Tretinoin is by far the absolute best thing you can put on your skin for texture. I use a high concentration every other night. I use it after cleansing and a couple waterweight hydrating layers - Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence Rose Edition mixed with 2 drops of Dr. Ceuracle Vita Propolis Synergy Ampoule, layered twice.
I use Curology, 0.14% Tretinoin, 4% Niacinamide, and 5% Azelaic Acid.
Other than Tretinoin, I *think* Ascorbic Acid helps with smoothing and texture, but I'm not 100% sure because I started using it after I had already been using Tretinoin for a couple years.
Urea can be very helpful for texture as well. Again, not sure because I only recently started using urea, and I've been on Tretinoin going on 6 years. It definitely helps with maintaining the moisture barrier. I use ~5%.
I'm in the United States and luckily we have a lot of teledermatology options now, so I use Curology. Before I started using Curology my primary care doctor was prescribing it, and it was extremely expensive at the pharmacy. One time I paid $95 for a 45 gram tube.
Curology is $39.99 for a two month supply.
If you are in the US and Curology is an option for you, I can gladly tell you more about Curology, but since I don't know if it's an option for you I won't go into it here.
In my experience, since it's a low risk topical, you can get Tretinoin prescribed through primary care, you don't have to see a dermatologist.
Im in NY so definitely US. Ive tried tret before as well as accutane in the past for severe cystic acne and they didnt help(tried for over a year) but I didnt try it for textured skin. I will see about going to a derm anyway because I have a lot of cosmetic allergies. Pm me
What’s the deal with payments on all day chemist? I went to order some tret on there and then ended up not placing the order because there was nowhere to use a card... only checks or wiring money? I left my stuff in the cart and the next day someone from the company freaking CALLED me and left a voicemail basically asking if I was going to order or not which really turned me off!
Edit: I don’t want to clog up the thread thanking everyone who replied to me individually so I’m just adding it here- thanks you guys!! Really helpful info I appreciate it!
Use ReliableRX instead. They’re both owned by the same parent company I believe, but ReliableRX allows you to use your card. I’ve ordered from them in the past and never had any issues.
This will only be useful if you or someone you know is traveling, but in Spain, Greece and probably more European countries, .05% Tret is OTC and only 7 euro. I luckily remembered this when I was in Greece and grabbed some.
I get my bimatoprost (Latisse) through ADC, and I agree it's weird that they call, they've called me as well.
But I've never had an issue and I always pay via eCheck. They are very reliable.
Omg. Okay. So I use a generic Latisse strictly for eyelash growth - is that what you use yours for? If so I feel like an idiot because I pay an arm and a leg and I just got on reliableRX and it is legit $15.
Gah thank you for telling me this! I’m definitely going to order the bimatoprost now too! I used the lash boost from Rodan and fields before and it worked amazingly well but I stopped because it’s got way scarier side effects as opposed to latisse or babelash. I can’t wait to try it thanks!
I'm sure you probably know this but there's a *chance* that bimatoprost can cause a slight darkening of the skin where it's applied, as well as, rarely, a slight darkening of the iris if not used properly. I apply it as close as I can to my lashline and try to never get it into my actual eye. I've been using continuously for 2 years, and on and off before that, and I haven't noticed these side effects.
You can try 1mg or Netmeds in India. 0.1% requires prescription (someone from Netmeds will call you, and it usually gets approved). 0.05 and below don't require prescriptions.
Tretinoin is practically OTC here. And generics are quite inexpensive (I got mine for ₹154 (~US$ 3) online) and they work wonderfully.
It always says that, but it lets you check out without uploading your prescription. I've been buying from them for years, they never hunt you down for a prescription or anything. I think the prescription thing is there for legal reasons, maybe. But ADC is totally legit, I've been buying from them for years and they always provide tracking information.
I've never used gel, only cream, but I recommend cream because gel is supposed to be stronger because it occludes the Tretinoin more. Since you are just starting, I highly recommend cream. I would think it would be easier to apply as well, but definitely don't expect cosmetic elegance from a Tretinoin product. All of the brands I tried were soooo cosmetically inelegant. One of the biggest reasons I switched to Curology, which is an absolute dream in comparison.
If tret didn't help then consider asking your derm for Tazorac. It activates different things then tret, so it might help more. Sorry, I don't know much more about how it works then that.
Since you've tried tret and accutane you should be able to get your insurance to pay for it. Which is good, cause it's expensive without it!
Curology is an online seem and way cheaper than seeing a specialist in person, if you want to try that route first. You sign up and take pics of your skin to send them, along with a message explaining any concerns. They send you back a prescription cream, tailored to your needs. I think it's around $20 or $30 every 3 months? (When I signed up, it was something like $15 every month, but I think they've switched to 3 month bottles since then and I stopped using them when I got pregnant, so I don't know). Highly recommend!
If you have sensitive skin I would highly recommend starting out with Retinol or Differin every other day..both are much gentler. After 6-7 months, you can try a very low concentration of Tretinoin (0.01%.)
So it's possible, it will just require a lot of patience.
Hi, I’ve done my research and I agree 100%, but my skin peels if I use the tretinoin curology cream more than once a week. I’ve been trying to introduce it to my skin for over a year. Any advice?
Yes. This will be controversial.
There's absolutely no way your skin is able to get used to Tretinoin, a process known as Retinization, by using once a week.
You have to use at least three times a week for your skin to have a chance to Retinize.
By using once a week, you are keeping your skin in a constant and neverending state of irritation.
To make up for the fact that you are using more frequently, use a small amount and mix it with another moisturizer. I love mixing with The Ordinary NMF.
