Retinol

[WhereThereIsGinThereIsHope]

Can someone please explain about retinol? Is it really a miracle cure? I'm 43 and skin is OK but starting to get fine lines. It's quite sensitive/dehydrated.
And is it really so much cheaper in Spain? I know a couple of people who go there regularly....

Place marking

You can buy Retin-A on ebay, generally comes from Thailand for some reason (undoubtedly dodgy! ) It is really one of the only guaranteed to work anti-ageing things there is.

If you read through the old Amazing Faces threads from last year (iirc) there is lots about it.

I paid about £12 for 2 x tubed of the weakest (0.25 I think).

I get tubes from pharmacy Geoff. Start of low strength and build you way up.

If you have sensitive skin I wouldn't touch it.

There's a distinct difference between Retinol and Retin A.

I was going to suggest the OP put a callout for you, or Nabootique or one of the other Gurus! Hope you are well, and your skin is still looking fantabulous!

Bluebell- yes, I presumed the OP meant Retin-A as opposed to Retinol, as seemingly every other cream on the shelves includes retinol (in microscopically tiny doses which wouldn't lift the wrinkles on a gnat!)

I still wouldn't touch either with sensitive skin.

I agree with Floisme, Retin-A and sensitive skin are not a good match esp. if you're going to get it off prescription.

Some of the newer OTC Retinols are easier to tolerate for sensitive skin though and if your only concern is fine lines that and a HA serum + Retinol will slowly address these issues. Pestle & Mortar, Kypris and Verso all do them with a decent % and are gentle and non irritating provided none of the other INCI are known irritants. They're all no surprise £££. The Ordinaries by Deciem recently released one for a few quid (I think £5?) also incorporating a non-irritating newer form of Retinol at a good concentration but since the release is so new there aren't any substantial reviews out on it yet. Hollinhurst84, another user on here, has been using it since launch and is impressed with it though but I don't think she has sensitive skin iirc.

I started off using Retinol (La Roche Posay Redermic R). It took a little getting used to, nothing major. I got a few spots, which is unusual for me. Over time I could see a subtle but real improvement in my skin. I suggest you start here and see how you get on. I wouldn't dive straight in to the stronger stuff.

I have now upped to the prescription strength RetinA. It is available over the counter in Spain for around €12 under the name Retrides. It is not something to use haphazardly. You need to do a bit of research, start with a low strength, follow the instructions and wear SPF. You have to ease yourself into it or you will end up with raw peeling skin.

I don't have much to add to what botemp said (currently using Sunday Riley Luna, so I am definitely on the retinol in oil bandwagon, and will be getting the Ordinaries one next), but I did want to say I would err on the side of caution before going with the Kypris product: skintrovert.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/my-kypris-nightmare-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

I haven't used it personally but the two products I have tried have been unremarkable and after that blog post I won't be trying any more. Sorry, a bit off topic, but thought it was worth mentioning as it is so expensive.

I think l linked that post some time back as well and it did put me off it it for completely understandable reasons but it has recently been recommended by a skincare specialist (in the flash) that I trust implicitly and had been considering it again as it is supposed to be good for sensitive skin. However purely on cost alone I'll be investing in the Ordinaries one next too.

Completely off topic but which other products from Kypris did you try Nabootique?

*flesh not flash

Hi botemp
I'm v v porcelain so flush easily and prone to acne. The ordinary brand one is working well, I do get a tingle and a slight flush with it
Have now ordered that one you said was similar to another... B5 gel? And the niacimide

Oh! I hadn't seen that you posted it. I'd just started following the chap who wrote it. It could have been a blip in a batch or something, but the customer service did rather put me off. Are you tempted by that Pestle and Mortar one? I think it's less expensive as well. I looked out for their new products in Liberty the other week but they only had the HA serum. I'm going to give the Ordinaries one a try, and if I don't like it (although I have a feeling I will!), I think I'll give the Pestle and Mortar one a go.

I have the Anti-oxidant Day Dew and the Prismatic Array Beauty Elixir III (I think they're called something like that). The Day Dew isn't awful. It's just nothing special. Fairly hydrating but found it to be quite short lived, and a bit tacky on the skin, which I don't like in a morning product if I'm going to put makeup over the top. The oil didn't do anything more for me than a standard rosehip oil or something to be honest. It's the one without essential oils, which although I love essential oils, I really could NOT get past the smell of the Beauty Elixir II. For that price you do want them to do something, don't you?

