Skincare - is this a reaction or congestion?

[AllAboutTheGin]

Hi, any ideas? I’ve attached a pic. Have not been using anything at all new and have come up in some bumps on my chin. Photo slightly misleading g as the main bump in the middle is a scar, but all around it have these tiny bumps that don’t itch but really annoy me!
Has occurred to me maybe it’s the change in weather? Or does my skin need a break from daily make up?
Day to day I use a vit c, spf, HA, TO buffet, cleanse with a balm/hot cloth, and use retinol or aha a couple times a week. And moisturise obvs sometimes with an oil.
I know it’s minimal but really bothers me having taken care over my skin the last few years - and it’s far from perfect anyway. Thanks

My skin is exactly the same at the moment, so possible the weather? I am trying to leave my skin make up free when possible to see if that helps

Yes I might try the same. I did think today it was a reaction as I found it faded and re appeared at various points over last 24 hours so probably not congestion/acne

Have you tried squeezing? Looks like little blocked pores to me, I get them in that area for no apparant reason!

God I get these all the time! Wold love to know how to sort them.
Silver - should I just pop the suckers when they come up?

It looks like hormonal outbreak based on where it is and the appearance of the bumps. I used to get similar but as the odd bump as opposed to a cluster.
Not much you can do as an emergency solution but if you follow a strict skin care regime you will prevent most of it from coming back.
Are you due your period?
To make you feel like you are doing something use Freederm gel for a couple of days and they will subside quicker than if you just leave them.

I’m on my period, but they have been coming and going for a couple of weeks now. Driving me mad as have never had to worry about breakouts. They are much too tiny to squeeze. If I rub over the area it feels sandpaper or like a fine heat rash.

It must very annoying.
I don’t think it would be the weather as it is getting colder so you wouldn’t be sweating more to clog the skin?
Have you been using retinol long enough to exclude some possibility of this being a purge (in the case of retinoid acid, not usual with milder retinol).
Clean all your makeup tools properly, change your pillow case a bit more often for a while, have a think if any makeup (like foundation) is a bit old even if not expired.
Do you happen to sleep on that side?
If your skin doesn’t look or feel dry, take a break from moisturiser and only use the face oil every other night (is it a light oil like jojoba or prickly pear?).
Stay makeup free as much as you can until it’s sorted.
This is exactly what I’d try if I were in your shoes as it would be keeping skin clean,it is a gentle approach and would help the skin recover in case really this is a temporary rash of unknown origin.

Are you sure you haven't used anything new? My skin did this when I used a well mineral foundation. A face wash with salicylic acid cleared it up

My foundation brush could definitely do with a wash. I’m away at the moment and haven’t used retinol for a week, I didn’t bring the aqua lane with me so will stick to my moisturiser (cerave pm) and no make up for the next few days. It’s not a purge as I did get proper pimples for the first month of using it.