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*Treatment results may vary
Retin A didn't work for me... Here's what did!
I gave Retin A a solid 9 months before giving up (about 6 months was the highest dosage). Don't get me wrong, Retin A made a noticeable improvement. But it just didn't cut it for me. I still battled persistent acne (including cystic acne) - and while it stopped *feeling* irritated, it made my face red all the time (to the point that people were asking me about it). I was tempted by thoughts of Accutane. But I decided to give OTC products one more chance. After discovering the miracle that is *glycerin*, I found I could counteract the dryness that often accompanies the most powerful acne treatments and it was full speed ahead! I haven't seen a real pimple in weeks!!
Here is what I have come up with (through trial and error) that works for ME.
First let me introduce my products (selected by their active ingredients): Clean and Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment (2% salicylic acid), Clean and Clear Persa-Gel 10 (10% benzoyl peroxide), Proactiv Clear Purifying Mask (6% sulfur), Neutrogena Pure and Free Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50, and Aura Cacia Organic Vegetable Glycerin (moisturizer). I wash with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and regular old Softsoap (gentle yet effective). I mix up my "day cream" and "night cream" and keep them in cosmetic jars.
Morning:
Wash with Softsoap. Manually exfoliate (refer to my "It's been about 3 months" update). Apply my "day cream" consisting of... 1 part glycerin, 2 parts sunscreen, 4 parts C&C salicylic acid, 4 parts C&C benzoyl peroxide.
Evening:
(If I'm in full make up, I do a preliminary wash with Cetaphil first) Wash with Softsoap. Apply my "night cream" consisting of... 1 part glycerin, 1 part Proactiv sulfur, 2 parts C&C salicylic acid, 2 parts C&C benzoyl peroxide.
That's it!! Easy 2 step wash-and-treat regimen and I honestly haven't been clearer in my adult life!! Now I just need to see how it fairs during the warmer months when I'm prone to the most acne.
Here is what I have come up with (through trial and error) that works for ME.
First let me introduce my products (selected by their active ingredients): Clean and Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment (2% salicylic acid), Clean and Clear Persa-Gel 10 (10% benzoyl peroxide), Proactiv Clear Purifying Mask (6% sulfur), Neutrogena Pure and Free Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50, and Aura Cacia Organic Vegetable Glycerin (moisturizer). I wash with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and regular old Softsoap (gentle yet effective). I mix up my "day cream" and "night cream" and keep them in cosmetic jars.
Morning:
Wash with Softsoap. Manually exfoliate (refer to my "It's been about 3 months" update). Apply my "day cream" consisting of... 1 part glycerin, 2 parts sunscreen, 4 parts C&C salicylic acid, 4 parts C&C benzoyl peroxide.
Evening:
(If I'm in full make up, I do a preliminary wash with Cetaphil first) Wash with Softsoap. Apply my "night cream" consisting of... 1 part glycerin, 1 part Proactiv sulfur, 2 parts C&C salicylic acid, 2 parts C&C benzoyl peroxide.
That's it!! Easy 2 step wash-and-treat regimen and I honestly haven't been clearer in my adult life!! Now I just need to see how it fairs during the warmer months when I'm prone to the most acne.
5 months with Retin A
I have been on the 0.1% dosage for a while now. My skin is mostly clear, but not as clear as I'd hoped. I still have 5-8 visible blemishes at any given time, granted they are smaller and heal faster than the ones I had before. But still, I'm tired of getting the "zits" I was promised would stop haunting me once I got through my teens.
As far as fine lines go, I've noticed a peculiar trend: my "vertical" lines have smoothed out but my "horizontal" lines almost seem worse (or maybe I'm seeing things). So my "frown lines" between my brows and nasolabial lines have almost completely disappeared. But my "laugh lines" around my eyes plus the line that's making it's way across my forehead all seem more noticeable now. Everything I read says it's the best stuff for wrinkles though, so I'm just going to keep with it.
My skin care routine has changed. I'm hoping this might finally give me an edge over my acne.
Morning:
Cleanse face with Cetaphil, followed by manual exfoliation (see previous entry). After cleansing, I use Proactiv's rejuvenating toner. I finish with Clearasil Daily Clear Vanishing Cream (10% BPO) and of course Neutrogrena liquid sunscreen.
Evening:
Cleanse face with Cetaphil, using a "Lil Scrubbie" to remove make-up, followed by manual exfoliation. With a cotton ball, apply isopropyl alcohol 70% solution to problem areas. When dry, apply 3-4 drops of hemp oil to moisturize. After 20 minutes, apply Retin A 0.1%. Every third night, apply Retin A 0.05% around eyes.
