If you use tret, what do you use under your eyes?

[squeak52]

Did you build up to using tret under your eyes or do you use something different?

Love the difference my skin + me subscription has made to my skin, but my eye area is my biggest problem and it's obv not doing anything for that right now!

Grateful for any tips 😊

I use 0.05 on my face and 0.025 round my eyes and on my hooded eye lids. I can use 0.05 on my crows feet and on the eye socket bone under the eye but I'm careful and might give it more of a rest or buffer it. It all depends on how sensitive my skin feels.

Thanks so much @MarshaMelrose - Good idea to use a lower concentration, I guess I would have to buy this separately. Where do you get yours from if you don't mind me asking?

I would definitely advise using an over the counter version around the eyes for a while to build up some tolerance. The skin on our under eye area is very thin, you may get a lot of irritation if you go straight to using tretinoin, even a lower percentage. I guess it depends on how sensitive your skin is, are you able to use tretinoin on your neck? Even after 3 years I can't tolerate in on my neck sadly.

I built up to using tret around my eyes over about 2 years, by applying it to the rest of my face, and then knowing there was probably still a residue on my fingers, applying an over the counter retinol straight after around my eyes and my neck.

You can get prescription strength tretinoin through some overseas online pharmacies, like Farmacia Andorra, or TretinoinWorld has been recommended on here. Also, if you are visiting Spain, you can buy it in pharmacies without a prescription.

I use a very small amount of 0.025 on my lids but, tbf, I seem to tolerate it well. Id definitely start with just once a,werk and buffer if necessary. But the eye socket and crows feet, I've no problem with 0.05. My skin on those areas reacts just like the rest of my face.
I buy from Mexico when any friends go there. You can get it over the counter, about £25 a tube and it lasts a couple of years. If you search mumsnet, there are some good recommendations for sites that people buy from.
Before I got onto tretinoin, I used to use Roc complexion night

Oops, too soon
I used to use RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Cream, which was quite good. But eventually you have to go stronger to see any results.

So, do you have an eye friendly spf that you use on your eyelids etc? We have to be extra careful with spf when using retinoids, I think?? ( total noob here)

I use my normal SPF around my eyes (La Roche Posay) but I don't have sensitive eyes, I know some people find sunscreen around the eyes quite irritating.

I suppose always wearing sunglasses when out in summer to protect your eyes helps as well.

Thanks so much all! I don't have sensitive skin and before using tret I'd been using environ for about 9 months (including around the eyes) so I think I probably have a bit of resistance.

I think I'll try to get a low percentage and use weekly with a buffer to begin with 😊

It's always jmportant to wear spf, in fact if you don't, you're undoing all the good you're attempting to achieve with your skin care. But retinol removes the top layer of your skin so it's very vulnerable to skin damage at that time so, yes, it's vital to wear spf with retinols.

I use Altruist spf50 either fluid or cream, according to what I'm doing. I put it everywhere on my face, most definitely round my eyes and on my lids. I put it on even if I'm staying in and as I wear contact lenses, I always wear sunglasses whilst outside. It's not specific for eyes - I'm not sure I've ever seen eye sun screen.

I use a la Roche spf50 everyday including around my eyes - completely understand the need for this with the retinol 😊

Medik8 eye retinol