Retinol/ Vitamin C serums for face skin care

I've used Timeless and Maelove Vitamin C serums. I like them both but I like the pump of the Timeless better than Maelove (unless they have changed that one recently). They are both pretty affordable.

Tretinoin is the gold standard for retinoids, but my face doesn't do well with it. I recently got an Elf retinol product and so far it seems good as far as the way my face is reacting (usually I get peeling).

I've been using Retin-A micro 0.08% for almost five years.
Hopefully it has done something, I don't know.  

Retinoids - the variations from prescription Retin-A/tretinoin to drugstore serums - accelerate cell turnover, which helps smooth skin, improve texture, reduce wrinkles, etc.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps your sunscreen work better, overall improves skin health and can help reduce hyperpigmentation.

I’ve been using prescription tretinoin for years - around 6 or 7 - and my skin is significantly better than it used to be, even after all those years of aging. I always took skincare seriously and always used sunscreen, so my skin was in good shape for its age but adding tret was like aging in reverse. It takes time (months) for noticeable effects but it keeps getting better and better.

I do more things because I enjoy skincare but I am 95% sure if I used nothing but a gentle cleanser, a good moisturizer, tretinoin and sunscreen, my skin would look almost as good and it would take minutes a day.

I’ve been using Differin gel, a .1% adapalene retinoid treatment for years now. It keeps my face from breaking out (even in my 50s it was an issue), it helps keep dark spots faded, and has also tightened up my skin. It’s cheap and it makes a big difference for me. I also religiously wear sunscreen, although I do have some sun damage from my childhood/teenage years before sunscreen was available.

I’ve been sick with a bad cold for a few weeks, and one of my symptoms has been super sensitive and dry skin. I haven’t been able to use my Differin and I can tell. I don’t know why my skin always reacts whenever I get sick.

Same. I love their products (and their price point.) 

Which one are you using?

I've recently read Skin Care by Caroline Hirons and found it very helpful. She has products listed for different price points and goes into which you should focus on and at which age.
I'm using SkinCeuticals Vit C and a retinol and have noticed an improvement in my skin. There is a lot of sun damage on this face though so there will be no 'miracle in a jar' for me!

What she doesn't know about skin care could be written on postage stamp 

My skin reacts pretty terribly to retinol so I use lactic acid instead. The Ordinary 10% works very well for me. I also use their aha/bha chemical peel and I love it.
I use La Roche Posay vitamin c and it works very well for me. I tried TO vitamin c and my skin reacted. My skin is sensitive.

I *think* it’s every other bottle with it for a year (maybe two?) and then completely off it for a year. I know that I’m in an entire year without it right now.

I just looked up hydroquinone being that I've never heard of it. Hummm in my opinion, I'd be hesitant!

What are hydroquinone and mercury?
Hydroquinone and mercury are ingredients added to skin lightening products to limit the skin’s production of melanin. Melanin is the pigment responsible for skin color. When you apply skin products with hydroquinone or mercury to your skin, your body absorbs these ingredients. With continued use, hydroquinone and mercury can build up in your body, which may cause harm.

The FDA has received reports of serious side effects from the use of hydroquinone, including rashes, facial swelling, and permanent skin discoloration (ochronosis). Mercury is a highly toxic metal that can damage the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, as well as the lungs, kidneys, skin, and eyes.

Does the FDA regulate the sale of skin lightening products with hydroquinone or mercury?
Skin lightening products containing hydroquinone are not approved for over-the-counter sale. However, you can get a prescription skin product containing hydroquinone from your health care provider. The use of mercury in skin lightening products is banned.

How do I know which skin lightening products contain hydroquinone or mercury?
When purchasing a skin lightening product, check the product label to see if it contains hydroquinone or mercury. Do not purchase over-the-counter skin lightening products containing these ingredients. Note that mercury may be listed as mercurous chloride, calomel, mercuric, mercurio, or Hg.