I know this sounds like a redundant question but I rly need help.

I know this sounds like a redundant question but I rly need help. Pic is after I do my PM routine. I’m 1 month into tretinoin 0.025 and I can’t tell if I’m purging or just breaking out / irritating my skin. The pimples are appearing in areas where I usually break out. They’re mostly small red bumps and some whiteheads. That’s why I’m thinking it might be purging, but I’m not 100% sure. My current routine: AM – Hada labo cleanser green -Niacinamide the ordinary – Moisturizer – Sunscreen PM – Hada Labo Green Cleanser – Hada Labo Blue Toner – Tret 0.025 – Moisturizer I used to do the sandwich method and applied tret every other night. Recently I switched to every night. I also tried applying it on damp skin because I read it increases absorption. Here’s what’s confusing me: * It doesn’t sting when I put tret on damp skin. * It only starts stinging when I apply moisturizer after. * My moisturizer (Celeteque) sometimes stings. * Cetaphil burns me too. * When I layered too quickly before, it definitely stung more. So now I’m wondering: Is this purging? Is my barrier irritated? Is my moisturizer the real problem? Should I go back to sandwich + every other night? Is applying on damp skin a bad idea this early in tret? (1 month) I’m just scared I’m making things worse instead of better. Would appreciate any advice from people who’ve gone through the 1-month tret phase 😭