Hi Everyone! Just want to note, I think tretinoin is an incredible ingredient to add into your routine, but wanted to acknowledge that it might not work for everyone (myself included), just like other “it” ingredients might not work for others.
THANK YOU for this video. I feel like I am one of few who feel the same. It just does not work for me. I found the Naturium Retinaldehyde and have been using it with great success! Such a great product.
@@karaleonor9638 Avène A-Oxitive nuit/night Soin Peeling/Peeling Cream is an excellent retinaldehyde based night treatment - you will be able to find it in any pharmacie in France.
Susan I have not been able to use tretinoin. I have tried over the years At my age of 69 Trying to get my cells to turnover faster. My biggest question is I like my brows and lip Waxed. Been told a no no With retinol. Could you shed light on this? Darlene
I feel blessed to have resilient skin, I was able to start 0.025% tretinoin daily off the bat with no side effects whatsoever, no dryness, no purging, in fact my skin loves the stuff.
Same. I started with Adapalene, then Tazorac then tretinoin 0.025, now at 0.05% for 5 days a week and the lower dosage around my eyes. My skin loves it and I will never be without it.
same and I kinda feel that with retinoids I dont see similar good results. I guess some people just have thinner skin and very sensitiv. My friend gets so red. Its really sad for them 😢
@@suvisantini9712 I find tret to be better tolerated that adapalene, when I was on differin my skin would dry out more, one of my friends couldn't handle the extreme dryness it caused them, now I'm wondering if I should try getting them to try tret (mainly for acne as we both struggle).
I'm just absolutely shocked that the only reason she's stopping tret (I highly doubt she actually is) is because this is just a long, curated ad for her own Naturium retinal products. Just shocked and flabbergasted. Never change, Susan.
Tretinion is not for everyone. Some people can not use it. Some don’t ever get past the irritation, even when using it correctly. I am one of the lucky ones it works extremely well for me and my sensitive skin. My rosacea, hyperpigmentation, and all over skin smoothness has improved immensely. Sorry to hear you can’t use it.
it works wonder for me as well 😊 I also have sensitive skin, so I was skeptical to start with tretionin. I've been using it for 6 montgs now and the difference in my skin is freaking awesome 😊😊
Have rosacea too. 2 years later I still flake. It's bad too because I wear foundation to cover the rosacea so my makeup looks like it's peeling off. I have no issue on my neck, chest and eye area. I've tried all the recommendations with no help.
I am listening this like my own story. I gave up just a month ago as well and could not be happier. I was struggling so bad and was starting to lose all the joy in using skincare because had set this ultimate skincare goal for myself to use tret. But after 1,5 years and my skin constantly battling with irritation and looking worse and worse, I stopped. And went back to Geek&Gorgeous retinal treatment, A-Game. And I got back my joy in skincare. And my skin is looking so much better.
I'm never breaking up with my bestie Tretinoin 0.05%. We've been together for 7 months now and my skin is glass-like, smooth, like a baby's bottom and glowing. Not a pimple or wrinkle in sight. I just keep my routine very basic. Morning routine is cleanse, tone, vitamin C, moisturiser and SPF 50. Evening routine is cleanse, Tretinoin, moisturiser and seal with organic rosehip oil. Works for me. I'm 40 and people think I'm half my age. I went to hairdresser and my hairdresser complimented my face and asked me the secret. I told her it was my bestie Tretinoin. I guess she didn't believe me, cos I saw her lift my hair to check for scars for surgery lol. Don't hate, appreciate🤣🤣🤣🤣💖
@staybeautiful305 i also get irritation from niscinimide! I seeqm to do ok with it's a low concentration. I just started using a product from drmtlgy called c5. It has alot of alternative forms of vitamin c. And Versed skincare has a vitamin c moisturizer with THD (tetrahexyldecyl ascorabate?). It's an oil soluble form. I have to only apply a small amount and moisturize....seems like so many actives are irritating!!
Same here. Tried everything under the sun, the reaction looked like a burn. I was relieved to discover CEO glow oil by Sunday Riley. It works magnificently, it’s my Holy Grail product.
Ugh this is me. I finally just broke it off. I hate it because it kept my pores clear and my acne at bay but my skin looked so dehydrated and NEVER stopped peeling. I feel like my wrinkles look worse with how dry my skin stays. Even with sandwiching my moisturizer and not using it everyday, etc.
It's not supposed to stop peeling because that's part of its precise mechanism of action. But it does lessen in severity over time, although it will never go away completely because if it stops then it's no longer working. I think you guys just have to reset your expectations. Read my comment above. It takes up to a year before it becomes tolerable.
I think people often forget that when using tretinoin, you should have the simplest skincare routine... and in Yara's case, I don't think she was doing that. Which may have contributed to tretinoin not working. The prescription is already doing the most for you, so you really need to stop using so many products, and you need to stop using too many acids or too frequently. In the case of tretinoin, consistency and small steps are the way to go.
