I want to use actives that will reduce my hyperpigmentation and even my skin tone - but products often irritate and so I don’t know how to approach anti-aging skin concerns.
I missed that your Cerave lotion is spf 30, so you obviously do use sunscreen :)
I would like to use a retinol product but I don’t know how to approach that with such sensitive skin. Thank you for your feedback!
Have you tried The Oridinary Granactive Retinoid 2%? It's gentler and not very expensive so at least if it doesn't work for you you didn't waste much money.
I started with something similar to Granactive Retinoid (r-retinoate). Every third day at first and not directly on my skin but following a serum/moisturiser, then retinoid and then a layer of moisturiser again. I also changed my cleansing routine to be gentle and non-drying (oil-based cleanser followed by La Roche Posay Toleriane cleanser). So far it works and now I'm using my retinoid every day!
Btw, regarding sunscreen there's now talk how tinted sunscreens may be better for hyperpigmentation because they also offer protection from visible light, especially blue light, which can apparently contribute to hyperpigmentation too.
Maybe check this line: https://whatsinmyjar.com/brand/pillowtalkderm
Especially the serum and the flash mask (do you get irritated with acids such as glycolic acid?). There're many ingredients you can consider and it would best best to combine a few of them in a single product among eg niacinamide, tranexamic acid, alpha arbutin, kojic acid, vit C, AHAs (like glycolic or lactic acid). The good thing about this is line is that it looks like the products do not contain unnecessary potentially irritating ingredients. The Ordinary and the Inkey List should also have products with many of these ingredients.
You don't use retinoids (retinol, retinal, tretinoin)? They can be irritating and you need to introduce them slowly but they are one of the holy grails if it comes to anti-aging.
And all of this makes sense if you use sunscreen. Do you use one?
The ELEMIS cream you added- I would skip that one. It is full of potentially irritating essential oils.