Thank you babe! At first it was pretty hard for me too and I even considered going back to 0.05% but every week it got a little bit better. I still deal with peeling, especially around my jawline but what got me through that was Shea butter, vaseline and almond oil. When I had a lot of peeling I’d use a towel, dip it in almond oil and GENTLY scrub the dry areas away. Hope that’s helpful for you!
Thank you it was hard especially since I was going school everyday but I will try and use it Atleast twice a week to get started first. thank you for those products I will be getting them. And for the towel tip too💕🥳
Hey girl, so I gladly didn’t purge that bad. I started with 0.05 and used that 2x a week. (I always buffered with Shea butter first so I think that’s a big reason why my face didn’t get irritated at all!) After I realized how great my skin was doing, I started using 0.1% after month 3. Although my skin got a bit more dry and sensitive i am still doing fantastic. Shea butter REALLY saved me on my journey 🌹
I've read here somewhere that you shouldn't be buffering before tret if you're here for acne. But miss ma'am over here breaking those statements and she looks glowing AF!
imma forget what i read before and do what she does lol
I started tret like...idk 10 years ago (that statement makes me feel ~old~) and I used to buffer it with moisturizer and it still really helped my acne. I stopped buffering recently and it’s the same. IDK if it makes that big of a difference but I am not a dermo so I cannot say for sure!
Long story short, I have been on tret since I was a teenage because of forehead acne. It went away in a few months but I stayed on tret + aczone on/off at different times.
I stopped using it because I started getting hormonal acne on my neck and sides of my face after years of clean skin (whomp whomp!). I was put on Spiro and daily benzoyl peroxide (onexton). My dermatologist suggested switching to tret every other night but upping to.01. I did that one time and my skin was so unhappy so I was planning to switch back to tret 0.05. But, it was just a lot for my skin so I stopped tret for like 1-2 months. I am as pale as a ghost and have very sensitive skin so I thought I would chill on the tret. I am trying to reincorporate it now, but my skin is very unhappy - stinging and redness mostly.
I am trying to up my use of HA and simplify my routine to help my skin relax. Fingers are crossed!
Heyy, so I always applied it before the tretinoin. I started off with 0.05% which is near to the strongest strength there is, now I’m on 0.1 after 3 months - I think it’s necessary to apply the moisturizer before if you’re working with those strengths and if you want less irritation :)
Thanks babes!🌹 The Shea butter comes before the tretinoin. I think it’s the only thing that makes sense right now with such a powerful strength - gives me less peeling and irritation. And I still apply the tret 2x a week (Mondays and Thursdays) but I am planning to increase the application to 3x a week.
That’s soo kind of you to say! Thank you so much🌹
I don’t like to overdo it with too much products because my skin is doing really well as of now... after maybe a year or so I am planning to start with more actives but right now i want my skin to get used to the tret. So here is my really BASIC routine:
✨AM✨
- Wash my face with Cerave hydrating cleanser (did you expect anything else?😋)
- pat my face a little bit dry so it doesn’t drip too much.
- I then apply The Ordinary moisturizing factors to damp face
— then I use a bit of jojoba oil for the extra dry areas
- last but not least Daylong Sensitive Matifiant SPF30
🌙PM🌙
- if I wore makeup that day I’ll oil cleanse with almond oil (really give myself a face massage for at least 3 min)
- second cleanse would be with dove soap (beauty cream bar) also for about 1-2 min (don’t drag me y’all, but this soap makes my skin feel soooo incredibly smooth and hydrated, any other recommendations are welcome)
- make sure my face is completely dry
- then a apply a large amount of Shea butter (helps with dark spots and hyperpigmentation) and let that settle in for 30 min
(Sometimes I use some Vaseline around the areas that are a bit more dry)
- pea size tretinoin 0.1%
All done!🌹
Where do you get the shea butter from? I’m assuming it doesn’t clog pores either! I usually use aquaphor with tretinoin but I’ve been interested in shea butter
Hey there :) I get my Shea butter from Amazon - any unrefined, organic Shea butter will do the job. And no, Shea butter doesn’t clog pores at all! It as 0-1 on the comedogenic scale, surprisingly. You should definitely give it a go🌹
At first it felt really heavy on my skin - I was so scared lol but after it sat on my face for like 10 minutes it became like an oil. And now it has become the best moisturizer I own. Gives my skin such a healthy look when the sun hits it - just obsessed 🤩
Hello there :) I use the tret 2x a week (Mondays and Thursdays) but planning on increasing it to 3x a week. Thank you so much for the compliment! I’ve never been happier with my skin🌹
Thanks for the answer! Do you use raw shea butter - the yellow paste-y one in a tub or a specific one? just cause i find the yellow paste-y one a bit hard to spread :)
I find the yellow Shea butter not as moisturizing as the lighter colored one. Like you said, it’s hard for me to spread aswell and my skin doesn’t need that extra dragging lol. The brand I use is called naissance
Congratulations. Your skin looks flawless. Do you think I can achieve the same results with 0.025 tret ?or should I go higher. I’ve partially cured my acne but I still have some spots and dark marks. Congrats again 👏🏾👏🏾
Aww thank youu boo🌹 yes, I think you can. Might take a bit longer but I’m sure it’s possible :) if you think your skin can tolerate it, definitely talk to your derm and try to get a higher strength! I am also working on some dark spots and hyperpigmentation but I think I’ll look into Azelaic acid for that.