Not true. She has already discussed this many times She knows skincare and she worked closely with dermatologists. She knew how and when to step back. But the problem as I have discussed above is that she, like others as well, still couldn't accept the fact that the side effects can happen no matter what you do but they will eventually subside after anywhere from 1 to 6 months. It can take up to a year before you're actually completely acclimated to it and see visible results. And when you stop the minute you get unpleasant effects, whenever you restart, it will be like starting from scratch all over again. You cannot escape the side effects if they happened to you the first time. And it doesn't matter how long and how many times you keep restarting, which she had been attempting for more than a decade till she decided she was done with it. You just have to accept it and stick with it patiently as I have for the past more than 2 decades now. And that's a lesson I've had to painfully learn myself by experience as well.
@@sabrinahebert7885 It's been my main Rx for acne since I was 14. It went from moderate/severe to really severe with tretinoin for 3 months. I put it on daily and never stopped because my dermatologist told me that that was what I should expect because of its mechanism of action, it was gonna get worse before it gets better. I saw Susan's adverse reactions around her lips from the short clip she had a couple months ago. I thought, what?! That's it? You were panicking over that mild swelling and finally decided THAT was your last straw? OMG, I wish you could have seen my face when I stated at 14. You would have been horrified lmao! I had also known I was going to med school since I was 2 lol and I've always been a science, tech and math nerd who was fascinated with medical stuff since I was in 1st grade when I used to go straight to the hospital where my mom was an OR nurse so I saw people getting operated on through the glass partitions daily. I've been studying medicine and surgery since I was a kid really. Lol. Anyways, I laid out all that background in order to make you guys actually get a full sense of how much of it truly is just about adjusting your mindset and understanding how the drug actually works inside the skin cells and why our skins then start acting that way. It activates certain genes in our DNA that direct our skin cells to accelerate their turnover rate, which means that they start dividing to make new cells faster and that process then forces the older cells from the deeper layers out towards the upper layers where the dead cells get sloughed off as part of the flaking and peeling that then happens. Throughout that process, all the closed comedones (whiteheads or clogged up pores over the sebaceous/oil glands) that were buried under the upper layers all then get pushed upwards, get exposed and inflamed and then blow up into pimples, which is why those of us who have acne or are acneic will suddenly experience an onrush of breakouts that seemed to come out of nowhere. I've read so many comments all over this app about how this is the precise time when most people who were bound to have a meltdown will start having one and start questioning WTF just happened to them and that they finally realized tretinoin just isn't for them, that they got the reaction that was the total opposite of what they wanted to achieve. And since everyone's reaction timelines are different, if they were told by a friend that the purging phase seemed to last forever (2 months) but they were now at month 5 but it didn't seem to be abating, that's it. That will truly send them into full-blown crisis mode in which it would be close to impossible to change their minds. But they simply just had more gunk deep down their skins than their friend did and so they just needed more time to get rid of them. But those aren't exactly bottomless pits of zits lol. It's simply not physically possible for that phase to go on forever. So if only she knew she only had 3 more weeks left before she started seeing the beginnings of baby-like skin like literally out of nowhere, she would have probably felt like it would have been worth 3 more months of hell instead of 3 weeks. Believe it or not, that's what happened to me when I was 14, but it was more within the regular timeframe of 2 to 3 months when I actually started getting shocked compliments from friends who never said anything when it was bad. LOL. What, so what exactly did you think my skin was just a month ago when you were pretending nothing was wrong? Lol Anyhoo, I must say, though, that at 14, our skins naturally already have crazy fast skin turnover and plentiful production of elastin and collagen of the highest quality even without assistance. So I had a lightning-fast cycle. So when we're older, we should also expect a much slower reaction time to retinoic stimulation. Bottomine is WE NEED PATIENCE, TOLERANCE, ENDURANCE AND PERSISTENCE WITH THIS PARTICULAR AGENT BECAUSE WITHOUT THOSE, WE DON'T DESERVE THE REWARDS IT GENEROUSLY PROVIDES FOR RESPECTING ITS NEED TO WORK AT ITS OWN PACE AND SPARING IT THE NAGGING AND STRESS THAT ONLY SERVES TO SLOW IT DOWN FROM GETTING TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. 😜 TBH, I've also not been consistent with my own discipline in my tretinoin journey. I tended to stop as soon as I got to equilibrium state and then only remembered it again when I needed the help again. Lol. So I then I got tortured all over again as punishment. Lol. I've had to re-learn all this the hard way myself despite my initial confidence and triumph with it. But now, we're at constant equilibrium. It's now mostly peace and quiet. We don't bother and even feel each other's presence much anymore. Lol I urge you guys to watch Jennifer Myers' videos on her own tretinoin experience for 2 decades. She will teach you precisely what to do in order to get to what she now absolutely feels so thankful she did for herself starting from around the same age I did as well. She has been waaaay more consistent than I've been, though. So I'm more like at 25% because I have been off it much more than I've been on over the past 2 decades, while she's now at max status in which all tretinoin can do is to maintain her skin at that level where there is nothing more to improve after 20 years of use for her. But I'm also now at a comfortable point where there is hardly anything unpleasant anymore that will even make me contemplate resting from it for a while. It's just like any other boring daily routine like brushing my teeth for me now. I definitely don't have acne anymore, just some shallow hint of the deep scars I used to have over my temple area. Hey, I just realized that transformation alone is just as if not more remarkable than the flattening of maybe some moderate to severely deep wrinkles! Wow, it's probably the fact that it took that long that it was hard to notice, but that's totally my fault. It probably would have taken just 25 to 30% of the time if I never took long breaks, especially since it would have been even faster when I was younger. Oh well, but they're almost gone now. On with it we go!!! Good luck, never give up!!
