LEFT OR RIGHT
Am I using the right product?
No matter which of the 6-7 acne you are dealing with improper treatment can lead to skin sensitivity. In my professional opinion there are some products that are better equip to handle the job over others. For example those that use benzoyl peroxide to treat their acne. Some have reported burning when trying to use a moisturizer afterwards.
I would try salicylic acid instead of benzoyl peroxide to treat acne issues personally. BP is drying and has bactericidal affects yes, but salicylic acid exfoliates causing skin cells to shed easier. It opens clogged pores and neutralizes bacteria within, preventing pores from clogging up again. It constricts pore diameter allowing new cell growth. Not to mention that it can help cure so many other things. Salicylic acid (from the studies I have read provided by the FDA and NCBI) isn't known to cause photosensitivity (sensitivity to the sun) but in fact is photoprotective.
If you decide to stick with BP then maybe moved to a 2.5% concentration and gradually work your way up. The skin should develop tolerance in about a week.
There are other options as well. It might be worth it to look into Micellar cleanser. It is said to cleans the skin without compromising the skins PH.
I think it's important to note that because the body doesn't naturally produce water, only oil, over stripping the skin (dehydrating) can lead to making the acne worse. Whenever you feel that "tight" feeling after cleansing it's a potentially bad thing. It's your skins way of saying that it needs help. It will do the only thing it can...produce oil to try to remedy it. A toner will help to reset the skins PH disturbed by the cleanser/exfoliator. So I recommend a toner for after cleansing. Not to mention that it will also pick up any remnant traces of cleanser left on the skin. Toner is also a great mid-day refresher. A sort of pick-me-up.
As for the moisturizer make sure it doesn't have anything else in it like an AHA (glycolic acid) as it could aid in skin sensitivity and that it's oil free. Preferably geared towards hydration (because no matter your skin type or age we could all use hydration). To an extent, it is a normal reaction when putting moisturizer on extremely dry skin that it can burn. It should dissipate though. It reminds me of when you move from extreme climates such as cold to hot. The skin burns but tapers off as the skin takes the time to adjust.
I hope this helps anyone out there that might have this problem. If you have any questions at all, feel free to contact me.
*image taken from dermalinstitute website
http://www.dermalinstitute.com/us/news/tag/sensitive-skin/