vitamin A creams Dr. Irwin answers on Skintour

How to get the most from your vitamin A creams!

Dr. Irwin
November 8, 2018

If you read a lot about skin care and products, then you’re very familiar with Vitamin A creams! Vitamin-A creams have been and are still the gold standard for sun damage repair and anti-aging. Plus, they help to prevent precancerous lesions and skin cancer. There’s nothing better available in a cream form. Everyone who can tolerate them should be using one! The Vitamin-A creams go by all sorts of names like Renova, Retin-A, Tazorac, tretinoin (generic Renova and Retin-A), and Retin-A Micro (all available by prescription only). Retinol is a weaker form available without a prescription. But there is one Retinol product that is almost as strong as the prescription form: SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0, which I’ve reviewed on my shop here. When you buy a skincare product, you want to be sure you’re using it right to get the best results. Regarding tretinoin, Retin A, retinol, and other vitamin A creams (retinoids), here’s how to maximize the effects: 

  • Apply at night because light inactivates them.
  • It’s fine to cleanse, apply your serum and/or moisturizer, and THEN apply the retinoid cream. This order will reduce irritation. Wait 5 minutes after the moisturizer before you apply.
  • Retinoids are a natural exfoliant. You may not need any other exfoliant. Or if you do use one, use something very gentle.
  • You really only need about a pea sized amount for your whole face.  
  • Also remember, You must use a daily sunscreen if you’re using Vitamin-A creams. There are a few new Image sunscreens in the shop (tinted and non-tinted) that we’re getting amazing feedback on from our patients and readers like you!

If you haven’t used a Vitamin A cream before, If you haven’t used them before, consider starting with the SkinMedica Retinol .25 first, then going to the NeoCutis Nouvelle+ (.6%), and then this SkinCeuticals 1.0.

Some of you might be too sensitive for retinoids and should use a combination of cell growth factors and antioxidants instead. See here for more of my reviews on some of my favorite skin care products for anti-aging and wrinkles.   

Do you have questions about skin care or products? I’d love to hear them! You can write me here.

All the best,

Dr. I

Related reading:

  • Confused about anti-aging products and which you should be using when? This article will help.
  • Are human or plant stem cells in products worth it? More here.
  • Did you know much of your past sun damage can be undone? More here!
Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

  • All our content is written and researched by myself.
  • My medical office in Seattle has treated thousands of patients for 15+ years.
  • This site is not affiliated or financially tied to any product, treatment or device.
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