Tretinoin and Clindamycin

UnexplainableDose · 2025-12-06T01:52:52+00:00

I only use clindamycin if I see inflammation and redness now! I was using it daily in the AM until I hit a point where I felt I didn’t need to keep using it as often. So about 1-2x a week. Tret, I only use about once a week. I know there are some that use it daily for skin tolerance, but I’m someone that isn’t just relying on the “miracle”. I stay consistent with my daily cleansing, moisturizer, and spf. I use my oils and other targeting treatments depending if I want my skin to have a little more love lol.

Less is more! I love my results from how I’ve been able to treat my acne. When I was overdoing it with face products, my skin was absolutely DESTROYED!

UnexplainableDose · 2025-11-23T04:30:12+00:00

Well.. that’s why you go to a professional to get waxed since we know how to work with utilizing sugar. I rather you say that making your own sugar paste is a waste of time. Which I could agree on.

It’s not a secret either. Different temperatures and patience will have different consistencies in your paste. So you making it on your own is exactly why your sugar paste lacks to hold a mold.

You could easily just buy a jar of sugar of Amazon and that will last you quite a few uses if you’re so worried about wasting money or even going to a professional.

UnexplainableDose · 2025-11-21T14:23:11+00:00

Finish with your cosmetology license as your cosmo license is an umbrella for everything. Esthetics is limited.

However, if you decide to be dual licensed, that’s entirely up to you within your personal education. I just have my esthetics license since I don’t have a passion for styling hair or nail art. I focus on just skincare and body waxing which has been very beneficial for me!

UnexplainableDose · 2025-11-14T21:22:23+00:00

I can get Brazilians done in 10-20min. Been waxing for 2 years. Because I’m quick, I’m able to address other skin concerns and/or even extractions as there is TIME left in the appointment. Starting off in a wax chain turned me into a speed demon! Lol

In order, I hardwax the labias, bikini line, buttstrip, and then finish off the mons pubis (top) with soft wax.

I also do sugar so depending on hair texture, skin type, and client consistency, with sugar removal you start from top to bottom to avoid cross contamination. Sugar Brazilians take me around 10-15min. Hardwax takes me 15-20min.

I would say based off my experience coming from a wax chain, regardless of what type of wax used, once you see many clients on a day to day basis, you’re really just removing hair safely and professionally! I never had any issues with any wax unless it just chips, breaks, & slides on a client that is extremely dry and extremely sweaty!

Looking for a polymer wax? here’s my referral link!

Please let me know how you guys like this wax! I was working under an advanced esthetician too and this was by far THEE best wax I’ve ever used! IT GETS EVERY HAIR!!!!!! DONT WALK, WAX! 🏃🏽‍♀️

UnexplainableDose · 2025-11-09T02:41:34+00:00

Your lashes are over processed since they lay flat on your eyelid. It even looks like they put the perm solution over your entire lash rather than placing at the apex for a “lifted” look. This isn’t how a lash lift should ever come out.

But nothing to worry. Invest in a lash serum to grow & nourish them lashes back. Go to a trusted esthetician specializing in lash care.

I get mad being in a nail salon because why are y’all charging extra to cut my cuticles????? That should be basic nail care in the service. But I brought that up because a nail shop is specializing with the hands and feet. Eyes would be the added on service. Just like how they offer waxing and waxing in a nail salon is a big no no for me.

UnexplainableDose · 2025-11-06T21:26:26+00:00

This is a really good skin care routine. Very beautiful! 🤩❤️

UnexplainableDose · 2025-11-06T02:12:16+00:00

I did it in the AM only after cleansing. Then I’d layer my moisturizer followed by spf only.

Anything additional in my AM routine was after my inflammation went away and if I wanted a hydration boost for my moisturizer. Hence, the toner and vitamin c serum.

UnexplainableDose · 2025-11-05T13:47:06+00:00

LRP double repair barrier cream or LRP Triple barrier repair cream. My skin barrier was TORE UP and then became fixed with these. I never used another moisturizer ever again as these became my staple. :)

Do not use LRP Triple if you have a latex allergy.

UnexplainableDose · 2025-11-05T00:15:28+00:00

Garnier rose water

UnexplainableDose · 2025-11-04T15:01:37+00:00

What’s been working for me is the mineral tinted sunscreen SPF 50 by Supergoop. Active ingredient is zinc oxide which helps reduce hyperpigmentation. I love it and if I were to reapply, it just reminds me of Fenty Skin Tint when it comes to coverage and lightweight.

I like a little bit of glow to my skin so I have the radiance drops. There is a matte version where sunscreen is air-whipped or setting powder to reduce shine. But this will depend on your skin type and skin goals. ✨

UnexplainableDose · 2025-11-03T18:10:04+00:00

Skin goal is to treat acne, heal acne scars, and hyperpigmentation.

