Can't seem to start a routine that wouldn't break me out
Hi!
I have not yet started tretinoin, I'm trying to establish a good cleanser+moisturizer+spf routine first. I have been using benzoyl peroxide 5% gel everyday to treat acne for years straight on, as in I didn't use anything else besides occasional spf, I just put it on my skin. Never had irritation/peeling/dryness from it (or at least I never felt it) but I know that I should pause it for tretinoin, and also that tretinoin requires a good base routine. So that's what I've been trying to do for the last couple of weeks, but unfortunately I seemingly can't even integrate a moisturizer without breaking out, even tho I continue applying BPO as usual. Not only that, since I started using moiturizers my sensitivity to BPO seemingly increased, I never got redness from applying it but now I do.
I simply do (once a day in the evening): cleanse, moisturizer, bpo (either before or after or even well after a moisturizer)
And all the products I tried so far give me small pimples here and there the next day I have to then slather with BPO the next evening.
And I haven't even gotten around to applying spf or moisturizing twice yet!
This is my cleanser: Eucerin DermatoCLEAN HYALURON
Moisturizers I tried:
LRP Toleriane Sensitive Riche
Eucerin UreaRepair 5% Plus
Bioderma Atoderm Intensive gel-creme (very lightweight with basically just glycerin+niacinamide) - this one also appears to be fungal acne safe
Note: Almost none of the HG moisturizers are available in my country (e.g. Cerave, Vanicream, Cetaphil...), I don't have amazon, etc.
I have tried various application methods: dry, wet, damp, after the shower, after bpo, with a hot towel, applying the tiniest amount, without the cleanser (just water cleanse), but all to no avail
Any guidance appreciated!
Posted Feb 26, 2026, 8:15 AM UTC