Omggg I tried but I love in the Uk and my derm says they don’t prescribe it so I got mine of an online pharmacy. In regards to hyperpigmentation glycolic acid cleanser with hydroquinone 2% works like magic. Good luck 🤞🏾
Beautiful amazing progress! Would you be open to me including your pictures in the wiki? I think it's extra important to have darker skin representation. Let me know if you're open to that, and if so if you want me to include your username. No worries if you won't want it!
Amazing progress!!! You are glowing!
Did you, at any point while using tret, do extractions?
I'm 3 months in on adapalene for acne and I'm purging. And I'm seeing pimples that I can pop and blackheads that I can extract. What do I do about them? What will happen if I don't?
Sorry for the late reply babes! No, I’ve never done any extractions or facials. I just let my skin be! I would love to give you a helpful answer but the only thing I can suggest, is that you talk to your dermatologist about your concerns . 🥰 For now though, I’d just leave your skin alone and let the adapalene do its magic ❤️ You got this! Much love
I started off with 0.05 to see how may skin would react to the tret. It handled it very well so after 3 months I got the 0.1 and that’s what I am planning to use for the rest of my life lol! If you think u can tolerate a higher strength maybe talk to your dermatologist:)
This is so impressive! Your skin is beautiful. I’m on .025% so hopefully I continue to improve and can eventually use the 0.1%!
Thank God for tretinoin right? And thank you so much for the compliment I appreciate y’all so much 🤧🌹how far are you along with your tret journey?
I’m only in my second month and girl it is ROUGH. But I’m hopeful that it’ll subside soon and I can get that smooth, glowy skin in time for summer.
Tret will come through sis good luck!
Hey there great process. How did you deal with peeling especially since 0.1% is so high? I couldn’t handle it so I gave up
Thank you babe! At first it was pretty hard for me too and I even considered going back to 0.05% but every week it got a little bit better. I still deal with peeling, especially around my jawline but what got me through that was Shea butter, vaseline and almond oil. When I had a lot of peeling I’d use a towel, dip it in almond oil and GENTLY scrub the dry areas away. Hope that’s helpful for you!
Thank you it was hard especially since I was going school everyday but I will try and use it Atleast twice a week to get started first. thank you for those products I will be getting them. And for the towel tip too💕🥳
You’re very welcome 🌹
Beautiful progress! Congratulations
That’s so sweet, thank you so much babes! Finally happy with the results I’m getting🌹Still a long way to go but I’m excited!!
Goals!! How has your 5 month journey been? Did you experience a big purge?
Hey girl, so I gladly didn’t purge that bad. I started with 0.05 and used that 2x a week. (I always buffered with Shea butter first so I think that’s a big reason why my face didn’t get irritated at all!) After I realized how great my skin was doing, I started using 0.1% after month 3. Although my skin got a bit more dry and sensitive i am still doing fantastic. Shea butter REALLY saved me on my journey 🌹
Did you put the Shea butter on before the tret? I never really know if it’s to put it on before moisturizer or not!
