Which retinol do I need?

[Helenahandkart]

I’m not a skincare person, and I don’t know the difference between retinol and retin-a and tretinoid etc and please don’t explain it to me.

Please could I have your recommendations for a retinol product that I can use at night?

My skin is-
50 years old
very greasy t-zone
huge congested pores
occasional hormonal acne
saggy
scarred

My eyes are really sensitive and swell up alarmingly, so extra points for something that doesn’t trigger a reaction. And I’m broke, so it needs to be fairly cheap!

There are so many OTC retinols but better if you can use the prescription ones as they are much more effective, I get it from dermatica.

I’m not sure I can afford the regular prescription charge. £25 a month is quite costly for me atm.

If you search Dr Shereene Idriss retinol on YouTube , she has several videos explaining the differences between retinol, retinal, retin-a, etc and has product recommendations and advice on usage and increasing dose.

If you know someone going to spain, you can buy it over the counter at most chemists for around 20 euros its called retirides one tube last me a year

Try the Boots No 7 retinols in the silver and purple tubes

Start with their lowest one first and if you're ok with that move on to the next strength

If your face stings etc stop using it till your skin feels better and then apply it again

Start out once a week and see how you get on

It's very strong though

But v good

I'm only on 0.5 retirides at the moment and my face stings after a couple of uses then I need to wait till the sting goes after a few days which I when I reapply it

I'm on that same strength, there is a less stronger one 0.25% its the one too start with if its your first time and only use two to three times a week at first.

No Spanish connections unfortunately so I think that one isn’t an option. Seems to be over £100 in the UK.

Honestly OP, it sounds like you just need to start with a generic retinol and see how you get on. I'm all for recommending tretinoin usually, but it doesn't sound like that would suit you at this point.

Most retinol products can make your skin more sensitive so just start slowly with a low strength over the counter retinol (from Boots or similar) and see how your skin reacts. After a while you could build up to something stronger.

Also, if you have oily skin, look for something with more of a gel formula as it should be better for your skin type.

I agree with @Farmageddon. Maybe also look at niacinamide serums, as that should help with most of your skin concerns.

Ideally it would be something I can pick up in Boots or Superdrug. Think I might try the No7 one at the lowest strength and see how that goes, unless anyone can recommend a gel formula?

Hopefully I can get a little sample of it to see if it inflames my eyes before spending £35 and adding it to the pile of discarded creams that I can’t use because of my sensitive eyes.

I tried a niacinamide serum from The Ordinary and it made no difference at all to the oiliness or enlarged pores.

Primark. Think it's less that £5. Give it a go and see how your skin reacts.

I get tret from dermatica, have sensitive skin so use it only every other day.
A tube usually lasts 5-6 weeks so it's relatively cheap. Has made a huge difference to my skin.

@idontlikealdi A fiver sounds like it fits my budget perfectly! You can’t put a price on beautiful skin after all.

Have you tried a salicylic acid for the congestion?

I use this Superdrug one a few times a week and it has cleared up the blackheads on my nose that I thought were with me for life! It's easy to use - just a bit on a cotton wool pad and swipe over. It's a cleaner but tbh I use it after cleansing as an extra step.

www.superdrug.com/skin/face-skin-care/anti-blemish-treatments/superdrug-deep-action-cleansing-lotion-200ml/p/796207

I also use Olay Retinol 24 Max serum - I have the day and night creams as well but this seems the one that suits me best.

www.boots.com/olay-regenerist-retinol24-max-night-serum-without-fragrance-40ml-10301431

No it's not that high, I generally get it online for $4-5ish per tube of 20gms which runs good for one two months from skinorac or skinme.

Thanks @BeenRoundThatBlock I’ll give this a go. I already use a salicylic facial wash in the morning - which made a huge difference when I first started using it.
I think I’ve narrowed down the ingredients that inflame my eyes to Sodium Benzoate and/or Phenoxyethanol, one of which is in your cleanser, so it will be interesting to see whether I can tolerate it.

The Olay one seems to be clear of the dodgy ingredients so I think I’m going to start there. Hopefully the eye cream might work for me as well. I’ve all but given.up on eye creams at this point because everything causes a reaction.

I got a tester of the No7 one to see if that makes my eyes swell up, but it does contain Phenoxyethanol so I’m a bit wary.

Thanks for all your advice ladies.

@idontlikealdi How do you buy a tret from Dermatica please? I can only see options to sign up to a subscription skincare service at £25 a month, rather than buying an individual tube of something which lasts as long as it lasts.