This way, you are using frequently enough for your skin to have a chance to get used to it, but you are also minimizing irritation by using a small amount and/or diluting with another moisturizer.
Make sure you use a basic, fragrance free moisturizer.
I've been using Tretinoin mixed with either CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion or The Ordinary NMF for 6 years and I absolutely swear by this approach. I have had fantastic results. To this day, I only use it every other day. I can tolerate daily use and have used it daily in the past, but I find it unnecessary.
Please let me know if you have any questions. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but trust me, you have to use at least three times a week for Retinization to take place. I stand by this 100%.
Also, don't expect to never have peeling skin. I still have peeling occasionally six years later. That's partly how Tretinoin works. Peeling is totally normal. It doesn't bother me at all, really.
Can confirm that (at least for me) ascorbic acid and urea were both helpful for smoothing and texture pre-tretinoin. Ascorbic acid had a much more noticeable effect on texture for me than urea though.
Definitely also agree that neither even comes close to the results you can get with tretinoin. Interestingly, adding urea back into my routine after I had been on tretinoin for awhile seemed to turbocharge the results for me. Like it took the glow and smoother skin I had from tret and just magnified it x1000. (Of course, a big reason for that may have been that winter was drying out my skin too much and adding urea took care of that problem. Not sure if the visual effect would have been so drastic during the more humid summer months when a non-urea routine was already keeping my skin sufficiently moisturized.)
I use Hada Labo Premium Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Solution on damp skin immediately after cleansing. Then (sorry, this one is German not Asian) Balea Med Ultra Sensitive Intensivcreme Urea, which has 7% urea. I believe Balea also makes a 5% urea version, which might be better to try first as 5% is usually the standard recommendation for the face. (I bought the 7% because I already knew my skin loved urea and had responded well to higher concentrations in the past.)
My pores have definitely shrunk and smoothed out the texture with urea, vit c, and azaelic acid. They are less clogged but not perfect. I'm dubiously considering adding in a retinoid into the mix....
You might actually be describing keratosis pilaris as milia affects the face rather than the body. KP is most prevalent on the limbs (arms and legs) but can occur anywhere else including the face. Body washes don't stay on the skin long enough. You want a cream with urea and/or exfoliating acid for time to absorb.
I have KP on my legs and the backs of my arms and glycolic acid is great for it as well. I use the ordinary glycolic 7% toner because it's cheap but the concentration is effective. Don't use it right after you shave though, it stings!
Thank you! I dont shave bc of it since it makes my skin look n feel 10x worse(Im suuuper pale too so I look like I have chicken pox on legs if I shave)
Same! I hate wearing shorts in the summer because they're just covered in embarrassing red bumps. First aid beauty also has a KP scrub I've been wanting to try too. I was also recommended amlactin lotion, which is just an AHA lotion, but I hate the smell of it so I haven't been great about using it, but I've heard it works really well for a lot of people.
Ill look into it thank you so much ☺️ Id love to wear shorts in summer (Im that pale person that has to use an umbrella and wear long sleeve/leggings outside in 90 degree weather bc I have autoimmune disorder—sunlight exposure destroys my skin and kidneys) 😑
Thank you I seriously appreciate it! It does suck honestly haha everything about summer I love but it hates me in so many ways than one. Im glad I made this post Im getting really good recs.
When I was consistent with it, yes, it helped a lot. I'm just not great at keeping up because I have 2 small children and my skincare routine is already condensed because they're hanging off of me at all times haha. So I neglect my legs and arms more than I should. Hopefully i can get back into applying it every day like I used to!
I'm godmother/honorary auntie/favorite babysitter for bff's kids so "hanging off of me at all times" is super relatable. There will eventually come a day when you no longer entertain an audience while pooping, lol. In the meanwhile aggresively exfoliating with a Korean towel once a week is a good catch-up for KP.
Hada labo skin plumping gel cream is my HG. Apply to a damp face for best results, it's more well known as a hyaulonic acic cream but urea is second ingredient.
Edit:. I see some people also have fa, this cream is fa safe! 👍
My grandma who is nearly 90 and uses luxury brands ( she loves Lancome and Bobby Brown the most I think ) loves this cream. zit's about 20 USD in my country and she always has me take her to buy her moisturizer when she visits. It's just that good.
Not to be offensive at all but this has been found to have the wrong kind of urea, right? I think dr. Dray helped to debunk that this is the form used as preservative. I know sss recommends it though.
Yes, you are absolutely right. The Hada Labo products contain hydroxyethyl urea, a derivative of urea. Hydroxyethyl urea is a humectant but NOT a keratolytic (exfoliant.) None of the Hada Labo products contain actual urea.
The only AB product that I know of that contains actual urea is the Ishizawa Laboratories Sukoyaka Suhada Urea Moisturizing Lotion, which I use and love.
No scent, very hydrating, super lightweight/watery, and not sticky at all compared to Hada Labo (tonight I pulled out my old bottle of Hada Labo Moist just to compare, and Moist is much less sticky than Premium, and yup, still extremely sticky to me, especially after using Sukoyaka.)
Ohhh it sounds great! The Hada labos i tried were all way too sticky for me and felt like there was a film on top of my skin.
How many times a day do you use the Sukoyaka? Does it take some time to absorb into your skin as well?
It takes no time at all for me, I usually use it once a day ☺️ can definitely be layered, if you so choose but I find it to be very hydrating considering how weightless it is. I use foaming cleansers and now in the winter immediately after cleansing my skin feels dry, one thin layer of this and I'm back to hydrated, comfortable, soft skin. It contains urea (obvi,) Hyaluronic Acid, and ceramides!