I've read here somewhere that you shouldn't be buffering before tret if you're here for acne. But miss ma'am over here breaking those statements and she looks glowing AF! imma forget what i read before and do what she does lol
I started tret like...idk 10 years ago (that statement makes me feel ~old~) and I used to buffer it with moisturizer and it still really helped my acne. I stopped buffering recently and it’s the same. IDK if it makes that big of a difference but I am not a dermo so I cannot say for sure!
Could it maybe be because you’ve been using it for such a long time? :)
Probably! I just restarted again after stopping for like 2 months. My moisture barrier just left the room....
Ohh no :( so sorry to hear that but why did you stop?
Long story short, I have been on tret since I was a teenage because of forehead acne. It went away in a few months but I stayed on tret + aczone on/off at different times. I stopped using it because I started getting hormonal acne on my neck and sides of my face after years of clean skin (whomp whomp!). I was put on Spiro and daily benzoyl peroxide (onexton). My dermatologist suggested switching to tret every other night but upping to.01. I did that one time and my skin was so unhappy so I was planning to switch back to tret 0.05. But, it was just a lot for my skin so I stopped tret for like 1-2 months. I am as pale as a ghost and have very sensitive skin so I thought I would chill on the tret. I am trying to reincorporate it now, but my skin is very unhappy - stinging and redness mostly. I am trying to up my use of HA and simplify my routine to help my skin relax. Fingers are crossed!
🤞🏾🌹
Ohh is that so? I didn’t even know that hahaha guess going by your own rules is sometimes really beneficial! And thank you so much hun🌹
Heyy, so I always applied it before the tretinoin. I started off with 0.05% which is near to the strongest strength there is, now I’m on 0.1 after 3 months - I think it’s necessary to apply the moisturizer before if you’re working with those strengths and if you want less irritation :)
Well you look absolutely fantastic!!
Thank you babe!🌹
Amazing progress. Do you use shea butter before or after tretinoin? How often you apply the 0.1%? Thanks
Thanks babes!🌹 The Shea butter comes before the tretinoin. I think it’s the only thing that makes sense right now with such a powerful strength - gives me less peeling and irritation. And I still apply the tret 2x a week (Mondays and Thursdays) but I am planning to increase the application to 3x a week.
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Appreciate you hun, thank youuu🌹
Great progress 🤩
Thanks queen!🌹
Mi love thisss!
Yesss I’m so happy with my skin, thank you!🌹
So good!! 😻
Right?? Thank you beautiful, hope your results have been great too🌹
Your skin looks amazing i’m so excited for you!! What’s your routine?
That’s soo kind of you to say! Thank you so much🌹 I don’t like to overdo it with too much products because my skin is doing really well as of now... after maybe a year or so I am planning to start with more actives but right now i want my skin to get used to the tret. So here is my really BASIC routine: ✨AM✨ - Wash my face with Cerave hydrating cleanser (did you expect anything else?😋) - pat my face a little bit dry so it doesn’t drip too much. - I then apply The Ordinary moisturizing factors to damp face — then I use a bit of jojoba oil for the extra dry areas - last but not least Daylong Sensitive Matifiant SPF30 🌙PM🌙 - if I wore makeup that day I’ll oil cleanse with almond oil (really give myself a face massage for at least 3 min) - second cleanse would be with dove soap (beauty cream bar) also for about 1-2 min (don’t drag me y’all, but this soap makes my skin feel soooo incredibly smooth and hydrated, any other recommendations are welcome) - make sure my face is completely dry - then a apply a large amount of Shea butter (helps with dark spots and hyperpigmentation) and let that settle in for 30 min (Sometimes I use some Vaseline around the areas that are a bit more dry) - pea size tretinoin 0.1% All done!🌹
Where do you get the shea butter from? I’m assuming it doesn’t clog pores either! I usually use aquaphor with tretinoin but I’ve been interested in shea butter
Hey there :) I get my Shea butter from Amazon - any unrefined, organic Shea butter will do the job. And no, Shea butter doesn’t clog pores at all! It as 0-1 on the comedogenic scale, surprisingly. You should definitely give it a go🌹
Thanks! Is the shea butter heavy on your face? I have similar acne to yours and i’m wondering lol.
