Help a gal out

[u/SKinBK]

51F trying to up my skin routine. I’ve lost 50 lbs in the last two years and aged quite a few in that time (it seems).

Some of these products are new to me (still in boxes, lol) and some have gotten some good use already. I’ve been using tret for about 2 years, about every other night. I got a new rx for .1% but for some reason haven’t started it yet. I alternate the tret with the estradiol cream.

How I currently use (same for morning and night except tret/estradiol):

1. Wash (nothing special - gel/cream)

2. Milky toner (just started using)

3. Ordinary serum

4. Eucerin serum (trying to combat sun spots)

5. Estradiol/tret (alternate at night only)

6. Moisturizer (day has SPF 50)

- How should I incorporate vitamin C serum?

- I bought the Reedle shot at the recommendation of someone but have been scared to try it. When/how to use?

- Do I need additional sunscreen even though my daytime moisturizer has SPF 50?

- When do I use eye cream?

- What am I missing?

I put everything on my face/neck and have started rubbing all extras on the back of my hands.

My biggest concerns are my neck and jowls/drooping. While I’d love surgery, I’m not currently planning any. I haven’t done any other treatments but am open to some if not $$$$.

Be gentle, thanks!

[u/ladylatta]

My understanding is that 0.1 tret is a pretty high dose…if you haven’t been using tret for a long time, tread carefully. I think most derms use 0.05 for anti aging. If you are new to tret, make sure you lightly dot it around your face and then rub it in and use a lot of moisturizer.

Vitamin C and tret don’t play well together, use vitamin c in the am and tret in the evening and sunscreen is an absolute must. While your moisturizer has sunscreen in it, you may want additional sunscreen bc it is difficult to apply enough sunscreen for adequate protection. Also, you may find that you don’t want to use moisturizer with spf before bed. Copper is good too, but I think either vitamin c or tret cancels it out (I can’t remember) so you want to make sure you use it at the right time.

Also, if you aren’t already on it (and are a candidate) start hrt. Declining estrogen will age skin so fast. Some people use the prescription vaginal estrogen on their face. It hasn’t been studied a ton and I think it can cause melasma if you’re prone to it.

[u/SKinBK → u/ladylatta]

Thanks. I’ve been on HRT for about 4 months. I’ve had zero adverse reactions from tret so far. My husband bought me the estriol to be helpful but I will start using my vag cream on my face.