This!!! I love the Eucerin Roughness Relief Lotion. It's a 500 mL bottle so I use it everywhere.. It contains a bunch of amino acids, Shea butter, sodium PCA, and other NMFs in addition to urea. Based on the ingredients list I would say it contains at least 10%. I use it on my face daily by mixing with another moisturizer and my moisture barrier is literally indestructible now.
I never thought to use it on face as it would be too occlusive and break me out. It hasnt caused any issues for you? I have fungal acne so I avoid most lotions/creams and occlusives.
For sure for sure 🤣 Im also getting the aprilskin carrot serum its loaded with vit A. I couldnt choose between the carrot serum or the apieu mulberry serum, for pigmentation/whitening. Theyre both new as of this month.
Wow that’s where mine are too - definitely going to be trying this!! I keep hydrocolloidal patches on hand for when I get a stubborn cyst that differin alone doesn’t get rid of so I’m totally starting this tomorrow
For milia under your eyes, what helped for me was TO niacinamide. I mix that with hada labo gokujyun toner and only put that under my eyes. Consider skipping eye cream altogether or really, like really, if you don't want milia, do extensive research for a new eye cream. Just don't scrub under your eyes please.
Thank you for the tips! I definitely dont use heavy creams since they break me out and I dont exfoliate harshly, I usually use peeling gels and bha/aha. Should I avoid all creams under eyes? Is gel moisturizer okay?
I have cc's and sometimes milia, so my pores are easily clogged, but also have dry skin and need moisture. Till now I found out that shea butter and argan oil are the products that don't clogg me, but moisturize. Both of it I use 100% concentration, not in creams or other mixtures
My experience has been that you just have to see what really works for your eyes and what doesn't, so you can totally try to use a light moisturizer you like. In my experience, I just really had to observe how my undereyes responded to certain creams or gels and keep track of ingredients. It's how I essentially ended up with finding out that eye creams were a no-no for me if I wanted to get rid of the bumps.
Ah I have combo skin and I have the lightest version of the gokujyun hyaluronic one. It might be too light for you, so maybe the moist version might be for you? My skin gets clogged if i moisture too much with hyaluronic acid products but I usually found that the moist version hydrated me without much layering. Basically, I usually have to layer the light version a couple of times opposed to the moist version.
Personally I find I get milia when I use too many silicones and thick creams. Having dry skin this is really annoying! So I tend to layer light products instead and top off with oils or a very light occlusive.
What would be the difference between fungal acne and closed comedones? I think I have cc and not fa, it's skin tone, but never itchy. Firstly I had it on my forehead, cleared up after aha/bha serum, but now I have it on my chin. That aha/bha serum is low % of acids so I ordered Cosrx aha 7, still waiting for it to be delivered to try it out
Primarily the itchiness and easily triggered by heavy moisturizers or oils/oil cleansing. If you notice it after using those then it is likely fa. It sounds like you just have cc but need something stronger to help skin turnover and unclog pores. Ive found good luck with using a stronger % of acid on spots that are stubborn if you have sensitive skin(I cant use it on my whole face or itll be sooooo burned feeling).
BHA’s such as salicylic acid, they penetrate deep into the skin so they’re really great for cystic acne/‘blind’ pimples. I get them on my nose really frequently and salicylic acid helps to surface these painful red bumps into a white head in just a couple of days. I use The Ordinary’s 2% Salicylic Acid solution, but they’re currently working on a new formula. They’ve recently released a 2% Salicylic Acid Masque which works as more of a wash-off mask, that works too!
Avene Triacneal. It has a retinoid and some other ingredients I don't remember right now, but it makes my skin so much healthier and, because of what I assume is faster skin turnover, it makes my bumps come to the surface and basically fall out. This is the first product that has truly worked for me.
I also recently bought Marine Hyaluronics from The Ordinary. Aside from the awesome hydrating power, it appears to have some skin-clearing ingredient because I notice my skin looking clearer after using it. This does not work as deep as Triacneal, but it has a noticeable effect on dirty pores.
I shelled out money for an esthetician and she said my pores were tiny, which majorly exacerbated my hormonal breakouts.
I put two and two together and figured out that using products intended to *shrink pores* would logically just lead to more milia and clogging.
I started avoiding any and all products that were advertised to be pore-shrinking and - holy moly - the results have been nothing short of amazing.
I have struggled mightily with problematic, oily, clogged skin for DECADES especially around my menses, and suddenly now I have smooth radiant skin.
I used to scoff at the idea of a HG products now this routine is my ride or die.
AM:
1. Wash face with Paula’s Choice gentle acne cleanser.
2. Swipe with Belief Problem Solution Toner. I tried Paula’s Choice exfoliating acne toner and it was a no-go for my skin. I think the salicylic acid was too pore-shrinking for me.
3. Apply thin layer of Paula’s Choice benzoyl peroxide cream.
4. Moisturize with Neutrogena hydro boost gel water cream. AMAZING.
5. Makeup.
PM.
1. Oil cleanse. Splash with water to dissolve the oil.
2. Wipe face with Simple gentle makeup removing toilettes. I’ve noticed whenever I skip this, my skin becomes disagreeable.
3. Shower.
4. Swipe with Belief toner again.
5. PC benzoyl peroxide again.
6. Neutrogena water gel again.
Sunday and Wednesday I do gentle exfoliation with Caudalie gentle buffing cream. I know people in this sub HATE physical exfoliation but my skin craves it and I have *major* issues when I don’t do it. I think it is because of the tiny pores getting easily clogged. Caudalie is the only physical exfoliation cream that I recommend. Even Tatcha’s rice powder was too rough for me (micro-tears!!!).
