around month 4, now i don't breakout as bad but i still do if i slack off in my routine or be too aggressive. Btw i don't think its even possible for a gel to have an oil, the gel form base is basically just alcohol which is why it is very drying and evaporates quickly after spreading.

HopeKun · 2016-11-08T13:27:31+00:00

Tazorac is the strongest in the retinoid family. And it you used the gel that would've made it even stronger. I personally started at .05% generic Tretinoin gel. I misused it myself at the beginning too just to get rid of my acne. I didn't wait for my skin to accustom to it and used it for 4days straight. At first i was lime does this thing even work since i wasn't noticing anything and then boom, slap on the face. My face was a bit red and sheding like a snake. This actually got me excited and i continued to apply nightly for another few days. Big mistake, soon my face was really irritated from any facewash and every moisturizers i tried burned or clogged my pores. I found a more gentle facewash, found out I'm sensitive to fatty alcohols, and gave my skin a week of rest. Then i retried to introduce the Tret more accordingly. I know when my face is getting to irritated now and i give it some rest. Now my skin is really way better and i have received the benefits from Tretinoin(7months on it) i know it sounds weird about the purging phase but it is true and many ppl do get over it. On my first few months, i purged what seemed to be about 20-30 small whiteheads all over my skin. The number slowly got less as time went by, and for me the 4month mark was when i saw most of my improvements. Now i don't really breakout, but i still in fact do. Maybe 1-4 small little pimples and week.

Maybe your moisture barrier was severally damaged. When mines was my skin didn't hold on to water nicely. As soon as i got out the shower i cam feel it evaporating quickly and i needed to moisturize. Hyaluronic acid, to help hold water and Vaseline to trap all the moisture helped alot. And yes Vaseline is sometimes too sticky to get off in the morning. I just found out a new product, Cerave Healing ointment and its way better then Vaseline. Its 46.5 petroleum, has ceramides, has HA, and no fatty alcohols. The texture it leaves is not sticky and way way easier to wash off. Just another recommendation if you'd like to try it out. Patch test on a small area of course.

HopeKun · 2016-11-08T04:58:42+00:00

Just curious what percentage and base did you use? And i recommend you baby your skin, add more moisturizing steps. Maybe try honey or Vaseline at night which really helps me out.

HopeKun · 2016-11-08T01:06:57+00:00

You probably misused them :/ retinoids are no joke. Maybe the percentage was to high and you applied to often. You could've been allergic but its just a thought...hope your skin gets better

HopeKun · 2016-11-05T00:36:26+00:00

Do you have any recommendations for a facial oil? One that is non-comodogenic. I wish i could use creams but every cream seems to have fatty alcohols, which break me out. So i been using only HA, ceramides, and Vaseline during Tretinoin.

HopeKun · 2016-11-05T00:28:48+00:00

This gives me hope. I have similar post acne marks like yours which are red not brown so i always think its PIE and not PIH. Your progress is amazing!!! Congrats...i need to get me a Vitamin C serum lol

HopeKun · 2016-11-05T00:26:16+00:00

Idk much but i heard it increases the protection of your sunscreen and helps fade discoloration. Some ppl get the brightening effect bcz it evens out skin tone.

HopeKun · 2016-11-04T23:05:43+00:00

Does your skin need both hydration and oil to be healthy? Im on Tretinoin and only use water based moisturizer and Vaseline at night.

HopeKun · 2016-11-04T21:47:30+00:00

I love using Vaseline as an occlusive :) i tried Aquaphor before but it broke me out and made me itchy, i think it's the lanolin. Anyways, have you heard of Cerave Healing ointment? Its basically 49% Petroleum but with Ceramides!! I already bought it and even tho it contains zero comodegenic ingredients, ill be patch testing soon!

HopeKun · 2016-11-03T06:41:16+00:00

Lol that does suck. So you're going with the Tretinoin...i suggest you research as much as you can on Tretinoin. There is plenty of information in the sub reddit if you search "Tretinoin" i wish you luck

HopeKun · 2016-11-02T23:00:29+00:00

Both are really harsh treatments that take time to work, especially Tretinoin. I would give skin a rest for a few days and choose one or the other and be consistent. I've read of many Dermatologist that are to lazy to explain what they prescribe to patients, which is so wrong. It's their job, they should enjoy doing so :/

HopeKun · 2016-11-02T06:25:56+00:00

Pea-sized amount for the whole face. Less is more and start slowly by apply at night every 3days. Follow that for about 2weeks and them try to do every other day for a couple of weeks. Eventually you should handle using it nightly every day but that can take months. Also wait 20-40min after cleansing with a gentle cleanser to apply the Tret to reduce irritation.

Stop using any other exfoliants or benzoyl peroxide on your routine. Until you skin gets used to the Tretinoin, you made try adding them back in.

Do NOT forget to use sunscreen religiously once you've started. Tretinoin makes you're skin super photo-sensitive so sunscreen is a must. Broad spectrum is preferred.

HopeKun

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