Vitamin C serum, Glycolic Acid, Tretinoin... How do I use them?

[CrawlingFromShitshowToAfterglow]

I'm currently trying to revamp my beauty regime. I'm using the Skinceuticals Vitamin C serum in the morning, followed by Cerave AM moisturiser. In the evenings, I use Skin+Me tretinoin at night, followed by Cerave PM moisturiser.

I've found these have helped my skin, but I still look a bit haggard and dehydrated (I'm in my 40s). A friend suggested adding Pixie Glow Tonic to my skincare regime. As it contains glycolic acid, I'm not sure how to use it with my current skincare regime. Any ideas?

If you're using Skin+Me, you can message them to ask for advice on things like this and they can recommend products to compliment your routine and skin (including from other brands). Might be worth a try?

OP I would be careful adding a glycolic acid product alongside tretinoin - they can both cause irritation so you have to go gently. Depending on how many times a week you use your Skin & Me, you could substitute one evening per week with glycolic acid instead. Just see how your skin reacts. Don't forget to use SPF during the day as well.

Bear in mind that while tretinoin is great, it takes a while to see good results. For some people it can be a few months, so you have to be patient. I would say start slowly and build up usage, to minimise irritation.

Also, as much as Skinceuticals is a great product, it's ridiculously expensive. You could try Geek and Gorgeous for a very similar Vitamin C serum called C-Glow (pretty much the same ingredients) it's basically a dupe at a fraction of the price.

This. Tretinoin won't work immediately, it's a chemical exfoliant which encourages new collagen but it takes several months to work and you may go through an irritation stage before that happens. Don't use glycolic acid (also a chemical exfoliant) at the same time- it's too much and can destroy your skin moisture barrier if you go at it with both. Make sure that you are using an spf of 50 even in winter with all chemical exfoliants. I'd stick to just one chemical exfoliant to see how it benefits you.

If your skin looks dehydrated it probably is. I’d add a hyaluronic acid to your morning routine, sandwiched with a moisture spray. I use curel deep moisture spray and Hada Labo Super Lotion. As recommended by a PP, Geek & Gorgeous C Glow is a fab product.

I wouldn’t add Pixi Glow Tonic if you are already using Tret. It will be far too much for anyone’s skin to cope with. I’d drop the Tret to maybe 5 night a week and use something like Medik8 Sleep Glycolic on the nights you aren’t using the Tret.

You don’t mention using SPF as part of your routine. If you are using actives like vit a and vit c, you need to use an spf every day, even in the winter.

Thank you, everyone. That's really useful information. I don't use SPF. I have olive skin and didn't think I needed to in the winter months. Just out of curiosity, why do you need to use SPF in the winter?

I will look into Geek & Gorgeous. I didn't know anything cheaper than Skinceuticals existed that actually worked.

I'll avoid getting Pixie Glow. I'll have a look at the Medik8 Sleep Glycolic and drop the the Tret to 5 nights.

In terms of using hyaluronic acid and moisture spray, how do you use that with the Vitamin C and moisturiser?

UV rays are not related to temperature. They are present all year round and penetrate clouds, so you always need SPF. If you don’t use it, the uv will react with the vitamin a or vitamin c you are using and will cause pigmentation marks and sun damage. UV rays are also the biggest cause of premature aging and fine lines.

If you add hyaluronic to your am routine, as a general rule of thumb apply products from the thinnest constituency to the thickest. After cleansing apply a quick spritz of moisture spray, hyaluronic acid to damp skin and another spritz of moisture spray to seal it in, then apply vitamin c, then moisturiser. Sounds a lot but it only takes a few minutes.

Thank you. That's really helpful. Can you recommend a good eye cream for day and night? I'm finding the area under my eyes is really dry. I wear concealer to hide my dark circles, but it seems to settle in the wrinkles!

I’m currently using No 7 Future Renew eye serum in the morning and Roc Retinol Eye on the evening. Not sure if it’s one or the other or the combination of both, but my eye area is much improved.