My 3 month Retin-A update… still in love!

Hi girls… if you’re regular readers, you might recall my post from April 21… in which I let you all know that I had begun my latest beauty experiment… using Retin A.

What my skincare routine been’s missing…

I’ve been using Retin-A .1% for about 3.5 months now, and I am duly impressed with the results. Despite my initial fears, my skin has adapted well to the product, and I carefully followed both my Dermatogist’s instructions (which were a simplified version of those found in the link above supplied by Dr. Kunin, a great article with lots of information about Retin A, Tretinoin and Retinol).

I started off using my Retin-A every third night, with a Retinol product on the in-between nights (I chose Philosophy Booster caps), and then as my skin grew more and more tolerated to Retin A’s effects, I switched to every other night. I am comfortable staying at this regimen, because Retin A increases cellular turnover and exfoliation. My goal isn’t to thin my skin, but to keep it well exfoliated, luminous, evenly pigmented, smoothly textured and free of fine lines and wrinkles, and my biggest goal for Retin-A- to increase collagen production. Retin-A is absorbed deep within the skin where it does this fantastic job.

Have I noticed any, or all of these things? Yes. My skin is noticeably smoother and texture is much finer. Pores are getting smaller and less deep. I didn’t really have any fine lines to start with, but I certainly don’t have any now. My skin is well-exfoliated and has a very luminous, glowy and creamy appearance. I get an occasional blemish, but these rise to the surface very quickly and abate just as rapidly.

The one thing I have not made progress with is the pigmentation around my eyes that was caused when I took those evil BCP’s, Yaz and Yasmin. I developed melasma under my eyes rapidly after taking these pills and it did not go away after stopping. I have tried various products to lighten it… Murad Lighten and Brighten, Lumedia, Bliss Sleeping Peel Lightening Gel, and a few others I can’t recall. My Baby Quasar is also supposed to assist, since it has 4 wavelengths of intense pulsed light- unlike my Marvel Mini which was only an LED. Nothing has worked. And I am convinced that these areas have actually been getting more yellowish.

I went back to the dermatologist for a checkup, and I was right. Retin-A removes the top layers of our skin through it’s exfoliating action, often revealing layers underneath that are sun damaged, or affected by pigmentation, as in the case of melasma. Retin A was uncovering areas of yellowed skin that were previously covered, and unable to be seen- or at least not seen this vividly!

The solution? A prescription fading creme, or in-office IPL. I decided to try the sample of the creme- Epi-Quin (a stronger version of the fading cremes I had been using), and to see if that worked. This hyper-pigmentation has been driving me crazy for a long time, because my skin is SO pale, it just sticks out like a sore thumb. And one day I didn’t have it and the next day it seems like I did. I think Yaz and Yasmin should be taken off the market. $50 per pack birth control pills. The pharmaceutical companies should be ashamed. But that’s another blog post.

Anyway. The Epi-Quin creme has been working very well, with just the tiniest little dab, twice a day. I already am seeing significant fading. Whew!

For a long time, Vitamin C products were my little miracle. They made my skin feel fresh, firm, luminous and like I was making some sort of anti-aging investment for the future health of my skin. Vitamin C products DO all of this. But if I could give you a metaphor, using Vitamin C products is like using regular film in your camera and waiting for it to get developed. Using Retin A is like going digital. You get some sort of instant, measurable results with each use, and each use leaves you wanting more.

But don’t overdo it. More is not better.

Peptide serums are purported to help speed the healing during resurfacing, and help to thicken the skin. A favorite of mine is the paraben-free and pricey but well-worth it Dermaquest Peptide Mobilizer. With the highest percentage of peptides on the market, this stuff really is the next best thing to Botox in a bottle… no fooling. I apply this serum after my Retin-A has been well absorbed, and each night thereafter. One little squirt is all you need, I’ve had my bottle since February!

• Increases healing potential and tissue regeneration
• Aids in increasing skin thickness through the stimulation of collagen I & IV, fibronectin, and glycosaminoglycans in the dermal matrix
• Relaxes muscle contractions which lead to fine lines and wrinkles
• Increases dermal and epidermal hydration
• Enhances the effects of resurfacers, peels and laser treatments



The other reason that Retin-A has been smooth sailing for me? Baby Quasar, baby… this cutie soothes and heals my skin, relieves redness and irritation and keeps my face firm and happy. My Marvel Mini left me in a great place. Then I graduated to the Baby Quasar. I will give a more detailed review of this product soon, but this product is definitely responsible for the success that I have had with Retin A.

Stay tuned for more from me, soon!

xoxo
Miss K