I don't have acne per se but despite trying to take really good care of my skin after struggling with it as a hormonal teenager, it's just still so rough and uneven. It's less obvious indoors and in low-lighting, but in daylight I can see that the surface of my face is just very bumpy with little patches of discolouration, pigmentation and what looks like clogged hair follicles. I'm thankful to not have to battle the large, red spots I used to get as a youngster (eventually "cured" by spending over 16 years on the pill), but I'd love to have the smooth clear, glassy skin of my friends', and it's really getting me down!
The skin on my face looks like 1-2 shades darker than the baby-soft (and glassy smooth) skin on my neck.
I'm 35 and have a pretty basic skincare routine as I'm always mindful my skin used to be prone to acne. I also find that using active ingredients too often can cause me to break out with perioral dermatitis.
Cleanser - Cetaphil hydrating cleanser 2 x daily morning/evening
Moisturiser - Vichy Normaderm anti-blemish moisturiser 2 x daily morning/evening. Sometimes just a plain CeraVe moisturising cream if I need something thicker.
Toner - Caudalie Vinopure toner used every other evening and alternated with retinol
Retinol - Basic Revolution 1% retinol used on my jawline every other evening to keep the hormonal jaw-acne at bay. I used to use it on my face too but after upgrading to Tret last year and then suffering an incredibly aggressive and stubborn outbreak of dermatitis, I realised the retinoids may be the cause and it's made me wary of using them on my face again.
I rarely wear foundation or concealer. Maybe only once every ten days or so.
No sunbeds, tanning etc. I avoid sun exposure when I can.
Could probably drink more water.
Can anyone recommend different things or products to try to get rid of this roughness and bumpiness? Should I try Tret again and just keep it away from my mouth and nose? Can anyone recommend a good anti-pigmentation SPF that won't trigger acne?
I've added an image for reference. It's just a stock photo from the internet - not me - but it's pretty much identical to how my skin looks.
Appreciate any suggestions!