"i used to use retin a, but the side effects were so bad - my dermatologist recommended the lady soma serum and lady soma somatique face wash. it has retinol vitamin a in it, without the side effects of retin a. for those of you actually using retin a, here is my routine... wash with lady soma somatique face wash - then apply the lady soma renewal serum. in the morning i wash again with this lady soma wash. the lady soma stuff also seems to be helping with the intial breakout i got from the retin a (have not had acne in years! was put on the retin a for sun damage &amp; fine lines)."