Hello Everyone!
Wow, it has been so long since I had updated my blog -- I feel like I say those exact words every time I write a new post. I find it hard to write when I do not have much time during the day, any free minutes I try to use those to edit or film new videos for YouTube. But today I wanted to share with you all something I am excited about! I have been doing a lot of research lately on acne cures and different products dermatologists recommend. The product I have now added to my skin care regimen is RETIN-A 0.025% gel. I wanted to log my experiences with this product because of all the great things I have heard about it maybe it is one of those holy grail acne treatments for anyone who suffers from cystic acne. My skin is always riding a weird roller coaster it could be due to my age and hormones, some days it will be clear and some days it may look like last nights pizza *chuckles* but it has always angered me that my skin can never look clear for a long period of time. I finally was like this is enough, I have got to see a skin professional and get my skin under freaking control! I went to the doctor and before even mentioning that I was curious about trying RETIN-A he talked to me about it and said many people of all ages have had great success while using this product. I was really excited! RETIN-A is used to treat acne and also to help with anti aging because it is strong micro-exfoliation on the surface of the skin and it peels/flakes dead skin and brings up a fresh layer of skin.
HOW I USE IT
I use Philosophy's Purity Cleanser to remove all makeup and will use it in conjunction with my Clarisonic MIA
I am starting the lowest dosage of RETIN-A I will work my way up to get my skin used to it
I use RETIN-A 0.025 every night 30min after washing my face
Every other night after washing my face I will use Cetaphil Moisturizer then wait 30-45min to apply RETIN-A
I apply RETIN-A everywhere on my face avoiding eye areas, around the lips and corners of my nose because those areas can become very dry and irritable.
I only use a pea sized amount because overusing can result in extreme peeling
I use Khiels Avocado moisturizing eye cream to prevent dryness and sensitivity around my eyes
In the morning I cleanse with Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser to remove dead skin and also any left over RETIN-A on the surface of the skin
After that I apply Khiels dark spot correcting serum and then I use Sephora brand Instant moisturizing cream that contains Hyaluronic Acid which helps retain skins natural moisture. I also apply Khiels SPF 15 because when using RETIN-A it increases sensitivity to the suns rays and you do not want to have spots on your face or look like a tomato. =P
If my skin is still very dry I will use a little bit of Cetaphil Moisturizer.
During the first week:
First day when I applied RETIN-A I experienced mild burning on the areas where I had pimples and whiteheads. The morning after I would notice mild peeling/flaking and redness. I also noticed some pimples downsize and more that came up from under the skin.
I repeated the process at night for the rest of the week and my skin goes through the same routine however the burning sensation now feels a lot worse because I am layers deep and the skin is so fresh. I also have a lot more peeling however my skin after exfoliating with my Clarisonic is so smooth it feels like a baby's bum! I notices some of my scarring starting to fade away. Some pimples are completely gone and there are just red marks where the used to be and they will fade with continued use of RETIN-A.
While using RETIN-A it brings up all impurities to the surface because it strips layers and layers of your skin to renew it. It has different reactions with different people so my case may not be the same for you or other people. This product has to be used with a lot of patience because your skin will look worse before it gets better but the results will be worth it.
I will update possibly on a weekly basis I am not sure if my skin will reach the purging state but I will be sure to let you all know. My results at the moment are great!
Thank you for stopping by!
Siderasuperstar
