Skin and me - skin looks worse?

[notveryhappyhere]

My skin was relatively good before. I was using a retinol rather than tret but it was a heavy duty ZO 1% one. I have some pigmentation and pores/t zone issues but nothing major. I used to get compliments on my skin!

2.5 weeks in to Skin and me and I’m blotchy and my pores look more blocked! Also the thing that really pisses me off is that there’s not enough of the product to do my neck which at 48 I really need!

Feeling like chucking it in and going back to my ZO...

Bumping this as I started Skin + Me last night so hoping this doesn't happen to me. Also my thing doesn't click so I'm sure I put too much on.

It does draw anything lurking out into the open. The first few weeks give you about 6 months of bad skin in a few short weeks. After 3 months you really see a markedly noticeable improvement.

It does take time but I'm probably a year in and my skin has changed beyond recognition

Definitely worth contacting them and they’ll suggest another consultation and change your prescription. They’re pretty efficient with this too.
I did this and it really helped until my skin was used to it. Fingers crossed 🤞

Did you build up slowly or whack it on every night & hope for the best?.

@Fluffycloudland77

Did you build up slowly or whack it on every night & hope for the best?.

Thanks for the patronise! It’s a measured daily dose, supposedly tailored to your skin by a dermatologist. You send photos. Here

www.skinandme.com/

@notveryhappyhere I think fluffy meant have you been using it every night? I know they say to, but I started with three times a week and built up, and skipped a night if my skin felt too sensitive (you can use it after the expiry on the doser!)
I use it 6 nights a week now but it took me a while to get there and my skin didn't drastically change until about 6 months in

@QueenPaw @SunnyHens thank you. I read the FAQ and put moisturiser on after 10 minutes and I’m less blotchy today. I’ll stick with it for a bit longer. I’ll maybe try a different moisturiser too. I went for the £££ option which is a Paula’s Choice one but it doesn’t get very good reviews....

I think this is a normal thing to happen when you try new skincare, particularly if it’s multiple new products. Maybe your skin is overwhelmed

Ok so a few things you can try
Make sure it goes on dry skin, like bone dry. If you're sensitive try moisturiser first to buffer it. Load up on hydrating stuff in the morning and stop all other actives for a bit if you use any
Here is my hormonal acne previously, and my skin now (I was using good skincare before as well!!)
I take one night off which is when I use a acid toner and a hydrating serum/mask/some form of treatment

@QueenPaw I have been using it every night yes. It’s more the blocked pores that concern me as I know the blotchiness is probably due to getting used to the tretenoin. I put moisturiser on afterwards last night and I’m not so bad today. Work is stressful too so there could be an element of that affecting my skin, it’s hard to know!

@notveryhappyhere if you’re going to be snappy & defensive, maybe don’t ask for advice on here?

I’ve never personally heard of this skincare product but I’m a skin therapist and I do always get concerned about people suddenly using retinol without building up slowly.

What you really need is a skin therapist that you can see face to face who will make recommendations based upon your specific concerns. Although that’s not easy to do atm, i believe salons are taking bookings again from 12th April.

Sorry to hijack the thread but night 2 has seen my face go quite red, I did put a lot on though as I'm still getting used to the twist dose. Feels a bit better now I've slapped my moisturiser on. I think I'll stop my daily AHA toner whilst my skin gets used to it.

Maybe try a more soothing moisturiser OP and skip a night or too, despite what the instructions say?

@QueenPaw Your skin looks great!

2.5 weeks is no time at all to judge a change in skincare routine really

@supercee. Yes definitely stop the AHA. I stripped my routine right back to the basics. I may do what @QueenPaw suggests and have a day off and use the AHA then but just on my T zone (it’s my cheeks that have gone blotchy)

@QueenPaw your skin looks fab. Thanks for all your advice - it’s much appreciated. It’s disheartening to feel my skin is going backwards! Especially at the moment when I’m looking at myself a lot (work Zoom) and not wearing as much makeup, not to mention the shit hair situation!

@Snally82

2.5 weeks is no time at all to judge a change in skincare routine really

I know I’m not very patient. I could cope with staying the same, it’s just the worsening that’s alarming.

The tret is a teeny % too (0.006%)

@QueenPaw
Your skin looks amazing!
Is there a reason why skin needs to be completely dry before applying?

@Damfino if it's damp it speeds up the absorption (I think) which potentially can irritate more. Potentially a myth but if you get irritation it's worth trying

@notveryhappyhere I'm also 2 weeks into my first month of Skin + Me. For the first week my skin looked loads better (coincidence perhaps) but this week the acne has returned with a vengeance and I'm also feeling a bit down about it - yes I am the least patient person ever! Hopefully it's just a case of being patient and in a couple of months it will improve but in the meantime I am using a very gentle cleanser and trying not to touch my skin (very hard with loads of whiteheads)

@QueenPaw
Thank you. Would you mind sharing what other skincare you're using? You're photos and recommendations are the reason I started on skin+me in the first place!

@Damfino yeah sure! It's really simple TBH

Am
Boots botanics lotion cleanser (think it's called allbright)
Vitamin c (timeless at the min)
Any moisturiser I find
SPF (on fenty at the min)
If I'm staying in then I use oskia vitamin c as it's too oily for me and no SPF

Pm
Eye makeup remover
Cleanser - usually a cream or balm, I like deviant oil, beauty kitchen cream cleanser, good skin cleansers from boots
Rapidlash/verso retinol eye serum
Skin and me
Any moisturiser

One day a week I don't use the skin and me and will use deviant resurfacing liquid and a hydrating serum (I like Superdrug pure hydration)

I'm using stuff up hence not having actual product recs for moisturiser!

@QueenPaw
That's great, thank you, really appreciate some new options to look at!

@QueenPaw would you mind telling me what your prescription was/is? My first month was 0.006% tret and 4% azaelic 4% niacimamide. I’m going to have a couple of days off as my cheeks have gone quite red. Next month’s has arrived and I’ve gone up to 0.009% tret.

@notveryhappyhere I think I started on 0.04% and 4% of everything else