Anyone else given up on retinol & SPF?

[Arraminta]

So, for the 6th or 7th time I've tried introducing a very mild retinol and daily SPF into my skin care, only for my skin to feel uncomfortable and tight within days.

I've tried various combinations, using lots of moisturiser etc, and doesn't matter how much I spend, it always ends like this. Anyone else?

I wear Eborian BB creme which is SPF 25, and I know this really isn't ideal, but I think it's as good as it gets for my face? I've never put my face in the sun, always kept it shaded etc.

I struggled with a few failed starts, but the key really is to just tough it out and lots of moisturiser, consistency is key and your skin gets used to it.

I used it 4-5 times a week.

I can’t tolerate retinol or tret either. Flaky skin, desert dry eyes (whatever I do to prevent it getting anywhere near to / in them).

When I’ve been onto forums etc, trying to figure out how to get around it. It’s just pages and pages of people talking about complex sandwiching etc routines. I just got to the point where I was wondering why I was doing it, as it made me look worse with flaky irritated skin and I couldn’t wear makeup. If I have to work that hard to make something work just to look better and end up looking worse, then I feel like it’s not working. Jealous for those it does work for, though!

moisturiser after - helps the skin not dry out as retinols can do. Make sure it’s a very gentle moisturiser as well and only use a pea sized amount of retinol/tretinoin!

Agree

Its not surprising how the skin reacts, you are essentially stimulating it to turn over faster and increase collagen .
SPF is a MUST as your skin will be more reactive to sun

Just adapt and go slowly, your skin will get used to it

As regards when to apply products

Morning
Gentle cream cleanser , sometimes just water , moisturiser/ serum then SPF

Evening
Make up off as soon as I walk through the door using cold cream, wash with balm cleanser, apply usual serum and moisturiser

Tret night ( 3 times week)
Just before bed, vaseline to lips and eyelids apply peasized tret* then slather ceramide cream ( korean, cheap, huge tube) or sometimes cicaplast baume all over

Non tret apply Marula oil

Its really not complicated and takes seconds

• peasized amount covers my entire face and neck

Its a long term gain, not a quick one at all

My skin can’t tolerate it no matter how I use it. Last time I did, at night, had factor 50 on the next day.
Only popped into the supermarket with my other half the next day, there was a queue to get out, mild sun through the windows and my skin started burning. Had to go to a walk in it was that bad.
Not putting myself through that again.
I know it works wonders for others but it clearly isn’t great for all of us.

I gave up tret because I swim a lot and it seems to react with the chlorine and feels like my face is burned. I'm not giving up swimming and I don't care that much about my face....

I can't tolerate retinol either at all so I swapped to Nivea Cellular Bakuchiol serum a couple of years ago which has been excellent for me. It's very light and Bakuchiol is a natural, plant derived version of retinol and much gentler. I've had no issues with it at all and it's been a repeat purchase serum for me.

SPF is really important so I'd try to find one that feels good to you. I really like L'Oréal Revitalift SPF 50 anti UV fluid because I have oily skin and this one is thin textured and doesn't make my face feel greasy.

Are you starting with a low strength retinol and raising this slowly over time?

I use tret and have had to build up the strength slowly.

I subscribe to prescriptions from Dermatica after reading on here and using the codes.
Dermatica are great, photos sent, regular requests for more, comments made and they adjust the dose. Careful management.

My skin is glowing at the minute. Sometimes I can feel the very, very top layer of my skin washing away in the shower. Love it a new me underneath! 😍

This is useful, reporting overtime. https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/chat/5160597-has-anyone-tried-dermatica?reply=142297309

What type of serum is it?

I’ve been using medik8 liquid peptides for a while (although not every night). I got it in a beauty advent calendar though so there may be better options out there, it seems to suit my skin though. For SPF, I like Thank You Farmer best.

Have you tried Bakuchiol? It is far less irritating than retinol.

Also spf in makeup is generally going to be less effective than a dedicated spf product, because most people don’t apply makeup thickly enough to get the full stated spf. If your skin can tolerate it, I would use a dedicated spf as well as your makeup.

Biore spf 50 is great under or over make up. It’s a very watery texture. Smells nice too.

Another proponent of Bakuchiol here - it's much less irritating on the skin but has the same 'Vitamin A' impact as retinol. I buy the neat oil from Amazon, and mix it with CosRX Snail mucin essence to put on - it's much better than retinol. I haven't been able to get comfortable with retinol again since pregnancy.

