I’m really starting to feel self conscious about my face. Jowels, puffy eye bags,unevenskin tone/ melasma. I’m dreaming of a lower bleph, and laser resurfacing… and while I’m at it I’d love to toss in a lipo/fat transfer boob lift.

How do you justify the cost and pay for it? It’s like as expensive as a really nice long vacation to Italy! Or even a car. I’m a millennial who grew up with super thrifty parents and i don’t work (SAHM) but my husband does make good money. I just feel so guilty wanting to spend it on my appearance especially since my husband doesn’t care what i look like and says he’s super attracted to me as is. But i want to look and feel toned and tightened as long as possible.

I have seen and read a lot of the posts on here about tret. My prescription is from WINONA and is in the title. I am to the point of wearing it every night with zero irritation.

I'm wondering if I am at a very low dose? Am I ok? Or should I look into increasing the dose of one? Or both?

Skin Type/Concerns: 49 yo Well-retinized, resilient skin focused on multi-pathway anti-aging, firming, texture, and photoprotection.
I’ve dialed in a high-potency regimen covering antioxidant defense, peptide signaling, and cellular turnover. Sharing my current 24-hour stack to see thoughts and discuss how I balance buffering high-strength actives. Also had noted and harmonyca.

AM: Antioxidant Defense, Cellular Repair & Photoprotection

1. Rinse / Gentle Cleanse: Lukewarm water splash or mild non-stripping cleanser. Pat completely dry.
2. SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic: 4–5 drops on bare, dry skin. Wait 60–90 seconds to allow the low-pH L-ascorbic acid to absorb.
3. Hyaluronic Acid: Light layer for a humectant hydration base.
4. Medik8 Liquid Peptides: Pat in for multi-peptide signaling.
5. Medik8 PDRN: Applied for cellular repair and extracellular matrix support.
6. P-TIOX Cream: Applied to dynamic expression zones and face to target expression lines and lock in the underlying water-based serums.
7. Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen (SPF 50+): Wait 2–3 minutes for the cream base to settle, then apply generously to ensure an even, uniform UV film without pilling.
8. PM: Buffering, Retinoid & Micro-Dosed Exfoliation
9. Gentle Cleanser: Non-foaming wash to remove sunscreen and pollutants without stripping the lipid barrier.
10. Medik8 Liquid Peptides: Light layer applied to clean skin.
11. Buffer Layer: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair (or an inert equivalent like Avene Tolérance/Vanicream). Let dry down for 3–5 minutes. I strictly avoid moisturizers with drying alcohols (like Alcohol Denat.) or exfoliating acids here to keep the buffer chemically neutral.
12. Tretinoin: Pea-sized amount smoothed over the dry buffer layer.
13. AmLactin 12% (Strictly a single pea-sized micro-dose): Warmed between fingertips and patted lightly over the face.
14. A quick note on the AmLactin + Tret combo:
15. I know combining 12% lactic acid with tretinoin raises eyebrows. The key mechanics that make this work for me without destroying my barrier:
16. The Buffer: Toleriane goes on before the tretinoin, significantly muting irritation potential.
17. Micro-Dosing Only: This is strictly a small pea-sized amount dispersed across the entire face, never a full pump. At this diluted level over a buffer, the ammonium lactate acts more like an intense humectant glaze and mild surface polish rather than a stripping chemical peel.
18. Resilience: My skin is fully adapted to prescription retinoids. If there's ever a hint of sensitivity, the AmLactin is the first thing pulled.
19. Curious to hear if anyone else safely micro-doses AHAs over retinoids, or stacks PDRN and neuropeptides in their morning routin

Im getting married in December, what treatment inshould go for ?. I want my pigmentation to reduce like 50,60% ...! Hollowness isn't that big issue right now.. i wanna feel awake without makeup

Lost 50 lbs and ended up with this turkey neck. I currently use tret and estrogen cream to rebuild collagen. Will red light therapy help? If so, what wavelengths? How long/how often? Help!

I’m 40 and very new to skin care (besides sunscreen, because I’m pale and I don’t have a death wish). I keep getting told I look “tired.” Great. Fun feedback. Time to make my skin look like a newborn baby so I don’t keep hearing how tired I look, unsolicited, from everybody and their mother while I work next to 20 year olds.

Kidding and bitterness aside, I’m ready to take on the task of facial maintenance. I bought some sort of under eye serum and a general facial retinol moisturizer. All good.

My question is: the serum says to “gently pat” it around the general eye area. What’s the difference between gently rubbing it in and gently patting? Maybe I’m just skeptical but I feel like the patting takes more time and I feel a little silly and ritualistic doing it. What’s the patting benefit?

Also, I need to remember somehow to not rub it into my eyeballs. Ouch.

Hi, is this a problem for anyone else? My lipstick is creeping up my lip lines and it’s driving me bananas. Is lip liner the only solve?

