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Can someone explain how to buy retinol from Spain?

9 replies

Piccalillisnooze · 25/10/2018 09:16

Just that really, or if there’s a uk product I should try first. Would love to get going through the winter when there’s less sun! Have breakouts and pores and fine lines and want it to treat them all!

Can you use them in tandem with the led face light thing?

OP posts:
spanishwife · 25/10/2018 09:22

Im confused - what's the difference between buying one in Spain/in the UK? Shops stock the same brands...

I usually buy my skincare online (just because i always did in the UK too) as a lot of the best brands are hard to find in shops.

I would recommend The Ordinary to start, they stock on their own site as well as ASOS.

beanaseireann · 25/10/2018 09:43

It's not on prescription in Spain.
It's called Retirides

dontalltalkatonce · 25/10/2018 09:45

Ebay! I used to buy Differin on there, too.

Piccalillisnooze · 25/10/2018 09:47

I thought actual retinol was available over the counter in Spain but only on dermatologist prescription in Uk but happy to be corrected?

OP posts:
ilovecherries · 25/10/2018 10:41

Into a pharmacy. Ask for retirides. They sometimes have to order it in, so don't leave till your last day. I buy three tubes every year, and that easily lasts me a year. I've heard of some pharmacies only being willing to sell one tube, so you may need to go to a couple - I've never had a problem though, and I've bought in Mallorca, Gran Canaria and on the mainland. Start with lowest .025% - I've never gone higher, and it works fine without irritation. I have actually been prescribed it in UK, but it's really expensive by the time you pay the private dermotology consultation, then the private prescription, whereas in Spain - about 15 eu a tube.

BadderWerewolf · 25/10/2018 10:43

Can you use them in tandem with the led face light thing?

You use retin-A (branded as retirides, retino, differin etc) only at night. It must be washed off AM (will be mostly absorbed but leaves a bit of residue in upper layer of skin) and when skin is perfectly clean then you can use red light therapy (with vitamin c or copper peptide serum pre-applied and allowed to sink in if you like). For all the time you are exposed to daylight including winter UK daylight and ideally in-house daylight too, you should wear sunscreen with high level UVA protection.

The most effective form of vitamin A for skin rejuvenation is retinoic acid (the active ingredient in retin-A) and it is these products that as only available on script in UK (but OTC in Spain, India, Canada, Thailand etc).

Retinol, retinyl-acetate active ingredients are related but less strong forms of the same active ingredient (which is why they are not script products in UK) BUT many people get very good results with them anyway and prefer the "weaker" variant because it's less irritating too.

Of the retin-A products available, gel is the most irritating and microencapsulated cream (=slow release) is the least irritating format. Always start at 0.025% strength before progressing, use once every 3 nights only on dry clean skin etc before working up. For anti-aging purposes there is almost no difference in performance of 0.05% to 0.1% strengths.

I've been on retin-A for many years and stick to 0.05% a couple of times per week max.

jmfan · 25/10/2018 12:28

I am still so confused by this. What is the most effective retin a product you can buy in the uk which is not on prescription? I know ordinary do something but thought that was retinoid so not the same? Thanks in advance!

TacoFlavouredKisses · 25/10/2018 13:11

Google image search "Retirides 0.025", find photo of tube, take into a farmacia, show them the picture of the tube and they'll either go get it from the back or they won't have it in stock. If the latter, try another farmacia.

I bought 0.05% at the start of this month for around €15.

lindyloo57 · 25/10/2018 18:49

i got mine in menorca Retirides 0.05%, you can buy some retinoids from the ordinary, but dont think its as strong, go on the web site and take a look.

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