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Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:02 pm  |
I've been trying to use Skinceuticals Retinol .5% for a couple of months now - started out 1x week, which I could handle, but every time I try to go to 2x week, I get a lot of redness, irritation, burning, and breakouts. I've started putting squalane oil on my skin after I cleanse, about 30 minutes before I apply the Retinol, and then put the squalane on again about an hour after I apply the Retinol, which helps some, but I'm still having a lot of irritation. My skin just feels like it's burning, it's very red and puffy, and I've got breakouts I never had before. When it gets that irritated, I've been waiting for it to calm down before I use the Retinol again, usually about a week. My skin is dry and aging (54 y/o), haven't really had breakouts in a long time. I've tried washing the Retinol off about an hour after I put it on, then moisturizing, instead of leaving the Retinol on over night, and I think I can move up to every other day doing that routine, but am I getting any benefit from it if I don't leave it on all night? I'm still getting some irritation even just doing that. Or should I just keep using it only 1x per week? My skin is pretty sensitive, I was hoping to get used to the Retinol and then move up to Retin A, but it's not going to happen at this rate.
In addition to the squalane, I'm also using a moisturizer at night from Elta MD that is supposed to be good for irritated skin, it's basically just Petrolatum. In the day time, I use Paula's Choice Antioxidant Serum, then the squalane, and then a sunscreen from Elta MD. I quit using any AHAs or BHAs until I get this irritation under control. |
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Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:07 pm |
That seems like a really extreme reaction to retinol. Have you considered that you might be having an allergic reaction to another ingredient in the serum? Perhaps try a different brand?
I don't think washing it off after an hour will give you much benefit.
Another thought is to try a product with a lesser percentage of retinol. |
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Tue Oct 21, 2014 2:41 pm |
| I was previously using Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol, but it doesn't really seem to have any effect. I don't think it has enough Retinol in it to do anything, but I can't find a percentage anywhere. It did not irritate my skin, but it's not very moisturizing. I would really like to get started on Retin A, since everyone says that's the only thing that really works, but I assume if I can't handle Retinol, I probably can't handle Retin A. |
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