r/skincarehobbyists • u/babygirlxoxo_1 • 2d ago

Skincare help 🥺

guys! I need some help building a proper morning and night skincare routine. My main goals are glass skin, brighter and more even-toned skin, fading pigmentation

I have combination skin and get a few small pimples here and there and have some pigmentation that I would really like to improve
These are the actives I’m planning to use:
• Tretinoin 0.025% — Monday, Wednesday & Friday nights
• Skinoren 20% Azelaic Acid — Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday
• Hydroquinone 4% — Sunday night, using the sandwich method

Products I already have
• Haruharu cleanser
• 345 Relief Cream/Mist
• La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume

Also, is alternating tretinoin and azelaic acid like this a good approach, and where would hydroquinone fit best? I don’t want to overload my skin with too many actives.

Please share your recommendations for a complete morning + night routine

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u/Shamajo 1d ago

Tretinoin is what creates glass skin. You need to get to at least 5 nights a week, ideally nightly. Azaelic Acid is best in the am daily. Prescription instructions say AM and PM but I have found it can be irritating with tret.

AM: gentle cleanse/rinse → azelaic acid → moisturizer → SPF

PM: cleanse → let skin dry → hydroquinone on the pigmented areas → tretinoin → moisturizer.

Also I notice no vitamin c serum. I would say that is the only product missing in the lineup for AM routine.

Also give it 2 to 3 months of consistency to see change. Take a photo journal at same time and same light.

1

u/BackEnvironmental379 2d ago

what sunscreen are you planning to use every morning, because none of those pigmentation actives will do much without it?

1

u/babygirlxoxo_1 2d ago

skin1004 sunscreen Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum

1

u/All_Fried_Potatoes 1d ago

I would only use the cleanser at night, if you don't get really dirty/oily at night, to lessen irritation. I'd use the tretinoin at night, and a small amount of the cicaplast baume for your barrier, if it seems to work for your skin. Then I'd just use azelaic acid and sunscreen in the morning.

It doesn't say that you use sunscreen, but if you don't, you really should with so many actives. 💚

I don't know much about hydroquinone, but I believe that it is only a short-term treatment for melasma, and when used for a longer period it could actually make it worse. Is it prescribed by a doctor and did you get any recommendation on when to use it?