1. Wash face thoroughly with a mild soap or a gentle alcohol-free non-soap cleanser such as Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Wash, Cetaphil cleanser, or CeraVe cleanser. Pat skin dry and wait for skin to thoroughly dry, about 5-15 minutes.
While being treated with Retin-A, wash your face gently with tepid water (hot water increases irritation) using a mild soap or facial cleanser such as Cetaphil®, Dove®, Purpose®, or Basis®. For dryness, use a light moisturizer such as Avéne® or CeraVe® after applying the Retin-A or at alternate times without Retin-A.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is especially important to avoid using the following skin products on the same area as tretinoin: Any other topical acne product or skin product containing a peeling agent (eg, benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid, or sulfur).
The best product you can use in conjunction with retinol, according to Dr. Zeichner, is a moisturizer, which can help hydrate skin and reduce the risk of irritation from retinol. “Some people even prefer to mix their retinol with a moisturizing cream to dilute it out,” he says.
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient also commonly known as retinol. Vitamin A helps to reduce the signs of ageing like wrinkles, pigmentation and blotchiness. You can find it in Cetaphil's Rich Night Cream.
A pea-sized amount of tretinoin is sufficient for the entire face. Use at bedtime, after cleansing with a gentle non-soap cleanser such as Cetaphil or CeraVe.
If you have dry, flaky or peeling skin, you can apply an alcohol-free moisturizer after 20 minutes has passed. Moisturizer can be useful in preventing the flaking and peeling side effects that some people experience from tretinoin.
Avoid using skin products that can cause irritation, such as harsh soaps, shampoos, hair coloring or permanent chemicals, hair removers or waxes, or skin products with alcohol, spices, astringents, or lime. Avoid using other medications on the areas you treat with tretinoin topical unless your doctor tells you to.
“To compensate for being overly dry, skin will ramp up oil production, which can create a vicious cycle of dryness and acne,” says Sikora. The fix: Use salicylic in the morning and your retinoid at night.
Fortunately, it's safe to mix niacinamide and retinol. In fact, the combination is considered to have numerous benefits.
Use Exfoliants Sparingly After the Adjustment Period
After two to six weeks of using tretinoin, it's usually okay to start using an exfoliant. However, it's best to use exfoliating products as sparingly as possible while using tretinoin to avoid potentially irritating your skin.
Yes. It's perfectly safe to use a moisturizer with tretinoin. In fact, tretinoin without moisturizer is generally not recommended. Many dermatologists advise their patients to moisturize while using it to reduce their chance of developing dry, peeling skin.
You should avoid washing the skin treated with tretinoin for at least 1 hour after applying it. Avoid using any topical medicine on the same area within 1 hour before or after using tretinoin. Otherwise, tretinoin may not work properly or skin irritation might occur.
You should only use tretinoin as prescribed to avoid significant skin irritation, redness, and other side effects. One way to minimize side effects is to put moisturizer on just before and after applying tretinoin.
Just make sure you choose products without synthetic fragrances to keep irritation at bay. When starting out, apply moisturizer directly after applying tretinoin to minimize potential irritation. As your skin adjusts, you can leave tretinoin on for about 20 minutes before following up with a moisturizer.
-Cleanse your skin, making sure to remove your makeup thoroughly. Pat your skin dry and allow it to dry completely. -Apply any water-based serum – like hyaluronic acid – and/or use any 'toning' products.
Retinol is potent, but that doesn't mean it can't get along with anybody else on the playground; you just have to choose its playmates wisely. Pairing retinol with a simple moisturizer (think Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion) makes for a perfect combo if dryness and irritation are your big retinol woes.
Wait 20 to 30 minutes before applying this medicine to make sure the skin is completely dry. Applying tretinoin to wet skin can irritate it. To use the cream, gel, or lotion form of this medicine: Apply just enough medicine to very lightly cover the affected areas, and rub in gently but well.
Overall, there is no clear winner. It just depends on the needs of your own skin. If you experience dry skin, oily skin, acne-prone skin then CeraVe might be the clear choice. However, if you experience sensitive skin the Cetaphil is the better option.
Regardless of your skin type or which product you use first, a layer of moisturizer should always be applied after retinoids.
A formula with retinol, like the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Eye Treatment, should be applied after your serums and before moisturizer due to its consistency.
Rouleau says the best time to use a scrub is in the morning. Overnight you've loosened up dead skin cells with your glycolic acid or retinol products, making the morning a perfect time to brush them off.