tbh my base (night) routine is just double cleanse -> toner -> active -> moisturiser, everything else depends on my mood... oil cleanser good for cleaning off sunscreen/makeup bc i find foam cleanser doesnt get rid of everything :o cleanser + moisturiser is rly the only vital part of a routine

aha/bha are chemical exfoliants! aha exfoliates the top layer of ur skin (improves skin texture + fades discolouration/acne scarring) and bha penetrates deeper (better to clear up breakouts) but they make u mildly photosensitive so its super important to wear sunscreen in the daytime after applying them. essence/serum is just like watery moisturiser its another hydration step, im only adding it into my routine bc im bored and want to expand my routine lmao

u have to be really careful about mixing prescription gels with actives bc they might react badly to each other... do u know what active is in the prescription gel? like is it a retinoid or smth? if u do some research theres definitely someone out there whos posted about how to combine/layer actives properly...

thank u for thoughts on son & park beauty water... ill see if i can find it in store then :o ETA: toner is generally considered an optional step in skincare since most cleansers should be ph balanced these days so if ur skin is getting worse from skipping toner its probably a hydration issue!! which u can obv fix by using toner but u could also look into serums if u want