Tret/ Retinol and sunny holidays

[BigFatYes]

I started with Retinol in February and added Dermatica Tret into the mix in April. I've gone very slowly with the Tret, currently on .5% alternate days without any side effects.
My questions are
Have I gone too slowly for it to actually work? I keep reading that I should build up to nightly but I'd like to avoid the purge.
I'm going on a sunny holiday soon, I'm good at sunscreen but will be outside, on the water, for much of the time and some UV is unavoidable. Should I just stop for a week?
I'm mid fifties, olive skin that doesn't burn much and using Tret for wrinkles rather than acne.
Any advice welcome please.

I’d stop for a week and get some sort of waterproof hat you can strap on too.

Officially stop using it six weeks in advance, ideally, two at a push if time is limited, or whatever time is left and stop using it while away. If you're good with sunscreen already (as in top up with SPF 50 every two hours and reapplying after every time getting wet from swimming when outdoors) probably best to up that to every hour on things like a boat and definitely get a wide brimmed UV hat (UPF).

With the Tret use (0.05 every other day I wouldn't classify as taking it easy that's pretty standard use) you will burn and damage quicker even if you normally don't.

Do you use a vitamin c, as that will help boost protection of your SPF?

Right, that's sound advice thank you.
I'm going in ten days so will stop now.
I do use factor 50 and wear a hat but still have a bit of a tan so think I probably am susceptible to burning.
When I come back do I need to start back from the beginning? I do use Medik8 vitamin c every morning.
So glad I asked!

Sorry, another question.
I'm stopping the Trey but could I continue with OTC Retinol? I'm worried that I'll have to go right back to 6m ago if I stop everything.

If you can properly cover up with SPF and a hat, you can use retinols as normal:
drsambunting.com/blogs/sam-bunting/retinoids-in-summer

www.skincare.com/article/is-retinol-safe-for-summer

A tan is sun damage, so you really need to be diligent with the SPF.

If you're not using the retinol alongside Tret right now, I wouldn't as it won't make much of a difference to reintroducing tret. You can probably ease back into regular Tret use at 2-3x a week when you get back and build up quickly if that's not an issue. Had you stopped for 6-8 weeks then you probably would need to be more cautious, as that's how long Tret continues to work but it wouldn't set you back to point zero, in all likelihood, in either scenario.

Sorry, forgot to come back and say thank you. Useful advice, appreciated.