Obagi-0.25% cream form. I use it approx once a week now. I've got lazy with other things but do feel it's time for a peel. My skin needs the deeper exfoliation. RetinA has cleard up my skin nicely though,MA. I just use it to keep on top of things.
Who is currently using Retin A right now and how are you using it?
Using is 2-3x every week. In addition to face/neck/upper chest area....I also use this on my arms/hands, and upper back.
Are you using gel or cream and what is your strength?
.025% cream. Gel is stronger. Since I use other exfoliating products in my routine, I prefer to use the most gentle version of RA available (plus I use on other sensitive areas like my neck/upper chest). I don't plan on moving up the strength anytime soon. I don't see any need for it on myself.
Are you using it in conjunction with other products as well?
Skincare/treatment wise....I also regularly use DIY Vitamin C serum, and do chemical peels.
What brand are you on and do you feel there is a difference between brands?
I have always gotten my RA from ADC and have been very happy with their products. Amazon and other U.S. sellers can't beat ADC's prices (I usually order 8-10 tubes).
Okay so when you started on the Retin A…did you go through the purging period at all?
I am terrified of that.
My allergies this year have been miserable and I had a bad breakout on my left cheek that I have to work on now. I need to find a regimen that will target that and do it fast.
Retin A I think will be a good way to start but what else can I do to help that along aside from the chemical peels? I am a bit wary of doing these two things together at the moment.
Well, see I started taking BCP back in college to control my acne and periods. By late 20's, when I learned about and started RA (and found a cheap way to buy it!), my acne was for the most part under control due to the BCP. In the beginning, yes, I went through a minor purging stage which wasn't too bad. I had more of an issue with the dryness/flakiness and needed to play around with the routine to fix that.
Yea allergies have been worse than normal this season. I'm dealing with them too. :(
I always recommend NOT to start more than 1 product at a time. Get the RA and start that. After 3-4 weeks, once you have an idea on how often you can use the RA with experiencing too much dryness/flakiness.....THEN introduce a 2nd product.
If you don't want to do chemical peels....then another great option is to get glycolic creams. I've used Alpha Hydroxy's 12% glycolic soufflee and loved it, but there are otheres out there. Just look for any cream that has somewhere between 10% - 15% Glycolic.
** With RA and any other AHA's (glycolic, lactic etc), please don't ignore the neck/upper chest area. :)
I used to buy the Alpha Hydroxy at my Ulta. If there's not one near you, Amazon sells it too.
Obagi: I've never used this myself but looked at the products online. Their products seems to contain Vitamin C, E, Glycolic & Lactic Acid, and 4% hydroquinone. I may have missed it but I didn't see RA or any other form of retinol mentioned. However, it's expensive!
Although I'm sure that the products work.....I can't see myself paying such high amounts for ingredients that I can get somewhere else MUCH cheaper (and at higher %). But if someone can afford to and/or is willing to pay that price...then there's nothing wrong with it.
Regarding HQ: If someone is just looking to even out skintone and get rid of minor hyperpigmentation, I think they should try RA and AHAs before jumping into hydroquinone. I've used it before for spot treatments for really deep hyperpigmentation but got good results from lacitic/glycolic peels for evening out skin tone.
I used to buy the Alpha Hydroxy at my Ulta. If there's not one near you, Amazon sells it too.
Obagi: I've never used this myself but looked at the products online. Their products seems to contain Vitamin C, E, Glycolic & Lactic Acid, and 4% hydroquinone. I may have missed it but I didn't see RA or any other form of retinol mentioned. However, it's expensive!
Although I'm sure that the products work.....I can't see myself paying such high amounts for ingredients that I can get somewhere else MUCH cheaper (and at higher %). But if someone can afford to and/or is willing to pay that price...then there's nothing wrong with it.
Regarding HQ: If someone is just looking to even out skintone and get rid of minor hyperpigmentation, I think they should try RA and AHAs before jumping into hydroquinone. I've used it before for spot treatments for really deep hyperpigmentation but got good results from lacitic/glycolic peels for evening out skin tone.
They have a Retin A cream as well that they use as part of their regimen. I am going to slowly start ordering these products and see what happens.
One more thing Paheli...do you think it makes a difference if I was on Retin A before, stopped and now I am starting again? Do you think there's such a thing as "skin memory" as some people call it?
Should RetinA and a cream with Glycolic Acid be used on alternating days? They can't be used together right?
My second question is does GA cream come in moisturizer form, or do you still need a seperate moisturizer?
I have never used RA and glycolic cream on the same night. On nights I apply RA, that's all I apply. In the beginning when I skin was getting used to it and getting dry/flaky in the process, I would apply Argan Oil an hour AFTER the RA was applied. But these day, I don't do it since my skin has gotten used to it.
There is nothing wrong with applying RA and a glycolic cream on alternating nights.....I've done this many times. Just watch for extra dryness/flakiness/redness etc. You must "listen" to your skin. If your skin can handle it...then go for it. If not, then you want to take a night off in between.....like RA 1st night, moisturizers (that has NO acids, retinol etc) 2nd night, and glycolic cream 3rd night. You'll need to develop a routine that works for your skin based on how much it can handle. But in the beginning, you may need to take it slow until the skin gets used to it. :)
The particular GA cream I used wasn''t drying. So on the nights I used it, I didn't have any issues. BUT you need to have a moisturizer (Oils will work too) that has absolutely no acids, retinol etc. You need it for days when your skin is extra dry and needs a break from RA/AHA's, and for daytime use (if you ever need to apply it during daytime). You'll also need it if you do any chemical peels. Doesn't have to be anything expensive....but always keep a moisturizer at home just in case one day for no frigging reason you skin just decides to be dry/flaky (I still experience this now and then).
