Getting pimples after starting retinal & azelaic acid. breakout or purging?

I started a more rigorous face routine by adding some actives particularly the ordinary retinal and azelaic acid.

morning routine

cerave moisturizing cleanser

TO multi peptide HA serum

TO zinc niacinamide serum

cerave moisturizing lotion

spf 50

evenings

cerave foaming oil cleanser

TO multipeptide HA serum

Active (retinal two nights, azealaic acid two nights, and 3 nights no actives)

cerave moisturizing lotion

it’s the third week of introducing these and i noticed starting last week im getting pimples here and there (mostly around my eyebrows and upper cheeks) and i read somewhere that because of the cell turnover from these actives that it can “purge” and cause some pimples? I am wondering if there’s anyway to know the difference between a breakout vs the skin purging? i know this has been spoken about a million times on here but most times i see people talking about breaking skin barriers and I have no clue how people know? besides the severe cases of irritation that are obvious im wondering how people can tell the difference between purging and a broken skin barriers!

thanks! also any suggestions for my routine that i’m missing or shouldn’t be using together or just general advice would be greatly appreciated!

(overall skin goal is to improve complexion, reduce fine lines, get rid of mild acne and prevention of wrinkles / premature skin aging)