It's just this business driven world pushing their products all the damn time. People keep plastering stuff on their faces when the body craves simplicity.
I am so relieved to hear this! I have been fighting with my Tretinoin for three years. I can only use it in very specific parts of my face. The other parts just get so dry and flaky, and then those parts are missing out on any retinol benefit. I’m definitely going to switch to a lower dose over the counter retinol! Thank you for sharing! ❤
@@kkbergerud I'll just share what I use maybe it could help night: - moisturizer (Cosrx) wait for 30minutes - tretinoin (Vitacid 0.025% the brand from my country) I sleep for 4 to 5 hours morning: - clean my face with a washcloth first - fash wash (cetaphil) - sunscreen I've been reducing sugar intake, also I stopped using a bunch of products (i.e benzoyl peroxide, niacinamide, vit c, aha, bha, etc) 2 days before tretinoin. I didn't break out, my acnes dried up in day 3, today my face is smooth and as plumpy as ever
Yep, I tried for an entire year to get used to a low concentration of tretinoin because everyone said "oh, you'll push through it!", but my skin barrier was constantly compromised. I looked aged by 5 years! I switched to OTC differen and my skin is clearing up and looking SO much better.
I love tretinoin and use 0.1%, so I feel lucky! I also just keep it simple with my routine, which I think helps. Hope everyone finds a retinoid for them!
That’s what I used for my hormonal acne at 40 years old and it’s perfect for me. I do use the gel since I’m oily skin and my face did go thru the dry flaky skin but I only use it 2 to 3 times a week and I think my skin is at its best. Hope you’re Tretinoin routine goes very well.
Also, you're a MAN, which is really where most of your "retinoid luck" lies. 😜😈 Unlike most of the women around here who, because they have much lower levels of androgens/testosterone production in comparison on top of other age-related hormonal changes, tend to have morphologically thinner skins with much less sebaceous gland populations & activity especially post-puberty & in certain unique personal/medical conditions that they may additionally have. All of which make for a much less friendlier & ideal environment for retinoids to work in. When a drug decreases oil production & increases the speed & amount of cellular turnover in the skin, you can see how & why those effects will have a much greater impact in terms of causing dryness, irritation & peeling on those who already don't have much oil production to suppress & skin tissue to stimulate faster renewal of to begin with.
I peeled bad. Mouth was sore. The whole bit. Use the same strength for about 3 years now. I noticed a HUGE difference in wrinkles when I look at past and present photos
As a former esthetician I made the same decision a few years ago. Tret prevented me from being able to do regular chemical peels and other treatments and I hated that. Plus I was so tired of trying to WORK IT in my skincare routine. I’m done.
I’ve been using tretinoin 0.025% only 3x/week for over three years, and I am HAPPY with my results. Some people get too ambitious with trying to increase the percentage or the frequency, and I could never!!!! Maybe when I run out of tretinoin, I’ll try your retinaldehyde ❤
This was me smh went up a .1 I believe and my skin hated me immediately I started purging I looked crazy so now I just went back to the same percent as you it should be coming soon. I’ll never increase it again 🥴😊
This is a common thing with dermatologists, and it needs to be fixed. I'm so fed up with spending money to see a professional that does not help me whatsoever and just puts a product in my hand. I know many people that have been through the exact same thing. Absolute robbery.
I’ve been doing short contact therapy and it’s changed the game for me. I had a slight bit of peeling on the tip of my nose in the beginning but that is nothing compared to when I was leaving it on overnight. I mean my whole face would be peeling and felt like I had a sunburn for days no matter what tips and tricks I tried. I just leave it on for 30 minutes, wash my face, and then use serum and moisturizer. I was feeling extremely defeated with tretinoin so I’m glad I gave it one more chance before completely giving up on it. Oh and leaving it on for the 30 minutes is just as affective in the long run for anti aging, it just takes a few extra weeks for the short term benefits to start showing.
Do you wash your face with a cleanser 1st then put tret on… Then do you take tret off after 30 minutes with a cleanser again? I’m confused. Please help! 😬
I used to be frustrated that I couldn’t get an appointment during the pandemic with my derm to get my prescription level retinoid. I found retinoids OTC that are better for me! We just need to find the right thing for our skin.
I m using tretinoin, but I understand how terrible for others can be. After one year and half my skin is accepting it . I can use it every second night , but my skin routine is ridiculously simple. No masks, no salon treatment, no changing moisturizer… my routine is just face wash, tretinoin, la mer moisturizer and la mer sunscreen. Wrinkles are 90%-100% gone , my skin is full and very elastic. I noticed that with tretinoin I can not even try new skin products that’s how sensitive it is. I just need to stuck with this products and never change anything
To all with Tretinoin problems: Try Retin A gel. You might be sensitive to the Tretinoin carrier, which is the cream. I was. I've been on the gel for 13 years and love it.
