[Skin Concerns] What's wrong with my dry, flaky, congested skin? Is it a moisture barrier issue?

Beauty Tips For Body Care
I have extremely dry skin and extremely clogged pores. The driest areas seem to have the most clogged pores (mostly cheeks, jaw, forehead). I can slather on moisturizer and by morning still be bone dry on my cheeks. My skin is incredibly dull, congested, flaky, and awful. No products I use seem to have much effect, either good or bad. This has been going on for about a year and a half, with ups and downs that seem uncorrelated to anything.Routine (I patch tested all of these before incorporating and am pretty sure they aren't causing the clogging)AM:Hada labo gokujyun foaming cleanser with konjac spongeBenton aloe soothing gelHada labo hyaluronic acid gokujyun lotion moistVaseline (thin layer)Missha SPF 45 EssenceNYX BB creamPMMineral oil OCMHada labo gokujyun foaming cleanser (recently with konjac sponge)Benton aloe soothing gelHada labo hyaluronic acid gokujyun lotion moistVaseline (thick layer)Once a week I use Dr. Wu 18% mandelic acid to exfoliate, I have done this about 3 times so far (new product)I was on accutane as a teenager and spent years using benzoyl peroxide and harsh products. I am wondering if these somehow damaged my moisture barrier and my skin's ability to exfoliate itself, hence the peeling, and I think the dead skin buildup is clogging my pores.I have tried BHA, both Paula's Choice and Benton Aloe, both of which broke and dried me out badly, not in a purging way. I have tried cerave PM to repair the barrier but it broke me out too.I have seen a dermatologist and have been taking Spironolactone for a few weeks, though I hear it can take months to see results. I have been on birth control pills for years, and my skin doesn't seem to change based on my cycle, so I don't think it's hormonal.My goal here isn't really to get product suggestions, but to try and figure out what the underlying problem is so I can treat it effectively instead of blindly trying every product on the market.If you have any insight, I would really appreciate it!
Girls Blog 2015
Submitted by biffboffboof