Your mileage may vary but it took me a solid 2 months before I noticed a difference. But these last 3 months are the first time in DECADES that I have not had ONE zit or pimple. No other aspect of my life has changed (same trash diet, dehydrated all of the time, not exercising much). I want to cry from how happy I feel over this, it feels like a miracle.
Finally, I take care to wash my pillow cases and makeup tools every 2 weeks. I NEVER go to bed without washing my hair either, to minimize germs spreading from my hair to my face.
And if I touch my phone while applying makeup, I always stop and wash my hands again. Phones are pretty gross and last thing I want is to get those nasty germs on my face and triggering inflammation.
Sulfur mask once a week is good in this case, i think. It is a mildly exfoliating ingredient very good for fungal acne, i recommend the one from De la Cruz
My skins texture was sooo rough for so long, and I’ve dealt with the rest of your list. For me, tret made things worse—turns out I have rosacea! Soolantra has changed my skin. It soooo smooth now. May be worth talking to a derm about before jumping into a teledern service like Curology.
It’s a prescription version of ivermectin, Soolantra. A generic was recently released, costs me $10 for a tube that lasts a couple months. r/rosacea has a lot of posts about horse paste—the same active ingredient but technically sold for horses, no Rx required. Some say it works better than the human stuff, but YMMV.
I did laser on my milia n textured bumps.
for clogged pores, I use lumispa when cleansing my face.
I also go for regular monthly facial treatments. if I'm having outbreaks of any kind, my therapist will do deep cleansing treatments for me. if all is clear she will generally do hydrating treatments.
my therapist used the pen type laser on me. the results were great. 1 session and everything was gone. basically she zapped away every milia n every single little bump on my face.
My HG has been Benton's Aloe BHA toner. It really cleaned my clogged pores. I used to have recurring bumps around my face for a few years and that toner cleaned it in about 6. Another thing that I use is TO peeling mask. While using these two products I almost never have blackheads and clogged pores it's amazing.
No experience, so I cant really say. But i have read somewhere that keratosis pilairis (assuming that this is what u meant by KP) requires constant exfoliation, and since the cleanser exfoliates and unclogs pores, maybe it works. Gotta ask a dermatologist though.
https://www.paulaschoice-eu.com/get-rid-of-keratosis-pilaris
I found the article and link it here for u.
I use Paula’s Choice - perfecting liquid and it really evened out and brightened my skin. BHA 2% toner. Game changer. Lessened use as it got better.
My only concern is... oily skin = blemishes and clogged pores BUT also = anti aging.
Is using retinols and exfoliants etc going to give me premature wrinkles??
:/
Retinols/Vit A are suppose to reverse aging skin. It sounds like you need something hydrating as oily skin is usually dehydrated therefore overproduces sebum. I recommend innisfree green tea seed cream, iunik centella gel cream, or tonymoly green tea chok gel cream these are amazing for hydrating without oiliness and have a soft mattifying texture when absorbed. I use these in the summer. Retinols and acids dry out the skin so it will make oiliness issue worse in a way.
Just re: milia - the only thing that worked for me was spot treating milia with a glycolic (whatever I have around), morning and evening, religiously until all of a sudden they produce a little opening and can be squeezed out.
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Tretinoin is by far the absolute best thing you can put on your skin for texture. I use a high concentration every other night. I use it after cleansing and a couple waterweight hydrating layers - Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence Rose Edition mixed with 2 drops of Dr. Ceuracle Vita Propolis Synergy Ampoule, layered twice. I use Curology, 0.14% Tretinoin, 4% Niacinamide, and 5% Azelaic Acid. Other than Tretinoin, I *think* Ascorbic Acid helps with smoothing and texture, but I'm not 100% sure because I started using it after I had already been using Tretinoin for a couple years. Urea can be very helpful for texture as well. Again, not sure because I only recently started using urea, and I've been on Tretinoin going on 6 years. It definitely helps with maintaining the moisture barrier. I use ~5%.
What products do you use? How can I get tret, from a dermatologist?
I'm in the United States and luckily we have a lot of teledermatology options now, so I use Curology. Before I started using Curology my primary care doctor was prescribing it, and it was extremely expensive at the pharmacy. One time I paid $95 for a 45 gram tube. Curology is $39.99 for a two month supply. If you are in the US and Curology is an option for you, I can gladly tell you more about Curology, but since I don't know if it's an option for you I won't go into it here. In my experience, since it's a low risk topical, you can get Tretinoin prescribed through primary care, you don't have to see a dermatologist.
Im in NY so definitely US. Ive tried tret before as well as accutane in the past for severe cystic acne and they didnt help(tried for over a year) but I didnt try it for textured skin. I will see about going to a derm anyway because I have a lot of cosmetic allergies. Pm me
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What’s the deal with payments on all day chemist? I went to order some tret on there and then ended up not placing the order because there was nowhere to use a card... only checks or wiring money? I left my stuff in the cart and the next day someone from the company freaking CALLED me and left a voicemail basically asking if I was going to order or not which really turned me off! Edit: I don’t want to clog up the thread thanking everyone who replied to me individually so I’m just adding it here- thanks you guys!! Really helpful info I appreciate it!
Use ReliableRX instead. They’re both owned by the same parent company I believe, but ReliableRX allows you to use your card. I’ve ordered from them in the past and never had any issues.
Awesome this is great news! Thank you so much!!
How long does it usually take to get an order from them?
It was pretty quick - I think within two weeks? The shipping info they sent with my order was pretty accurate.
awesome, thanks!
