Tips for dealing with the flakiness caused by starting using retinol

[CiderwithBuda]

Have just started using Zo SKin Health (made by the guy who started Obagi )products and my face is now a bit tender and peeling. Lovely. Also feels quite tight.

Anyone any tips? Do I keep going? Ease off a bit?

For info I'm using a facial wash twice a day, a daily booster and the daily renewal cream. Using Brightenex but so far only used it on Sunday night. Supposed to be twice a week to start with.

I'm going to New York next week and don't want to go with a peeling flaky sore face.

Anyone eased themselves in successfully?

Bumping as I know there are experts out there!

I used the obagi range so interested to hear more about this - I found the peeling was bad for about a week but a lot of oil and moisturizer helped keep it under control by applying it every hour..

Eucerin?

Start off with it slowly - use every two-nightly, then other nightly, then nightly. As slowly as it takes to stop any reactions! I use my retin-A cream on a clean face then I need to moisturise about 30 mins later, which helps.

I have just slathered myself I moisturiser and it is helping. Will buy a facial oil when I'm out. Wary of using anything with too many active ingredients in case it makes it worse. Might just try aqueous cream.

How did you find the Obagi?

Am off to dentist now so might not get back to thread for a while.

Do not use aqueous cream, that should be used as a soap substitute not as a moisturiser. It can thin the skin which is the last thing you want.

Oilatum Natural Repair Face Cream is the best thing for dry, flaky skin.

Obagi made me bright red and peely for weeks on end!

Squoosh - thanks for that info. I should know that

I bought a tube of Boots Derma cream for very dry skin. I also have 8 hour cream and Sanctuary Facialist oil upstairs somewhere.

I liked Obagi once got past the flaky week - skin looked good but once I stopped, the pigmentation came back..so looking for a new plan!

I didn't think I had pigmentation really - ruddy complexion and some lines. That's why the guy recommended it I think. A friend uses it and likes it. Complexion was def uneven though.

Not sure what to do! I might give it all a go again tonight including the twice weekly only ATM Brightenex and see how it goes. It then has a week to calm down before I go away. Just not sure if it keeps taking layers off!

Foxy has me scared!

Shameless jump on here. Interested in. The retin a stuff. I have good skin for my age with hardly any wrinkles. Is it worth doing this sort of thing yet as a prevention rather than cure thing or do I wait a few years? (Am 31)

Oh and op, just a thought but would you not be better waiting till the winter when you don't have to worry so much about the sun?

I agree, obagi is tough in the summer. After I got through the initial weeks of peeling, I defo saw a real improvement in my skin. I am now however super paranoid about the sun, as it makes your skin hyper sensitive.

Bodicea - I'm doing stage 1 apparently! There is a more hardcore version which the doc's wife did - took 13 weeks and her skin looked fab after. He recommended doing that in winter. I wear factor 30 anyway but bought factor 50 today. You might be right though. I'm going to Australia next month - maybe I will wait. Seeing friends I haven't seen for 13 years and want to look my best!