Which do I put on first? the Retin-A or the eye cream?

Thank-you for your question. It can depend which Retin-A you are using, most Retin- A products are too strong to apply around the eye area, so it is advised to apply only up to the occipital bone. There are eye creams that contain a low percentage of Retinol that is safe to use and can be applied around the eye area to help with fine lines and wrinkles. If you are using both a Retinol Eye cream and a regular eye cream then I would alternate between the two every other night. If you are new to using Retinol around the eye area I would start with  twice a week and then work your way to more regular use. Best of luck!

Retin-A can be irritating around the eye area. Unless otherwise specified by your board certified physician, we do not recommend use around the eyes. For your under eyes, we recommend SkinCeuticals Eye Balm. Eye Balm is a rich, corrective cream formulated to counter visible signs of aging such as moisture loss and laxity. It also helps reduce the appearance of under eye puffiness and crow’s feet while soothing skin.If you are looking to use retin-A for the face, we would suggest SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3. SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3 is a concentrated facial cream with pure retinol that is ideal for first time users. This product improves the appearance of visible signs of aging and pores while minimizing breakouts. In the evening, we suggest applying a pea size amount to clean dry skin, avoiding the eye area. Allow product to absorb before applying other skincare products. Limit initial use to once or twice a week, gradually increasing frequency to every other night, then every night as tolerated. It is important to establish consistent skin tolerance before advancing to a higher concentration. Hope this helps.

Generally I tell my patients the order will depend on your sensitivity and tolerance to Retin-A. When first starting on a topical retinoid, the product can be pretty irritating, particularly around sensitive areas around the eyes. As such, when starting out I tell my patients to apply moisturizer or eye cream first and then apply the Retin-A to minimize irritation. Also you may want to start out using the Retin-A every other night or every third night and then gradually increasing to every night as tolerated. The order of your eye cream and Retin-A is really less important than just consistently using both products. Find the method that works best for your skin and stick with it!