help? inexperienced and looking for new products to try

[angelwings05]

please help! i'm new to korean skincare, but i've been using a basic cleanser-moisturizer routine consistently for about a year. i have sensitive combination skin with a lot of redness, as well as a bit of dullness (most prominently around the eyes). 

i've been using the round lab 1025 dokdo cleanser and the purito oat in calming gel cream, and i find that the combination of these two products have helped me immensely in reducing irritation and keeping my skin balanced and hydrated. i also use the etude house collagen therapy air mask (or the mediheal tea tree essential mask, whichever ones i have) on a biweekly basis. 

my skin feels calmer overall and less reactive than before, but i still find that i experience some redness and dullness, and have a couple of dry patches, with some pimples here and there. i'm not sure if i should stop using one product, or if i should change the cleanser or moisturizer that i'm using, or if i should add a toner or a serum to my routine. although i've done extensive in-depth research about what's good for my skin and what has worked well for people, i'm still not sure on what i should do or how to safely build a routine without irritating my skin. 

what would you guys recommend adding or adjusting? are there specific ingredients or product types i should focus on without compromising my skin barrier? (note: i'm allergic to niacinamide, so i won't be considering any products that have it as a primary ingredient or a key active.)

[miss8]

@angelwings05 , You Have Me Curious ✨ 🦄 What Does A Niacinamide Allergy Look Like? #OnlyShareIfYouWanna 💘

[makeitup305]

@angelwings05 Have you tried azelaic acid? I find that it works really well for me when I have a spot that's red and irritated. Also, VT makes some Cica masks that are great to reduce redness.

[angelwings05]

thank you so much! i've heard of azelaic acid as a common treatment for acne, so i might give it a shot. i was looking at the anua one a while back