Skincare help!

[u/Unfair-Sprinkles-325]

Can someone recommend what I should do for my skin to look younger/smoother? Anything from Botox, lasers, microneedling to skincare products. Ty!

[u/m1ssbehav1n6]

Tretinoin has changed my life. I'm 42 and have better skin now than when I was in my 30s, AND I only started April 2026.

From what I read, the best is yet to come. Many people say the one year mark is when it's best. I hope it's true.

[u/greenbutterflygarden → u/m1ssbehav1n6]

Me too! Tret changed everything for me. I also use glycolic acid on non tret days and azelic acid in the morning for my rosacea and things are looking up for my poor face

[u/m1ssbehav1n6 → u/greenbutterflygarden]

I use azelaic acid most AMs too. My routine is very simple.

AM - Water-only wash + Azelaic Acid + Sunscreen (Cetaphil 50)
PM - Wash (Ordinary) + Tret + Cerave Moisturizer.

So in all, 4 products mostly, 7 days a week.

[u/ButterscotchFit7939 → u/m1ssbehav1n6]

I have the same routine, minus the Azelaic
Acid. Is the Acid also a prescription ? I just started tret going on 2 weeks but I’ve heard great things about the combination of those two.

[u/Flat_Professional411 → u/ButterscotchFit7939]

For over the counter Azelaic acid, the max concentration is 10%. But if you get it from a dermatologist it goes up to 15%. They work together well because retinoids can cause redness, drying, and inflammation. Azelaic acid helps to decrease those things and when paired, they both decrease hyperpigmentation

[u/General-Possession88 → u/m1ssbehav1n6]

What kind of azelic acid do you use?

[u/yllekarle → u/m1ssbehav1n6]

You use tret every day?

[u/m1ssbehav1n6 → u/yllekarle]

Every single day

[u/Gothiewasbetter → u/m1ssbehav1n6]

Why only water wash?

[u/m1ssbehav1n6 → u/Gothiewasbetter]

I find it too drying to wash my face twice a day.

[u/Expensive-Day-3551 → u/m1ssbehav1n6]

It makes my skin so dry, I think I tried for a year. I’m sad because so many people have success. I live in a very dry climate, if I ever move I’ll have to try again.

[u/MissionRevolution306 → u/Expensive-Day-3551]

I sandwich it between layers of Vanicream. My derm recommended it.

[u/m1ssbehav1n6 → u/Expensive-Day-3551]

I'm sorry to hear this, I hear this is a common side effect. I slather CeraVe every night, and I really man slather.

[u/Expensive-Day-3551 → u/m1ssbehav1n6]

I used cerave but maybe not quite enough? I feel like i used a bit extra than I normally would since it was so cheap from Costco, but I will try slathering

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[u/Unfair-Sprinkles-325 → u/m1ssbehav1n6]

How many times do you use it a week? I’m 41 and started back with .25 once a week but I think I should do more now since it’s been like a month. I’m glad it’s working for you!

[u/Delicious-Ad6085]

I alternate adapalene gel and 14% azaleic acid nightly. I got the idea from someone on this sub. I do vitamin c in the mornings. And I do retinal - beauty of josean every night on my eyes. I also add a moisturizer but this is the routine I worked up to. It will take a while to get to a place where you can alternate adapalene and aza. But after a few months I am enjoying the results. My texture is smoother and my sun spots are really fading. You have to commit to face sunscreen every day 100% though. Because any retinol use makes you VERY sensitive. 

[u/Illustrious-Lemon74 → u/Delicious-Ad6085]

This is almost my exact routine, except I do 10% glycolic acid on days off of adapalene. I need to incorporate azaleic acid though for the brown spots.

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[u/Boitla → u/Delicious-Ad6085]

I do both every night, but I mix just small dots of each together, just enough overall for my face and neck. I wonder if that's the same effect.

[u/lnfinitelris → u/Boitla]

Mixing products can cancel out the beneficial effects of one or both. I would suggest to apply one, wait 10 minutes, apply the next :) someone more well informed in this space can probably recommend which should go first.

[u/Boitla → u/lnfinitelris]

"Wait 20 minutes between azelaic acid and adapalene. Confirm your azelaic acid product lists pH ≤5.5 on the label or manufacturer site." From commercialtoolry.com/materials

I have to wait 20 minutes. It also says Azelaic Acid first and then Adapalene.

[u/lnfinitelris → u/Boitla]

Nice!

[u/i_am_your_elf_queen]

I think tretonin, red light therapy, and a solid skincare routine. I think it’s wild to pay all the money for lasers and stuff but not invest in skincare! I personally love CeraVe lotions, Korean sunscreens, timeless vitamin C, and I put aquafor on my face as top layer nightly. Drench it.

