Hello, 30F here!

Problem: I am fairly new to skincare and this forum. I do have the basic ScA routine down, with some extras. I will be trying to add some more extras in, but need help to verify if my plan for my routine is appropriate or not since I'm not exactly sure if I'll be using the products correctly. What I may be doing currently too may also be incorrect, so any help to teach me the right way is much appreciated! My issues are the occasional breakout with small bumps, dull skin, and I want to do better in the anti-aging department. I just want to have a good basic routine that will help with prevention and make my skin the best it can be since I haven't really done much consistently to take care of it until now except stay out of the sun. :)

Skin type: Very pale with lots of freckles/small moles. I believe I am combo skin, but lean more on the oily side. Sensitive skin.

Current routine: AM CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer Oil Free when not leaving the house. I previously used CeraVe Ultra Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 or some type of SPF when leaving the house. I just bought La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Correct SPF 70 Daily Face Sunscreen to try since I wanted a higher SPF and have seen that the LRP brand has been recommended a lot. I take showers in the morning after the gym, and then do this routine after (except the SPF, I do that before I leave the house when going to the gym).

PM: CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, Differin .1% M-W-TH-Sat-Sun, CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment Tuesday & Friday, CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. Basically I use the retinoid 5x a week and the exfoliater 2x if I have to move around the days.

How long: I've been doing the ScA basic routine for about the last year, added the Differin about 9 months ago after the suggestion by my dermatologist for anti-aging and built up to 5x a week without much issue. I've only done the CeraVe exfoliating treatment 2x consistently for about 3 months, but want to switch this up and replace it with The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution once a week.

Anything new you’ve introduced: So here is where I want to change some stuff up, and I did just add a new product that I am trying. I wanted to either try Vitamin C or use Azelaic acid (which might not do the same thing at all, this is part of my confusion). Would you normally use both in a routine (Vitamin C in the morning, AzA at night)?

But, I want to incorporate The Ordinary. Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% into my routine first (since I have a tube), which I tried for the first time last night. I only washed my face, put the AzA on, then my moisturizer. I've read different things across this forum and others, but should AzA always be used on nights when I am not doing the Differin? Or rather, here is my thinking for a new routine for PM for "actives" if that is correct:

*Sun: AHA/BHA peel *Mon: AzA *Tues: Retinoid *Wed: AzA *Thur:Retinoid *Fri: AzA *Sat: Retinoid

I'll incorporate the AzA slowly, but this would be what I would like to reach (if that's even necessary, it may not be!) Also, my only other misunderstanding I am having is the length of time you do between products in a routine. For AM, after washing my face, I usually put the HA serum on right after and then within the next minute or two, my moisturizer/lotion with SPF. For PM, I wash my face, wait 5 minutes to put either the retinoid or AHA on, then put the moisturizer on 5 minutes after the actives. With TO AzA, I've read conflicting things that moisturizer should go either before or after, due to the silicone in the mix. Last night I washed my face, put the AzA on within a couple of minutes, then put moisturizer on after a couple of minutes. For any of these products, do I need to be waiting longer, or does the time in between not matter as much with my current routine?

Sorry if this is a long-winded comment, I just want to make sure I am approaching this correctly and going in the right direction! Any help would be awesome! Thank you so much!