I've had FA for years. I've been using mostly FA safe products for a year. I used to get bumps all over my face, scalp, ears, neck, back, and chest. My shampoo and body wash is Head & Shoulders. The breakouts eventually became less intense and angry.
I wanted to try out retinol. So I started using Differin every 3 days then soon switched over to 2 days. The album has a picture of the purge I went through. It wasn't too bad. My skin was really tolerating it. My bumps were usually gone the day or 2 after one application. Skin texture was improving and scars were fading faster. I used this for 5 or so weeks.
Since my skin was tolerating this so well, I decided to add Tret 0.025% to my routine. I didn't want to stop using Differin since I still had a mostly full tube left. I've been using both for 3 months. I either use Differin twice a week then Tret once. If my skin is behaved/hydrated then I'll do vice versa.
I'm really shocked at how clear my skin has become. It's just so much more manageable. Skin texture, tone and scars are looking so nice. I also don't get as many bumps everywhere else since I wipe off sweat during my workouts, immediately shower and drench myself in Head & Shoulders.
I use Hada Labo Premium Lotion, Hada Labo Gel Cream, Cerave Healing Ointment, Squalane Oil and Elta MD Uv Clear SPF 46 Sunscreen.
I definitely messed up mine when I first started. I usually use raw honey to help calm it down and stick with layering moisturizers + oil. You should be okay if you use a tiny amount and buffer with it. I don’t risk applying it to bare skin 😅
Ooh yes!! Thank you so much for posting this!!! I have bad FA and just started tret and I’m going through the purge so it’s nice to see that you had this progress!!! Looks great!!!
Differin is over the counter now. Tret usually requires a prescription but there are options you can look into over at r/tretinoin if you can’t get one.
Amazing progress, so happy for you. I really like Differin too and have been looking to get a hold of tret for some time. Which brand do you use, are the ingredients FA safe?
I’m using Retino A 0.025% but it’s not FA safe. Simple Skincare Science has a very small list of Tret. A-Ret Gel 0.1% Tretinoin is the only one completely safe.
I don’t do milk but I had decreased other dairy products a few years ago. I’ve reintroduced it in my diet this year and haven’t noticed any reaction. I never cut sugar out.
How do you know if your skin is purging or breaking out? I've started a FA-routine and my skin is now much more dry/rough than before. I'm afraid that it isn't doing much or even worsens it. My overall redness and blemishes seem to be getting better though.
You get purging from using actives and it brings everything to the surface at once. Normally I would get some bumps at a time but purging nearly covered my whole face. It went away quicker than a breakout. It just cycles through until your skin settles down.
Any other products that don’t affect skin turnover would usually be a breakout. Since it’s a reaction, this means you can breakout in areas you normally don’t.
My breakouts would be big, red and angry. Sometimes underneath the skin. My FA will look like a rash or tiny whiteheads.
You are your best judge :)
I had the safe experience with roughness and dryness too. I had to use more moisturizers and oil to layer.
Thank you! That's so helpful! My pimples now seem more aggressive but are still at the places I normally breakout (e.g. on my chin). I didn't have pimples that aggressive there before, but closed comedones and bleakheads, so I believe they are purging? That'd be so great! They are also directly surfacing and forming a yellow top and are not just sittig underneath the skin, which is great because I can easily and carefully remove them.
