Retinol/acid toning/Vit C people - do you stop in the summer?

[HepburnKNotA]

I use very very mild retinoil/oid product (Indeed Labs one which is FAB) most evenings and a glycolic serum every morning beneath moisturiser. I then apply spf 50 every single day.

I am SO FAIR SKINNED it's ridiculous, eg on my chest, where I forget to put suncream until 'proper' summer, I go a light pink after about 15-20 mins sun exposure at about 10/30am on an average May morning.

So spf 50 on grey autumn/winter days, given that i'm using retinol/glycolic, seems about right to me protection-wise.

But in the summer, what can I do to prevent pigmentation?! I can't go any higher with spf. I'm not outside much on an average day but I do walk about an hour-ish here and there. I stay in the shade where possible (on a walk, this is, I'm not talking about sunbathing etc) and if I were going to be out for a longer day eg with DD I would wear a hat.

But should I just stop the retinol and acid, for the sunnier months. May-ish to Sept-ish? If I'm protecting with spf 50 on a winter's day (which may be overkill but I know how fast I react to UV) then how can I possibly protect adequately on a sunny one?

Better to just ditch the (fab) retinol etc and stick with my spf 50 without worrying about thinner skin?

I'm loathe to do it as the retinol and glycolic has been a total game-changer for me!

But I don't want to risk pigmentation, I'm already freckly and don't want to be more so.

What do you do?

I've been using retinol and am fair. Why can't I use in the summer? Sorry- totally clueless!

I think I will.

I had really bad eczema last year, as soon as the sunny days started and it needed steroids to clear.

I might continue with the acid toner, but no retinoids. I never use the toner in the morning though, I alternate with the retinoid in the evening.

Place marking

Ive tended to avoid any products which increase the risks of sun damage in high summer.

drifting - as I understood it (and there are far, FAR more knowledgable people about this stuff than me on here...) products like retinol and the acids slightly thin your skin - this is A Good Thing rather than a bad thing, apparently. All I know is, my skin is brighter, fresher, fewer spots and about 5ish years younger looking since I started using this combination, so whatever it does, I want it to keep doing it!

But it means your skin is more sensitive to UV, as far as I can work out, hence the advice to use SPF when you're using these products.

thanks hellywelly, I'm thinking this is what makes most sense to me too. I'll just have to give it a shot and hope I don't age a thousand years overnight like something from a horror movie...

Can you find an SPF you are happy to reapply during the day? I use the Neostrata tinted one and it is brilliant (I'm very fair as well and it is fine for me) and I don't need to wear any make up over it - so would be happy to apply.

Having said that - I tend to tone down my actives (I use Vt C, Azelaic Acid and Retinol) in warmer weather as I find they sting horribly if I sweat even the tiniest amount - and I'm hopeless in humid weather. I need to find a really good sweat proof SPF that isn't chemical based as that tends to make me break out.

I use both Vit C and acid tone.
Frezyderm 50 sunscreen.

Thanks onemouse!

I use the LRP one for the face, can't remember the exact name but the bottle is kind of square... I really like it and (thanks to my amazing new skincare regime!) I don't need to wear any makeup over the top so reapplying is perfectly doable. I sort of hate the idea of putting new spf on onto a face that's possibly been a bit sweaty in the heat, though! Can't handle a massive zit breakout over the summer, it's always a sweaty time for me!

Hadn't occured to me that the actives in the skincare would sting if I sweated though, which might be reason enough on its own to stop in warmer weather.

HaventGotAllDay can I ask if your skintone is v fair or do you have a bit more natural colour/melanin?
Like the name of your sunscreen, will check it out thx!
Do you use it all year round or just summer months?

I only stop if I am on holiday somewhere sunny or during high summer (I'm in Scotland, so I'm talking maybe a couple of weeks in August, not months).

Otherwise I just make sure I am wearing a good SPF. Although I'm fair, I have a desk job and my sun exposure generally is fairly minimal.

I do think there there is absolutely no point using retinol etc if you are damaging your skin with sun exposure!

Frezyderm here too and I am PALE blue
I burn within 5 mins in the hottest part of the day, I wore that on my face for a 2hr horse ride and not a single red bit

I don't use retinol at the minute but BHA/AHA etc and will probably stay the same in summer

I'm not quite as fair as you but I use factor 70 sunscreen if I use any type of retinol-y treatment during the summer.

Thanks everyone!

My next thread, I swear, is going to be asking if I can get away with a parasol this summer!

Honestly, I hate wide-brimmed hats (I'm not a hat person) and I just can't work out if I'd look SO ridiculous with a parasol that I shouldn't even think about it, or if it's in fact a genius solution to this whole problem! Something nice with bamboo etc...?

Small children will openly mock me in the street, won't they?

I am a human mozzarella.
Frezyderm is also a primer, it's fab!
I use VitC most days and acid tone every day.

drsambunting.com/blogs/sam-bunting/retinoids-in-summer

I use it in the summer, my dermatologist said it’s fine to continue, usual precautions with SPF and staying out of the sun.

Thx swiftier!

Or is THIS the solution...?

www.umbrellaheaven.com/product/ezpeleta-patterned-ladies-uv-parasol/

Honestly, it's just working out if I'd get admiring glances or people sniggering.

My MIL is 70 and had one last summer and looked amazing with it. I think at 40ish I might look a bit of a berk tbh.

And thx for that Dr Sam link swiftier. I've never heard of her!! Her sunscreen looks amazing. Is it broad-spectrum? Might give that one a try though I also like the sound of the Frezyderm one.

TBH though any spf I use, I need to make sure I'm reapplying in summer weather.

Still a bit undecided on the retinol issue but it's probably a moot point for a few weeks yet anyway.