Overdid the retinol 😬

[CarollaKerala]

I used the Ordinary retinol 1% too many nights in a row before my skin is used to it. For the last few days my skin has been flaking and sore.

The skin under my eyes feels a bit like I’ve spread a thin layer of PVA glue there and let it dry! And it looks so wrinkled! Big deep wrinkles when I smile because the skin is so dry.

I’ve been rubbing in rosehip oil lots. Any other tips for getting past this dryness as quickly as possible?

I’ve learnt my lesson and will go more slowly with the retinol from now on 🤦‍♀️

Meant to say, I have hydraulic acid too, will that help or should I avoid?

I think you mean hyaluronic acid, not hydraulic
Yes, that will help. But it will probably be a few days at least before the flaking stops

It's a bugger. I have done the same but didn't have the same extreme results. Definitely need a break and use it once every few days from now on.

Moisturiser is a good plan!

Rosehip oil might be part of the problem.

It has pro vitamin A, so you might really be overdoing on the retinols.

Hyaluronic acid is the one you need.

My skin doctor just recommended using it every night and pushing though the early stages quicker, he said why drag it out over weeks instead of getting skin used to it ASAP. I know generally advice is opposite but I’m currently doing a 0.05 % one so prescription only and having used it for 1 week every day it’s already settled down

@violetbunny how embarrassing, I’ve been calling it hydraulic acid in front of everyone I know 😂

@LuluBellaBlue i don’t think I can face doing that because it’s quite sore ☹️

So loads of moisturiser it is - any suggestions which one would be best? Should I avoid the rosehip oil then?

I found olive oil really good for clearing up my dermatitis, it'll probably work a treat on an over retinol'd face.. Good luck!

Ease of everything.
You need to mildly scurb the area with a manual exfolient like Aapri (cheap, cheerful, good, stands the test of time). A tiny dab, gently massaged over damp skin, then gently rinsed with a flannel.
Then you need to lather on the La-Roche Posay Cicaplast.
Use nothing but cicaplast. You don't want to damage your fragile skin with too many anti-aging products. You'll need to wear a decent SPF, yes, even in winter. You can get a tube of cicaplast without SPF and another one with for the daytime.

Ease off that should say.

Try a neutral oil such as coconut or almond oil. These are less likely to irritate your dry skin.
Also, please please make sure you wear at least a factor 30 sunscreen before you leave the house and all year round. When using retinol the skin is much more sensitive to UV rays
HTH

I wonder if we will look back on retinol use in years to come and cringe?!

Don't scrub!!

Aveeno or Cicaplast.

When your skin is super sensitised, think about what you'd use on a baby's skin. If you wouldn't use it on theirs, don't put it on your own.

If you go the oil route OP, go with Jojoba oil because it mimics our own sebum, so you're unlikely to react with a breakout. Our skin really like jojoba oil. It also has anti-inflammatory properties which is exactly what you need for your reactive skin right now.

I can't recommend Cicaplast by La Roche Posay enough.

And as above, don't exfoliate! If you had a graze the last thing you'd do is rub some salt on it. Your skin is grazed at the moment.

Join Caroline Hirons Facebook group. Lots of advice there too

I'd say stay off all acids for a few weeks. I can't use any of them on my skin

Leave the rosehip oil alone. And avoid all acids until it has got better.

Cicaplast now. Then look at a moisturiser like Cerave with better and healing ingredients in like ceramides.

I agree with @AnnaMagnani

CeraVe was my saviour - superb

You've got plenty of good advice there. In the future, I dune think you ever need to use retinol every night. Every second night is plenty. Over use can make your skin very shiney. Unnaturally so.

Emmm won't you get results faster though?

I have some am dying to slather it on...

You've had some great advice here. Cicaplast is great, jojoba oil is great. Leave everything alone even syrums everything. Definated don't exfoliate. You might find Garden of Wisdom Retinols from Victoria health better than the Ordinary for your skin.

Great advice on here, OP. Also, you seem to have sensitive so NO RETINOL UNDER YOUR EYES! Avoid the area all together.

Start by applying again once a week, and hydrate properly.

Don’t use a scrub. Use a gentle oil cleanser and cloth, like the Bodyshop Camomile, then Cicaplast or Toleriane moisturiser. Toleriane eye cream is EXTREMELY gentle and moisturising (no retinol in it, or anything harsh at all.) I used it when I had eczema around my eyes and it cleared it very quickly, so I keep using it to prevent reoccurrence. Also, when your skin has cleared, La Roche Posay Redermic R is the best retinol I’ve ever used - the only one that hasn’t badly affected my sensitive skin - it works against fine lines, helps with acne and rosacea and makes my skin more radiant, less tired. Hope it feels better soon.