[Skin Concerns] Please help me understand why my skin is so dry and congested!

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I can't get a decent enough photo to show you what my skin really looks like but I've been having problems for a while now with dryness or dehydration (I know the difference but I don't know which applies here, sorry) and congestion (all my pores are clogged, particularly on my forehead and on my cheeks near my nose).Some background: I'm in my thirties and had bad skin as a teen (but never bad enough to need to go on medication). It mostly sorted itself out in my twenties partly thanks to birth control, I think. I had a minimal routine and used to only have to wear a little concealer as far as make-up goes.I went off birth control over 5 years ago to conceive my first child and haven't used it since. I had terrible hormonal acne during my first pregnancy but it did go away and now I don't think my current issues are hormonal as I don't have a cycle because of breastfeeding.​My current routine is:AM:Wash face with zinc soap and lukewarm waterNiacinimideHada Labo Gokyjyun Premium serumSqualane oil if my skin is exceptionally dryClinique 72-hour Moisture SurgeShiseido Senka UV essence SPF 50+PM:Oil cleanse with squalane oil if I've been wearing make-upCleanse with Bioderma micellar water (the pink one)Hada Labo Gokyjyun Premium serumSqualane oil if my skin is exceptionally dryClinique 72-hour Moisture SurgeVaseline​Every once in a while I also do an Aztec clay mask when my skin isn't too dry. All my products (skincare and make-up) are fungal acne-friendly just in case.The niacinimide is a recent addition and at first I thought that was it - after just a couple of days the texture improved and my skin was notably less congested. I had a tiny bit of purging, which I didn't expect, but a few pores that had been hugely clogged for years finally became whiteheads which popped and went away, so that's great, but now it's been a week or so and my skin is getting recongested and it's drier than ever.What could be causing the dryness? The zinc soap (should I cut it out)? The breastfeeding? (I'm not ready to wean yet but I try to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated). Could the dryness be causing the congestion? How can I combat these issues? TIA!
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Submitted by RoDoBenBo