r/tretinoin

Trying to find a moisturizer that is non-comedogenic and won’t break me out. While supporting my skin-barrier and not making my skin greasy as I have combo to oily skin. Just having a hard time finding a universal one? My current is the Dr. Althea 345 cream which isn’t bad however my breakouts have not fully subsided. I tried the 147 cream but that one made me breakout more so will be dropping that one from the routine. Tried the Aestura 365 moisturizer one too a while back and that one gave me a horrible rash. Any recommendations or suggestions I would appreciate sincerely.

I used to use tretinoin 0.025% for around six months and my skin had adapted pretty well to it. Unfortunately I had a pretty bad depressive episode which lasted for a year and at the time I stopped using tret and moisturizing (bad, I know), only using sunscreen once in a while. My acne did flare up, but I was too depressed to do something about it haha.

Now that I've gotten better, I'm planning to reintegrate tret to my routine. I understand that I will go through the same adaptation period just like before (peeling and dry skin), but if possible I'd like for it to be not as painful. I have a combination type skin, but even the oily parts peel when I first used tretinoin.

But since my go-to local moisturizer had been discontinued, I'm looking for a moisturizer that is:

1. acne-prone friendly and won't clog my pores as long as I cleanse my face
2. moisturizing and heavy enough to combat the dryness (I don't mind stickiness or heavy feeling)
3. doesn't sting when applied to dry or sunburned skin
4. my previous moisturizer had Aqua Ceramide and HA, so those ingredients are safe for me. not sure about other active ingredients though

Based on things I've read on this subreddit and others, the ideal options are:

1. Illiyoon Ceramide ATO Concentrate Cream
2. Aestura ATO Barrier Cream
3. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

But still, I'd like to know what your thoughts and opinions on this. Any advice is appreciated, Thanks!

I had a seizure due to a brain tumor and I left my tretinoin/actives on too long apparently. Now I have these hard bumps on my cheeks. What can I do to clear these up, it's been ten days now?

I'm using .25% daily.

I got a script from Amazon for 240 days. They list a 30-day supply as being 20g.

I only got 3 tubes of 20g each. 306.00.

When I called to find out about the missing tubes, they told me three tubes equals 240 days. And they said I paid for it therefore they wouldn’t change it or refund it.

I’m waiting for a call from an escalation group. I will ask for a partial refund, but not optimistic. I may need to do a chargeback.

They falsely advertise costs and what you will get. Do not use Amazon.

I bought adapalene from the grey market (Canadian Glow) here in Canada as you can't get it OTC (unlike in the US) but was fairly expensive 94$.

I went through Felix to get the Rx but the price for their creams (especially the adapalene) was really expensive. Thankfully, Felix does allow you to the send Rx to an external pharmacy. There was a post saying that the Retin-A-cream was around 20$. I got mine for around 25ish at Costco compared to Felix's 33$.

Hope this helps another Canadian out there wanting to get more affordable retinoids.

When did you get the tretinoin glow? I ve been using tretinoin .05, and I see that other people have glowing skin. After how long did your skin change and started glowing? I have a simple routine, many product never worked for me:

AM:
Skinoren-azelaic acid 15%
SPF

PM:

Gentle foam for cleansing
(Cosrx snail mucin, I dont use this everynight before tret, i used to when I flaked)
TRETINOIN .05
Madeca time reverse cream

As well as peeling, I’m now getting little pimples. I usually get deep, painful acne that takes ages to heal, not these small ones. Any ideas why? Could it be a secondary purge, even though I’m 3 months in?

The pimples are located on my chin, between my eyebrows, next to my nose, and on my cheek. I’m not using anything to treat them, just the tret. I have a combination skin type I guess, oilier t zone and other areas normal (but at the moment dry in some areas due to the peeling).

The peeling is an issue, think it’s worse than it should be by now. I’m getting the peeling around my mouth mostly. I also have stopped any buffering for the past few days as some people on here suggested that to stop the peeling. It has made the peeling worse, and now maybe caused these small pimples?

There is redness but no itch with the peeling.

My routine right now:

AM: Pams (supermarket brand) sensitive cleansing wipes then DP lotion (emollient based moisturiser with a bit of lanolin)

PM: Pams (supermarket brand) sensitive cleansing wipes, 20+ mins later tretinoin

Is anybody using the new Amlactin with vitamin c in their routine? I’m currently using Tret .05% cream 6 times a week and use Amlactin 12% on the night off. Thinking of switching to the new Amlactin with vitamin c every morning since it’s only 5% and could replace my current vanicream vitamin c. I don’t currently use AZA but am thinking about trying to incorporate that in a few months to see if I get any benefits.

Looking for motivation! Currently going through a mentally challenging purge on week 6 (applied every three nights). Have some of you seen the light through it and can tell it’s worth it ?

Hi everyone! I’m a 26F and I’ve been using tret (0.05%) for around 6 months now and it has really helped with my acne as someone who has always suffered with severe acne. Thing is, I’ve recently become increasingly aware of the risk of tret migration to the eyes at night. I have already switched to applying tret to clean, dry skin without any moisturizer for the last 2 months, my skin tolerates it well. I also take care not to apply tret around the orbital area or the nose bridge. However, over night tret still poses a risk, one that I’m not willing to take when it’s concerning permanent eye damage.

To come to the point, I am now considering short contact therapy (SCT) with tret, applying it onto clean,dry skin for 1-2 hours before washing it off and going to bed. I’ve seen some anecdotes of users who’ve tried SCT and seem to get the same clear skin benefits. However, I was wondering if I’ll receive the same anti-aging benefits with SCT? I would really appreciate if anyone has any insight or research links! Thank you <3

I’ve been considering starting retinol/tretinoin, but I’ve been hesitant because I’ve heard that retinoids can cause pregnancy-related issues.

I’m **not pregnant and don’t plan to be for another 3–3.5 years**, but I’d like to start using retinol now for skincare.

For those who have used tret/retinol and later planned a pregnancy, how did you approach this? Is there any concern about using it years before trying to conceive, or is the concern mainly about use during pregnancy?

For anyone who has spoken to a dermatologist about this: what did they recommend regarding how long before trying to conceive you should stop tretinoin/retinol? Did your dermatologist consider topical retinoids safe to use several years before pregnancy?

TL;DR: I want to start tretinoin/retinol now but plan to try for pregnancy in ~3–3.5 years. Is there any long-term fertility/pregnancy concern, and when did your dermatologist recommend stopping it before trying to conceive?

I’ve been using tret 0.25% since April 2026. I’ve worked up to everyday use per my dermatologists request. I do peel on my chin quite a bit but the last couple of days my face burns when putting on my moisturizer which is not normal for me.

Signs point to a broken skin barrier. Right now I wash my face with prequel gleanser because it’s hydrating and then I sandwich my tret with cerave lotion (not the cream). I thought the cerave would be good because it’s meant to repair the barrier but I don’t think it’s doing enough.

I’m going to drop down to every other day for tret I think but what can I do for moisturizer? Do I totally replace it or do I add something to my routine like a cicaplast?

I don’t have any other actives in my routine and my acne is just as bad as ever lol

I play basketball in the sun like almost evryeday and I heard it can have a bad reaction shoukd I hop on tretinoin what are the side effects with the sun because the sunscreen comes off cant be applied 24 7 also any other alternatives?