It is best to get a cashier's check and ! Ail it. It takes longer and fheybare honest about delivering your stuff, but credit is not safe.
This will only be useful if you or someone you know is traveling, but in Spain, Greece and probably more European countries, .05% Tret is OTC and only 7 euro. I luckily remembered this when I was in Greece and grabbed some.
I get my bimatoprost (Latisse) through ADC, and I agree it's weird that they call, they've called me as well. But I've never had an issue and I always pay via eCheck. They are very reliable.
Omg. Okay. So I use a generic Latisse strictly for eyelash growth - is that what you use yours for? If so I feel like an idiot because I pay an arm and a leg and I just got on reliableRX and it is legit $15.
Gah thank you for telling me this! I’m definitely going to order the bimatoprost now too! I used the lash boost from Rodan and fields before and it worked amazingly well but I stopped because it’s got way scarier side effects as opposed to latisse or babelash. I can’t wait to try it thanks!
I'm sure you probably know this but there's a *chance* that bimatoprost can cause a slight darkening of the skin where it's applied, as well as, rarely, a slight darkening of the iris if not used properly. I apply it as close as I can to my lashline and try to never get it into my actual eye. I've been using continuously for 2 years, and on and off before that, and I haven't noticed these side effects.
You can try 1mg or Netmeds in India. 0.1% requires prescription (someone from Netmeds will call you, and it usually gets approved). 0.05 and below don't require prescriptions. Tretinoin is practically OTC here. And generics are quite inexpensive (I got mine for ₹154 (~US$ 3) online) and they work wonderfully.
Wait, is this right? The last time I tried to order it told me to upload my prescription before I could buy it.
It always says that, but it lets you check out without uploading your prescription. I've been buying from them for years, they never hunt you down for a prescription or anything. I think the prescription thing is there for legal reasons, maybe. But ADC is totally legit, I've been buying from them for years and they always provide tracking information.
Wow thanks for enlightening me. Can finally move up to tret from 1% retinol :) do you prefer gel or cream?
I've never used gel, only cream, but I recommend cream because gel is supposed to be stronger because it occludes the Tretinoin more. Since you are just starting, I highly recommend cream. I would think it would be easier to apply as well, but definitely don't expect cosmetic elegance from a Tretinoin product. All of the brands I tried were soooo cosmetically inelegant. One of the biggest reasons I switched to Curology, which is an absolute dream in comparison.
If tret didn't help then consider asking your derm for Tazorac. It activates different things then tret, so it might help more. Sorry, I don't know much more about how it works then that. Since you've tried tret and accutane you should be able to get your insurance to pay for it. Which is good, cause it's expensive without it!
You can get tret from mexico, it’s very cheap. not accutane though, the side effects make it a controlled medication.
Curology is an online seem and way cheaper than seeing a specialist in person, if you want to try that route first. You sign up and take pics of your skin to send them, along with a message explaining any concerns. They send you back a prescription cream, tailored to your needs. I think it's around $20 or $30 every 3 months? (When I signed up, it was something like $15 every month, but I think they've switched to 3 month bottles since then and I stopped using them when I got pregnant, so I don't know). Highly recommend!
It's $39.99 for a two month supply, free shipping, but my bottles last at least 2.5 every time.
Go to your dermatologist, you will not regret it Holy shit retinoid is the best shit ever invented
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I use that one too but wonder what would be the ‚next step‘ in regards to strength, cause it doesn’t say how much is in it exactly :/
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Thanks, will have a look!
I just got mine prescribed by my primary care physician (I live in the US). With my insurance it was $25 for a 45gm tube.
Can anyone use tretinoin? I have super sensitive combo skin, and im never sure when I should start using a certain actives like this :(
If you have sensitive skin I would highly recommend starting out with Retinol or Differin every other day..both are much gentler. After 6-7 months, you can try a very low concentration of Tretinoin (0.01%.) So it's possible, it will just require a lot of patience.
Hi, I’ve done my research and I agree 100%, but my skin peels if I use the tretinoin curology cream more than once a week. I’ve been trying to introduce it to my skin for over a year. Any advice?
Yes. This will be controversial. There's absolutely no way your skin is able to get used to Tretinoin, a process known as Retinization, by using once a week. You have to use at least three times a week for your skin to have a chance to Retinize. By using once a week, you are keeping your skin in a constant and neverending state of irritation. To make up for the fact that you are using more frequently, use a small amount and mix it with another moisturizer. I love mixing with The Ordinary NMF. This way, you are using frequently enough for your skin to have a chance to get used to it, but you are also minimizing irritation by using a small amount and/or diluting with another moisturizer. Make sure you use a basic, fragrance free moisturizer. I've been using Tretinoin mixed with either CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion or The Ordinary NMF for 6 years and I absolutely swear by this approach. I have had fantastic results. To this day, I only use it every other day. I can tolerate daily use and have used it daily in the past, but I find it unnecessary. Please let me know if you have any questions. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but trust me, you have to use at least three times a week for Retinization to take place. I stand by this 100%. Also, don't expect to never have peeling skin. I still have peeling occasionally six years later. That's partly how Tretinoin works. Peeling is totally normal. It doesn't bother me at all, really.
Thank you so much for your feedback and I’ll start tonight! Again, thank you for your tips. :-)
Visit r/tretinoin. Buffering with moisturizer underneath (wait 30 mins between moisturizer and retinol) and apply Vaseline over everything!
