Retin-A: Stories

So today is day 3 in my retin A regiment. I had never done it before. I use Retin A 0.1% and I use it all over my face. First day I put two drops all over my face, didnt look like much, so I added some more. It took several ( like three-four) hours for it to dry. Now I know I applied too much. But then I was just hanging at home, waiting for it to dry. Next morning there was no huge results, just when I put makeup it felt like I put makeup on the top of some dry mask on my face. PS I have no acne.. I am doing it for fun?antiaging, I just like to try things.
Anyhow. Next day I applied as much as I applied first time, means A LOT and waited for it to dry. Next day my skin was red, peeling all over, dry, kind of craked and hurting... Here you go.... So I did one day break and didnt apply this time on my nosefolds, this is where it hurts the most and I am using vaseline as moisturizer. If someone can suggest moisturizer for me - I will be greatful

Moisturizer? Anyone?

So, what happened is that because i dont have much time it was kind of fast visit.
Like drive through, you know...
I got prescription for Retin a and some fast instructions, now I have thousand times more questions...
I walked in, got Botox injections, told them I want to do something about discoloration of my face and my eyelashes.
For discoloration they gave me Retin A, I thought I was listening, but I could swear she said to apply it every day. I just didnt know that I will be peeling so much and will be so red.
For eyelashes I had no time to do extensions there, extensions take 2 hours for first appointment. And every two weeks they said it takes an hour to touch up. They sell there Latisse, Lilash, Fysiko and Obagi eyelash enhancers.
I didn't understand what the difference is, as I had no time to look through. So it was hard to make informative decision. Latisse was $100.00, Obagi - $60.00, Fysiko $140 and Lilash $125 Looks like Obagi is the cheapest but I really dont want a cheapest one. Latisse is prescription, hey told me this is the only one FDA approved.

Redness and pain is not a problem anymore, like it is red, but not CRAZY RED...
Pain went away. Skin is peeling, but I use vaseline, I use it every second day now... I think I will go back to this medical spa, to get the eyelash stuff, and ask what moisturizer is the best, couldn't be vaseline the best moisturizer, right? then I will ask dermatologist again how many tomes to apply and how long the peeling should be. And maybe to get some fillers?

no pain, practically no redness. only peeling. skin looks really good when it is exfoliated and moisturized.
skin looks really good

I had more pictures in between what was happening to my skin, but I cant find my camera, so when I find it I will submit more... So I will go back to dermatologist tomorrow. I will get feedback on BOTOX ive done, choose eyelash enhancing stuff, I think I will go with either latisse or fysiko, but will ask tomorrow to see what dermatologist thinks and the most important thing - I will ask thousands questions about retin a now... I do feel she just thrown me in a water like a puppy to deal with it myself... Good god I have good skin and recovering fine. While I was on treatment I read so much stuff about it , I can really consider myself lucky

So I went to dermatologist Monday. She was in a hurry(again), I serously consider to quit going to her, I used to have another dermatologist, she was thousand times better.
Anyhow. I asked her about redness, and peeling. and what moisturizer to use. She said that peeling and redness will go away soon and moisturizer should be Aquaphore.
My skin doesn't hurt, it is slightly red, it is peeling every morning, but after exfoliation it is the most supple, firm , beautiful skin. All imperfections slowly start fading away. I will start trying retin a on my stretch marks on my stomach too.
So in general, i am happy with retin a, I just wish I would kmow that in the beginning your skin is going to look HORRIBLE, red, irritated, hurt, peeling. I didnt know and had important meeting to go to and looked like iron man that took a shower and now he is rusted.
Anyway, I will keep using and will keep you updated, I take pictures.

In regards of eyelash stuff:
Dermatologist really wanted me to do eyelash extensions. I would do it, but I have a friend who had extensions for a year and when she took them off, it looked like she had no eyelashes left. She was the one who said that there are eyelash serums which can help to regrow eyelashes. So I was kind of set on eyelash serums. Dermatologist couldn't advise me what to choose. Why do they carry several brands? she said each of them has a customer, so the cheapest was Obagi, $60.00, when I asked her what does she think about Obagi, she made a face and said it is ok, I guess it was her way of saying it is not a good treatment? why do they sell then? and how can she sell it if she makes faces? Can you tell I really dont like my dermatologist?
Anyway... So there is Latisse, Fysiko and Lilash left. And I really dont know much about them.. Ive heard only about Latisse before, on TV and such. I should of asked my friend what did she get, but I didnt think there are so many. So dermatologist kind of was getting towards Fysiko and Latisse. But at this point I dont trust her, I kind of feel she is a little shady, maybe she gets paid more from these brands? So I was in and between and decided to go with Latisse, she said several times that this is FDA approved, bla bla bla... So I will do a Latisse review on another page? Under Latisse? if it is prescription, why it is not covered by my insurance????
And I will keep you updated with retin a.
I am trying retin a on my neck and my stomach for stretch marks. Did anybody try retin a for stretch marks? any advice?

I really like my skin. I am getting adjusted to it. Right after I apply ( you need to apply small amount, like a pea size) and smooth it all over my face, it is red in couple hours. Red and peeling in the morning. Doesn't hurt anymore. But after exfoliation in the morning it is the most gorgeous nice smooth skin I had ever have, even I always get compliments on my skin... now I can FEEL it. Anyone can advise best sunscreen??? My dermatologist told me any SPF 50 will work. They should carry makeup with spf, right? how does it work, like I know spf need to be reapplied, so do you remove makeup every 4 hours or so and reapply spf? Stupid question?

I am peeling today... my husband said my skin looks great, almost perfect, just forehead needs to be finished

Had you heard of Colorescience spf 50? I had been recommended this sunscreen to use with retin a. Anyone has opinion on sunscreen??

My skin is the smoothest and prettiest it had ever been. I had to stop for two days because of too much peeing. I am visiting dermatologist next week to address it

I am absolutely IN LOVE with Retin A. I am extatic. My skin looks AMAZING. Dark spots on my forehead lightened. Skin texture is like baby skin. I had never had such great skin ever. I used it on my neck, now my neck has no lines, no dark spots, looks 20 years younger, seriously. Downside - skin is peeling once in a while, sometimes big time. I purchased Clarisonic for exfoliation. I use Clarisonic twice a week. Also use exfoliator every day. Still looking for advise from you guys on Sunscreen

I started BB cream for foundation and on my skin it looks flawless and people comment on my skin now, I think I look years younger. BB cream is different from foundation, I had no idea, I just saw it in a store and bought it. I am happy I am not spending $60 on foundation anymore, BB cream is cheaper and looks much better. My dark spots on my skin completely disappeared

I took few days off retinol and guess what? Now it is all peeling again and I remind myself the iron man... I am submitting pictures of BB creams I tried. I like the L'Oreal one, but it has no SPF! L'Oreal BB cream comes out as white-gray substance and turns to skin color when blended.. Pretty cool. Everyone likes my skin color when I am wearing this cream... but no spf... made me to go try some other stuff.
About retinol I use: Gel, 0.1%, I used to get it from esthetician, now ( mainly because I put it on my neck, decolletage, some stretch marks) it goes quickly. I buy it in bulk now because I use so much.

By the way, I now wonder if my botox injections were affected by Retinol. Read my other reviews to learn what's the deal with Botox... But it just came to my mind! did anybody have it happened that Botox did nt work as well or as usual because of retin-a?