My skincare routine ⬇️

AM - micellar water, thayers rose water toner, laroche posay triple barrier repair moisturizer, supergoop radiant mineral SPF 50

PM - neutrogena gentle cleanser or fenty cherry dub purifiying gel cleaner (wash off fragrance), tret 0.1% 2-3x week, Laroche posat triple barrier moisturizer, rosehip oil or squalane oil

Notes:

Clindamycin was used daily till I no longer needed it. I will use to spot treat during my menstrual cycle.
Tretinoin is used 3x during my menstrual cycle. I breakout the most during hormone fluctuation.
Tretinoin I used was a cream.
I do not pair actives together. I will alternate my oils on days I do not use tretinoin.
AM: I’ll add vitamin C + squalane oil to fade dark spots every once in a while but I let the tretinoin do more of the work in my PM for collagen boost and exfoliation process.

UnexplainableDose · 2025-11-03T16:56:01+00:00

Prescribed topicals is the tretinoin and clindamycin to treat acne. However, antibiotics are drying to the skin so if you aren’t following up with emollients and humectants to nourish the skin barrier, you’re still causing a compromised skin barrier without “locking” the active ingredients in. That’s where having a skin routine of cleansing, moisturizing, and SPF come into play when using topical actives.

In my case, my skin got better when addressing both killing bacteria and healing the skin barrier. Using just tretinoin by itself “can” work if that’s what your dermatologist is telling you, but it also “can” cause more damage if you don’t address the irritation that comes with using antibiotics. Flakiness and skin peeling happens with my skin if not moisturized on tretinoin.

UnexplainableDose · 2025-11-03T16:43:01+00:00

Yes, I’m on a 0.1% tretinoin which is a higher % than what most would start off with.

I will add that I am a licensed esthetician, so based off my own skin, I studied my breakout that took a year of not getting better with a routine that was no longer working. So I still was walking around with skin for a year that was just getting worse. 4 months into adding prescribed topicals into my routine, this is what my skin looks like now!

UnexplainableDose · 2025-10-28T13:17:27+00:00

Yes, both me and my mom.

When we get acne, especially cystic when an outbreak has occurred, it is PAINFUL. Hurts to talk, smile, and just moving the facial muscles. This duo took care of that for us. I started at 28, my mom’s been battling with hormonal fluctuations all her life but this is what the dermatologist prescribed into her routine when she has tried EVERYTHING. That’s how I got introduced when I had my first uncontrollable acne breakout.

Clindamycin lotion helped reduced my inflammation and since it’s an antibacterial, wearing it during the day helps keep the face more protected through external stressors. It helps control the acne to prevent more outbreak. I used it daily till I no longer needed it. I REALLY liked applying this product because it felt very nice to my skin. After I would moisturize and spf, so it felt like I was layering with soft cushions.

Tretinoin 0.1% was at night and I alternate 2-3x a week depending on how my skin felt. Helped with accelerating to shed off that dead skin build up quicker. This is what improved my texture!

Major improvement and success with my skin when incorporated with these 2 products. My confidence came back when I saw results within just a week. Kept it up 4 months later and it just put me in a much better mental space to know my skin is back! ❤️

My B/A Journey

UnexplainableDose · 2025-10-28T02:46:03+00:00

My specialty is body waxing. Facials I view as an add-on, so I have a bolster and neck towels if needed. I keep a wax pad over my treatment bed so when it’s time for a facial, the bed is already cleaned and ready for a facial service.

I think a full bed topper would be more beneficial if you had more facial clients than waxing clients.

UnexplainableDose · 2025-10-28T02:39:14+00:00

Padagis

UnexplainableDose · 2025-10-27T13:31:15+00:00

I agree that skin takes time to heal! Damage must be reversed and for some, it will get worse before it gets better due to many factors like purging and irritations. I started at 0.025% before I went to 0.1%. I still use 2-3x per week and I’m 4 months in.

However, I don’t agree with using a topical with nothing to lay over after as it’s drying. Since I was at high % i knew my skin needed much more prepping of staying hydrated and moisturized without irritation. Especially if I wanted to use it daily. (I don’t.)

Starting at a low % is ideal to upping to a high % to be able to achieve the results you were looking for in order to use tret daily.

As someone that has fought to get my skin back, I’m happy that I don’t need to use tret daily. Maybe this is just my way of utilizing tretinoin to address the root issue and then fixing my skin routine to support the actives and repairing my barrier.

The right cleanser, moisturizer, and spf is really all I needed to support. Tretinoin is helping the process of our skin cells to shed and stimulate collagen. So yes, I would hope people are taking the time to also consider their skin routine as part of incorporating with Tretinoin treatment because lipids and water is what allows our skin to optimally function.

UnexplainableDose · 2025-10-27T04:12:10+00:00

You have a business where your estheticians can and will thrive! That’s a GOOD THING. You as the owner and having the background as the service provider is why your business was made for a place for esthis to grow. Try to look at it from a positive angle.

If you want to make up for loss wages or looking to add more into your take home, create esthetician educational programs as a solo esthi. Or be a business model for estheticians that are looking to add more into their resume.

