The claim
Lets you use a retinoid without dryness while keeping the full effect.
What the evidence says
Buffering with moisturizer is a long-standing clinical tolerability strategy; it reduces irritation and may modestly reduce penetration, which is the point during adjustment. No trial has measured whether the sandwich costs efficacy long term. Dermatologists describe it as a fair way to start and a step to drop once tolerated.
Who should skip it
Nobody needs to avoid it; people who tolerate the retinoid already can skip the extra step.
What to do instead, or as well
Sandwich for the first month, then apply the retinoid to dry skin and moisturize after.
Sources on file
These links support the claims above. Reviewed September 1, 2026.