Interesting! I am at the beginning of my retinol journey...I am more like a 0.2% girl :D lol, and cannot use it every day. Also sensitive to vitamin C, so not sure this is meant for me, but how interesting to consider the carrier as well! :)
You may be onto something there. I’ve used Tretinoin .05% cream and experienced some mild “peeling” but have never had a problem with the .1% gel regardless of how liberally I apply it.
I'm certainly lucky when it comes to Tretinion. I'm male and turning 48 later this year, and I've been on high strength Tretinion for several years, my skin looks insane and I get mistaken for being in my later 20s all the time. With Tretinoin the secret is to keep it simple...gentle non foaming face wash, sunblock and a gentle moisturizer (if needed), nothing else. I think a lot of people go overboard with products and facials, lasers, RF devices etc. on the side whilst using Tretinoin. Tretinoin is definitely my holy grail, my skin has never looked this good. I use a very gentle non foaming face wash morning and night, in the morning I apply an exosomes product followed by Neostrata spf 50 sunblock. In the evening I use my non foaming face wash again followed by Tretinoin. Always remember, go slow when starting Tretinoin, and use a very basic and simple skin care routine (face wash, sunblock and if needed, a moisturizer). I have never experienced any redness, peeling, dryness or pimple purging etc whilst being on Tretinoin.
@@Jonathan-xg4qq I started out very slowly only using Tretinoin twice per week for 2 months and then going up to 3 x per week for 2 months etc, I think that was the secret for my skin tolerating and adjusting well to Tretinoin. I currently use it pretty much every night, yes. Sometimes I use it less during the Summer months.
I use the foaming SA cerave cleanser and it works great. Oil cleansing and slugging with vaseline (and using super hydrating essences or toners such as the cosrx snail mucin) is great too with tretinoin. My fav moisturizer I use day and night is paula choice's omega complex (it's fragrance free). My mistake when I started was using 0.05% daily. My routine is pretty simple (not as much as yours though), but I think few steps is better. Idk how people do the 15+ steps routines
I’m so relieved to hear this! I’ve tried multiple retinols and even gentler versions of retinols that ALWAYS break me out, even for a month after using one 1x/week. I thought I maybe had a longer than usual purging period but it’s hard to want to go longer than that because as someone that was once on Accutane and gets always hyperpigmentation from acne even without picking, it’s frustrating. I can tolerate Naturium’s Vitamin C Super Serum Plus with retinol 1-3x/week and maintain my current skin 👍🏼
This is my issue. My skin is naturally prone to acne, but not cysts. I tried Differin, tret... every prescription retinol available, I tried. My skin would never stop breaking out. I would have dozens of cysts well past the six-month mark. Never mind that no matter how careful I was, how little I applied, how much I buffered and slugged my eye area, I wound up with unbearably dry eyes. Hard pass.
@@ondigottesman979 OMG, I' m literally crying🥹. I' m not the only one who experiences "the neverending purge" no matter which, how much or how often😓. Thanks for sharing your experience. You made my day🧛🏻♀️🖤
Same here. I was prescribed for acne issues and ended up with the never ending 'purge'. The doctor claimed tretinoin was some sort of miracle cream but not for me. The dermatitis looks also as little pustules so the dermatologist continuously told me it was the purge. My skin was suddenly feeling dull too. I tried lower dosage and it happened less often but still a pain when it did, before an important occasion too. I had the simplest routine possible and did not force too much stuff on my face from fear of causing some sort of disruption. I used tretinoin for 10 months then got switched to Differin and I just stopped it for good after 2 years and my last perioral dermatitis 1 month ago. I still have to fight my adult acne (33y) and likely forever will but my skin feels better and recovered since going off retinols. Not at the advice of the doctor who wanted me to keep using it. I try now to keep my acne under more control with azelaic acid again which so far works but only when super diligent and regular with it. Definitely won't mix anything else for now, don't wish to damage my skin barrier ever again. I strongly feel patients should be properly advised of this occurrence with retinols and stop advertising it as some sort of holy grail.
I' ve 🙌🏻FINALLY🙌🏻 found two people (an experienced reputated pharmacist who runs a YT channel and a derm) who confirm that "the neverending purge" is not a purge and why it happens. We are such a tiiiiiiny minority that our side effect is often not recognized and considered just acne itself. Non inflammatory lesions (open and closed comedos) are not affected but inflammatory ones (papules, pustules and cysts) cannot handle the forced cell turnover, too much stimulation for us so we end up producing more and more pimples. That' s why it worsens, the retinoid is actually encouraging our natural tendency🤯. I was suggested to give a try to a slow release retinoid, an encapsulated one. _Crystal Retinal 6_ from *MEDIK8* twice a week does not break me out🙆🏻♀️🥹. It' s expensive AF but it works. (I don' t have access to Naturium' s😭). Hope it helps. My best best best dermawishes🧛🏻♀️🖤
So crazy how different everyone’s skin is. I use the strongest medical prescription Retin-A 0.1% every single night, and my skin has grown to love it. I don’t have peeling or redness whatsoever anymore. I think our skin is just like our brain, some medications work for some, and don’t work for others.