I started using alcohol on my skin in the evening because I figured the Retin A gel is alcohol based, so it must be fine to use with Retin A cream, plus it kills bacteria. Also, the skin around my eyes has adapted to the 0.05% ever-third-night thing, so starting next month I'm going up to every-other-night. All-around, cautiously optimistic.
As far as fine lines go, I've noticed a peculiar trend: my "vertical" lines have smoothed out but my "horizontal" lines almost seem worse (or maybe I'm seeing things). So my "frown lines" between my brows and nasolabial lines have almost completely disappeared. But my "laugh lines" around my eyes plus the line that's making it's way across my forehead all seem more noticeable now. Everything I read says it's the best stuff for wrinkles though, so I'm just going to keep with it.
My skin care routine has changed. I'm hoping this might finally give me an edge over my acne.
Morning:
Cleanse face with Cetaphil, followed by manual exfoliation (see previous entry). After cleansing, I use Proactiv's rejuvenating toner. I finish with Clearasil Daily Clear Vanishing Cream (10% BPO) and of course Neutrogrena liquid sunscreen.
Evening:
Cleanse face with Cetaphil, using a "Lil Scrubbie" to remove make-up, followed by manual exfoliation. With a cotton ball, apply isopropyl alcohol 70% solution to problem areas. When dry, apply 3-4 drops of hemp oil to moisturize. After 20 minutes, apply Retin A 0.1%. Every third night, apply Retin A 0.05% around eyes.
I started using alcohol on my skin in the evening because I figured the Retin A gel is alcohol based, so it must be fine to use with Retin A cream, plus it kills bacteria. Also, the skin around my eyes has adapted to the 0.05% ever-third-night thing, so starting next month I'm going up to every-other-night. All-around, cautiously optimistic.
It's been about 3 months!
I spent about 6 weeks on the 0.05% concentration. It made a relative amount of improvement, but only in that my acne was only as bad as it was before I started Retin A treatment (because my acne got noticeably worse when I first started Retin A with the 0.025% concentration).
My doctor switched me up to the 0.1% concentration a few weeks ago. It made all the difference in the world! My skin is now at about 90% clear compared to how it was at its worst. I'm still experiencing a random few little pimples, but I'm hoping I will continue to improve! Also, I cannot remember a time in my life when I had so few blackheads! I don't even need pore-strips for my nose!
Here is my skincare regimen at this time. It's kind of involved but it's what I've found works best for me at this time...
Morning-
Wash with Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask. It has 3.5% BPO, a clay-like consistency, no abrasive granules, and it has a cooling tingle. (I was hoping I could ditch BPO altogether, but I've found that it is a crucial ingredient for me to be clear) After I've rinsed the cleanser off, I perform some "manual exfoliation." I'll explain. Basically, I've found that the best way to rid my face of the peely dead skin that seems to accrue overnight on Retin A is to use the friction of my fingers pushing against my skin. It works really well! Better than a scrub or a cleansing brush, both of which just weren't cutting it, but it's also not abrasive enough to over-exfoliate and leave you raw. I do this AFTER I've rinsed off the cleanser, because cleansers will decrease the amount of friction you can generate, but using just water provides the perfect level of friction to slough-off the dead layers. After I've rubbed my face until I can't produce anymore clumps of skin (gross I know), I rinse again, and then use the cleanser again on the areas that peeled most (for me it's around my mouth and chin) so that all my *living* skin gets clean and dosed with BPO.
After cleansing/exfoliating, I use the Proactiv "Rejuvenating Toner" followed by the Proactiv "Repairing Treatment." The toner has witch hazel and glycolic acid, so it helps to further exfoliate and refine the skin surface. The lotion has 2.5% BPO, which in itself is great, but also for some reason this is the only product in the whole world that reduces the level of oil my skin produces. .
After the lotion, I apply my favorite sunscreen ever: Neutrogena Pure and Free Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50 (followed by my make-up primer). You MUST use sunscreen (with a decent SPF) if you're on Retin A!
***A note about Proactiv: I am planning on canceling my account with them. I recently discovered that Equate by Walmart and Up&Up by Target both have a dupe of the Proactive 3-step kit available, and most of what I've read online says that they work as well as the "real" stuff or BETTER. I couldn't resist sharing this!! I'll take $12 for a generic over $40 for a brand name any day!! I wonder how many of my hard-earned dollars were "wasted" subscribing to this brand for the last decade...
