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POSTED: 24 Jun 2023

The Best Moisturisers to use with Tretinoin for Every Skin Type

Tretinoin earns its reputation as one of the most effective ingredients in skincare, but the dryness, flaking and tightness of the first few weeks send a lot of people back to the bathroom cabinet before it has had the chance to work. The right night-time moisturiser is what keeps you comfortable enough to stay the course. The best moisturiser to pair with tretinoin is a simple, fragrance-free cream built around barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid and squalane. In this post we explain why moisturiser matters, what to look for and what to avoid, how to layer the two (including the sandwich method) and our favourite moisturisers to use with tretinoin for each skin type.

Why does moisturiser matter when you use tretinoin?

Your is the outermost layer of your skin. It holds water in and keeps and bacteria out. Tretinoin works by binding to receptors in your skin cells and up cell turnover, which is exactly what clears acne, fades hyperpigmentation and softens fine lines. In the early weeks though, that same process can temporarily weaken the barrier and increase water loss through the skin (known as transepidermal water loss). This is why dryness, redness, flaking and stinging are so common when you first start, an adjustment phase often called . Irritation like this is one of the main reasons people give up, and .

A good moisturiser replaces lost water, reinforces the skin’s protective lipid layer and calms inflammation, which keeps you comfortable enough to stay consistent. And consistency, far more than strength, is what delivers . of people using topical tretinoin or oral found that applying a moisturising cream twice daily for 15 days significantly improved dryness, roughness and comfort on the treated side. Crucially, this comfort does not come at the expense of your results. Reviews of tretinoin treatment consistently note that using a alongside it eases irritation .

This matters even more in skin of colour, where barrier disruption and inflammation can , the very dark marks many people are using tretinoin to treat in the first place. Keeping the barrier well supported is one of the simplest ways to lower that risk. The payoff is also quick. Within a few days of moisturising well at night, most people find their skin looks smoother and feels far more comfortable.

What should you look for in a moisturiser for tretinoin?

The best moisturisers for tretinoin do three jobs at once. They pull water into the skin, they soften it and rebuild its protective lipids, and they seal that moisture in overnight. The that do this fall into three groups, and looking for all three is the simplest way to choose well.

you choose, pick a fragrance-free formula. Fragrance, including natural essential oils, is one of the most common causes of irritation on skin.

What should you avoid pairing with tretinoin?

Whilst your skin is building tolerance, the kindest thing you can do is keep the rest of your routine simple. A few things are worth keeping out of the same routine.

Benzoyl peroxide and vitamin C both have their place, but for many people they sit better at a different time of day rather than layered directly with in the early weeks. For the full routine, see our guide on .

Should you apply moisturiser before or after tretinoin?

Both work, and the right answer depends on how sensitive your skin is. Applying moisturiser after tretinoin is the simplest approach. You cleanse, wait for your skin to dry, apply a pea-sized amount of tretinoin, then follow with moisturiser once it has absorbed.

Applying moisturiser before tretinoin, and again after, is known as the sandwich method, and it suits more reactive skin. The buffering layer slows how quickly tretinoin penetrates, which reduces irritation. Despite the common myth, this does not meaningfully reduce its effectiveness. It simply makes it more comfortable, so you are more likely to keep using it. Two practical points make a real difference whichever order you choose:

If you are not sure whether what you are seeing is normal adjustment or a sign something is off, our explainers on and are a good place to start.

The right texture depends on your skin type, so if you are not sure where you sit, our guide to will help. The picks below are all fragrance-free or low-irritant and built around the barrier-supporting ingredients above. We have deliberately left out overnight masks and Acid FillersCalcium Hydroxylapatite FillersPoly-L-lactic Acid FillersPolymethylmethacrylate FillersAutologous Fat GraftingForehead Lines TreatmentGlabellar Frown Lines TreatmentCrow's Feet TreatmentBunny Lines TreatmentChemical Brow LiftLip FlipGummy Smile CorrectionMasseter ReductionJaw SlimmingDimpled Chin SmoothingCobblestone Chin SmoothingNefertiti Neck LiftMicro-BotoxMesotoxHyperhidrosis ReliefBruxism TreatmentTMJ TreatmentCervical TreatmentNeck Spasm TreatmentBlepharospasm TreatmentLip AugmentationLip ContouringCheekbone EnhancementTear Trough FillersNasolabial Fold SofteningMarionette Line FillersLiquid RhinoplastyNon-Surgical Nose JobJawline ContouringJawline DefinitionChin AugmentationTemple VolumisingHand RejuvenationAcne Scar Subcision Filling, https://aestha.co.uk/shop/cjc-1295-7-5-mg-ipamorelin-15-mg/?srsltid=AfmBOoqQF9aDu7kMV8RrpXtk3TYo_msnsWrVdus86zserFXmTH1O4I95, treatments, because those are not the job of a nightly moisturiser.

The best moisturisers for dry skin

lacks natural oils and struggles to hold moisture, so it feels the drying pull of tretinoin most. The brief here is simple. You want a rich, barrier-repairing cream, sealed if needed with a thin occlusive layer on top.

The best moisturisers for sensitive skin

Sensitive skin reacts to tretinoin faster than most, so the shorter and plainer the ingredient list, the better. Fragrance-free is non-negotiable here, and calming ingredients like , oat and centella are a welcome bonus.

The best moisturisers for oily and acne-prone skin

Even and needs hydration on tretinoin. The trick is a lighter, texture that comforts the skin without feeding congestion.

The best moisturisers for mature skin

makes less oil, so it tends to feel drier and tighter on tretinoin. Look for richer creams that pair barrier lipids with peptides, and remember that tretinoin is already doing the heavy work underneath.

The best moisturisers for combination skin

does best with one lighter base across the face and something richer only where you tend to get dry, usually the cheeks. A fragrance-free gel-cream like La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair makes an excellent everyday base, with a balm such as Cicaplast Baume B5 held back for the drier . In practice, most combination skin can run the oily-skin picks above and simply add a richer layer where it is needed.

The best moisturisers for normal skin

If your skin is , you have the easiest job of all. A straightforward fragrance-free cream covering all three groups is all you need. CeraVe Moisturising Cream and La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair are both hard to fault, the first if you want something richer and the second if you prefer a lighter finish.

Do you need a medical-grade moisturiser?

No. When it comes to barrier support, the formula matters far more than the price or the label. As the picks above show, some of the best partners for tretinoin are inexpensive pharmacy creams. What counts is that a moisturiser is fragrance-free and contains the barrier-supporting ingredients we covered earlier. An expensive cream is not automatically a better partner for your tretinoin, and a simple ceramide moisturiser is often all your skin needs.

What if tretinoin has damaged your skin barrier?

If your skin is stinging, flaking heavily or looking red and feeling tight, your barrier may be overwhelmed. This is usually a sign of too much, too soon, and the answer is to ease off rather than push through.

If irritation keeps returning despite a gentle routine, it is worth your treatment with a doctor who can adjust your strength, formulation or frequency. Persistent irritation can also be a sign that your rather than abandoning.

At City Skin Clinic, we believe that skincare is personal. Through our online clinic, our doctors create bespoke compounded treatments using like where appropriate, and treat , , melasma, rosacea and with topical treatments designed around your skin. To get started, book a or complete our . The journey towards great skin starts here.

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified medical provider for any medical concerns or questions you might have.

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