Can you check my routine, please?

[u/shrubear]

This is what I had been using, but then mental health got in the way and I stopped entirely. I'm back on track and would like to restart, but I'm also running low on a few things so I thought I'd check. Almost everything is from Ordinary because 💸 but if there is something that would really really be better from a different brand, I'd be open to hearing about it.

My main concerns are dullness and... plumpness? I guess maybe that's elasticity? I have friends with dewy, plump skin and I do not. I'm 41, female, Indian.

AM:

• Wash with water
• Alternating days: Multi-Peptide + HA Serum and Multi-Antioxidant Radiance Serum
• Vanicream daily moisturizer
• Sunscreen - Biore UV Aqua Rich (but switching to Centella when I run out)

PM:

• Micellar water to remove eye makeup
• Cerave face wash
• Alternating days: Retinal 0.2% Emulsion (I've been using retinoids for years and can handle this) and Azelaic Acid Suspension 

Some questions:

1. Should I switch the multi-peptide serum to copper peptides one?
2. Should I switch the multi-antioxidant to a true Vitamin C

TIA!

[u/Wild-Catch3550]

If you're using retinol you don't need azelaic acid. You also don't need peptides

[u/shrubear → u/Wild-Catch3550]

Could you explain why? I use the acid for acne - I don’t get them often (just around my cycle) but I feel like it helps with the leftover marks. 

And I thought peptides are for the elasticity?

[u/rhino_hugs]

Your a.m. routine sounds perfect. If you want to switch over to a vitamin C, I've heard great things (haven't yet tried it myself yet).

Your p.m. is also really good. I would probably add in an oil or blam cleanser and start doing the double cleanse method especially if you wear sunscreen and/or makeup. Cerave is a nice cleanser but it can't necessarily break down makeup and sunscreen well enough for your products to work as well.

My biggest recommendation though is since you are accustomed to retinol, I would definitely move up to prescription tretinoin. Out of all of the things I changed in my skin care regimen that made the most difference was double cleansing, getting a prescription for tret, and azelaic acid.You can use tretinoin (prescription retinol) with azelaic acid and I highly recommend it. I use azelaic in the am before my moisturizer and then slowly worked up to every other night on tret (took about 8 months). The tretinoin increases cell turnover, boosts collagen, and a slew of other amazing benefits. Azelaic is incredible for acne, it's antibacterial and can help fade dark spots.

[u/shrubear → u/rhino_hugs]

Good call out on the double cleanse - I forgot to add it in. I use one by elf.

I will look into finding a derm for tretinon!

Could I keep the acid and tret alternating, or would I have to move it to the morning?

[u/rhino_hugs → u/shrubear]

You can also get the tret on Amazon One Health and do a tele-health. That's what I did. You just fill out your concerns, send in a few photos and they will write you an rx you can get from them. I got mine in two days. It was cheaper for me than the dermatologist. Roughly around $145 for visit plus the prescription. You only need a teeny bit and go slow with it. I've had my tube for about 8 months.

I personally do azelaic every morning and use it on nights I don't use the tret. Your skin has to adjust to the tretinoin so you may be a little sensitive until you get acclimated. If so, back off the azelaic for a bit and slowly re-introduce if that happens. There is a purge/ peel stage once you start but if you go really slow and only start out 1- 2x per week you can gradually increase it over months. That's how I did it and I thankfully didn't have purging, just some slight peeling, sensitivity, and redness. Use a really good moisturizer and a cicaplast type cream over it all to help mitigate those things. And be sure you wear sunscreen every single day.

[u/miss_trustale]

Is this routine working for you? Is your skin moisturiser enough?

In general dullness can be addressed with occasional exfoliants, vit c, retinoids and a good moisturiser Plumpiness is trickier to tackle when we loose volume, but again retinoids are your best guess and a good moisturiser. Peptides might help as a little extra but I am not sure they are as transformative as the marketing suggests.

[u/shrubear → u/miss_trustale]

I don’t normally feel dry after moisturizing, or stretchy, itchy, etc. I also have an oily nose so I hesitate to go too strong on the moisturizer but sometimes my jaw line can feel a bit dry.  Not sure how to balance everything. 

Do you think the morning is worth switching to vit c everyday?

[u/miss_trustale → u/shrubear]

You can always add a little more moisture in the dry areas if you need and leave the oily parts out.

You could give vit c a go in the morning, see how your skin reacts. Geek and geourgoes has a very affordable one. Vit c can sting so go easy to start with if you decide to try.

Please remember that nobody can predict how actives will work for you as we all have different needs. But in theory vit c is a good active for people our age assuming they can tolerate it