|
Post by sydbristow on May 9, 2014 11:59:45 GMT
So I am trying to build a better routine for skincare. I have a higher dose of retinol (.5%) for some nights. I have much lower dose in a moisturizer that I could wear all the time.
I also have AHAs and antioxidant serums. Can I use the antioxidants at the same time with the moisturizer with a small amount of retinol? I am a little scared to mix products unless I know it's safe. Also, I am very reluctant to wear any retinol during daytime in case I do get some sun exposure, I have some great SPF but I really don't feel like putting it on every day. I already wear enough layers!! But am I missing out on some good skin treatment opportunities?
Last question, for now. I got a sample of PTR retinol fusion PM and read it is 1.5% retinol, micro encapsulated! If the .5 pure retinol is hard on my skin, what with the PTR do? Or is the delivery method a bit different and maybe more gentle on my skin?
Thanks! I did lots of poking around on the web last night but only found some of the info I was looking for.
|
|
|
Post by fanya on May 9, 2014 19:19:32 GMT
Ack, I've just completed some reading on acid for blog but not antioxidants and retinol yet. Antioxidants combat sun damage and are best used during the day. Retinol kickstart inflamation to encourage peeling and may make you sun/heat sensitive so it's best used at night. They USED to say not to use retinol and acid together because the ingredients are unstable and cancel each other out. However, now that they've got the hang of it (very technical term, lol) you even see some products that may contain some form of retinol AND glycolic acid. The one worry about using both now is whether you are overdoing it for your skin. I'm not sure about retinol. but I know for acid percentage isn't everything, the delivery and other ingredients in the product matters, too.
Basically use antioxidants in the morning and glycolic or retinol at night. However, whether you want to alternate between glycolic or retinol or not depends on what your skin can handle. Some signs of irritation are immediate but some take up to a week to show up.
|
|
|
Post by chicki on May 9, 2014 21:16:13 GMT
Definitely keep retinol and aha's for the evening. You can use antioxidants with both retinol and aha's, Morning and night. I use vitamin C serum morning and night because it works differently. I use it under retin-a with no problem. But if such a mild retinol is hard on your skin I would start with a C derivative such as MAP or SAP (stay away from l ascorbic acid for now), ole henriksen truth serum is a good one (it uses SAP), Let's make collagen serum from skin actives is a great mild one as well, it uses MAP and is cheap considering the great ingredients.
Alternating your retinol and aha is a good plan, it can be used with antioxidants, you also can use it at the same time as retinol if you wanted to, but I wouldn't do that yet.
I wouldn't move up in retinol strength until your skin can handle what you're using now, though delivery is important and it may not be the retinol strength that is irritating your skin. Maybe get a sample of the PTR serum and see how it goes. Which retinol are you using now?
|
|
|
Post by sydbristow on May 10, 2014 2:17:34 GMT
fanya and chicki thanks so much for the excellent info! It's really giving me some direction. chicki right now I'm using Skinceuticals .5. Makes my skin peel every time, just using once a week. But not as bad now, maybe my skin is getting used to it? When you talk about the antioxidants, I have used Skinceuitcals CE Ferulic for years with no issues, it was my understanding that was a fairly potent one. Do you still think it would be an issue to mix?
|
|
|
Post by chicki on May 10, 2014 5:47:52 GMT
Both of your skinceuticals products are excellent, their C serum is top of the line, definitely dont downgrade to the other products I mentioned, I though you were a beginner lol Are you currently using aha's now? I ask because while my skin can handle (and love) any retin-a/retinol I throw at it, glycolic acid, and to a lesser extent, lactic acid, will make me peel everytime, no matter how weak. So if you're using aha's now, I'd say maybe pause them for a few weeks and see how you do with just retinol and C serum. If you're not and you're certain its the retinol, I'd suggest trying a different retinol formulation. Some people totally can't handle retinoids, I think you should find out if thats you. Maybe the skinceuticals one just isn't for you. No worries about mixing though, I'd just give each product 5 or so minutes to soak in before applying the next
|
|