Hi hollinhurst! Ah yes the Skinceuticals dupe and the niacinamide... I'm still pouting since it's still not available for delivery here . Even worse they keep adding more new products including a 1% retinol which might be a better choice for sensitive skin to start with than the 2%. I've stopped looking now as the not available button just depresses me.

That's my strategy too Nabootique, try the Ordinaries one and P&M if that doesn't work for me but I suspect I'll like the Ordinaries one. I was interested in the Kypris antioxidant day dew and the moonlight catalyst but the whole customer service aspect had me holding back (though I tend to think N. Americans have rather high standards in that department) and the whole thing became a bit of a he said she said argument that blew out of proportion with outside voices in that blog post which unfortunately isn't all that uncommon with social media these days. I think I'll be giving them a pass once more, I already knew the elixers weren't all they were cracked up to be, eBay is full of them marked as only used a few times which I tend to use as my litmus for how effective a hyped product is these days.

I know! I saw the new products and got a bit overwhelmed and didn't know what to buy

I've got sensitive skin and I've found the "plain" Retin A gel from pharmacy Geoff is much less irritating than creams with retinol in them. I assume it's because there's no perfumes or greasy stuff in it.

This is not a recommendation by any means, just a personal observation.

In case anyone considering the Ordinaries hasn't seen it, they have a guide on the consistencies of each product, when to apply, suggested routines for different issues and some "coming soon" product details: ordinaries.com/regimenguide

Hi then later( waves)
I have been a bit lax with the old routine. Because of summer hols in vert hot places I completely stopped all acids and retin before I went.

This thread has helped me remember to start up again.

Actually I have been experimenting with moisturisers. I never use anything water based now, it doesn't cut the mustard and I find the chemicals in any commercial products really irritate me skin. I have bought myself a ginormous pot of lanolin,. The stuff is a bloody miracle;it keeps my skin really moisturised. It apparently draws water to it as well as keeping moisture in. I have certainly noticed a increase in skin softness and reduction in wrinkles. Best of all, no nasties!

AS far as routines go I have realised that less is more. I got into all the AB stuff for a while, but it was such a faff.

My routine, when up and running is : Am cleanse, wait 20 mins, vit c, wait 20 mins, sunscreen ( the MOST IMPORTANT thing to have in a daytime routine, forget everything else. If you don' use this there's no point).
Lanolin

Pm: very variable, Always double cleanse, often with the same cleanser, acid of some sort then before bed retin A and lanolin round the eyes and on the lips.

My skin is tough. I am on the strongest retin and using it with an acid is fine for me. Having said that I am not religious about applying it everyday. It probably works out to 4 times a week. Sometimes I am too tired and don't even wash my face!

My current obsession working on my thinning hair with massage and essential oils.......

remember also that you can dilute retin A whilst getting used to it.

Thanks all. I like to keep things simple, so I'll probably not try retin-a or retinol just yet, as it doesn't sound the best for my skin type.

(Sorry to threadjack, OP, but everyone here seems knowledgeable!)

Can anyone recommend where I should go next from Skinceuticals 1% retinol?

Been using on and off for ages, have one on the go right now and love it. Wouldn't mind levelling up to something stronger. (Need to buy online as in Australia.) Any suggestions much appreciated!

I'd try the 2% Advanced Retinoid from the Ordinaries, Koala, though you might be out of luck like me in that they don't deliver to your area quite yet but I'm assuming they will in a few weeks or so.

I think only Paula's Choice and Skinceuticals do a 1% but I would note that those strengths are a bit creative maths on the part of cosmetic companies as legally you wouldn't be able to buy Retinoic A(cid) over a percentage of 0.5 without a prescription. Retinol breaks down into Retinoic Acid upon contact with the skin and in that conversion loses some potency and delivers a lower % than straight Retin-A. So 1% Retinol might be something like 0.2 or 0.3% Retinoic Acid (or even less) and is not a direct equivalent of 1% Retin-A and unsurprisingly cosmetic companies give little insight into what percentage it actually breaks down to. The true next step up would really be 0.5% prescription Retin-A.

Thank you so much, botemp, that is very helpful.

I got retin A prescribed by go.
I have sensitive skin and it didn't suit my skin.