For those thinking of giving up, just use Trifarotene instead, is the newest generation of retinoid, just as strong as tret but less irritating. I have rosacea, perioral dermatitis, and seb derm and this has me looking like a dolphin. The brand name is Aklief.
Longtime MixedMakeup/Susan fan here 👋🏾 ♥️ Sorry for your loss with tretinoin 😭 Request for a future video about retinol please: I’d love to get your take on Dr. Sturm’s view on how skin quality/longevity is based on lengthening our telemeres, which get shorter with age. She always talks about how retinol, while it gives great results in the short term, is actually speeding up the cellular “clock” due to increasing our cellular turnover rate and ultimately shortening the life of cells in the long term. I haven’t heard any other experts speak from that viewpoint, so I’d be curious to hear your thoughts. (All other points about Sturm products aside - I have heard you speak about the price points 😛 and agree the products are incredibly expensive!!!! Though I have used many of them and they have been incredible for my skin. Currently I’m using a mix of Naturium and Sturm, and have turned my family on to both brands. Whether or not the Sturm prices are warranted, I still think this specific topic about retinol stands on its own and I’m really curious to get other opinions from experts on the matter.)
You know you are not alone. That happened to me too, and I decided to quit retinol. Niacinamide serum is much better for my skin. ( I have oily acne prone skin but very sensitive)
My favorite go-to starter retinol is the Versed Gentle Retinol Serum at 0.03% retinol. It also has a blend of retinol alternatives, and I find it effective and super gentle.
Girl, same. My skin is just so sensitive and reactive when I use it - even with how much smaller is makes my pores, I just can't make it work without constantly living in fear a product might look at me in the wrong way and cause a load of irritation
I have been using tretinoin for more than 20 years and I love it. I no longer buy any othe expensive creams. I do combine it with E 45 cream and no any skin demage.But ofcourse you have to do your other products advertisments.
I know it’s expensive but I’ve been LOVING Medik8 Crystal Retinal 20 (0.2%). It’s the highest strength retinaldehyde available. I progressed to this after using Geek & Gorgeous A Game 10 and then Murad Retinal ReSculpt (both of these are 0.1%).
Hi, Have you noticed any hair loss (eg thinning eyebrows, etc) while using retinal? I really want to try Geek & Gorgeous A-Game but I'm scared of retinal causing hair loss. Cheers ^_^
Thanks for sharing Susan. I had to stop using tret after 6 months of use due to it bleaching my skin. As a black woman, the random light spots really worried me. I find tret to be extremely abrasive and not meant for the skin on my face.
I am one of those people who uses tretinoin every single night without any irritation. And my skin is flawless. Even though my skin suffered acne plus cystic acne for 7 years. I am just using tretinoin and my skin scars are 70% gone. I love tretinoin and I will never stop using it.
At your age you don’t need to aim for everyday use of retinoids no matter what percentage. The only ones that will benefit from daily use are those in their 60s and over. And again, even at that age you use whatever percentage your skin feels comfort with. A good rule of thumb is to use a retinoid times your decade. So if you’re in your thirties, aim for 3 times a week. In other words, you have at least two decades on you to build up to daily use. ☺️
It’s not for everyone. Thank goodness it works for me. Tried it on my teen daughter who’s going through acne phase. We’re doing the sandwich method and every other night use but her skin just isn’t happy it’s almost a year. Switch to prescription adapalene for her and it’s so much better and no more peeling. Everyone skin is so different. But I’m glad tret works for me because it’s only a co pay and not having to spend a fortune on skincare anymore and skin never looked better. Wishing good skin for everyone 🎉
I am so relieved and glad that someone else is validating my reality. 4 years ago, to clear dark spots (not pimples, I didnt have pimples then... but everytime I had a period, I would have one pimple or two form on my face, which would dry up by the time my period was over, but would leave a dark spot) on my face. My dermatologist put me on tretinoin with not much instructions. Immediately after I began using it, there was intense peeling, irritation, pimples flare up and sensitivity ...... My face became so sensitive and pimply, that I could only use water to cleanse my face because even soap, no matter how mild, felt like dousing myself in hot lava. My face would break out and be red (and I have dark skin) but my face would legit be RED!! and I couldnt use makeup due to the sensitivity, couldn't use any creams and my face would oil up immediately after bathing. My pillow case would look oily because my face was just gushing oil all the time,..... it was a colossal mess. When I finally stopped using tretinoin 1.5 years later, almost immediately my face broke out in different sizes of pimples... even in places where I had never had pimples before ( my forehead, my nose, my eyebrow, on my ears, behind my ears, close to my neck, close to my eyes, in my nostrils etc)..... and the pimples would form every hour of the day, oftentimes I could even feel them forming and at one point there was almost no space on my face for them to form anymore and so they would form on top of each other......i used nearly every prescription (save accutane) for my face and nothing worked at all. And so I just gave up. But when I thought all hope was lost, lo and behold some youtuber was selling her turmeric soap which she claimed would clear the face in no time at all.... Well I bought it and two weeks later, every oozing pimple, black head, puss filled boil-looking-pimple, just stopped forming on my face and dried up. Within a month, a good portion of my face was clear and within three months I had the clear skin I had initially gone to the dermatologist to for. Now my routine is generic amazon bought turmeric and neem soap and sulphur ointment........ I have clear skin at last. I tried to look online at people with a bad reaction to tretinoin, but everyone said it was a miracle cream..... for me... NEVER EVER AGAIN.
