Retinol 1% lotion?

[wwyd2021medicine]

Hi
I'm using the ordinary retinol 1% in squalane. Strength is fine but I don't like the oily feel of the squalane. Zero irritation from retinol.
I've just mind boggled myself. I want a brand I can feel trust in - not some random Amazon brand. I also want the same strength. So many don't say what the concentration is. Looked at others but in oil which I don't want.
Any recommendations please?

Sorry - needn't be a lotion - cream or serum fine but not a load of oil

Medik8 Crystal Retinal - comes in various strengths so you can work your way up. Quite expensive but v good.

Paula's choice 1% would fit the bill, it's a light lotion texture. Other brands like Medik8, Skinceuticals are also available but these are all brands at a much higher price point. What would you be willing to spend?

Medik8

no better

Thank you
I am fine to spend money but wanted to check options first
What is the texture of Medik8 like please?

And also which medik8 should I be going for?

The Medik8 Retinol is similar to The Ordinary, just a more easily absorbed oil. The other forms of retinoids like Retinal and R-retinoate are more serum/lotion like.

If you want a cheaper alternative to the Crystal Retinal Geek and Gorgeous A-Game is a cheaper alternative (make sure to buy from their UK website otherwise the shipping will be more than the product).

A even cheaper alternative is retirides from spain , if you know a friend going on holiday anytime, it's the same retinol you would pay over a £100 from a dermatologist and it's only 20 euros i buy one tube a year.

That's not retinol though, it's prescription tretinoin, 0.01% strength of that is at least 20x stronger than 1% retinol so would absolutely wreck the uninitiated 's skin barrier so beware of comparing percentages. It's a lot easier to just go down the subscription services route like Skin and Me or Dermatica in the UK as they guide you and gradually build up strength to minimise irritation.

I started on the weakest strength after starting with the ordinary, there's a dermatologist on youtube a Dr dray i think that's her name take a look she gives great advice on retinol and how to use it safely

yes you have to start slowly maybe only twice a week at first for a month, there's lots of advice on youtube from doctors and others who have been using it for years.

I use skin+me and agree that Tretinoin is much much stronger and that's why it's only available on prescription in the UK. I started on 0.003% and I worked up to 0.03 over a year but found that too strong so I now stick to 0.027%. if retinol works well for you I would stick with that. If you want something stronger I can highly recommend skin+me it is expensive but you don't really need any other products. My prescription with them is Tretinoin, Azelaic acid and Niacinamide and it's a cream texture that sinks in very quickly. If you want to give them a try you can use my code to get a month for free it's:

www.skinandme.com/?promocode=LAURENS5YP3

You can cancel anytime or pause and the customer service is great, I've been using it for nearly three years. It must being doing something right because someone thought I was my 10 year old sons older sister and I'm 39! 😂

Thank you all
It's so hard to compare them all
I'll have a think. I would be happy with medik8 I think it's just how easily absorbed it is - I loathe the squalane feeling sitting on my skin.
The Paula's choice sounds most appealing. I am off to Spain but I don't want to end up with photosensitivity and poss pigmentation.

It’s like a light lotion/creamy texture. It’s really nice! It’s pale pink which surprised me the first time but obv doesn’t make a difference once it’s on your skin.

I started with the Crystal Retinal 1 because I was nervous and a retinol newbie but I wish I just went for the 3. I have no idea how it compares to The Ordinary one though sorry!

I've been using the Paula's Choice one and it's really good.
You can try it out first as a mini before committing on a whole bottle I got mine in Selfridges
but i think you can them get online