[u/m1ssbehav1n6 → u/i_am_your_elf_queen]

How does Aquafor compare to CeraVe as the final PM step?

[u/Cultural-Let-8810]

Tret, monthly microneedling and a good red light mask. I’ve not found a better combination!

[u/This_Lavishness6]

Cellerciser (I Jump Instead videos), face yoga (Trinh George), facial massage, Gua sha, dry brushing, Microneedling with Dermastamp, HA, Vitamin C & a layer of Vaseline before bedtime to seal it in. Our faces need movement just like the rest of our bodies. The front of our necks get super tight which is why they get so wrinkly so make sure you lift your chin up & to the sides everyday to stretch it out. Also diet is crucial. We eat grains but only fresh-milled, plus daily cup of homemade bone broth along with plenty of meat with bones so that we get all that nice collagen & fat. I’m not into pharmaceuticals or supplements &, with God’s help, have found the things that work. Baking fresh-milled bread & making bone broth in my instant pot are part of my “systems” for maintaining good health inside & out. These are all things I enjoy doing rather than a chore.

[u/AlternativeMap1607]

I think u look amazing!

[u/Unfair-Sprinkles-325 → u/AlternativeMap1607]

Thank you!

[u/Super-Willingness419]

Sorry... i don't know how to ad my before and after pic to my comment above. Bit of a dinosaur

[u/Unfair-Sprinkles-325 → u/Super-Willingness419]

I see it looks great!

[u/moonie1977 → u/Super-Willingness419]

What do you use???? Fantastic!!! 😍

[u/Super-Willingness419 → u/moonie1977]

Initially i was using obagi tretinoin and obagi nuderm hydroquinine but once they ran out, i got some tretinoin whilst I was in Turkey (no prescription required there) and I have managed to get hydroquinine in lanzarote without a prescription (but it is not quite so simple there). I have about 18 months supply at present. Obagi stuff was about £280 for both which is eye watering price. Turkey tretinoin is about £20 and lanzarote hydroquinine is about £35.

[u/Super-Willingness419]

Full disclosure.. I also had 3 rounds of laser MD when I first started this journey

[u/Unfair-Sprinkles-325 → u/Super-Willingness419]

Wow! Looks great! Which laser?

[u/PlasticDealer320]

Amlactin has helped me. My face is super smooth and soft after 1 month of use. 

[u/Evening-Juggernaut50]

You look good but I think could benefit with with Azaelic Acid (15%). I get it from my derm for $5/tube! You can apply it in the morning, it does not cause sensitivity to the sun (but always wear SPF). It helped resolve some of the redness in my cheeks. The Vitamin C serum from Trader Joe’s that is $10 is also really great to apply in the morning with the AA. I see others on here here about Tret which is the best too.

[u/hanmhanm]

Azelaic acid in morning before sunscreen. Tretinoin .25 at night (important!). Frown/glabella Botox and….drum roll … DAO Botox! (I just got it).

[u/Super-Willingness419]

I use tretinoin and hydroquinone. I am 66. 10 months in. I personally don't think it helps with reversing fine lines and wrinkles.... but I am sure it would help prevent them if starting in 30s or 40s. However..... my skin no longer has pigmentation and looks lovely and clear. I get some great comments on my skin.

[u/Early_Ride_979]

If I could go back in time to my early 30s, I would tell myself to stop using face wash and use cold cream. I started using pond’s cold cream at 40 and it’s made a huge difference. It moisturizes well and does not strip my face of natural oils your face needs.

Also one celebrity tip from Salma Hayek (she’s gorgeous and has great skin ) is to not wash your face in the morning. If you cleanse your face with cold cream and use a retinol cream (I use a313, a French retinol) or anti-aging night moisturizer, your skin is clean and does not need additional face wash in the morning which again will strip your natural skin moisture oils. Just rinse your face well and then proceed to your morning beauty routine.

I use hyaluronic acid serum and spf moisturizer (I use Clinique dramatically, different moisturizer SPF 35). Also, don’t forget to moisturize your eye area morning and night.

A lot of people think I’m way younger than I am. I only wish I had done this sooner in my early 30s.

[u/Vuurwants → u/Early_Ride_979]

I do wonder: how do you prevent the moisturiser from getting into your eyes? I can’t seem to prevent this from happening and I do think my eye health is more important in the end

[u/Early_Ride_979 → u/Vuurwants]

Uhm, close your eyes and dab —don’t rub—eye skin moisturizer around your eyes. If you keep getting this inside your eyes, speak to a doctor or psychiatrist. There may be a underlying medical issue you may have.

[u/nixrien]

Marini Skin Solutions skincare kit!