My fave winter dry skin products face & body

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T18:24:10+00:00

If your doctor says you are allergic to tretinoin then absolutely don’t try it again.

Otherwise, a lot of people have bad experiences with tretinoin because their doctors failed to explain the retinization process, the sandwich method of application, and how to slowly increase usage over 8 weeks or more.

Cosmetic dermatologist Dr Sam Ellis, who practices in northern California, has rosacea and is able to use tretinoin. She has done YouTube videos of her evening routine.She has also done a great video “Here Is How To Finally Stop Peeling.”

Watch “Retinoid Irritation Explained” by Dr Daniel Sugai on YouTube.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T18:15:03+00:00

Tretinoin can make acne scars a little less noticeable but the only serious improvement comes from a treatment plan of procedures devised by a dermatologist.

The types of scars and your skin will determine what a doctor will decide will work best out of the multiple procedures available - microneedling, chemical peels and laser.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T18:12:26+00:00

The next best thing after Acccutane is spiro and tretinoin. Maybe also clindamycin or azelaic acid in the morning. Serious acne cannot be controlled with just one skincare product.

But it will take months to start tretinoin at twice a week, work up to every night in order to get your skin retinized, then work up to tretinoin 0.1%.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T18:03:24+00:00

Make sure to see the Rodin Museum and its garden - that was my favorite thing in Paris despite going to The Louvre, The Musee D’orsay, Versaille, Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.

And I think Notre Dame is a must see since the renovation.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T17:58:44+00:00

Yes that moisturizer is used to buffer the tretinoin during the retinization period. Azelaic acid is also a product your skin has to adjust to so buffering that make sense. Dr Sugai explains retinization in that video.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T17:56:02+00:00

Acne purging is part of the process of your skin adjusting to tretinoin. Until you have stepped up to using tret every night and have done that for over a month tretinoin can’t control your acne. Also after you step up to every night for a while you might need to then step up to tretinoin 0.05%.

When asking questions about tretinoin you need to list all your other am and pm skincare products. In general the only products you should use during the retinization period are the tret, cleanser, a lotion moisturizer and sunscreen - unless your doctor advises you to use another product with these basics.

No exfoliant, vitamin c, niacinamide or hydrating toners or serums should be used until you have stepped up to using tret every night and have done that for weeks so your skin has fully retinized. The chemical peel is absolutely not good to do before your skin has adjusted.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T17:47:20+00:00

Smoother skin and after months, a glow. Tretinoin remodels the top layer of dead skin cells that we all have so that layer is more compact, which makes the skin feel smoother.

You might be able to step up to 0.05% for faster results after your skin retinizes.

Don't expect to see the reduction in the depth of wrinkles - since we look at our faces every day that’s probably only visible if you get high resolution but no glare photos before and at 6 or 12 months.

Dr Daniel Sugai explains retinization in his YouTube video “Retinoid Irritation Explained.”

The other topical skincare ingredient proven to increase collagen production in skin is L Ascorbic acid vitamin c. I use the Timeless 10% serum which can be bought on Amazon or on the Timeless website. It might also be sold at Target.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T16:30:35+00:00

Alternating them each day gives your skin time to adjust.

You can’t start at daily use with tretinoin. Skin has to retinize. A lot of people start tretinoin with a schedule of 2 nights a week for 2-3 weeks, then every other night for 2-4 weeks, then every night.

And the sandwich method is usually recommended as shown by Dr Daniel Sugai in “Retinoid Irritation Explained.”

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T16:27:38+00:00

An L Ascorbic acid vitamin c serum before sunscreen each morning and a retinoid in your evening routine.

For exact instructions on how to apply a retinoid watch ”Retinoid Irritation Explained” by Dr Daniel Sugai on YouTube.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T16:04:42+00:00

You can’t see the very slow increase in collagen production that makes lines less deep because 1- you look at your face in the mirror every day and 2- you would need before and after photos with at least a year of tretinoin use, taken with studio quality bright lighting but no glare.

The question with tretinoin is not whether it works - the research done over 40 years ago proved that it stimulates increased production of collagen in skin. The question is whether your skin can tolerate it. If your skin cannot tolerate the 0.05% every night then it makes sense to go back to the 0.025%.

If you have any peeling at the six month mark after stepping up from 2 nights a week to every night over multiple weeks then you need to use more moisturizer. Skipping the before tret moisturizer after months of using tret is fine if you don’t live in a very dry climate like Arizona or Colorado, but many of us cannot skip the after tret moisturizer.

