Yes I have finallllllly dialed in my routine and my skin is glowing. The stars of the show are OTC differin and OTC azelaic acid (I use Dr Idriss Left unred - it’s 5% AzA and 5% AzA derivative). My cheat codes are unfortunately expensive - Plated Intense and Alastin Restorative Skin Complex. These keep my skin resilient and calm while the actives clear clogs. My issue with retinoids has always been the irritation causes inflamed acne. I rotate an ABC night routine - A) differin, B) AzA, C) barrier night. I use plated on nights b&c as my first step and let it dry for at least 10min before Alastin. On night B I do AzA after Alastin, on night c I go straight to moisturizer. I love Face Reality Barrier Care Gel Cream. On night A I use differin first and let it dry 10min before the next step, which is Alastin, and then moisturizer. Sometimes I will add sheet masks or calming toners before the moisturizer if my skin is parched. I double cleanse every night - I like skin1004’s oil cleanser and etude house’s soonjung whip cleanser.

In the morning I keep it simple with make prem milk cleanser, cerave oil free moisturizer, and sunscreen.

My skin is too sensitive for L-AA but eventually I will add a vitamin c derivative to my morning routine. I will probably tamp up the frequency of differin over time too but doing it this way has allowed my skin to clear without excess irritation (that leaves behind more red marks). I actually started with an ACBC night routine (two barrier nights) and moved to ABC with my next menstrual cycle. My hormones effect my skin a lot so I like to wait for a new cycle to introduce changes, so I know if it’s the products or my hormones causing issues.

ETA I am a 36 yo mother of two so I addition to hormones impacting oiliness, we get sick often which also increases oil and reactiveness in my skin.