6 replies to this topic

[clairebear6292]

I'm wondering because the past couple nights this has been my routine:

wash face

wait 20 minutes

apply moisturizer to cheeks, chin and surrounding area (basically everywhere except forhead)

wait 30 minutes

apply retin a to whole face

As a side note I alternate days using .05 and .1 tretinion in order to reduce redness. I had been having a really bad problem with redness but since I've been moisturizing before I hardly have any now.

Can using moisturizer before be making the tretinion less effective therefore making me less red? Is it sill working properly and the same as if I had not used any moisturizer (whether before or after) than if I didn't?

Is there anything I'm doinf wrong? or is this just a miracle?

Also it may be my moisturizer? Its really thick but I always make sure to rub it in really well. Although my skin is always "moist" after waiting the 30 minutes when I apply the retin a. Could this be making a barrier between my skin and the retin a making it not as effective as just plain old washing, waiting 20-30 min and then applying retin a?

Sorry for being redundant and sounding super desperate

Thanks for listening to my dilemma, happy new year!

[clairebear6292]

Bump please? Would really like some advice on this before I wash tonight!!

[Coppedsynergy999]

Technically. It is not being absorbed quite as well as it could be. BUT... if you are less red then maybe it will be good for you to do. If you run into problems maybe you could do lotion before your stronger retin-a on your strong retin-a night....then lotion after retin-a on your weaker retinoid night. As i said before..under my experience (retinoid user for 3 years). Redness is NOT GOOD. The inflammtion causes flareups. SOMe days you might be slightly pink and exfoliated and that looks nice and fresh but redness is not good. Im glad that you are doing better now. It sounds like you are starting to get the hang of itl DOnt give up. you will find what works for you soon and you will feel veeery good..retinoids are wonderful medicatins..IF!!--you know how to use them properly....

[Coppedsynergy999]

Technically. It is not being absorbed quite as well as it could be. BUT... if you are less red then maybe it will be good for you to do. If you run into problems maybe you could do lotion before your stronger retin-a on your strong retin-a night....then lotion after retin-a on your weaker retinoid night. As i said before..under my experience (retinoid user for 3 years). Redness is NOT GOOD. The inflammtion causes flareups. SOMe days you might be slightly pink and exfoliated and that looks nice and fresh but redness is not good. Im glad that you are doing better now. It sounds like you are starting to get the hang of itl DOnt give up. you will find what works for you soon and you will feel veeery good..retinoids are wonderful medicatins..IF!!--you know how to use them properly....Just listen to your skin.
On a side note.......if you ever feel desperate... look into finacea....it is non-drying with moisturizer and it takes the redness out of your face like nothing else i have ever seen in my life. That is why they give it to people suffering from rosacea....It also clears acne like a freakin charm.

[clairebear6292]

Lol I would hope I'd have gotten the hang of it by now! ..been using it for over 2 years

[freeride6772]

I was told by me derm to apply the moisturizer before i put my tretinoin on, and I was told by my pharmacist to apply it after.

I felt like applying the moisturizer before would make it less effective. Its been working great for me


(minus this AWFUL IB i've been having for the past 2 months hahahahah)

[tulp]

retin A gel, wait 20min, then moisturizer. It doesn't really work the other way round. Retin A gel is the best stuff.