Need OTC recommendations for forehead wrinkles...retinol?

[jade408]

I wear serums day and night under moisturizer.

[jerseygal4u]

I read that retinol products are a waste because they don't work as good as retin a.
The retinol in products isn't enough to make a change in the skin.
They would have to put more in it for it to work effectively and even then won't be as good as retin a.

[TabulaRasa]

Retinol works best for decreasing the appearance of the finest of wrinkles, like very new crow's feet...it won't do much for deeply set expression lines (like forehead lines that are the result of decades of making a given facial expression, which you presumably still make, so your muscles are still moving that way and further setting in the wrinkles. Botox is really probably all that's going to make a noticeable (if temporary) difference for deeply set forehead lines, because it's a paralytic that weakens your muscles in a controlled manner, and will prevent your face from moving in that way. It seems a bit extreme to inject poison into one's face, and I've never found it worthwhile to go that route, but some do.

[Niftybergin]

Old thread, I know. Sorry to resurrect....

If you are willing and able to spend $75-$100, I'd suggest starting first (before you do the retinols) with a microdermabrasion treatment. I don't mean the home products. I mean go to a medical or dermatology spa/office and have one done. I really think you'll notice a difference after just one treatment, especially if you tell the aesthetician that that's an area you'd like her to focus on. (I became a believer in microderms 8 years ago when I was in my early 30s when I had a series of done. After the first one, I noticed a definite lessening in the depth of my forehead lines. I recently started another series, and again, noticeable improvement in my forehead lines after the first visit, and then continued improvement in other problem areas with each successive visit.)

If you start with a microderm first, it'll blast off some of the layers of dead skin cells in your stratum corneum, and then your creams/products -- like your retinol or Retin A -- will better be able to penetrate the "less dead" skin cells.

Microderms aren't facials, and unlike with facials, the results can be definitely noticeable, significant ,and long-lasting. They're less invasive/aggressive than chemical peels. (If you tend to be VERY dry, you may find that you continue to peel for a couple/few days after the microderm. Little flakes, not big patches. But if you're not already cursed with dryness, you may have no peeling at all afterwards. If you elect to have a series of microderms done, space them out every 2 to 4 weeks.)

Retinols or Retin-As can have an acclimatizing period. You may want use it just 3 days or so at first to see how your skin is going to adjust, then add in extra days one at a time. If you go the prescription route, start with a low concentration and then work your way up to a stronger concentration. The exfoliation can be pretty intense at the high doses. (When I was in my early 20s, my mom and I were using Retin-A at the same time. I was using a low dose to combat the adult acne along my jawline. My mother was using a stronger dose to fight the wrinkles around her mouth. By mid-afternoon, my mom looked like she had wood curls stuck to her face -- super-fine bits skin that had peeled and curled up. I called it "furry face." Not a good look.)

To maintain between microderm sessions, invest in a Clarisonic Mia or something like that for your manual exfoliation.