Where do you all buy retinol and trenathingy?

[LiterallyOnFire]

I was prescribed retinol by the deem twice and then bought it from Amazon a couple of times but I lost the habit in lockdown.

I've developed some age spots since then (which are responding well to vitamin C serum) but wrinkles are still minor.

What's the new trena-whatever it's called stuff?

My budget is going to be squeezed the next couple of years.

Can someone recommend something convenient, not too expensive and how to combine with Vit C (or does retinol replace that too?) please?

I use Bakuchiol, a natural alternative to Retinol, which is just as good, IMO. I buy it from here, it’s called ‘Goodnight Beautiful’.

www.sugarhouseorganics.com.au

I buy my tret form tretinoin world. It costs under £20 for a tube and that lasts me about 3-4 months. I use a Vit C moisturiser with SPF30 every day. It's a Skin saints one and costs £4 from Tesco.

If you've not used tret before start with a low concentration and work your way up. I started on 0.025%. Your skin will purge and dry out the first few weeks of using it. Make sure you use plenty of moisturiser either under of over it when you apply at night and cut back to every other night or twice a week if your skin feels stingy or irritated. Avoid around your eyes and mouth. Your skin will get used to it and it will get better, I promise. My skin was stingy when I applied moisturiser and I'd wake up with dry flakey skin when I first started. Now I'm up to 0.05%, about to jump to 0.1% and can use without moisturizer without my skin drying out.

I have a brown patch on my cheek which has fades a lot since I started using tret in February. Noticed a slight reduction in my fine lines as well and my overall skin tone has improved. They say it takes about a year to notice the difference so be patient with it.

I get my tret from dermatica. Its also includes azaelic acid and hyaluronic acid.

My skin tolerates it well but you need to protect your skin from the sun, a minimum of factor 30 but it's advised by some people to use factor 50 to ensure you get factor 30 as most people don't use enough.

If you're trying to get pregnant don't use retinol or treat as they're vitamin A derivatives and can cause birth defects.

Skin and me

I get it fromskin&me. It’s a bit pricey at £24.99 a month (I probably do 5/6 days per week so can skip some months). It includes niacinimide and azaleic acid (they will switch these to whatever is most suitable for your skin) and they gradually increase the % of tretinoin for your skin to gradually get used to it. I also go pretty budget/basic for moisturiser, cleanser etc.

Thanks for this thread, buying mine from the Ordinary but was wondering if there is a better/stronger version out there!

But I ve always been told not to use retinol and vit c. at the same time

No @nfkl you wouldn’t use Vit c and retinol or tretinoin at the same time but it’s fine to use Vit c in the morning and retinol or tretinoin should only be used at night anyway. And a good separate SPF every day. Not in a moisturiser.

Retinol in squalane from the ordinary about £7 works a treat I use it about 3 times a week

Amazon is definitely not trusted for skincare. I use tret from various places and routine goes here. Here is my routine that I follow:
Morning:
Using water to wash your face,
Sebamed clear face gel,
la roche posay spf
Evening:
la roche posay moisturizer,
Tretinoin (0.1) from skinorac
Sebamed clear facial gel

If you/friends are going to or transiting the M.E. you can usually buy tret over the counter at chemists (definitely in UAE and Saudi, not sure about the others).
If you are holidaying in Spain I understand it's the same there.
I tend to buy a few tubes whenever I'm passing (.. also strong fexafenadine, antibiotics, rybelsus(around £80 for a month's supply) and lots of other goodies which are either cheaper or prescription only in the UK.

Thanks so much for all the detailed advice.

I'll read it and go shopping now.

Happy shopping