I know this is controversial, but I’ve been using the strongest prescription retinoid (according to my dermatologist) for a full year now, and I wanted to give you an honest update—especially because people were genuinely upset with me for sharing this last year. I’ve been acne-prone my entire life, and I had things pretty controlled on tretinoin for years… until I turned 30 and my skin suddenly started acting up again. At the end of my time on tret, I had constant new breakouts—multiple at any given time. My dermatologist switched me to azelaic acid plus tazarotene (Taz), and I was terrified because my original retinoid “journey” came with purging and serious barrier damage. But the transition was honestly the most uneventful thing ever—in the best way. My skin calmed down almost immediately, and I break out way less now (usually one, max two). Things aren’t perfect—some breakouts look different than what I had in my early 20s, and new makeup/skincare is more likely to clog my pores now, which is tricky when product testing is literally my job. But one year in, I’m genuinely happy with this combo, and I really wish I’d known about it sooner. Also: please don’t let the internet guilt you for using prescriptions. If you’ve tried everything and nothing works, you deserve to choose what helps you feel confident in your skin.