Hey Tret girls (and boys),
If you're using tretinoin, you've probably had this thought:
“I'm moisturizing every day... so why is my skin still dry, tight, or burning?”
The answer is that a moisturizer and a balm aren't the same thing. They do different jobs, and understanding the difference can make tretinoin much easier to tolerate.
What Does a Moisturizer Do?
Most moisturizers are designed to increase hydration and soften the skin. They often contain ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or ceramides that help attract and hold water in the outer layer of your skin.
For many people, that's enough.
But tretinoin changes things;
What Tretinoin Does to Your Skin
Tretinoin speeds up skin cell turnover. While your skin adapts during the retinization phase, your skin barrier can become temporarily compromised.
That can lead to:
* Dryness
* Tightness
* Flaking
* Stinging
* Increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL)
Even if you're using a good moisturizer, your skin may still lose water faster than it can replace it.
Where a Balm Comes In
A barrier balm is designed to do something different.
Instead of simply adding moisture, it helps create a protective layer that reduces water loss and supports your skin barrier while it recovers.
Think of it like this:
- Moisturizer: Adds hydration.
- Barrier balm: Helps keep that hydration in.
This is why I personally don't use a separate moisturizer anymore, it's just not needed.
When your barrier is compromised on tretinoin, the issue usually isn't that you need more hydration added, it's that you can't keep it in. A barrier balm addresses that directly.
When to Use a Barrier Balm
A barrier balm can be especially helpful if:
* Your moisturizer still stings.
* Your skin feels tight within an hour of your routine.
* You're peeling despite moisturizing.
* Your skin burns when applying otherwise gentle products.
These are often signs that your barrier needs extra support, not another layer of moisturizer.
How I Use Formula 32
I created Formula 32 because I couldn't find a product that gave my skin the barrier support it needed while using tretinoin.
I don't use a separate moisturizer in my evening routine because it's not needed with Formula 32. After allowing my tretinoin to absorb, I apply a pea-sized amount of Formula 32 as the final step. It helps reduce moisture loss and leaves my skin feeling comfortable overnight without a heavy, greasy finish.
For me, simplifying to just barrier support made it much easier to stay consistent with tretinoin, and consistency is where the long-term results come from.
Final Thoughts
If your skin is constantly dry, flaky, or burning on tretinoin, it doesn't necessarily mean tretinoin isn't right for you.
Sometimes your skin doesn't need more products, it needs the right kind of support.
I found that a moisturizer wasn't necessary, what my skin actually needed was help protecting that hydration.