Wondering about my skin prescription

[TheGirlWhoLived]

Just started skin and me as I was a bit clueless about skincare and wanted to have something made for me, that wouldn’t work against each other. I haven’t got heaps of wrinkles or acne but fairly red, dry and uneven skin, I wouldn’t feel comfortable going out without foundation on.

The prescription has come through at 12% azelaic acid and 4% niacinamide, moving up to 14% azelaic acid and 4% niacinamide after 2 months.

Am I right in thinking these are fairly basic ingredients that I could purchase more cheaply than £25 a month? I’m not sure what I was expecting but I saw other reviews including retinol and tret so I am wondering if my skin needs are a bit less… needy than I was expecting?

If anyone can shine a light on this before I start paying the big bucks that would be fab! Thanks

Tretinoin tends to be prescribed for anti ageing and acne. Your issues are more aligned with rosacea/sensitive skin which doesn't always benefit from retinoids. Niacinamide you can purchase on your own at that strength but Azelaic acid is only available up to 10% without a prescription.

I have the same prescription from them. It's the only thing that helps. I've tried other azeliac acids and niacinamides and they all irritate my skin and mean I get rosacea flare ups.

Sounds promising then, thanks! It does feel quite nice on my skin. Did you decide on the whole shebang? (Cleanser, moisturiser, suncream, serum)? I kind of thing ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’ but again I was using my micellar water and Nivea soft and that’s cheap as chips 😂

Thanks @botemp that’s really useful info! My daughter has a 10% niacinamide, I think from the ordinary and simple so I think it was including that that threw me off a little

Did you send them your photos? They can't add tret if you don't. It does sound like a good match for your skin issues though.

I got the free trial of the cleanser, etc, I don't think they're anything special. I've kept up the vit c serum in the morning but might look for another brand.

Yeah I showed the sides and face on photos, maybe it’s just not for me! My skin looked pretty rough in them. Will see how I get on this month with all of the products. If I get lovely skin then it’s worth it

I'm just coming to the end of a trial. Also dubious about value but it's the first time I've not been spotty in years so I'm wondering if it is worth it.

I've got similar prescription and skin is definitely generally getting better although that might also be because I stopped taking retinal......

I'm on month 3 or 4 and will continue for a bit longer.

I was using medik8 retinal in the evening and had been for a couple of years. The redness and rosacea have definitely got better.

I’ve just started too and have a similar prescription, but I will be moving to tret from month 3 onwards. My skin is a little bit sensitive and prone to redness, so I guess the first 2 months are designed to prep my skin for the tret? I don’t know. I do have a few fine lines, but not many (yet) and no acne.

If you don't need the prescription type skincare like Tret I'd not get your skincare from skin&me, there's lots of cheaper and equally good (....better...) option available on the high street these days.

I agree with this.

As you know from your DD, you can buy the niacinamide cheap as chips elsewhere.

You can request Skinoren cream or Finacea gel, 15 or 20% Azelaic acid from Boots Online Doctor. These cost in the range of £16-20 for 30g which is double the amount of the Skin and Me dispenser.

I am just starting a prescription retinoid from Boots Online Doctor, about 1/3 the cost of the monthly services per unit amount. It is still very early but all is good so far

It does look like when you want to reorder you need to go through the process again, which takes 5-10 min

I'm on exactly the same as you OP, and was a little disappointed not to get any tret. (I do have fine lines and occasional acne.) In my case I wondered if it was because I'm breastfeeding 🤔 I only paid £3.50 for this month as an intro offer, so I'm going to try it for this month and next, and only continue if there's a decent improvement.
Otherwise I think I recall on another thread that some people have been prescribed tret on dermatica but not on skin+me.
@poetryandwine thanks for the tip about Boots online pharmacy - I'd not have thought of them for skincare.

Hi, @BranstonPickleAndNikNaks

Happy to mention it. BTW it is Boots Online Doctor, which might be separate from the general Online Pharmacy. The products above are all under the Skincare/Antiaging option

When you've done your trial it might be worth trying Dermatica for comparison, you can get 50% off 3 months with FB50 and I've found their dosage to be much more generous than skin and me.

op just watch what you do in terms of retinols, I have roseacea and even the smallest percentage ruined my skin. Personally I stay away from acids and go for a simple, calming routine (Cetaphil wash, avene skin soothing moisturiser, le Roche posay spf, glossier/ Aimee Connolly primer). I love skincare so hate that I can’t go further but am finally comfortable in my skin!

So the first one I’ve been put on is actually 10% azelaic acid, which is widely available anyway! Thanks for the tip about dermatica, I might give that a try next

So this is my current skin, obviously make up free (and ds got me up super early) I’m 35 so wanted this redness to go away for good really!

If anyone has specific recommendations I could get away with WITHOUT spending £40 (after skincare, cleanser and moisturiser) that would be great!

Sorry no recommendations OP as my issues are spots and wrinkles, but just want to say I think your skin looks healthy!

Well the Skinoren AA 20% from Boots Online Doctor is about £16 for 30g which is double the monthly amount dispensed by Skin and Me, more than double the Dermatica amount.

You can buy the other items anywhere you like. I haven’t tried The Ordinary and I know it splits opinions but it’s very reasonably priced.

I am loving Cetaphil Moisturising Cream which is about £17 at Superdrug for a massive tub which will apparently last forever.

Derm recommended

Your skin looks great to me, you’re fresh for 35! I would say the same about Dermatica, I tried both and got the better prescription from them.

I’m looking into the boots online doctor, 20% seems a lot to straight in with , I might build up to that

Been using my skin+me for 3 weeks now, mine however does have the Tret in it and so far I'm really happy with it.

I got the cleanser, serum etc minis and to be honest haven't been impressed with those. I use Absolute Collagen Serum which I love so will continue with that and just my Clinique moisturiser.

I'm 35 too and I think your skin looks great.
I have used skin+me for a couple of years now and I love it. I did have an issue at one point as the tret in my doser was irritating the skin close to me eyes so they had to take it out and try something else (can't remember the ingredients off top of my head) but now my skin is so happy. I'm now trying out their firming serum which I love.

I could find something similar on the high street, but now I've got the balance right I'm sticking with it and I think it's worth the cost for the advice you get. The prescribers are quick to respond and they really helped me set up a decent routine.