Retin-A has a tendency to dry the skin out a lot, so I actually prefer my patients do apply the Retin-A to dry skin. Then wait a few minutes and add moisturizer over it. You will need to ask your prescribing physician if he/she has another preference, but this is the way I've done it for almost 30 years and it allows the Retin-A to be effective without overdrying the skin.
