I want to start on Retinal/Retinol- scared of side effects and overwhelmed by choices

[piddocktrumperiness]

Hi everyone
I am in my early 40's and believe I have good skin, in that I don't have many signs of ageing- just tiredness and dull skin, along with the loss of volume in some parts. My under eyes have always been a problem, in that they are puffy and I look tired- it was like that since I was in my teens. I don't have adult acne anymore thanks to doxycycline and Differin/soolantra.

I want to have a glow/even toned, plumped and healthy looking skin and look less tired. Basically I want to do the best I can for my skin. Is Retinal Retinol used for this?

I am contemplating Metik8 Retinal but then I read that Tretanoin is better but I don't like the idea of a big skin purge and the once you are in, you're in routine.

So I have a few questions:

Is Retinal/Retinol a scam?
If your skin sounds similar to mine and you have seen significant improvements what did you use? ( spf,sleep and diet aside)
How bad are the side effects?

I could save up for a consultation with a dermatologist but not sure if it'll be worth it because the last time I booked a consultation for my acne they went straight to recommending Roaccutane- without giving me alternatives so I am a little doubtful of how honest and non sales like some dermatologists are

The recommendations to use factor 50 SPF bother me as most people don’t re-apply during the day. SPF doesn’t last all day.
I read somewhere about only using retinol in the winter months. Has anyone heard this?

I use Medik8. Have seen good results and no purge

If you haven't used retinol before go carefully, patch test and keep an eye on it.

I ended up in A&E with a swollen face and the staff were concerned about possible anaphylaxis so triaged me immediately. It took a few weeks to entirely resolve.

I wouldn't go in too heavy OP, sounds like your skin in good just a little dull? Maybe go with peptides and a bit of gua sha facial massage for the puffiness.

I like Trinny London Bounce Back moisturiser although haven't looked into other options. I used to need to exfoliate every few days because my skin would look so dull but since switching to that I don't need to, without changing anything else in my routine.

@christmaspawpaws your face transformation is amazing! And I don’t just mean your skin’s appearance. Please share your routine, your nasolabial lines look so much smoother and your cheek so lifted!!

Honestly not much!

Am
Cleansing milk/lotion
Some form of serum/vitamin c
Moisturise
I don't always wear spf as WFH away from a window

Pm
Cleanse with usually a balm or sometimes soap and glory peaches and clean
Tretinoin
Moisturise

On days when I don't use tret I use a serum or sometimes an exfoliating toner
Not brand loyal, I tend to buy stuff on sale but I do like elemental herbology serums

Thank you. I’m intrigued and wondering if it’s the tret that’s had such a lifting effect…

Pass! Maybe a bit of weight gain too has helped. No fillers etc though

@LaMarschallin I do enough business travel that I also did not want to be tied to a subscription service. I found Dr Jude Storm online. She is a private Belfast based derm who offers a tretinoin prescribing service much like Dermatica or Skin and Me.

The differences are that (a) it is not a subscription, you must reorder every time, and (b) you pay for this. I just started last month and it cost me £100 for 30g which looks like it will last for at least 10 weeks, probably longer. I think the subscription services are about £20-25 for 15g. Dermatica has recently downsized to 12.5g!

Dr Storm has very reasonably priced cleanser/moisturisers/sunscreen which are well reviewed so I may try them. Communications have thus far been excellent. I am not a shill, nor do I have a product code or such.

I have just started with skin + me, I’m 4 days in. I can really see a difference already. I got their cleanser, moisturiser, vitamin c serum, sunscreen as well as the tret. (Brilliant offers when you first sign up)
My skin is brighter, more even textured and fine lines are reduced already.
I have had no side effects but may have those to come if I’m only 4 days in.
i highly recommend

PS I’ve just checked prices. Dermatica is £25 for 12.5g of product (a personalised tretinoin) and the Skin+Me site is now showing a price of £29.99 for 15g. So one still pays a premium for what only some of us will regard as the convenience of ordering the Dr Jude Storm prescription as desired, but it isn’t as great as I first thought (above).

if you are worried about how your skin will react to the retinol apply moisturiser first and then the ret straight on top

I use medik8 for retinol, spf and moisturiser (normally anyway, I’m off it due to pregnancy. I eased into it and was planning to move to crystal retinal next.

Where do you live? If SE I know a great dermatologist.
It's not cheap seeing one, but if you say you don't want roaccutane, they won't focus on that.

😁shall have to try that, sounds simple enough…….

Thanks very much for that info, @poetryandwine - I'll look into it

@Costumier I live in SW England

On the dermatica, it does not specifically say ask for retinal/retinol- the site asks generic questions on what my problem areas are

@christmaspawpaws can I ask, do you often post pictures on S&B. I'm pretty sure I've seen your face a few times on here.

OP, I tried the Medik8 one and didn't have a reaction, but then didn't really see a difference, so stopped using once the tube ran out. I now use the Elizabeth Arden one, which is expensive, but I think I've noticed a slight difference in my skin texture. Again, no reaction. I only use a couple of times a week though (out of laziness!) so perhaps I would see a bigger difference if I used every night/ every other night.

Regarding SPF, you can buy sprays to keep topping up, but I personally wouldn't bother with using retinol in the summer months.

Oh and no, I wouldn't say you needed to see a dermatologist

@GlumWithRum yes I've posted on threads about skin and me before, I don't post anything controversial and if someone in RL knows me I NC a lot. Also not fussed if someone sees me chatting about retinol
I haven't come across many people who have been using it as long as I have which is why I've shared

@christmaspawpaws I wasn't judging! 😁 I just thought I recognised your face from here before. I'm very good with faces 😂

La Roche Posay Redermic R would be an excellent place to start.

Following with interest. Can I ask what people mean by purging?

I have had a similar transformation to @christmaspawpaws though I am not going to be posting photos. Tret does not help with sagging and jowls, though.

@Trampauline Purging means your skin gets really dry and peels off when you first use tret until your skin gets used to it. You can guard against this by using very little only once a week, and by buffering ie putting a layer of moisturiser over your tret.

I've been looking at And Begin. I can tolerate Medic8 Crystal Retinal absolutely fine, but don't really notice any difference. I have quite sensitive skin so a bit nervous to try Tret and I really don't want red, flaking sore skin. I'm hoping And Begin might be a more gentle formula? Anyone tried it?

@Piccalino3 if And Begin is anything like Skin and Me, they will start you on a low dose of tretinoin and it also contains peptides, ceramides and hyaluronic acid as well as a lot of soothing ingredients to help skin tolerate the tretinoin. I want to try it too.