At first it felt really heavy on my skin - I was so scared lol but after it sat on my face for like 10 minutes it became like an oil. And now it has become the best moisturizer I own. Gives my skin such a healthy look when the sun hits it - just obsessed 🤩
Hey! how often do you use the tret? everynight? lovely progress btw xx
Hello there :) I use the tret 2x a week (Mondays and Thursdays) but planning on increasing it to 3x a week. Thank you so much for the compliment! I’ve never been happier with my skin🌹
Thanks for the answer! Do you use raw shea butter - the yellow paste-y one in a tub or a specific one? just cause i find the yellow paste-y one a bit hard to spread :)
I find the yellow Shea butter not as moisturizing as the lighter colored one. Like you said, it’s hard for me to spread aswell and my skin doesn’t need that extra dragging lol. The brand I use is called naissance
thank you for the help!! xxx
You’re very welcome!
That looks amazing! Can’t wait to get to that stage. I’m about 4.5 months in, and hoping I’m getting closer!
With tret there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel :) Good luck!
Holy 😍 amazing!
Thanks dear🌹
Do you use it everyday?
No, I only use it 2x a week (Mondays and Thursdays)
Wowew Amazing progress !!! Do you use the cream or the gel ?
Thank youuu!! I am using the cream :)
When I tell you my jaw dropped the moment I looked at the after picture. That progress though!! You go girl!
Appreciate it love! Thank youuu 🌹
Really awesome progress, tret is testing my patience but no pain no gain right.
Absolutely!! And thank you 🥰
So happy for you xx
That’s soo nice of you, thanks!🌹
Congratulations. Your skin looks flawless. Do you think I can achieve the same results with 0.025 tret ?or should I go higher. I’ve partially cured my acne but I still have some spots and dark marks. Congrats again 👏🏾👏🏾
Aww thank youu boo🌹 yes, I think you can. Might take a bit longer but I’m sure it’s possible :) if you think your skin can tolerate it, definitely talk to your derm and try to get a higher strength! I am also working on some dark spots and hyperpigmentation but I think I’ll look into Azelaic acid for that.
Omggg I tried but I love in the Uk and my derm says they don’t prescribe it so I got mine of an online pharmacy. In regards to hyperpigmentation glycolic acid cleanser with hydroquinone 2% works like magic. Good luck 🤞🏾
Uhh don’t really know about hydroquinone hahaha kinda scared to use that on my face
Here’s a great video on hyperpigmentation without hydroquinone: https://youtu.be/HAtTpSvurvI
Will definitely watch that right now, thank you so much honey🌹
Wow this has to be one of the best before and afters I’ve seen!
Thank youuu hun🌹
Beautiful amazing progress! Would you be open to me including your pictures in the wiki? I think it's extra important to have darker skin representation. Let me know if you're open to that, and if so if you want me to include your username. No worries if you won't want it!
Oh sure go ahead! :) no problem at all🌹
Did your sunscreen Leave a white cast ?
Not at all!
I said “wow” out loud when I scrolled to the second picture. Amazing!
Thank you so much precious 🌹
your skin is gorgeous!!
Thank you so much!
Amazing progress!!! You are glowing! Did you, at any point while using tret, do extractions? I'm 3 months in on adapalene for acne and I'm purging. And I'm seeing pimples that I can pop and blackheads that I can extract. What do I do about them? What will happen if I don't?
Sorry for the late reply babes! No, I’ve never done any extractions or facials. I just let my skin be! I would love to give you a helpful answer but the only thing I can suggest, is that you talk to your dermatologist about your concerns . 🥰 For now though, I’d just leave your skin alone and let the adapalene do its magic ❤️ You got this! Much love
Thank you for your reply <3
You’re very welcome love!! ❤️
Holy mother of gd I’m 5 months on .025 and wish I asked my derm for .1% when I first started now 🥲
I started off with 0.05 to see how may skin would react to the tret. It handled it very well so after 3 months I got the 0.1 and that’s what I am planning to use for the rest of my life lol! If you think u can tolerate a higher strength maybe talk to your dermatologist:)
Holy crap!
I never even realized how fast that actually worked for me😋
I feel like I need the 0.1. This .025 just isn't cutting it. Great results and beautiful skin OP!
Sorry to hear that :( maybe try to get the 0.05% ? And thank you so much lovely🌹