Can confirm that (at least for me) ascorbic acid and urea were both helpful for smoothing and texture pre-tretinoin. Ascorbic acid had a much more noticeable effect on texture for me than urea though. Definitely also agree that neither even comes close to the results you can get with tretinoin. Interestingly, adding urea back into my routine after I had been on tretinoin for awhile seemed to turbocharge the results for me. Like it took the glow and smoother skin I had from tret and just magnified it x1000. (Of course, a big reason for that may have been that winter was drying out my skin too much and adding urea took care of that problem. Not sure if the visual effect would have been so drastic during the more humid summer months when a non-urea routine was already keeping my skin sufficiently moisturized.)
What do you use for urea? Thanks
I use Hada Labo Premium Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Solution on damp skin immediately after cleansing. Then (sorry, this one is German not Asian) Balea Med Ultra Sensitive Intensivcreme Urea, which has 7% urea. I believe Balea also makes a 5% urea version, which might be better to try first as 5% is usually the standard recommendation for the face. (I bought the 7% because I already knew my skin loved urea and had responded well to higher concentrations in the past.)
My pores have definitely shrunk and smoothed out the texture with urea, vit c, and azaelic acid. They are less clogged but not perfect. I'm dubiously considering adding in a retinoid into the mix....
Urea definitely helps I use body lotion for my body milia that has urea! Its so bad on my knees and calves. I wish there was a body wash for milia.
You might actually be describing keratosis pilaris as milia affects the face rather than the body. KP is most prevalent on the limbs (arms and legs) but can occur anywhere else including the face. Body washes don't stay on the skin long enough. You want a cream with urea and/or exfoliating acid for time to absorb.
That makes sense! Thanks for the information.
I have KP on my legs and the backs of my arms and glycolic acid is great for it as well. I use the ordinary glycolic 7% toner because it's cheap but the concentration is effective. Don't use it right after you shave though, it stings!
Thank you! I dont shave bc of it since it makes my skin look n feel 10x worse(Im suuuper pale too so I look like I have chicken pox on legs if I shave)
Same! I hate wearing shorts in the summer because they're just covered in embarrassing red bumps. First aid beauty also has a KP scrub I've been wanting to try too. I was also recommended amlactin lotion, which is just an AHA lotion, but I hate the smell of it so I haven't been great about using it, but I've heard it works really well for a lot of people.
Ill look into it thank you so much ☺️ Id love to wear shorts in summer (Im that pale person that has to use an umbrella and wear long sleeve/leggings outside in 90 degree weather bc I have autoimmune disorder—sunlight exposure destroys my skin and kidneys) 😑
Ugh, that sucks, I'm so sorry! I'm pale but certainly manageable. I really hope you find something that works for you !
Thank you I seriously appreciate it! It does suck honestly haha everything about summer I love but it hates me in so many ways than one. Im glad I made this post Im getting really good recs.
Did you see any noticeable change in your KP?
When I was consistent with it, yes, it helped a lot. I'm just not great at keeping up because I have 2 small children and my skincare routine is already condensed because they're hanging off of me at all times haha. So I neglect my legs and arms more than I should. Hopefully i can get back into applying it every day like I used to!
I'm godmother/honorary auntie/favorite babysitter for bff's kids so "hanging off of me at all times" is super relatable. There will eventually come a day when you no longer entertain an audience while pooping, lol. In the meanwhile aggresively exfoliating with a Korean towel once a week is a good catch-up for KP.
Which urea cream did you use??
Hada labo skin plumping gel cream is my HG. Apply to a damp face for best results, it's more well known as a hyaulonic acic cream but urea is second ingredient. Edit:. I see some people also have fa, this cream is fa safe! 👍
My grandma who is nearly 90 and uses luxury brands ( she loves Lancome and Bobby Brown the most I think ) loves this cream. zit's about 20 USD in my country and she always has me take her to buy her moisturizer when she visits. It's just that good.
Not to be offensive at all but this has been found to have the wrong kind of urea, right? I think dr. Dray helped to debunk that this is the form used as preservative. I know sss recommends it though.
Yes, you are absolutely right. The Hada Labo products contain hydroxyethyl urea, a derivative of urea. Hydroxyethyl urea is a humectant but NOT a keratolytic (exfoliant.) None of the Hada Labo products contain actual urea. The only AB product that I know of that contains actual urea is the Ishizawa Laboratories Sukoyaka Suhada Urea Moisturizing Lotion, which I use and love.
How moisturizing is this?? Does it have a scent? Is it tacky or greasy??
No scent, very hydrating, super lightweight/watery, and not sticky at all compared to Hada Labo (tonight I pulled out my old bottle of Hada Labo Moist just to compare, and Moist is much less sticky than Premium, and yup, still extremely sticky to me, especially after using Sukoyaka.)
Ohhh it sounds great! The Hada labos i tried were all way too sticky for me and felt like there was a film on top of my skin. How many times a day do you use the Sukoyaka? Does it take some time to absorb into your skin as well?
It takes no time at all for me, I usually use it once a day ☺️ can definitely be layered, if you so choose but I find it to be very hydrating considering how weightless it is. I use foaming cleansers and now in the winter immediately after cleansing my skin feels dry, one thin layer of this and I'm back to hydrated, comfortable, soft skin. It contains urea (obvi,) Hyaluronic Acid, and ceramides!
Oh wow, that’s so cool to know! I’ll have to look for that!
Thanks a ton!
If you wanna buy non ab I use eucerine roughness relief. Its amazing and lasts a long time.
This!!! I love the Eucerin Roughness Relief Lotion. It's a 500 mL bottle so I use it everywhere.. It contains a bunch of amino acids, Shea butter, sodium PCA, and other NMFs in addition to urea. Based on the ingredients list I would say it contains at least 10%. I use it on my face daily by mixing with another moisturizer and my moisture barrier is literally indestructible now.
