Starting tretinoin isn’t a walk in the park, so when I encounter someone who’s beginning that journey, I like to ensure we go through all the ‘need-to-knows.’

1. Prepare to Purge

Unfortunately, there’s no way to avoid this; your skin is likely going to purge for anywhere from a couple of weeks to a month. Don’t pick at the breakouts, and avoid scrubbing them away. Instead, try some pimple patches and gentle spot treatments.

Brands like Tbh Skincare and Conserving Beauty have some great options.

It’s okay to feel discouraged, but know that this phase won’t last forever.

2. Start Low & Slow

When you first begin, or if your dose ever changes, start low and slow. Use it twice a week, then increase to three times a week, and then every other night. Stick with each frequency for at least seven days before increasing.

If you’re able to use it nightly, fantastic—go for it. But don’t feel discouraged if you can’t. (I’ve been on tretinoin for three years and still use it every other night!)

3. Make Sandwiches

The ‘sandwich’ technique involves layering a moisturiser on either side of your tretinoin application (i.e., moisturiser ➡️ tretinoin ➡️ moisturiser). This method helps create a barrier between the tretinoin and your skin, allowing you to benefit from it with a reduced risk of side effects.

4. Barrier Strengthen

Rather than waiting until something goes wrong to repair your barrier, focus on strengthening it at 👏🏾 all 👏🏾 times 👏🏾. This proactive approach not only reduces your risk of a reaction but also helps you bounce back better if anything does happen.

5. SPF is Essential

Since tretinoin increases your skin’s cell turnover, it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun. Never skip SPF in the morning, and find a way to reapply that works for you throughout the day.

6. Don’t Overdo The Actives!

You’ll likely need to cut down or streamline your routine. You can’t use everything together, at least not at first. For the initial few weeks, avoid all exfoliants and treatments. Once your skin adjusts, you can slowly introduce them back in (on different days and at different times) if you want to.

7. Keep it Dynamic

Some weeks will be better than others. It’s perfectly okay to skip an application if your skin feels particularly sensitive. You can’t force your skin into submission, nor should you try. Progress isn’t always linear.

Note: This post was taken with permission from Praise’s awesome, informative Instagram.