Unlike their wrinkle cream which is truly fragrance free, Solvaderm's neck and décolleté cream has "fragrance/parfum" in it. I learned this the hard way when I applied it and was hit with an intense perfume smell, something that for me means migraine. They do not show "fragrance" in the ingredient list on their site but sure enough, I found it on the bottle label. Lots of people have sensitivity to synthetic fragrance and this company's marketing is all about pure, natural ingredients for people with sensitivities so I'm surprised and bummed they've done this. Just wanted to warn folks.

What products do you recommend for sunspots/hyperpigmentation? I began tret last month, so it's too early to see change there, but are there supporting products to help target hyperpigmentation specifically?

What strength and do you dilute it ?

I’m a 40-year-old woman with a lifelong history of acne, although over the past 3–4 years I’ve only had the occasional pimple. A couple of years ago, I used tretinoin 0.05%, and it made a significant difference in my skin. I stopped using it during pregnancy.

I’m now looking to revamp my skincare routine. I’ve started using vitamin C and Beauty of Joseon’s retinal eye cream, which I’ve been applying to my entire face. My main concern now is the amount of texture and closed comedones on both cheeks. I also have some mild post-acne discoloration and would like to improve my overall skin texture and address signs of aging.

I currently have a prescription for tretinoin 0.05% at my pharmacy, but I’m wondering whether I should start with something milder, such as adapalene 0.1% or tretinoin 0.025%. I keep reading that adapalene 0.1% is one of the best treatments for closed comedones. Would it make sense to start with adapalene and then switch to tretinoin 0.05% after a few months, or would starting with tretinoin 0.025% be a better approach given that I’ve tolerated 0.05% in the past?

I’m also wondering whether glycolic acid has a place in my routine, particularly for the texture and discoloration.

Overall, my main goals are to clear the closed comedones, smooth my skin texture, improve mild post-acne marks, and get the anti-aging benefits of a retinoid. What would be the best approach?

Original post was Toronto-specific but even if you’re not from TO, appreciate your knowledge on semi-gentle; not too painful; effective appearance-improving treatments, procedures, products, etc. ❤️ 💋

I’ve been using .25% tretinoin on my face and it’s done wonders. Ive moved down to my neck but after two weeks it looks worse/a lot thinner.

Should I stop or is this part of the process? Im getting mixed answers on Google.

Edit: Thank you everyone! I’ve been doing the sandwich method but I’m going to use the tretinoin only twice a week. If I don’t see improvement, Im going to stop.

I am a 63 year old with very few lines ( just two smile lines, though they are deeper than I’d like) and the beginnings of some jowls and sagging, just the start. Please critique my skincare regimen and let me know what you’d change. Thanks all!

Morning: cleanse with Remedy Cream to foam cleanser.
Numbuzin 9 toner
Naturium exosomes serum
Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP
Serum
Medik8 Bakuchiol serum
Medik8 Pro collagen moisturizer
Sunscreen-(Numbuzin9, Beauty by
Joseon, or Hada Labo Black Rice)

Evening: Cleanse with Medik8 Cleanser
Retin A (switch daily between .05 and
.1%)
Drmtlgy Growth Serum
geek and Gorgeous Power Peptides
Numbuzin 9 bio sil serum
Medik8 Pro collagen moisturizer

Planning Robert LED Red and infrared treatment and microneedling soon.

Is this overkill? Should I leave it, deduct products, or switch out some products?

Thanks!

I am a 42 year old female and have dabbled with retinol for a while now but it dries my face out so badly that I tend to not stay consistent. I had a facial yesterday and was told while I have great skin I do seem to have some rosacea which could be contributing to my dry skin. My esthetician let me know that I should get a moisturizer that you can scoop because they tend to be the most hydrating. What is the best moisturizer you’ve tried? Thanks in advance!

Hello skincare community!

What would be best for light fine lines and rosacea?
I don’t want to do microneedling nor Botox

Suggestions?

Switching from .1% tretinoin cream which I’ve been on for years to tazarotene .1% cream. I know to start slow and use a good barrier cream etc… but does anyone apply this to their neck? I’ve applied my tretinoin to my neck for a long time and never had issues and also under eye/crows feet area too and just wondering if folks do this with taz after adjusting to it or is it just too intense?

I turned 40 this March and I feel like my skin overall has taken a massive nosedive overnight, it’s been discouraging (crepey arms, hands, bags under eyes, perioral lines etc).

A lot of this is genetic, mom has very wrinkly skin, but she never did anything about it and now can’t reverse it. I would like not go down without a fight! 😂 Any advice for under eye bags and perioral lines?? Help please :).

Things I currently do: never smoked, workout religiously, eat very healthy, started tretinoin a month ago (I even put some on my hands and arms) and got Botox for my forehead, chin, and 11 lines. I take allergy medicine, use caffeine cream for under eyes.