Retinol & prescription retinol advice

[Floatydressbeachyhair]

After reading about it on here I bought the La Roche Posay retinol. I have some fine lines and hormonal breakouts, dull skin.

Haven't noticed any difference so far after a few weeks.

Does anyone here is the stronger prescription stuff, if so please can I ask;

Where do you buy yours from?
Have you noticed a difference?
What is the cost?

I've also read that I may be able to buy over the counter in Spain when I go on holiday. Has anyone here done this?

Skin and Me 🙂 I've noticed a real improvement in my skin since starting a subscription about a year or so ago.

Thanks, did you just do an online consultation? Is it very expensive?

Yes you do an online consultation and upload pictures of your face, and explain what problems you want to address. It's £14 a month (I think!) but there are usually joining offers. I don't spend very much at all on any of my other skin care. I just use a fairly basic serum, moisturiser and cleanser from Superdrug. I do have a more expensive SPF, but everything else I use is under £5 I'd say.

I've been using Dermatica for about 6 months. I had to upload photos which were used to give me the correct prescription. This is then reviewed by them every so often and the formulas are changed accordingly.

To be fair I didn't have any major skin issues other than a bit of redness and dull looking skin but I've definitely noticed that my skin is smoother and the texture and colour is more even. It's nice & glowy now which I would never have said before. Ive also found that I hardly need any makeup other than a bit of concealer under my eyes.
It's a long game though. You won't see big results in a week or two but it is worth persevering.

I have a referral code for £10 off if anyone is interested (disclaimer- I also get a discount!)

Dermatica Code: YW1EDG

Just to add, I think you probably need to give things 3-6 months before you see results.

I use Dermatica and I do think it’s made a difference.

My major problem with it is that I went to have my eyebrows and lip wax and it took off several layers of skin. I didn’t know you shouldn’t wax. How do other users deal with hair removal??

I've used Retirides OTC from Spain in the past but currently use Dermatica which has just gone up to £25 a month though you can get it cheaper if you sign up for a longer subscription. Skin and Me is a bit more, they both do the same thing.

I love Dermatica, been using it three years and it has cleared up my acne, taken away a lot of my pigmentation (including all my freckles) and generally improved the tone of my skin. I use relatively cheap moisturisers as the work is being done by the tretionoin. I think it just helps hold back time.

I'd say overall it took over a year to see a meaningful difference for me.

I tried buying retrides over the counter in Spain recently and was told I needed a prescription. 😦

You can still get retinol from Greece without a prescription, my son just bought me some back

As above, you won't see any difference until 3-6 months have passed, and even then, you won't look younger. You'll have very good skin for your age. You'll look better.

I started on entry grade retinols about 3 years ago and worked my way up and am now using Tret (from tretinoin world, not one of the tret subscription services) I've been happy with it, but when the tube finishes, I'm coming "down" to a retinal. Was watching Nadine Baggott's interview with a dermatologist and skincare formulating chemist the other week and it struck me as very true when both said they don't use subscription trets but do both use retinal as it's just a step down from tret but less likely to irritate.

PS the LRP is a 0.3 entry grade retinol so you definitely need to persevere for longer than a few weeks. Even at that low dose though there'll come a day when you'll look in the mirror or someone will say and you'll think "ooh my skin looks nice"

dermatica is brilliant but I would not start in summer - you have to be v v careful about being in the sun

I like Skin and Me. It also has Azelaic acid and... I forget the other active ingredient. A very common one. I use it in the evening and follow after 10 minutes with an Olay Regenerist moisturizer (peptides). In the morning I use vitamin c and lactic acid under Moisturiser, then sunscreen. I tolerate it all very well.

LRP takes about 3-4 months to show, combined with using sunscreen/vit C and an occlusive at night.

Don't leap to prescriptions because you've not seen a change after a few weeks.

You need to be a bit patient OP with whatever retinol you use, it can take a few months to see results. The prescription stuff can give better results, but can also be much more irritating, so be warned. Also, make sure you use high strength sunscreen everyday.

Thanks so much. So it sounds as though I'm best off sticking with the LRP for a few months and then perhaps looking at prescription stuff later in the year, Wintertime if I still feel I'd like to?

Another question about the La Roche retinol, I'm currently applying it a few times a week rather than every night. Is that enough to make any difference?

Initially yes, then build up over time to every night. I've never used any retinoid every night tbh. I do a 3 night rota, retinol, glycolic acid, nothing, then repeat for next 3 nights.

Another vote for Dermatica!