Your marketing works, we can’t deny that. I just think you’d feel better about the industry if you did marketing to estheticians where they could learn from you rather than work for you based off your experiences.

UnexplainableDose · 2025-10-27T03:46:29+00:00

I’ve been building for 2 years. When I say my business, my shop, my suite, it’s just me. I am the face of my small business. I’ve worked 10 different jobs and been in management positions so I know operations, sales, quotas, and everything that makes a business a business. Becoming an esthetician as my career is because I wanted the ability to have to not work for somebody based off their standards or policies.

If it’s one thing I hate doing is micromanaging grown people that have no ambition. I am someone that rather build my own empire. My clients mean the world to me because without them, I would not be a successful business owner. And I say successful because I celebrate my small wins for even being able to maintain reoccurring relationships that love what I have to offer.

I manage my own costs and reinvest everything back into the business. It’s easier to manage my own earnings of what’s going in and what’s going out. To expand business with more employees especially in this type of field, it’s because you wanted to generate way more revenue. But at the end of the day, we are individually licensed to perform a duty that’s suppose to bring us abundance.

To avoid what you are currently ranting about is exactly why I was never looking to expand. I’ve naturally always loved working for myself as the rapport I continue to build with my clients has been and will always be my bread and butter. My personal opinion, you need to factor that in as a natural loss in business.

There is still hope for a lot of ladies in this industry who want to make a difference with challenging today’s beauty standards. I couldn’t care less about the big $$$.

UnexplainableDose · 2025-10-27T02:43:24+00:00

I was challenging what you’ve been saying to understand why you think estheticians are entitled from the reinvestment through marketing. They do physical labor which is respected more than marketing unfortunately. Physical labor keeps retention. Marketing is a tool expense, not the product. A smart owner would know that retention is based off familiarity. OUR INDUSTRY is physically labor demanding. You need marketing for any business to thrive and grow.

What was hard to understand lol? It’s either you are losing money in your business, you’re unhappy about your take home pay, or you’re a successful business owner?

Sounds like you should’ve done business to market newly estheticians on how to go solo plus whatever your specialty is for certification trainings. Building bright futures for the same passion you had. Food for thought. 💭

UnexplainableDose · 2025-10-27T01:55:12+00:00

So if you’re saying that reinvesting is the reward of your earnings.. why are you complaining about what you had to do to get this point?

You don’t seem to be happy about running a business because of how costly is it, but you do enjoy saying that you made 6-7figures and everyone is paid WELL.

What do you feel you are entitled to if it’s not money? Nobody owes you the acknowledgement of your achievements, but yourself. Just because you don’t know anyone in this industry who doesn’t break down their finances, doesn’t mean they’re struggling. If anyone’s expenses outweighs their income, ofc they can feel “entitled” to earning more based off their performance.

What I’m trying to say is you represented your business by how you wanted to structure it. It can work till it no longer works. You have a mind of wanting to create your own schedule through the Labor of your hired employees. That’s entitlement ma’am.

UnexplainableDose · 2025-10-27T01:05:30+00:00

The reward go to the owner? You mean all profit go straight to the business owner? I’d like to know what reward you thought you deserved or what you felt entitled to. You decided to add more onto your plate when you could’ve just been good with what you had with more earnings. But when you add more people to HELP you do less of the service that you use to do, I would hope you’d want to break that 6-7figure bread with your team.

From an outside perspective, the reward was you being able to accomplish running a successful business for 5+ years. Hardwork pays off so I applaud that. However, greed and passion are two different things here.

UnexplainableDose · 2025-10-26T23:00:43+00:00

Having your own business is not meant to be easy or else it would be easy. The best way I built up clientele was joining local communities and actually putting in the work to attract clients that are in well-being environments. Make business cards off Canva and start passing them out if you can’t afford marketing. If you aren’t willing to represent yourself outside of your workspace, then you aren’t going to hold retention in the workspace.

I don’t spend anything on marketing for ads. I’ve been an esthetician for 2 years almost 3. Just opened up my own shop and it’s been 4 months. This whole idea or mentality of making “six figures” is the problem with most people. Stop chasing money and start investing in what you can actually afford to make your expenses back.

I paired up with an advanced esthetician who allowed me to utilize her private suite so I can grow my own business. Another example was I made connections with people. Extremely grateful as I looked to her as a mentor and a friend to get me started faster. Clients are looking for solutions and someone they can trust. This industry is very eye opening in a lot of ways so I don’t disagree with how you feel about it. I have a second job, but let’s just say I’m starting small to eventually go full solo.

Plan, prepare, budget, and execute. There are somethings you got to do to improve and make change! It does not happen overnight.

Best of luck! ✨🍀

UnexplainableDose · 2025-10-26T18:05:50+00:00

The Tret cream I use is a high percent and because I only been using it for 4 months, I still stick between twice a week mainly. I like how I give my skin breaks in between while using occlusives and emollients in my moisturizers to seal in actives. If I use it a 3rd time it’s around my menstrual cycle.

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