Yeah retinoids never worked for me. In studies they work about 50% which to me is absolutely not enough.

Have you tried the regimen? That will get you totally clear.

Also, you can ask your doc if you can do benzoyl peroxide along with retinoids.

There are plenty of medications I would suggest trying several to find one that hushes your break-outs. Your skin seems oily to me, that's a bad combination if you don't treat it properly in my opinion.

Differin didn't really do anything for me, and I tried something like 3 topicals a long time ago neither had much effect other than something equivalent to a strong face wash, but ultimately I doubt it reached far enough into the pores to nullify things. That's it in a nutshell. It might just nullify bacterial superficially or somewhat, but you constantly produce too much over and over.

I don't think you have terrible acne or anything but it's enough to where I would try a prescription topical and/or an oral medication to try and gauge the best effect. The "cyclines" work well in my opinion, you might want to try to see if you respond from a lower dosage minocycline or doxycycline or something like that. Get a derm's opinion but go a little stronger from differin.