routine:

AM- 

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Oil Cleaner 

Vanicream Gentle Cleanser 

Acwell Licorice Toner 

La Roche Posay Triple Repair Moisturizer 

PM- 

Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Oil Cleaner 

Vanicream Gentle Cleanser 

Acwell Licorice Toner 

La Roche Posay Triple Repair Moisturizer (1st layer) 

Pea size 0.025% Cream Tretinoin 

2nd layer of La Roche Posay moisturizer 

(occasionally i spray my face with hypochlorous acid spray) 

I found that using an oil cleanser in the morning and evening has left my skin a lot softer, so I kept it in my routine (I know some people find that it strips their skin).

For backstory:

For the most part, my skin was very clear, but every so often I’d get these tiny blackheads that would eventually turn into big, swollen pimples, sometimes leaving scarring or hyperpigmentation.

So I decided to start using Differin (adapalene) at the very beginning of February. After about three days, the skin around my nose and smile lines started peeling. The peeling subsided, but then I started breaking out. I figured if I’m going through this, I might as well use tretinoin.

I stopped adapalene about five days ago and started tretinoin three days ago.

First pic – before adapalene and tretinoin

Second pic – first day of tretinoin

Last pic – now

My skin is not peeling or dry at all, but I have these splotches all over my cheeks. They almost look like old breakouts.

Is this normal purging or irritation? 