Retinol cream and sun screen/ makeup

[mylittlefidget]

Could you please give me some advice? I've recently started using retinol cream, but it makes my skin very dry (as expected) despite putting moisturiser on before bed. I need to apply more moisturiser in the morning, and any kind of makeup on to of a thick moisturiser just looks- odd.... Any suggestions please? I'm a complete skin care newbie but at 43 I figure i probably ought to start looking after my skin a little bit more... 😀

You could reduce how much you’re using it - so maybe try applying every other night/every third night rather than every night, at least until your skin gets used to it. I don’t think you should be using it so much that your skin is extremely dry to the point that you need super thick moisturiser the next day. You might also be able to get a better day cream that works under make up.

I use Tret so have to be very careful with hydration--I use a facial oil, hydrating serum, some bog standard moisturiser then SPF in the mornings. I use cheapie SPF as I'm not fussy. I find the Ordinary serum foundation goes on very well over the other products. I only want light coverage and I really like the texture of the Ordinary foundation.

Be careful, I found out the hard way that I am allergic to retinol

Thanks everyone, that's really helpful advice. I appreciate it! :-)

I use la Roche posay cicablast baume after my retinoid as it’s super soothing. I use a glycolic toner a couple of time per week to t rid of dry patches and then olay factor 30 as my winter moisturiser. I move to a factor 50 from April onwards.

More post-retinol sunscreen advice in this thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3780473-Which-every-day-facial-SPF-do-you-use-when-using-retinols

What are you using to cleanse, OP? It might help to use a very gentle cleanser, keep your face out of hot water, use a hydrating/soothing toner, your retinol, maybe an oil (squalane/rosehip/marula/argan) and a few layers of moisturiser at night, maybe a light one first followed by a heavier one e.g. your normal one followed by La Roche-posay cicaplast. Some people put a layer of vaseline or something really thick on last.

That might leave your skin less dry so you get away with just your moisturiser and SPF (you should use a stand alone one) in the morning. Have you got time to let them sink in a bit before doing your makeup?

I have LRP fluid which is very light and easy to spread. I used to use the comfort one and to be honest I do prefer that for dryness, just decided to try the other on a whim. I don't use makeup anyway but I'd imagine the fluid is quite primer like. I also read great things about Frezyderm on the skin care threads here.

PP had a good point about reducing retinol usage till your skin balances itself a bit.

I have the opposite problem (sorry to hijack) in that retinol isn’t doing much for me. I can’t notice any difference and I’ve been using almost daily for nearly a month. Paulas choice 1%. Should I persevere??

Apileof, thanks very much for your advice as well! Will play around with products a bit. Thanks very much!!

Retinol takes 3-6 months to deliver, cheezy

Gentle cleansers - la Roche-posay toleriane, avene extremely gentle cleanser, CeraVe hydrating. The CeraVe moisturiser is cheap and cheerful too and you can use a few layers of it (the bottle). The CeraVe tub has mineral oil in it if you don't mind that. Avene soothing moisturiser for sensitive skin is good and thick but also has mineral oil.

Retinol takes at least 6 weeks (skin cycle) but really months as PP said cheesy. Perseverance!