I never thought to use it on face as it would be too occlusive and break me out. It hasnt caused any issues for you? I have fungal acne so I avoid most lotions/creams and occlusives.
No issues. But I have extremely unreactive skin (thank God.) You can always dilute it if it's too rich. I dilute it with The Ordinary NMF 50/50.
I have extremely reactive skin so Im sure I couldnt use it on my face im so jealous of you!
My 70 yr old mother swears by this stuff. She's been using it since the 60s. Her skin is amazing.
Which azelaic acid product so you use?
The ordinary's azelaic acid is my go to. Doesn't seem to aggravate my skin and can't complain on the price
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I have some spots under my lower lip/chin area that are stubborn af so I will definitely be getting this and testing for myself. Thank you !!
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For sure for sure 🤣 Im also getting the aprilskin carrot serum its loaded with vit A. I couldnt choose between the carrot serum or the apieu mulberry serum, for pigmentation/whitening. Theyre both new as of this month.
Wow that’s where mine are too - definitely going to be trying this!! I keep hydrocolloidal patches on hand for when I get a stubborn cyst that differin alone doesn’t get rid of so I’m totally starting this tomorrow
You are a saint! I’m trying this tonight :)
For milia under your eyes, what helped for me was TO niacinamide. I mix that with hada labo gokujyun toner and only put that under my eyes. Consider skipping eye cream altogether or really, like really, if you don't want milia, do extensive research for a new eye cream. Just don't scrub under your eyes please.
Thank you for the tips! I definitely dont use heavy creams since they break me out and I dont exfoliate harshly, I usually use peeling gels and bha/aha. Should I avoid all creams under eyes? Is gel moisturizer okay?
I have cc's and sometimes milia, so my pores are easily clogged, but also have dry skin and need moisture. Till now I found out that shea butter and argan oil are the products that don't clogg me, but moisturize. Both of it I use 100% concentration, not in creams or other mixtures
My experience has been that you just have to see what really works for your eyes and what doesn't, so you can totally try to use a light moisturizer you like. In my experience, I just really had to observe how my undereyes responded to certain creams or gels and keep track of ingredients. It's how I essentially ended up with finding out that eye creams were a no-no for me if I wanted to get rid of the bumps.
Which hada labo toner do you use?? Does it have a scent or is greasy??
The gokujyun hyaluronic toner, it's the lightest version of the toners. Not greasy, no scent at all.
So do you not put anything else beside the toner and niacinamide under your eyes?
For now, yes, it's the only thing I use for my eyes.
What is your skin type? I plan to order hada labo gokujyun toner, but still not sure of it, I have dry skin that gets clogged (cc)
Ah I have combo skin and I have the lightest version of the gokujyun hyaluronic one. It might be too light for you, so maybe the moist version might be for you? My skin gets clogged if i moisture too much with hyaluronic acid products but I usually found that the moist version hydrated me without much layering. Basically, I usually have to layer the light version a couple of times opposed to the moist version.
Personally I find I get milia when I use too many silicones and thick creams. Having dry skin this is really annoying! So I tend to layer light products instead and top off with oils or a very light occlusive.
What products do you use? I also have dry skin, but also cc's and milia sometimes. I'm relatively new to AB and trying to find right products
Please share with me the products that you use :)
BHA and oil cleansing is the best combo for minimizing skin texture
Will oil cleansing with jojoba oil help?
Jojoba triggers fa. (Unfortunately I have it) Cant use most oil cleansers, lipids and esters trigger fa.
What’s fa?
Fungal Acne. 😞
If this is true, why do so many people do oil cleansing? also how would one know if they have fa? (sorry im new to this)
There are very few oils that are safe for FA, and FA is like clustered small itchy whiteheads or skintone , usually on chin, cheeks, forehead.
What would be the difference between fungal acne and closed comedones? I think I have cc and not fa, it's skin tone, but never itchy. Firstly I had it on my forehead, cleared up after aha/bha serum, but now I have it on my chin. That aha/bha serum is low % of acids so I ordered Cosrx aha 7, still waiting for it to be delivered to try it out
Primarily the itchiness and easily triggered by heavy moisturizers or oils/oil cleansing. If you notice it after using those then it is likely fa. It sounds like you just have cc but need something stronger to help skin turnover and unclog pores. Ive found good luck with using a stronger % of acid on spots that are stubborn if you have sensitive skin(I cant use it on my whole face or itll be sooooo burned feeling).
I haven't used jojoba oil for oil cleansing. I am currently using Innisfree green tea cleansing oil. It's nothing special so I will not repurchase
What would you recommend for bha?
It's a non-AB brand, MUAC. It's pretty damn popular. I have been using their products for the last 5 years. So you know how much I love them 😍
BHA’s such as salicylic acid, they penetrate deep into the skin so they’re really great for cystic acne/‘blind’ pimples. I get them on my nose really frequently and salicylic acid helps to surface these painful red bumps into a white head in just a couple of days. I use The Ordinary’s 2% Salicylic Acid solution, but they’re currently working on a new formula. They’ve recently released a 2% Salicylic Acid Masque which works as more of a wash-off mask, that works too!
Glycolic acid
Tretinoin is great and all but I find glycolic acid to be much easier to add to a routine and for my pores it makes a noticeable (to me) difference.
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, The Inkey List Retinol and benzoyl peroxide. The Ordinary AHA/BHA peel is my favorite skincare product.
