How to Start on Tretinoin (Retin-A) and Retinol

My Routine for Starting on Tretinoin (Retin-A) Cream

I recently started using a prescription tretinoin cream, a generic version of Retin-A (Stieva-A). Tretinoin is probably THE most popular and evidence-supported retinoid (vitamin A derivative) ingredient in skincare. It works as an acne treatment, for anti-aging (both wrinkles and uneven pigment) and a generous handful of other skin issues. I’ve had a lot of requests for advice and tutorials …

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The Pros and Cons of Accutane (Isotretinoin) for Acne

The Pros and Cons of Accutane (Isotretinoin) for Acne

This is a guest post from Facing Acne. In the history of acne treatments, there has never been a medication that has caused more controversy than Accutane. There is also no treatment that has ever produced such startling results. For this reason, Accutane has both its passionate defenders and its equally passionate detractors. The choice of whether to try Accutane …

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Ultimate Guide to Drug Retinoids

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Drug retinoids – tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene and trifarotene – are some of the most powerful ingredients in skincare. They can help with issues like acne, uneven texture and hyperpigmentation. But what are the differences between them? Here’s the guide for you! My PhD is in medicinal chemistry, so I’m going to be diving into the differences at a drug structure …

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Vitamin C doesn’t work? Debunking Science Vs Skin Care Podcast

Science Vs Skincare Podcast

The Science Vs podcast episode on Skin Care: Is Anti-Aging a Scam? in part inspired my recent post on whether retinol in cosmetic skincare products worked. I’ve had some questions about some of the other parts of the podcast, especially about vitamin C and whether it actually penetrates skin. As I’ve discussed before, vitamin C in L-ascorbic acid form is …

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Is Retinol a Scam? The Science

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If there’s one skincare ingredient that works, it’s retinol. Pretty much everyone agrees – whatever skin concern you have, it’s one of your best bets. But is it all a scam? Let’s dive into the science behind retinol, and the bigger question of why skincare science looks so different from what academic scientists are used to. The video is here, …

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Best Skincare Products from Beauty of Joseon

beauty of joseon best products

I think everyone knows about the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen. If you don’t, it’s super popular right now because it’s so light and comfortable, while still being protective and really budget friendly. But Beauty of Joseon have a lot of other fantastic budget friendly skincare products, some of which are really underrated. I’m going to tell you about some of …

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Why your hair products stop working

So you found the hair routine of your dreams and your hair is just magnificent…  But then it just stops working. What’s going on? Here’s the science behind why your products just suddenly stop working, and what can you do about it. The video is here, keep scrolling for the text version. You might need to change shampoos First off, …

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