Evening-
I apply the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, and then I use my Olay ProX Facial Cleansing Brush for about 1-2 minutes to effectively remove my make-up. The little bristles are great for lifting off make-up, but I don't really use the brush to *exfoliate* per se. Usually I don't need to "manually exfoliate" in the evenings, but on the off chance my skin looks a little peely then I will rub it smooth with my fingertips.
After I dry my face, I take about 8 drops of Hemp Oil and rub it all over my face. It's non-comedogenic, absorbs easily, moisturizes super well, and it seems to help calm-down the redness in my skin.
I wait at least 20 minutes after this to apply my Retin A 0.1%. I use it on my whole face except for my eye area. I've started using what's left of my 0.05% prescription in small amounts around my eyes twice a week, and I'll work my way up from there. The skin around your eyes is (obviously) a lot more sensitive, and so it will take me a while to work up to using the 0.1% everyday. I am in my mid-twenties, so I'm just beginning to see the finest lines around my eyes. Hopefully incorporating the Retin A will slow down the progression of crows feet!
My doctor switched me up to the 0.1% concentration a few weeks ago. It made all the difference in the world! My skin is now at about 90% clear compared to how it was at its worst. I'm still experiencing a random few little pimples, but I'm hoping I will continue to improve! Also, I cannot remember a time in my life when I had so few blackheads! I don't even need pore-strips for my nose!
Here is my skincare regimen at this time. It's kind of involved but it's what I've found works best for me at this time...
Morning-
Wash with Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask. It has 3.5% BPO, a clay-like consistency, no abrasive granules, and it has a cooling tingle. (I was hoping I could ditch BPO altogether, but I've found that it is a crucial ingredient for me to be clear) After I've rinsed the cleanser off, I perform some "manual exfoliation." I'll explain. Basically, I've found that the best way to rid my face of the peely dead skin that seems to accrue overnight on Retin A is to use the friction of my fingers pushing against my skin. It works really well! Better than a scrub or a cleansing brush, both of which just weren't cutting it, but it's also not abrasive enough to over-exfoliate and leave you raw. I do this AFTER I've rinsed off the cleanser, because cleansers will decrease the amount of friction you can generate, but using just water provides the perfect level of friction to slough-off the dead layers. After I've rubbed my face until I can't produce anymore clumps of skin (gross I know), I rinse again, and then use the cleanser again on the areas that peeled most (for me it's around my mouth and chin) so that all my *living* skin gets clean and dosed with BPO.
After cleansing/exfoliating, I use the Proactiv "Rejuvenating Toner" followed by the Proactiv "Repairing Treatment." The toner has witch hazel and glycolic acid, so it helps to further exfoliate and refine the skin surface. The lotion has 2.5% BPO, which in itself is great, but also for some reason this is the only product in the whole world that reduces the level of oil my skin produces. .
After the lotion, I apply my favorite sunscreen ever: Neutrogena Pure and Free Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50 (followed by my make-up primer). You MUST use sunscreen (with a decent SPF) if you're on Retin A!
***A note about Proactiv: I am planning on canceling my account with them. I recently discovered that Equate by Walmart and Up&Up by Target both have a dupe of the Proactive 3-step kit available, and most of what I've read online says that they work as well as the "real" stuff or BETTER. I couldn't resist sharing this!! I'll take $12 for a generic over $40 for a brand name any day!! I wonder how many of my hard-earned dollars were "wasted" subscribing to this brand for the last decade...
Evening-
I apply the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, and then I use my Olay ProX Facial Cleansing Brush for about 1-2 minutes to effectively remove my make-up. The little bristles are great for lifting off make-up, but I don't really use the brush to *exfoliate* per se. Usually I don't need to "manually exfoliate" in the evenings, but on the off chance my skin looks a little peely then I will rub it smooth with my fingertips.
After I dry my face, I take about 8 drops of Hemp Oil and rub it all over my face. It's non-comedogenic, absorbs easily, moisturizes super well, and it seems to help calm-down the redness in my skin.
I wait at least 20 minutes after this to apply my Retin A 0.1%. I use it on my whole face except for my eye area. I've started using what's left of my 0.05% prescription in small amounts around my eyes twice a week, and I'll work my way up from there. The skin around your eyes is (obviously) a lot more sensitive, and so it will take me a while to work up to using the 0.1% everyday. I am in my mid-twenties, so I'm just beginning to see the finest lines around my eyes. Hopefully incorporating the Retin A will slow down the progression of crows feet!