If you use tretinoin, what else do you use?

[MNisMyGuiltyPleasure]

I started using tret back in November. As my other skincare products ran out, I didn't repurchase because I kept on hearing that if you use tret all you need is SPF and a moisturiser, and some vit C if you like.

My skin is indeed looking quite good, although I still have some hyperpigmentation.

If you are also using tret, what other skincare products do you use on your face and why? Thank you.

@TattiePants thank you!

@PollyPeptide I use the Altruist FF and love it. What I would say is it does take a while to sink in but I love it under makeup. I have started using my Eborian CC cream as a sort of tinted moisturiser and it’s a fab combination. And also the same if I put foundation on top of that too.

What’s the difference between tretinoin and retinal? I’ve just started with Medik8 retinal which is great. I’m considering there retinal eye cream but can’t decide if it’s the same stuff with a different name!

Where is everyone getting tret from?

@Whyisitsodifficult Tret is a much higher strength than retinol. It’s often known as the gold standard.

@youllfindanotherlifetolive Dermatica for me.

@Belmondo I need to say first that I'm in my 60s so my skin is normal to dry. So the absorption rate and look of it might be different if you have oily skin. I find the FF sinks in really easily and initially it has that glowy/oily look but as it dries down, I find it has a bit of a satin finish. I don't want to over play this though. 😆 It's not some sort of miracle! But I like the look of it. And it never pills under make up. It also has vit E anti oxidant in it which is its offering in fighting anti ageing. TBH I'm often happy to use it without a moisturiser.

I wore the body spf50 in 40° heat in Dubrovnik when my shoulders had gone a nice reddy brown colour but anymore and they'd have burnt. My sister put the spf on my shoulders and then she cleaned the extra off her fingers by wiping them down my arm. 🙄 My shoulders never coloured but my arms started to tan, except for lovely finger streaks down to my elbow. So I love Altruist because I know how well it works. My sister...not so much. 😉

Tretinoin is the prescription strength stuff, it's quite a bit stronger than retinol or retinaldehyde, both of which you can get over the counter. Basically, your skin needs to convert retinol into retinoic acid (which is what tretinoin is) before it gets to work, and therefore is much weaker, but also much less irritating.
Retinaldehyde (or retinal) is slightly stronger than retinol but still much weaker than tretinoin. They all basically do the same thing, but are different strengths and therefore will give different results.

It goes tretinoin >>> retinaldehyde >> retinol.

Tretinoin is only available on prescription because it's heavy duty stuff and if used incorrectly can really muck up your skin barrier. It's a bit like medication in cream form and can take a while for your skin to acclimatise to.

Also, I honestly wouldn't bother with eye creams, to me they are just really expensive and not necessary, just use whatever you are using on the rest of your face, but maybe buffer with some moisturiser because the skin around our eyes is a bit more delicate.

My dermatica has 0.05% tret and 4% niacinamide. It's quite tough on my skin and had caused peeling, but if I sandwich it with moisturiser, it's fine. Skin is very glowy, and it used to be really dry and dull.
I double cleanse and use hyaluronic acid in the morning too, as well as SPF. I also skip the tret occasionally and use glycolic acid instead.

If my skin ever feels over treated and sensitive, I just skip anything except moisturiser, hylaurionic acid and SPF for a day or two.

That’s really helpful thank you. I did wonder about their eye cream, that’ll save me £45!

AM: hyalauronic acid, moisturiser, SPF 50, eye cream
PM: Dermatica (0.1% tret, 4% niacinamide), moisturiser, eye cream