Getting retin a to spread!
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Tue Apr 22, 2014 4:51 pm

Hi EDSers

I've been using retin a 0.025% a for about 5 weeks now but only about once or twice a week so far as I wanted to go slowly so have been backing off from it whenever I get any irritation (I've been getting the usual flakiness, dryness, slight redness/stinging but nothing out of the ordinary I don't think) and not using it again until the irritation goes away.

Anyway, my question is, HOW on EARTH does anyone get a "pea sized amount" of this product to spread all over your face?! Seriously I have tried the method of dotting it evenly around my face and then rubbing it in but the dots are so tiny and spread out with that amount of product that they don't come close to joining together! I have tried just rubbing it in reeeally quickly in case it is sinking into my skin immediately and that's why it's not spreading but that doesn't work at all! The only way I can get it to cover my entire face is to use MORE than TWICE the recommended pea-sized amount. Confused

But I'm worried that this is a) damaging and b) going to prevent my skin from ever acclimatizing to retin a because it's too much for my skin to get used to.

Do other people experience this? Has anyone found a way to solve this problem or have any ideas? I know I could dilute it with something but I'm concerned this will decrease it's effectiveness by decreasing the strength.

Is it possible that my skin is extra absorbent, or it's something else to do with my skin specifically?? If it's relevant my skin type is fairly normal - rarely oil, sometimes dry (possibly dehydrated but I have problems distinguishing between this and normal signs of mild sun damage/ageing). Age 31. Smile

By the way it's definitely a legit product I'm using - it's the Spanish (or Italian?) version of Retin A purchased from ADC.

Thanks in advance for any advice! Smile

free skin care · Tue Apr 22, 2014 5:01 pm

Hi Sula,
I have been using Retin-A for years and have never been able to get a pea size amount to cover my face. What I do is squeeze the correct amount of Retin-A into the palm of my hand then add enough water to make it the right amount to cover my whole face. I mix it with my finger and then apply to my face. Works like a charm! HTHs.

Wed Apr 23, 2014 3:15 pm

Thank you Doodles! Pleased it's not just me as I was thinking there was something funny going on with my skin (Well, there are a lot of funny things going on with my skin but pleased that's not one of them!). Smile

And thanks for the tip - Do you not think that this dilutes the concentration of the retin a thereby lessening the effects? I'm guessing you've still seen improvement with your skin this way otherwise you wouldn't be using it? Smile

free skin care · Wed Apr 23, 2014 3:37 pm

Hi Sula,
No you won't be diluting it. If you were mixing it with anything else it would be diluting it, but the water just makes it thinner, allowing you to use the correct amount and be able to cover your entire face. The water just evaporates. Mixing it with a lotion, cream, etc. would be diluting it. I mixed it with water for a long time with no adverse effects. Now, after using it for about 10 years, I just spread it on and I don't worry how much I'm using because I no longer get any adverse effects from it. HTHs Doodles.

Wed Apr 23, 2014 3:43 pm

Ahh yes of course! I feel pretty silly now as that seems obvious. Rolling Eyes

I will definitely give this a try!

free skin care · Wed Apr 23, 2014 4:00 pm

No worries! Good luck with it. After using it for so long I wouldn't be without it. I get a lot of compliments on how clear, even toned, and line free my skin is.

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