I react badly to retinol and a bit to many other creams. Loved Liz Earl for a while until I reacted to that too. I now just use a tiny amount of pure argan oil before bed. I’ve never reacted to it. Works really well.

I don't use retinol, it's too harsh for my skin, which is very sensitive. I do, however, use other products and have injectables and this combo works well for me. I have also got back into the habit of a daily SPF as apparently the blue light emitted from screens has UV light in it and I have a largely desk-based job so spend a lot of time on screens.

I recently posted a thread trying to find a non-greasy SPF and am using one by Beauty of Joseon (available from Superdrug). So far I really like it. It's light and has no odour at all. I'm sensitive to smells, so the strong, chemical smell of most SPFs is unacceptable to me. I find most of them too greasy as well.

The SPF is the bit to persevere with. Most of the signs of skin ageing are essentially sun damage on Caucasian skin, even if you don't directly sunbathe.

You could try buffering your retinol but if you can't tolerate even an OTC gentle one then you can cut it out. Keep the SPF.

There are different types of retinol and some can be unstable/more sensitive.

I don't on the whole like Boots skincare, I find it harsh. I started using retinol and stared very slowly with one from The Ordinary, it seems to be OK so far.

The spf that I use is Cerave but Byoma is also very good, then a nice evening moisturiser with ceramides in such as Cerave or something like Aveeno Calm & Restore. Or Byoma again.

I've used Tretinoin for 6 years now every night (except when on holidays to sunny places) and I love it. When I first started using it my skin peeled but that's because I wasn't using a rich enough moisturiser. I started using Nivea Creme on top of it and haven't peeled since. My skin is so smooth it practically squeaks ! I used SPF every day and a zinc stick in summer

You need to see a dermatologist I reckon to see what your skin needs. Rly hard grade stuff is tretinoin which is amazing for skin but only available from certain derms. Our skin has a 5 week cycle so it takes a while to see benefits - unlikely to see any difference after few days etc.

All sounds terrifying… I’ve been gifted the Caroline Hirons stuff. Planning to use it once per week. I’ve had various AHA & whatnot over the years. Always been afraid to use anything strong, I like Shea butter & oils, that sort of thing. I use SPF in the summer months. Going to go daily now I’m 50. Should I give the CH Retinol a go? What should I expect?

Yes retinol just doesn't suit everyone, it's not always about building up. Google retinol damage and you'll see! I also use peptides which I really do see a difference from, I use the Ordinary Collagen Peptides.

A few people will of course have an allergy but Retinol damage is caused by overzealous use or use when contraindicated or the main one -not using sunscreen as per the Op

The effects redness, peeling and sensitivity are the sideffects of applying a substance to your skin which increases cell turnover and ultimately collagen production
The rate at which it affects individuals varies
Op might want to start 1:10 and gradually increase month by month
I went with Tret after usiing Retinol for several years and the company I used were VERY clear as to how it should be used .

@Arraminta I'd recommend Medik8 Crystal retinal (not retinol) which comes in very low doses. I started on 0.03% and I've used it now for around 6- 8 weeks. I can see a difference. Slightly less pigmentation and my pores look smaller. A family member said my skin looked 'smoother'.

I have sensitive skin and had bad eczema years ago.
They do several strengths (6, I think.)
The lowest is 0.01%.

I'm going to carry on with '3' for another 3 months before moving up to the next which is 0.06%.

Crystal Retinal contains retinAL; a next-generation vitamin A which acts 11x faster than standard retinOL.[2] And, unlike others, our patented retinal stability system ensures unmatched retinal potency and effectiveness until the very last drop.

Previously, I've used Olay creams with retinol (including their eye cream) and had to stop because of irritation.

I started gradually with a very low concentration (boots no7 0.3%) every other night and daily after the first 2 weeks. I don’t think my skin could cope with a higher dose, I’m prone to eczema and react to most fragranced skincare. I’ve currently stopped to use a derma roller at home, if after a month I’m seeing better skin with the roller I’m quitting retinol for good. It hasn’t given the results I expected, I’ve used the concentrate and the night cream diligently for a year. I wouldn’t say my skin is better or worse, I haven’t seen a reduction in fine lines. I feel it’s a bit restrictive for me, I like using face scrubs and very mild peels but can’t with retinol, even at such a low concentrate. Plus it seems to mess with eyebrow tint and my brows are light again within a few days of dyeing them. This has only happened since retinol. Also I have a mad fluffy blonde moustache because even following the advice of stopping for 5 days before a wax, I still ended up with wax burn and some pretty horrible broken capillaries on my top lip.