#retinoids

Discover effective solutions to bid goodbye to blackheads and whiteheads for good. Get smoother, clearer skin with these proven techniques.

Everyone craves smooth, clear skin. But the pesky presence of blackheads and whiteheads can mar that dream. Let's dive deep into understanding these skin foes and how to send them packing.

Understanding the Enemy: Blackheads & Whiteheads

Before jumping into solutions, it's important to understand what we're dealing with. Blackheads, also known as open comedones, appear black because of the oxidized melanin in them. Whiteheads, or closed comedones, remain white as they are trapped under the skin's surface.

Steps to Achieve Clear Skin:

1. Regular Cleansing:

Begin with a gentle, water-soluble cleanser. This ensures your skin remains free from excessive oil and makeup residues.

2. Exfoliate with Salicylic Acid:

Salicylic acid works wonders as it sheds the skin surface and unclogs pores from within. Include it in your skincare routine for best results.

3. Embrace Retinoids:

From over-the-counter retinol creams to prescription retinoids, these vitamin A derivatives promote rapid skin turnover and prevent clogging.

4. Choose Non-comedogenic Products:

Invest in skincare and makeup that won't block your pores. Always look for the "non-comedogenic" label.

5. Clay Masks for the Win:

Use masks rich in clay to absorb extra oil and minimize the chances of pore clogging.

6. Warmth is Your Friend:

A warm compress before cleansing softens the sebum inside, making it easier to clean.

7. Consider Professional Help:

If home remedies don't seem to work, seek an esthetician or dermatologist for professional extractions.

Prevention is Better than Cure:

Cleanse post workouts and before bedtime.

Regularly change your pillowcases and sheets.

Hands off! Avoid touching your face unnecessarily.

Clean objects that often touch your face – think phone screens and spectacles.

This year I turned 30 and I was thinking that I need to step up my skin care game by including retinoids in my routine. This cream from the K-beauty brand "Scinic" is an intensive wrinkle treatment that prevents early signs of aging and improves the look of existing fine lines and wrinkles. It contains 0.05% Retinal, 0.05% Bakuchiol, and 0.001ppm Retinol.

Read my experience and tips here: SCINIC Cicanoid Retinal 0.05% Cream Review

I thought I'd share my experience regarding actives. I have purchased and been using lot of actives lately viz., Retinol, salicylic acid, lactic acid, Niacinamide, hylaurnic acid, azelaic acid, ceramides, vitamin B5. I'm planning to write one post on every active.

I used tretinoin & clindamycin (0.025% retinol) gel every other day for few days on my face. Here's how it fared.

Acne reduced to a good extent.

It reduced sebaceous filaments on my nose to a great extent. My nose was "clear" for the first time in years.

I have dilated pores on cheek. They'd look clogged before using retinol. I never understood what to do about it. But after using retinol, pores unclogged and face looked visibly clean. Also pore dilation reduced.

Skin started peeling off. It didn't hurt. But it was not exactly convenient.

After few days, life took over and I forgot applying retinol. But acne didn't come back. This was a huge surprise.

There were 2-3 acne after I stopped retinol completely. But not more than that.

I realized that dead skin was peeling off in very small amounts even after I took break with retinol. So I have decided to not to go back to retinol any time soon.

Acne are reduced to some extent. Not a lot.

Sebaceous filaments came back as soon as I stopped retinol on face.

I had ordered few tubes of that so they were lying unused. I have bacne. Pretty bad. I also occasionally get cystic acne on back. They hurt too.

To finish up the tubes, I started applying retinol on backne. Complete back + shoulders.

I also have lot of dark acne scars on back.

Scars are also reduced to some extent. But then again scars are old too. Around 2 years old scars.

Retinol is derived from vitamin-A. It increases the cell turnover rate, renews the skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and pigment spots. Retinol is a highly active molecule and can be broken down very easily through sunlight exposure. Most retinols should ONLY be applied at night because when it’s exposed to sunlight, it can cause the skin to get irritated. Most people don’t use retinol correctly or don’t know that there are different types of retinol. With all retinol products you should introduce them into your routine slowly, start 1-3 times a week. Your skin will slowly develop the proteins it needs in order to carry out and absorb the vitamin-A. A common side effect when first starting retinol is redness, stinging/spicy feeling, flakiness, peeling or any other sensitivities. This is why you have to introduce them slowly. After continuous use, your skin will build up enough retinoid receptors that it’ll stop being so sensitive towards retinol.

Types of Retinoid:

Retinyl Esters (Retinyl Palmitate)- This can be sold over the counter and is the weakest formulation of retinol.

Retinol- Can also be sold over the counter, and is a stronger formulation than retinyl esters. These can be found in different strengths and the higher the strength the more effective. Just remember he higher the strength the more irritant it can be.

Retinaldehyde- The MOST effective over the counter form of retinol. Will be more irritating than retinyl esters & retinol. The strongest formulation you will find over the counter.

Retinoic Acid- Usually prescription only. This is the most studied and active form of retinol. A common example of this is tretinoin/Retin-A.

Some good brands of over the counter retinol:

Obagi Retinol 1.0

PCA Skin: Intensive Age Refining Treatment 0.5%

PCA Skin: Intensive Brightening Treatment 0.5%

SkinMedica: Age Defense Retinol Complex 0.5

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare: Ferulic+Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum

“Over” anything is bad, but this is not over-exfoliation because a retinoid doesn’t exfoliate. 

Retinoids + AHAs/BHAs are not and should not be used interchangeably, even though glycolic acid has similar properties to that of a retinoid (anti-inflammatory, keratolytic, and antioxidant). Glycolic acid is a superficial peeling agent, it dissolves adhesions between cells in the upper layers of the skin, whereas a retinoid would induce proliferation of the same cells.

Since retinoids aren’t exfoliants, definitely keep glycolic acid (or any other AHA/BHA) in your routine after your skin has undergone retinisation. Also, just because it says “toner” doesn’t mean you should use it every day. Even though it’s a low percentage, it’s still an acid you’re putting on your skin.

With regards to whether it’s too much, do everything in moderation and pick a low strength retinoid if your skin is too sensitive. It all boils down to your skin type at the end of the day. If it’s too much on the same day, do it on alternate days or limit the glycolic acid to one-two days a week.