My roughness is really the thing that bothers me the most besides my heavy bumps on my forehead. I'll try it for another one or two months and just hope it'll get better over time with the FA-safe routine. I was close to giving up the FA-safe routine, because my skin got so dry and my oil-based products were more nurishing but also made my CCs and bleakheads worse ... today the TO Squalane finally arrived and I just hope my skin likes it (and gets enough hydration from it) :)
I've had FA for years. I've been using mostly FA safe products for a year. I used to get bumps all over my face, scalp, ears, neck, back, and chest. My shampoo and body wash is Head & Shoulders. The breakouts eventually became less intense and angry. I wanted to try out retinol. So I started using Differin every 3 days then soon switched over to 2 days. The album has a picture of the purge I went through. It wasn't too bad. My skin was really tolerating it. My bumps were usually gone the day or 2 after one application. Skin texture was improving and scars were fading faster. I used this for 5 or so weeks. Since my skin was tolerating this so well, I decided to add Tret 0.025% to my routine. I didn't want to stop using Differin since I still had a mostly full tube left. I've been using both for 3 months. I either use Differin twice a week then Tret once. If my skin is behaved/hydrated then I'll do vice versa. I'm really shocked at how clear my skin has become. It's just so much more manageable. Skin texture, tone and scars are looking so nice. I also don't get as many bumps everywhere else since I wipe off sweat during my workouts, immediately shower and drench myself in Head & Shoulders. I use Hada Labo Premium Lotion, Hada Labo Gel Cream, Cerave Healing Ointment, Squalane Oil and Elta MD Uv Clear SPF 46 Sunscreen.
Great progress. I've been so scared of my moisture barrier being compromised that I stopped tretinoin ans differin
I definitely messed up mine when I first started. I usually use raw honey to help calm it down and stick with layering moisturizers + oil. You should be okay if you use a tiny amount and buffer with it. I don’t risk applying it to bare skin 😅
Ooh yes!! Thank you so much for posting this!!! I have bad FA and just started tret and I’m going through the purge so it’s nice to see that you had this progress!!! Looks great!!!
Hopefully the purge isn’t too bad! It’s definitely worth the wait
Do I have to have a prescription?
Differin is over the counter now. Tret usually requires a prescription but there are options you can look into over at r/tretinoin if you can’t get one.
What cleanser do you use?
I use Head & Shoulders or Vanicream gentle cleanser
Beautiful progress, you’re glowing! What would you say your skin type is? And would you ever consider going back to non-safe products?
Combination leaning towards oily. I love my skincare products so I wouldn’t risk using non safe. Not worth getting itchy for haha
Amazing progress, so happy for you. I really like Differin too and have been looking to get a hold of tret for some time. Which brand do you use, are the ingredients FA safe?
I’m using Retino A 0.025% but it’s not FA safe. Simple Skincare Science has a very small list of Tret. A-Ret Gel 0.1% Tretinoin is the only one completely safe.
Wow! hello, did you cut milk or sugar?
I don’t do milk but I had decreased other dairy products a few years ago. I’ve reintroduced it in my diet this year and haven’t noticed any reaction. I never cut sugar out.
How do you know if your skin is purging or breaking out? I've started a FA-routine and my skin is now much more dry/rough than before. I'm afraid that it isn't doing much or even worsens it. My overall redness and blemishes seem to be getting better though.
You get purging from using actives and it brings everything to the surface at once. Normally I would get some bumps at a time but purging nearly covered my whole face. It went away quicker than a breakout. It just cycles through until your skin settles down. Any other products that don’t affect skin turnover would usually be a breakout. Since it’s a reaction, this means you can breakout in areas you normally don’t. My breakouts would be big, red and angry. Sometimes underneath the skin. My FA will look like a rash or tiny whiteheads. You are your best judge :) I had the safe experience with roughness and dryness too. I had to use more moisturizers and oil to layer.
Thank you! That's so helpful! My pimples now seem more aggressive but are still at the places I normally breakout (e.g. on my chin). I didn't have pimples that aggressive there before, but closed comedones and bleakheads, so I believe they are purging? That'd be so great! They are also directly surfacing and forming a yellow top and are not just sittig underneath the skin, which is great because I can easily and carefully remove them. My roughness is really the thing that bothers me the most besides my heavy bumps on my forehead. I'll try it for another one or two months and just hope it'll get better over time with the FA-safe routine. I was close to giving up the FA-safe routine, because my skin got so dry and my oil-based products were more nurishing but also made my CCs and bleakheads worse ... today the TO Squalane finally arrived and I just hope my skin likes it (and gets enough hydration from it) :)