So you had the reactive phase of tret for a year and a half and then after discontinuing it you still had the same reactions without the prescription. And turmeric cleared it all.
Same. I don’t break out this much and now I’m scared to continue using Tret coz I don’t know if this break out is for getting better or getting worse! 😢
You were self conscious not paranoid ❤️❤️ and I feel your pain. Idk if to quit or keep trying. Cycling has worked. Every 4th day use tret. Also, moisturizing skin first after shower and waiting like 30min to an hour to put the tret
It didn’t work for me either. I also got perioral dermatitis, it was horrible. My face was a train wreck, it made me paranoid to be seen in public. I am able to use a retinol product with no issues now and my skin looks great!
I have used retinol for 15 years and started adapalene this year after watching the Budget Dermatologist video. I love it. My skin was already in good condition and adding adapalene took it to another level. I’m 48 & I won’t be moving to Tretinoin. Adapalene and retinol (I use Serious Skincare A Force XR retinol) are doing amazing things for my skin 🎉❤.
I just moved to tretinoin after swearing that I would never give up adapalene. I went from having amazing skin on adapalene to breaking out like I did before I used it, after starting a medication for ADHD. So now I'm trying tretinoin at the urging of my dermatologist to see if it helps. I have every intention of going back to adapalene someday though, because it's so affordable and works so well. Willing to give Tretinoin an honest try though and see how it goes to get this acne under control. (I'm 40, and didn't have acne until my late 20's)
How do you use the adapalene and retinol together? I'm using adapalene and I'm able to use it nightly directly on my skin. I'm finally getting good results after 11 weeks and shaving down my routine to the bare bones. I still have some pimples and clogged pores though. So scared to try exfoliating products or benzoyl peroxide... And I don't know if switching to tret is worth the risk.
Thank you for your honesty. I just figured out that my 25 year acne was caused by over-stripping cleansers. I always thought I had oily skin but it was actually dry skin over producing oil. My skin is great now and I was thinking about adding in Tretinoin to my routine since every is raving about it. I think I'll stay away and keep it simple.
I've read that even retinal palmitate has the same effects as the stronger retinoids without any irritation. It just takes longer to see the results. These days we are too anxious for fast results so everyone wants to go for the strong formulations without realizing what they getting into.
Thank you so much for this video! I personally I'm staying with retinaldehyde and then focusing on hydrating and soothing ingredients...and of course a great sunscreen.
@@rhonda6791 I'm actually using Naturium's .05% retinaldehyde lol. I haven't experienced any irritation. Before that I used Olay's retinol serum b/c I heard it was good for beginners. I didn't get irritated with that so I felt comfortable going to retinal next.
Great video But I feel very disappointed by this video. I watched your videos on Tretinoin and it was like it's a game changer for you. But now you are saying you have being struggling with it. I just want to know why youtuber are not honest ... May be this video is just to promote your "retinol" skincare line?? I am confused... That is why people trust lesss and less youtuber.
This sounds more like product pushing than actually trying to help people find retinoic acid derivatives. Tretinoin is not financially profitable to you, BUT promoting your own products is. Never in this video did you come to the point where you discovered how your misuse of Tretinoin could have been your downfall.
very good video. I'm a dermatology provider and tretinoin is a great ingredient. That said, so many of my patients not only want tretinoin but want it at the highest strength possible. Some can handle it, others can't and my biggest problem is trying to convince patients that it's ok to use a lower strength or not use tretinoin at all. Try not to compare your results to someone else's because we're all at least a bit different, and providers are happy to work with you to develop a great skincare plan without tretinoin.
Medik8 retinaldehyde 3, 6 & 10 are my favourites, I’ve been using them for years. Also their r-Retinoate has been great but the retinaldehyde is even better.
I understand whole heartedly! I gave up on Tret long time ago and I'm 32. Will def start looking into milder versions like retinaldehyde. Thank you for this video
I did it it just like they recommended. Lowest dose one day a week for a month then added one more day each month. I got past the irritation feeling but couldn’t wear makeup because I ALWAYS had flakes. I stopped and my post menopausal acne returned. I switched to Differin and so far so good.
I had a horrible experience with regular Tretinoin, until I switched to ALTRENO. It was life changing. It’s still a Tretinoin however it has moisturizing ingredients to avoid alot of the irritation that comes along with using it. I have Papulopustular Rosacea and severely dry and sensitive skin and my skin didn’t purge or get irritated with this formula.