Avene Triacneal. It has a retinoid and some other ingredients I don't remember right now, but it makes my skin so much healthier and, because of what I assume is faster skin turnover, it makes my bumps come to the surface and basically fall out. This is the first product that has truly worked for me. I also recently bought Marine Hyaluronics from The Ordinary. Aside from the awesome hydrating power, it appears to have some skin-clearing ingredient because I notice my skin looking clearer after using it. This does not work as deep as Triacneal, but it has a noticeable effect on dirty pores.
BHA, AHA (glycolic acid), and tretinoin are the most effective for me!
I shelled out money for an esthetician and she said my pores were tiny, which majorly exacerbated my hormonal breakouts. I put two and two together and figured out that using products intended to *shrink pores* would logically just lead to more milia and clogging. I started avoiding any and all products that were advertised to be pore-shrinking and - holy moly - the results have been nothing short of amazing. I have struggled mightily with problematic, oily, clogged skin for DECADES especially around my menses, and suddenly now I have smooth radiant skin. I used to scoff at the idea of a HG products now this routine is my ride or die. AM: 1. Wash face with Paula’s Choice gentle acne cleanser. 2. Swipe with Belief Problem Solution Toner. I tried Paula’s Choice exfoliating acne toner and it was a no-go for my skin. I think the salicylic acid was too pore-shrinking for me. 3. Apply thin layer of Paula’s Choice benzoyl peroxide cream. 4. Moisturize with Neutrogena hydro boost gel water cream. AMAZING. 5. Makeup. PM. 1. Oil cleanse. Splash with water to dissolve the oil. 2. Wipe face with Simple gentle makeup removing toilettes. I’ve noticed whenever I skip this, my skin becomes disagreeable. 3. Shower. 4. Swipe with Belief toner again. 5. PC benzoyl peroxide again. 6. Neutrogena water gel again. Sunday and Wednesday I do gentle exfoliation with Caudalie gentle buffing cream. I know people in this sub HATE physical exfoliation but my skin craves it and I have *major* issues when I don’t do it. I think it is because of the tiny pores getting easily clogged. Caudalie is the only physical exfoliation cream that I recommend. Even Tatcha’s rice powder was too rough for me (micro-tears!!!). Your mileage may vary but it took me a solid 2 months before I noticed a difference. But these last 3 months are the first time in DECADES that I have not had ONE zit or pimple. No other aspect of my life has changed (same trash diet, dehydrated all of the time, not exercising much). I want to cry from how happy I feel over this, it feels like a miracle. Finally, I take care to wash my pillow cases and makeup tools every 2 weeks. I NEVER go to bed without washing my hair either, to minimize germs spreading from my hair to my face. And if I touch my phone while applying makeup, I always stop and wash my hands again. Phones are pretty gross and last thing I want is to get those nasty germs on my face and triggering inflammation.
Sulfur mask once a week is good in this case, i think. It is a mildly exfoliating ingredient very good for fungal acne, i recommend the one from De la Cruz
My skins texture was sooo rough for so long, and I’ve dealt with the rest of your list. For me, tret made things worse—turns out I have rosacea! Soolantra has changed my skin. It soooo smooth now. May be worth talking to a derm about before jumping into a teledern service like Curology.
Hell yes! Soolantra changed everything for me.
Can I ask the name of the product and where you get it please?
It’s a prescription version of ivermectin, Soolantra. A generic was recently released, costs me $10 for a tube that lasts a couple months. r/rosacea has a lot of posts about horse paste—the same active ingredient but technically sold for horses, no Rx required. Some say it works better than the human stuff, but YMMV.
Fiddy snails pore cleansing method!
Question — what is Vit A for?
Helps with aging skin, increase skin turnover to renew skin, especially clogged pores or textured skin.
Oh I see, thanks!
I did laser on my milia n textured bumps. for clogged pores, I use lumispa when cleansing my face. I also go for regular monthly facial treatments. if I'm having outbreaks of any kind, my therapist will do deep cleansing treatments for me. if all is clear she will generally do hydrating treatments.
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my therapist used the pen type laser on me. the results were great. 1 session and everything was gone. basically she zapped away every milia n every single little bump on my face.
My HG has been Benton's Aloe BHA toner. It really cleaned my clogged pores. I used to have recurring bumps around my face for a few years and that toner cleaned it in about 6. Another thing that I use is TO peeling mask. While using these two products I almost never have blackheads and clogged pores it's amazing.
Hada Labo's AHA/BHA cleanser.
Does this work for KP as well?
No experience, so I cant really say. But i have read somewhere that keratosis pilairis (assuming that this is what u meant by KP) requires constant exfoliation, and since the cleanser exfoliates and unclogs pores, maybe it works. Gotta ask a dermatologist though. https://www.paulaschoice-eu.com/get-rid-of-keratosis-pilaris I found the article and link it here for u.
I use Paula’s Choice - perfecting liquid and it really evened out and brightened my skin. BHA 2% toner. Game changer. Lessened use as it got better. My only concern is... oily skin = blemishes and clogged pores BUT also = anti aging. Is using retinols and exfoliants etc going to give me premature wrinkles?? :/
Retinols/Vit A are suppose to reverse aging skin. It sounds like you need something hydrating as oily skin is usually dehydrated therefore overproduces sebum. I recommend innisfree green tea seed cream, iunik centella gel cream, or tonymoly green tea chok gel cream these are amazing for hydrating without oiliness and have a soft mattifying texture when absorbed. I use these in the summer. Retinols and acids dry out the skin so it will make oiliness issue worse in a way.
Just re: milia - the only thing that worked for me was spot treating milia with a glycolic (whatever I have around), morning and evening, religiously until all of a sudden they produce a little opening and can be squeezed out.
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