Combining Urea and Tretinoin: Does It Work for Sensitive Skin?

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Important: Do not use tretinoin if you are pregnant or breastfeeding!!

1. My Skin Type and Skincare Background
2. The Experiment: Mixing Urea and Tretinoin
3. Why This Might Not Work for Everyone
4. Additional Tips for Mixing Skincare Ingredients

When I first heard about urea in moisturizers, I was intrigued by its benefits. Urea is known for its moisturizing properties; it helps lock in hydration and is especially beneficial for those with dry or rough skin. Naturally, I wondered; can urea be mixed with tretinoin, a powerful skincare ingredient used for acne and anti-aging?

To start with, let’s break down what urea does. Urea is a keratolytic, which means it helps exfoliate the skin by breaking down the bonds between dead skin cells, making them easier to shed. This is particularly helpful for people with dry skin, as it removes the buildup of dead cells that can make the skin feel rough, look dull, or appear flaky. Beyond exfoliation, urea is also a humectant. It draws moisture into the skin, hydrating it deeply and strengthening the skin barrier. This dual action makes urea an ideal ingredient for treating dry skin and improving overall skin texture. It is even recommended for those with conditions like eczema and psoriasis due to its gentle yet effective properties. If you want to learn more about the benefits and uses of urea in skincare, be sure to check out my previous article here.

Given these benefits, I thought, why not try mixing urea with tretinoin, another potent skincare ingredient?

My Skin Type and Skincare Background

Before we dive into my experience, let me give you some background on my skin. If you’ve read my previous posts, you’ll know that I have acne-prone skin that’s still quite sensitive, even after going through isotretinoin treatment. Before the treatment, my skin was a mix, sensitive and normal on my cheeks, but very oily in the T-zone. Now, after the treatment, my T-zone has balanced out, and my skin is generally normal, though it’s still a bit sensitive in some areas, especially on my cheeks. If you’re curious about my skincare journey and how I’ve managed my skin, you can read my previous articles: “My Skin“; “My Skincare Journey: The Early Struggles – Part 1“; “My Skincare Journey: Navigating Acne and Rosacea: The Early Struggles – Part 2” for more.

The Experiment: Mixing Urea and Tretinoin

For this experiment, I decided to try out a cream with 10% urea and niacinamide specifically for my face. I chose the Mixa 10% Urea & Niacinamide cream, which surprisingly has a fruity apricot scent despite its plain white packaging. Normally, I stick to thicker balms like Cerave, Bioderma, or Avene to help my skin tolerate tretinoin, but I was curious to see if urea could boost hydration while using tretinoin.

Just to clarify, niacinamide mixes well with tretinoin and is known for its soothing and hydrating properties, so I thought this combo might be promising. I applied the urea cream and felt a noticeable tingling sensation (more intense than with the urea cream I use on my legs), likely because facial skin, especially on the cheeks, is more sensitive. (You can check out the urea creams I use for my legs, thighs, and feet here.)

The tingling faded quickly, and my skin felt smooth and plumped afterward. The cream doesn’t dry to a matte finish; you can still feel it on your skin even after it dries. Since I’ve built up my tolerance to tretinoin (I use it 4 times a week without issues), I thought this combination would be safe to try.

I let the urea cream absorb for about 10-15 minutes (sometimes longer), and then applied 0.05% tretinoin (prescription tretinoin) on top. This can be a bit tricky because thick creams can make tretinoin harder to spread evenly. After a week, I noticed that my cheeks started showing signs of eczema-like dryness.

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Right now, I’m testing this combination on my arm instead of my face (only to show you) to avoid risking eczema on my cheeks again. I applied the Mixa 10% Urea & Niacinamide cream with 0.05% tretinoin four times a week. Keep in mind, the skin on your arms is less sensitive than your face, so the results you see in the pictures below are from my arm, and the effects could be more pronounced on the face, especially if you have sensitive areas like your cheeks. (PS: Since I had no reaction on my arm, I decided to try it directly on my face.)

PICTURE OF THE EXPERIENCE HERE (I gave the urea/tretinoin combination a second try on my face)

Why This Might Not Work for Everyone

It’s important to keep in mind that this experiment involves a 10% urea cream and a 0.05% tretinoin cream. These concentrations can be quite strong, especially for sensitive skin. Using a lower percentage of urea or tretinoin might lead to different results, and substituting tretinoin with retinol or retinal (known to be gentler) could also affect the outcome. So, it’s crucial to test each combination to see how your skin reacts.

From my experience, mixing 10% urea with 0.05% tretinoin wasn’t ideal for sensitive skin, particularly on the cheeks. If you have similar skin concerns, I’d recommend using a balm cream without urea alongside tretinoin, which is what I’m doing now. I might try using the urea cream only on the days I don’t apply tretinoin (about three times a week) and see how it works out.

Additional Tips for Mixing Skincare Ingredients

When trying out strong ingredients like urea and tretinoin together, it’s a good idea to start slowly and see how your skin handles the combo. To avoid irritation, do a patch test first. Just apply a small amount of the products to a discreet area, like your arm or behind your ear, and keep an eye on it for a few days to check for any reactions. This can help you avoid a full-on face irritation (like me). Also, starting with lower concentrations or using these products on alternate days can make it easier on your skin. By taking these steps, you’ll get a better sense of how your skin reacts and can adjust your routine to keep things balanced and comfortable.

In conclusion, both urea and tretinoin have great benefits for your skin, but mixing them might not be the best option for everyone, especially if you have sensitive skin. If you’re considering trying this combo, you might want to use lower concentrations or alternate the use of urea and tretinoin on different days.

As for me, I’ll stick with using my balm creams on days when I apply tretinoin and save my urea cream for my legs, thighs, and feet, areas that really benefit from its hydrating and exfoliating effects (you can check out which urea creams I use for my legs, thighs, and feet here). Remember, the key is to listen to your skin and tweak your routine based on how your skin responds!

I’d love to hear from you! Have you tried mixing urea with tretinoin? What were your results? Do you have any tips or experiences to share? Let me know in the comments below. And if you have any questions about my skincare routine or other product combinations, feel free to ask!

See you soon, Beautifully Moi!