Retinol questions

[minionkevin]

I am in my early 30s and just started using a retinol product ~9 days ago. My face is breaking out like crazy and I have 2 events in the next 2 weeks where I don't want to look like a hormonal pizza-faced teenager. I am only using it in the morning, as it has sunscreen, and haven't sought out a nighttime product yet.

I have a few questions, which I probably should have asked before buying a product, but alas.
How long does the purge last? I've heard it can be a month, is that about right? Or am I hopefully nearing the end?
Do you use retinol every day? E/O? Less frequently? More frequently?
If you use it every day, do you use at morning or night?
If you use more than once/day, do you use different products for day and night?
Recommendations? I am using Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair moisturizer with SPF 30, but it wasn't super $$ so if it isn't good, I can discontinue use and get something different. Truthfully, it was an impulse buy when I was looking for something to replace the $$$$ Murad dark spot serum that did nothing for an age spot on my face despite 2x/day use. I haven't seen much improvement with this either, but again, it's been 9 days 1x/day and I don't know what is realistic.

[ElizabethBennet]

I think purging can last a few weeks. Did you just right into using it everyday?

[minionkevin]

Oct 27, 2017 19:14:19 GMT -5 ElizabethBennet said:

I think purging can last a few weeks. Did you just right into using it everyday?

I did bc this mf-ing age spot on my face is driving me nuts and what I had previously purchased to fade it didn’t work. My mom only started getting them in the past 5 years or so and she’s in her late 60s. 😢 I’m at the point I’m also considering Botox for the forehead lines that have popped up in the <2 years since I had Kid2 and my 11s. It’s like reverse Murtaugh, I’m too young for this shit.

[ElizabethBennet]

Oct 27, 2017 20:14:04 GMT -5 minionkevin said:

Oct 27, 2017 19:14:19 GMT -5 ElizabethBennet said:

I think purging can last a few weeks. Did you just right into using it everyday?

I did bc this mf-ing age spot on my face is driving me nuts and what I had previously purchased to fade it didn’t work. My mom only started getting them in the past 5 years or so and she’s in her late 60s. 😢 I’m at the point I’m also considering Botox for the forehead lines that have popped up in the <2 years since I had Kid2 and my 11s. It’s like reverse Murtaugh, I’m too young for this shit.

When starting any actives (retinol, AHA's, BHA's, etc) its best to introduce it slowly to give your skin time to adjust. I would also find a product for nighttime and use that along with a separate SPF in the mornings. I would stop using for a few days, or a week, and then reintroduce it slowly. This may be why your skin is purging so much.

[bluestreet]

I agree that you should use a retinol in the evenings rather than one that is combined with an SPF in the mornings.

I'd double cleanse in the evening with an oil and then low ph cleanser (I get both from TJ's), and then use a retinol. I use The Ordinary's 5% retinol in squalene, and there's no irritation. Paula's Choice also has good ones.

[bluestreet]

And then a separate spf (that doesn't have retinol) every morning.