** On a side note: Even though my skin is used to all these products and I generall don't have any issues with them.....I have had days where out of nowhere, suddenly the day after RA my skin will be extra dry. At the end, even once your skin gets used to it, there is no absolute guarantee that the skin won't freak out now and then. B/C of this, before ANY special events, weddings, dawats etc....I don't use RA 2-3 days before. I only use moisturizer and the GA cream. Heck I was so paranoid for my wedding, I stopped using RA and all AHA products 6 days before my wedding. I did a 50% lactic peel a week before....and then the following 6 days, I used Argan Oil only to keep it moisturized (Vit. C serum in the morning).
They have a Retin A cream as well that they use as part of their regimen. I am going to slowly start ordering these products and see what happens.
One more thing Paheli...do you think it makes a difference if I was on Retin A before, stopped and now I am starting again? Do you think there's such a thing as "skin memory" as some people call it?
^ I don't think so. I took a break from RA and all other AHA's (ie. got lazy due to big family drama) for a while last year. When I picked it back up, no difference. The only thing was that b/c of the extended break, my skin needed to start from the beginning (ie. I needed to start slowly to get it used to the products all over again).
Good luck! I've love to hear you experiences with that particular brand. :)
I think you should wait a few days inbetween Sajal, I also think you should avoid astringents and toners with alcohol too.
I am glad you said that, probably time for me to take a break from my toner.
I have never used RA and glycolic cream on the same night. On nights I apply RA, that's all I apply. In the beginning when I skin was getting used to it and getting dry/flaky in the process, I would apply Argan Oil an hour AFTER the RA was applied. But these day, I don't do it since my skin has gotten used to it.
There is nothing wrong with applying RA and a glycolic cream on alternating nights.....I've done this many times. Just watch for extra dryness/flakiness/redness etc. You must "listen" to your skin. If your skin can handle it...then go for it. If not, then you want to take a night off in between.....like RA 1st night, moisturizers (that has NO acids, retinol etc) 2nd night, and glycolic cream 3rd night. You'll need to develop a routine that works for your skin based on how much it can handle. But in the beginning, you may need to take it slow until the skin gets used to it. :)
I have never used RA and glycolic cream on the same night. On nights I apply RA, that's all I apply. In the beginning when I skin was getting used to it and getting dry/flaky in the process, I would apply Argan Oil an hour AFTER the RA was applied. But these day, I don't do it since my skin has gotten used to it.
There is nothing wrong with applying RA and a glycolic cream on alternating nights.....I've done this many times. Just watch for extra dryness/flakiness/redness etc. You must "listen" to your skin. If your skin can handle it...then go for it. If not, then you want to take a night off in between.....like RA 1st night, moisturizers (that has NO acids, retinol etc) 2nd night, and glycolic cream 3rd night. You'll need to develop a routine that works for your skin based on how much it can handle. But in the beginning, you may need to take it slow until the skin gets used to it. :)
The particular GA cream I used wasn''t drying. So on the nights I used it, I didn't have any issues. BUT you need to have a moisturizer (Oils will work too) that has absolutely no acids, retinol etc. You need it for days when your skin is extra dry and needs a break from RA/AHA's, and for daytime use (if you ever need to apply it during daytime). You'll also need it if you do any chemical peels. Doesn't have to be anything expensive....but always keep a moisturizer at home just in case one day for no frigging reason you skin just decides to be dry/flaky (I still experience this now and then).
** On a side note: Even though my skin is used to all these products and I generall don't have any issues with them.....I have had days where out of nowhere, suddenly the day after RA my skin will be extra dry. At the end, even once your skin gets used to it, there is no absolute guarantee that the skin won't freak out now and then. B/C of this, before ANY special events, weddings, dawats etc....I don't use RA 2-3 days before. I only use moisturizer and the GA cream. Heck I was so paranoid for my wedding, I stopped using RA and all AHA products 6 days before my wedding. I did a 50% lactic peel a week before....and then the following 6 days, I used Argan Oil only to keep it moisturized (Vit. C serum in the morning).
I've been using Retin-A Micro 0.04% gel and love it so far (a few spots of pigmentation left from previous breakouts are nearly gone) but I also want to try AHA/BHAs as well as some peels. What do you think about Paula's Choice, Paheli? I hear her BHA's are really good as well as as her toners.
^ I’ve never used Paula’s Choice myself but they seem to get pretty good reviews. I glanced through their site a little while ago and here are my thoughts:
Holy C**p they have tons to choose from! It’s very confusing! I don’t doubt that the products are effective. But I think for the price they charge…it’s nothing special. The average price for most things seem to be around $20. Yet if you look at the actual % on their BHA or other anti aging products…the % is relatively low. Products with 2% salicylic can be found for much cheaper. I’ve used Biore toner and loved it. Currently I have a toner by Clean and Clear that has 2% SA and I love that too.
I don’t think there’s any reason to spend close to $20 in a toner or even a cleanser. Focus on lotions or serums. And with Paula’s choice…most seem to have 1% or 2%. I did see a lightening serum that had 7% Glycolic Acid (low in my opinion) and 2% hydroquinone (this isn’t anything special either).
Look through this link. Look at the products…prices…and the actual ingredients (ie. %) that in them. This is just one example of products out there that cost less…but has a higher % of active ingredients. If you’re going to be using a glycolic cream…I think the % should be between 10-14.
If you want to give Paula’s Choice a try…there’s nothing wrong with it. But what are you planning on trying first? Some type of AHA or BHA serum/lotion…OR peels? I assume that the RA is helping keep you acne under control and is helping get rid of the hyperpigmentation…so what’re you hoping to obtain by using additional products?