I have sensitive skin, I have been using Naturium Retinol for months but I wanted to try tretinoin. I have been using it for 3 weeks now but with the skin cycling method (2 nights with tretinoin) and I haven’t had any problems:)
this is almost a deeper lesson abt how even if everyone including professionals and experts are saying xyz is a perfect solution, you have to listen to your intuition and pay attention your own anecdotal evidence even if it seems to go against "the studies" fwiw people i know that use tret have extremely smooth skin but oftentimes it looks thin, it doesn't necessary look younger per se
Have you tried retin-a micro? It’s literally the best thing since sliced bread. I can use it almost everyday with less side effects. The time-release formula makes it so much easier to tolderate
surprise surprise the people who say negative things about tretinoin, are trying to sell their useless cosmetic products. But if you're very young and already have perfect skin, of course you won't see any difference when using tretinoin. But not visible to your naked eye, you get better skin that is more resilient against sun damage, and you sure notice the difference when you get older.
This is so helpful for me Susan! I can’t thank you enough! I definitely get tret fomo, but I didn’t realize it. I now feel like I understand what to do to get those results that I want and not feel like I’m missing out haha.
@jajarounette95 My skin could never get used to it. No matter how little or how much I used or how often or what strength I used, it just never worked. It wrecked my skin barrier and caused dermatitis. Since this happened, I now have redness, and my skin is very reactive to everything.
I am so sick of all these influencers sticking their lips out in that trying-to-pout look. Girl. I was blowing by this channel when I stopped to just say, stop doing that.
Hey Susan, I was inspired by your videos that made me start my retinol & tretinoin journey. I will completely be honest that I completely stopped using any forms/dosage of retinol or tretinoin about 1 and half years ago. The purging phase never stop for me. Mind you, I’m not a person who breaks out (I would only get less than 6 pimples a year) nor have big pores. My skin is still currently recovering due to the damage. I’m glad you made this video because I felt like an outcast when it comes to skincare because EVERY influencer uses retinol/tretinoin. Like that’s the only item in my skincare routine that I can’t relate too when it comes to skincare influencer. I will be trying the Hero next though because I want to prevent wrinkles and aging as much as possible😅. I’ll probably have to accept the fact that I cannot use it at all if Hero goes bad for me too. 😢
This is what I don't understand. I assume Susan stopped birth control bcs she was trying to get pregnant. In that case doctors should have never even suggested her use tretinoin because it is known to cause birth defects.
@@SueRosalie No I don't. I had tretinoin prescribed before and was told by my pharm. abt being extra careful with birth control bcs of it causing birth defects.
@@MadamoftheCatHouse The data and science on it causing birth defects is actually not as researched as people think. And because there isn't much research on retinoid use while pregnant, it's really more of a suggestion because derms wanna cover their ass from a potential lawsuit IF something could be linked to a birth defect because of retinoid use. But there is no clinical research that it causes birth defects of any kind. There is no proof that it does, but because pregnant women have not been in a study, the.. I don't want to call it a myth, because we don't truly know, but the idea that it's gonna have your baby come out with scales and dragon wings continues.
Yes! After a year on Agency's tretinoin, my skin hates it. I've gone back to Geek & Gorgeous A-GAME 10. My skin loves this!! It's 0.1% retinal, 30mls for under $20.00. This has made my skin so soft & smooth without any irritation. Many blessings!💖💖💖
Hi, Have you noticed any hair loss (eg thinning eyebrows, etc) while using retinal? I really want to try Geek & Gorgeous A-Game but I'm scared of retinal causing hair loss. Cheers ^_^
My dermatologist switched me to tazarotene 0.05%! Much better for my skin. I failed with tretinoin for a year with lots of issues, but after 3 months of a new moisturizer + tazarotene, I can use it every day with no issues. We also simplified my routine (no serums, other actives, etc.), and the results have been incredible. Beautiful ingredient! (I have rosacea, hyperpigmentation, and super sensitive skin)
I’m so glad you made this video. I recently broke up with Tretinoin too. I received the cream in March 2023 then by early June 2023 my skin was at it’s WORST. I don’t even remember my skin being *that* bad in high school. Luckily by the end of June I stuck to a simple 3 step system (Cleanser, Moisturizer, SPF) and less than a week later my skin is nearly healed as if nothing happened to it. Tretinoin isn’t for everyone and I’m glad I’m not alone on this. Sometimes the “purge” is our skin telling us that the product isn’t working.
@@sunshiney.333 That sounds like a good idea. I’m no stranger to retinol gels (I used to use Adapalene gel 0.1) so maybe the Tretinoin gel might work better for me? However for now I want to give my skin a little break from strong ingredients and use gentle things. Will look into it in the future though. Thanks!
Ugh, just reading that makes my skin feel dry :D you only use cleanser, moisturizer, spf? My skin would become so dehydrated and wrinkles would start to form because of dehydration. All those good ingredients and antioxidants would be missing. I would even go so far as to say that toners and serums are more important than creams (or "moisturizers"). A cream is mostly there to create a barrier but if the skin is dry inside that barrier, it doesn't help much. Just my 2 cents... except if your skin is very oily, then you could get away with it, I guess.
