Start slow. Use tretinoin every third night. Don’t go full speed like a reckless race car driver.
Pair it with a “sandwich” method: moisturizer, tretinoin, more moisturizer. This tricks your skin into thinking it’s not being attacked.
You can also use a gentle cleanser. Nothing foamy or harsh. Think “baby soap for your face.” Your skin is a delicate flower right now.
And here’s a weird tip: stop using other active ingredients. No vitamin C, no AHAs, no BHAs. They’ll make the purge last longer. Let tretinoin be the only diva in your routine.
The Emotional Rollercoaster
You will cry into your pillow. You will Google “tretinoin purge fail” at 2 AM. We’ve all been there.
The good news? The purge is a good sign. It means the tretinoin is working. It’s like a skin detox. You’re sweating out the bad vibes.
By week eight, you’ll look in the mirror and gasp. The glow appears. Your skin will be smoother than a dolphin.
Case in point: a Reddit user once said their purge looked like a “zombie apocalypse.” Now they have glass skin. You will too.
Tretinoin Purge - What Does It Look Like? - How To Avoid The Purge
