In this video, I’m finally sharing a long overdue skincare update—because my skin has changed a lot since last fall. After turning 30, I became the most oily and acne-prone I’ve been in the last decade, with more frequent breakouts around my mouth (the same area I dealt with hormonal acne in my early 20s). I walk you through what my dermatologist and I decided to do prescription-wise, including why I switched off tretinoin and onto tazarotene, and what my skin actually did during that transition. I also share what happened when we increased my tazarotene from 0.05% to 0.1%—this time it wasn’t seamless. I dealt with stinging, irritation, and flaking around my mouth, so I stripped my routine back and used the retinoid-adjustment tips I’ve learned the hard way over the years. I also explain why I’m not starting oral spironolactone right now (pregnancy planning + not wanting to risk a rebound situation later), plus my plan to consult on scar treatments because I’m newly dealing with small pitted scars. Then we get into the routine tweaks I’m testing specifically for oil control: a sebum-absorbing toner, mandelic acid as a swap for a shinier hydrating acne serum, and switching from my beloved ultra-hydrating cleanser to gentler foaming cleansers. I also talk about adding a blue light mask to help active breakouts heal faster—because I’m trying to build a routine that works with my job (testing products) and my current skin reality.