I hate to say it, and this might be a bit of a hot take, but I don’t use tretinoin and I probably never will again in my life. While prescription-strength retinol may work well for some people – this isn’t to say you should stop using it if it does – I have personal beef with this particular active and I’ll explain why.
After using it for years in an attempt to clear up my acne-prone skin, I finally realized that it was doing a number on my delicate moisture barrier and my skin was just far too sensitive for such a strong active. In fact, it was actually making my acne worse – I learned through experience that my skin tends to react badly to prescription-strength retinoids and exfoliating acids.
Now, I opt for less irritating retinoid options like retinal (my personal skincare savior), but there are also a few other key products that helped my skin recover and I had to share. And, as it turns out, I’m not the only one who has struggled with retinoid damage. Other HuffPost editors shared a few of their own favorites in this department too. Ahead, find our top recommendations for any retinoid-induced skin damage.
