Anyone else's routine work too poorly to want to keep up, but too well to quit?

Routine for reference:

AM: rinse, sunscreen (that online moisturisers enough) PM: cleanse, sometimes BHA (tried varying the frequency), retinol, moisturise

I've become frustrated because I still get clogged pores, every single pore on and beside my nose is black, my entire chin is white gooey pores. So I eased off and put the BHA and retinol on hiatus, and the painful cystic pimples came back, along with even more clogged pores. I really need them gone to keep me from picking at my skin.

So, anyone else been there?

Anyone got any tips? Yes, I wash my pillowcases, sleep enough, drink enough (if anything too much) water, eat well.