Retinol

[woodman88]

Hello, I wondered if anyone can recommend a retinol cream. I don’t know where to start. Age: 50. Some acne scarring and still the occasional hormonal outbreak. Many thanks!

No idea but bumping because i would also like to know

I like the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game, I started with the 5 and now I’m using the 10. I’ve had no irritation and my skin is glowy. Start out 2-3 times per week, to let your skin get used to it, and remember to use SPF during the day as it can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.

I use environ, it's a step wise system, it's done my skin wonders and I'm only on step 2!

I like the Ordinary retinal

Medik8 is fabulous, start low and work up

From Mumsnet I’ve learnt not to buy over the counter but to Use one of the prescription services where a dermatologist prescribes - like dermatica or skin and me, it’s about £25 but you get a personalised treatment addressing your skin concerns- so including other actives. I did this a few years ago and it’s been money well spent (and lots cheaper than medik8, obagi etc.

You sign up, send photos and the dermatologist prescribes according to your concerns - eg niacimide or azaelic acid as well as the tretenoin and you build up gradually. Feel free to pm me if you can use a referral code which would benefit us both with a discount

Sign up to Dermatica.

If you want to try one month free at Skin and Me feel free to use my code YVONNEB8V9H

I use trinny London retinal and rate it. I have sensitive skin and it doesn’t irritate it.

I use Cerave resurfacing retinol serum. My skin reacts to bloody everything, but this has been great for me. I’ve built it up to using it every other night now. It’s made my skin so soft and much reduced the various flaws.

I wouldn’t bother with retinol at your age but go straight for prescription based Tretinoin. I used to use retinol but got so many better results from tret, it does make a massive difference to my skin.
Sign up to Dermatica or Skin and Me, they asses your skin via photos and prescribe what you need and they will slowly build up strength for you.

I started with Skin and Me but the solution stung and irritated my skin so I switched to Dermatica and that has been so much better for me. One thing to remember if you do decide to use tret is that it’s important to start slowly and always keep your skin hydrated with moisturiser. You can also sandwich tret with moisturiser before applying it and after if you find at first that your skin is a bit dry.
You fill out a questionnaire and add photos and they asses your skin and send you a formula each month to suit your skin type. It always has tret in but depending on skin can also add other things to target specific skin and your desired outcome of using it.
if you do want to use Dermatica you can try it cheap for the first month, I have a code you can use to get £10 off, it can be used as many times as needed so anyone interested in giving it a try can use it, just enter it at the checkout. Just to be open and honest though it also adds credit to my account, sort of as a refer a friend, so I also get some discount if it’s used, but it’s a shame to waste it and certainly don’t pay full price for it when you can use the discount.

https://www.dermatica.co.uk/referrer/5EW47R

Discount Code: 5EW47R

You can try out the tretiwell which I am using for long term. Here goes my routine if you would be interested:
Morning:
Using water to wash your face,
Sebamed clear face gel,
Garnier spf on my face and sun bum on the body
Cicaplast
Evening:
LRP moisturizer,
Tretinoin (0.1) from skinorac
Sebamed clear facial gel

Thanks for all these replies. I will start to look in to the different suggestions. The sun sensitivity worries me as I’m so pale skinned as it is.

I’m pale as a ghost and use Skin + Me. You just need a good SPF.

You just need to make sure you use spf every day, I am fair too and I’ve been fine.

I looked into this two years ago (at 52) and eventually decided just to go with a prescription tretinoin service. I chose Skin&Me and I’m very happy with them, great service, and after two years, the best skin of my life.

Its also much, much cheaper than the retinol products I was considering. I pay £25 a month for my tret (I spend a lot on SPF now though). I was looking at Medik8 products recently and couldn’t actually afford the recommended regime, even though I don’t consider myself to be struggling financially.