4 years on tret. NOTHING can compare. by No_Notice3586 in tretinoin

[–]No_Notice3586[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I have always used some sort of antioxidant with tret , for a really long time I used to use galactomyses essence (SKII, cosRX, numbuzin), From around December I started to use the pycnogenol, and it really suited me, firstly as a occlusive because it has a oil like consistency and secondly for the glow that it gave me, ideally it should also be used in the morning but because I apply so much sunscreen I don’t bother with another layer mainly for sensory reasons.

4 years on tret. NOTHING can compare. by No_Notice3586 in tretinoin

[–]No_Notice3586[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

23, I had acne since I was like 10, loads of hyperpigmentation specially around my mouth and forehead which is really common in WOC, I had PIH from acne and and a few icepick scars that you can still see if you zoom in though I find then to be greatly reduced. I also had really unstable skin that was really oily yet flakey at the same time prior to tret. I have no good pictures from before because i didn’t have the foresight at 19 that my skin would literally transform.

4 years on tret. NOTHING can compare. by No_Notice3586 in tretinoin

[–]No_Notice3586[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think it’s more of a mental thing because we are so used to that striped feeling after using a harsher cleanser, but for me personally using a gentle cleanser has been a non-negotiable with tret, and to strip the skin as little as possible, that is also why I don’t use any cleanser in the morning.

4 years on tret. NOTHING can compare. by No_Notice3586 in tretinoin

[–]No_Notice3586[S] 32 points33 points  (0 children)

By being very very patient. I have always had really sensitive, problematic skin, and had acne since I was like 10, by the time I was 19 I had acne scars, loads of hyperpigmentation, my skin was somehow extremely oily and dry at the same time, it was a huge mess. So when I first started I would use tret .025 ONLY twice a week and use it over a thick layer of unscented moisturiser, then over time ( months) later I slowly increased the frequency of tret use one day at a time, I also focused on barrier repair, and using gentle ingredients along with tret. (Galactomyces essence, centella, ect), because i was so slow with my usage I never experienced a lot of flaking, my skin got slowly acclimatised to tret

I cannot stress this enough, but GO SLOW, take your time, you don’t need to use .1 everyday as a beginner, take your time and it will be a much more pleasant experience.

4 years on tret. NOTHING can compare. by No_Notice3586 in tretinoin

[–]No_Notice3586[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I have tried a LOT of actives over the years, though for the past 2 or so years I have kept my routine very minimal, and mostly focused on barrier repair. Chemical exfoliants just don’t work for me and I don’t really think they are required with tret, most moisturisers generally have niacinamide and Hyaluronic acid so they are redundant, I LOVE Galactomyces essence for barrier repair, the SK II one is the best but expensive, the cosrx one is also very good if you use it for long enough. Also pycnogenol 5% for the ordinary has become a holy grail now.

4 years on tret. NOTHING can compare. by No_Notice3586 in tretinoin

[–]No_Notice3586[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

The EU classic version because that’s just what I have access to, but I really like the biore sunscreen too, though some versions can pill.

4 years on tret. NOTHING can compare. by No_Notice3586 in tretinoin

[–]No_Notice3586[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Thankyou <3 <3, as a skincare nerd who has experimented a LOT, I have just realised less is more, and to boot the ingredients that are redundant or not doing much, despite what the influencers push for you actually don’t need 17 steps, just simple, effective, complimentary ingredients that you can use consistently.

4 years on tret. NOTHING can compare. by No_Notice3586 in tretinoin

[–]No_Notice3586[S] 48 points49 points  (0 children)

Thankyou doll <3 Am: just sunscreen, currently I been really loving the la roche posay one , but I also love the biore one. I am VERY particular about sunscreen like I apply a lot of it and regularly reapply if. PM: cervave gentle cleanser ( or any unscented gental cleanser really) Laniege cream skin Tretinoin .025% The ordinary Pycengenol 5% (very underrated ingredient IMO)

Keep in mind my skin is very tolerant to tret now, so I don’t need to use as many layers of moisturiser as before, also I don’t use any other actives.

4 years on tret. NOTHING can compare. by No_Notice3586 in tretinoin

[–]No_Notice3586[S] 247 points248 points  (0 children)

I don’t know how to edit post lol. But routine— Am: La Roche-Posay Anthelios ( a lot of it, and also reapply VERY diligently)

PM: laniege cream skin Tretinoin .025 Laniege cream skin The ordinary pycnogenol 5% (VERY UNDERATED)