After 3 years of using curology and then moving to agency for tretinoin, I am done. My skin just cant and my skin barrier has been damaged by this stuff and I follow directions! I am so thankful for your video because I thought I was alone in this!!! Bless you friend! I am trying your serum now! Have a good day!
I don’t know what protected me when I used tretinoin but the skin gods definitely did lol. When I came back to NY at 18 I had been dealing with bad acne for a good year due to a medication I was taking, prednisone. In DR I never went to a dermatologist to get it treated so when I came back to NY I went to a dermatologist and she gave me Retin-A and benzoyl peroxide wash. She didn’t tell me how to use it so I was using the wash twice a day, and the retin-a every single night from day one, AND NO MOISTURIZER!!! I didn’t get any skin irritation at all. And it cleared my skin in a matter of weeks. Now that I see how it’s suppose to be used I think to myself damn I’m lucky I didn’t get irritation that time. Now what i regret is that I didn’t continue using it, because I don’t think my skin can tolerate it now.
I love your content and have learned so much and have taken a lot of your advice that has helped. The one advice that didn’t help me was increasing my retinol usage to everyday as you suggested for people in their 40’s. I suffered from the dermatitis that you experienced from the tretinoin. As you mentioned, not everything is for everyone and I had to reduce my retinol usage back to every other day. Just like you testing and figuring out how to use or not use tretinoin in your, I had to do the same with my usage of retinol. Your skin is amazing and I still continue to learn from you. 😊
Same here, I have used 0.025% for years , almost daily, with a super happy skin even with rosacea and using Adelaida acid too. I have recently stopped the 0.025 too and using more gentle retinol formulations like the ordinary retinol in squalane, ROC, Olay etc.....and my skin is much much happier. I guess it has to do with hormone imbalance as I’m hitting 50. We need to recognize that oftentimes we just need a very basic routine. Mine is lots of hydration ( love glycerin based products) a bit of gentle peeling with glycolic and mainly lactic acid and a gentle retinol . I wan to try the naturism but can’t find it where I am.. And as you always advise, a good SPF that suits your skin is a game changer.
Tretinoin gave me severe cystic acne that left me with textured hypertrophic scarring on my chin that has made me insecure about my skin for 15 years so there you go. It was horrible for me
Same here, though I never thought that my perioral dermatitis has something to do with tretinoin! All this time I thought that my perioral dermatitis was a result of the prescribed antibiotics and other medicines due to surgery. But after listening to your experience I realised that my PD flare-ups are not recent. A year back I was a religious user of tretinoin. I had to constantly deal with the dryness and irritation. It never went away unlike most people. So I had to stop. The area around my mouth was most affected. At that time I didn't know about perioral dermatitis. Now back to the present, my skin was doing well until the surgery. After surgery, my whole face started peeling. I researched a bit and came to know about PD. I managed my diet, cut out junk, dairy and gluten, minimized skincare, incorporated more exercise. My skin improved a bit. So currently I don't use anything to my dace and my dermatitis is under control though they flare up every now and then. Thank you for sharing your valuable experience. I really appreciate it. My dermatitis isn't cured but at least I know the reason behind it and I'm never going to try tretinoin ever again.😅
No! She is being very irresponsible in blaming her p d on tret. There is zero - ZERO - scientific literature - to base her claim on and she is just grasping at something to justify her weird journey with tret even though there is over forty years worth of evidence and literature. She knows her story is a mess but she needs a platform to pitch her products. Do not get you health information from social media! Get it from folks with medical or scientific background and educations. You health is too important. Good luck to you.
Susan, it sounds like your tretinoin situation is the one I'm in, but with Korean skincare. Believe me, I *so want* to be able to use their gorgeous toners and sunscreens, but everything I've ever tried has either given me blackheads or sore and inflamed acne. Also, fermented ingredients make my skin burn and peel horribly. However, my skin adores tretinoin! I've recently gone up to 0.05% so I'm going slowly, but so far it's been good.
I have really sensitive skin, too, and I’ve found the powder enzyme cleansers work like magic to remove blackheads when my skins freaks out - like immediately. So gentle but so effective!
@@beauty_enthusiast oooohh, that's good to know! Thank you! I have found that Korean cleansers are OK for me to use. The Purito defence barrier is nice, as is the cica one from B.LAB
@@leonab545 I’m so glad you spoke up too bc I didn’t know this - maybe that’s why some ingredients aggravate my rosacea. I guess I thought it was something else. I’m going to pare back and see what happens.
I also have to wonder how much of what a person's skin can tolerate is influenced by how many different products they throw at it all the time. I know I could not be a content creator; imagine all the irritation your skin would be subjected to by constantly bombarding it with things because you can't stop trying new products because it's LITERALLY the crux of your job! You can't ever settle into a consistent routine because there's always something new. And in Susan's case, that could be for her channel OR her brand. My skin got a lot happier when I stopped "product hopping" and just stuck to a consistent rotation of products my skin likes. And that, luckily for me at least, includes tret, which I was able to switch to after 2 years of retinol with ZERO side effects.
