Beauty skincare advice please

[grew]

Please can I ask for some direction. I'm nearly 40 and have for the last 6 months starting getting spots which are red and painful and leave horrible dark scarring. It seemed to coincide with starting cilest. I've stopped taking it a month ago but still suffering. I have sensitive combination skin with oily t zone and dry patches.

I've never paid attention to skincare in the past and am clueless!

I have been reading the mumsnet threads for advice and thus have just starting using roche posay efflaclar face wash, toner and duo cream. However I'm not sure if I'm doing the right things!

I'm not sure I bought the correct wash as its foaming? Should I get the gel?
The duo cream is that instead of moisturiser? My skin feels dry after using it.
If so which moisturiser do I buy?
Do I need a different night time moisturiser?

I was going to buy the lrp retinol apparently that's good. I've also bought the anthelios dog cream. Any thing else I should use? My budget is around the lrp stuff especially as its on offer in boots!

I would really appreciate some advice as I have tried to read around but am soo confused.

Am not an expert but I do use Lrp retinol and it is good for my mixed skin
I use a salicylic acid toner for spots and blackheads - Vichy normaderm and this made the biggest difference
Also reducing the number of products I slap on my face helped
Not much help but you sounded similar to me so I thought I'd reply

Thanks Kennington really appreciate that. I feel so lost as I just don't know about skin care. The Lrp toner has salicylic acid in it so hopefully will start working. Which moisturiser do you use?

Can anyone help?

I use the yellow olay bottle SPF 15 with niaciamide sold in tesco for 4 quid
I add a little grapeeed oils if skin is dry, but normally that doesn't happen very often.
Is cheap and doesn't block pores hence why I chose it

Grew - I'd definitely go to the GP. I had adult acne just once (randomly about 3 years ago) and she gave me a couple of creams to try that sorted it out within a month. (skinoren and duo clear I think - is your 'duo' prescription?) I'd also choose very basic hypoallergenic other products - maybe cetaphil cleanser and a really bland moisturiser. But talk to the GP - they'll help with cystic acne. Good luck.

Could it be rosacea? You need to see your GP before buying anything else imo.

Thanks so much for the replies. The la roche posay wash and toner and duo cream I just bought from boots. I've been using them since the weekend and they do seem to be working! No new spots and one I thought was starting on Saturday calmed down. Skin does feel dry after using so might try that olay cream from tesco or the cephatil moisturiser.

I don't think it's rosacea but have booked an appointment with GP, thanks so much. I do have sensitive skin.