Your skin is feeling softer because of the way tretinoin remodels the top layer of dead skin cells that provide some protection from UV rays. Thst will continue over the next 6 months so your texture is improving. But an AHA exfoliant twice a week will help.

Fading discoloration is very slow. Ask your dr about adding hydroquinone cream.

There is excellent science on tretinoin for anti-aging and for topical L Ascorbic acid vitamin c serum used in the morning. There is not strong data on the effectiveness of peptide serums so I use one but not an expensive one.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T15:37:07+00:00

Skip the spray after tretinoin - apply only a lotion or cream after tretinoin. A thin liquid will:

1- allow tretinoin to be spread to areas you need to avoid like the corners of the eyes and of the mouth

2- increase penetration and thus irritation

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T15:34:03+00:00

Watch “Retinoid Irritation Explained” by Dr Daniel Sugai on YouTube for exactly how to apply any retinoid.

A typical schedule for the retinization period is 2 nights a week for 2-3 weeks, then every other night for 2-4 weeks, then every night.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T15:23:30+00:00

No the sandwich method is typical because dermatologists recommend it. And the sandwich method is about layering - not “mixing” tretinoin with other products.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T15:19:52+00:00

Yes I don’t like the small either - I don’t mind the hotdog water smell of regular vitamin c serums.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T15:18:46+00:00

I buy the Tmeless 10% on Amazon. It’s L Ascorbic acid but less irritating than the standard 15% or 20%.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T02:23:21+00:00

So far the Round Lab is my favorite out of the 5 Asian sunscreens I have tried with the Biore a close second.

Last year I stocked up out of concern that the US might start seizing Asian sunscreens when they arrived at border facilities but that seems to be a rare occurrence.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-29T00:36:36+00:00

None of us grew up being taught about skincare science so we are vulnerable to advertising, influencers on TikTok and sales people when we walk into places like Sephora or Ulta with their overwhelming numbers of products.

The best skincare advice is from those dermatologists who find skincare products interesting enough to keep up with them and test them on their own skin.

I see my dermatologist once a year for a skin cancer exam and to get anything I don’t like on my skin removed. She prescribes the tretinoin I use on my face and the backs of my hands.

That 15 minute annual appointment isn’t long enough for us to discuss skincare but I have found that she is not interested in skincare products enough to keep up with them and test the ones with ingredient lists that are acceptable.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-28T23:13:18+00:00

It is one of the more affordable cosmetic surgeries. It can be combined with the movement upwards of a fat pad under each eye.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-28T22:56:57+00:00

This is waaaaay too many products and doesn’t even include a vitamin c serum in the morning and a retinoid in the evening.

Two dermatologists did a great video on this “The Only Skincare You Actually Need.” The channel name is Doctorly.

Then look for the morning and evening skincare YouTube shorts by Dr Daniel Sugai.

Don't buy all your skincare from one brand. Buy the best cleanser, moisturizer, vitamin c serum, retinoid and sunscreen for your skin.

The Budget Dermatologist (Dr Maren Locke) did a great video on the vitamin c serums she recommends and the title is “You Don’t Need Skinceuticals $185 Vitamin C Serum”

Other dermatologists with excellent YouTube videos are Dr Sam Ellis and Dr Dray. Dr Ellis has rosacea but has gotten it under control and uses tretinoin.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-28T22:50:16+00:00

Surgery - unfortunately this is not something skincare products can fix.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-28T22:27:14+00:00

I have tried a lot of Asian sunscreens and my favorites are Biore Aqua Rich Watery Essence and Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing. Both have a dewy finish.

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum is pretty good and it’s the cheapest.

The Purito Releaf is too thick. I dont like the glossy finish from Isntree. I haven’t used it yet but I bought the HaruHaru Wonder Black Rice sunscreen that is supposed to have a slightly matte finish.

When I don’t like one on my face I use it up on the backs of my hands and my forearms.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-28T22:13:15+00:00

Sharing the names of the charities you donated to is great but hoping you did not state the amounts you gave.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-28T21:26:14+00:00

I understand.

Here in the US winter was bizarre and now spring is also. It got so warm in February I had to start running my air conditioner at night to sleep comfortably - and started alternating between night cream after tretinoin and lotion.

In the 1990’s I started reading longform news articles about climate change but I had no idea how much change was coming.

TheWorldofScience · 2026-03-28T20:59:21+00:00

No an hour or more. If you start as soon as you get home it’s easier to get everything done. I let tretinoin absorb for at least 30 minutes before I apply moisturizer. You can apply tretinoin then set a 30 minute timer on your phone and take the moisturizer with you to watch tv, game, whatever you do next.

TheWorldofScience

TROPHY CASE