You should avoid Vitamin C serum on days you use a toner containing exfoliating ingredients, right?

My skin texture seems to have become very rough and dull, so I'm planning to try exfoliating and brightening at the same time.

I looked it up online, and since exfoliating ingredients like AHA and BHA are acidic, and Vitamin C is also acidic, I've heard that using both in the same skincare routine can cause severe irritation to the skin. My skin already feels a bit weaker lately, so I'm scared that if I get greedy and apply them all at once, I might experience side effects like redness, breakouts, or a burning sensation. On the other hand, I feel like I need to exfoliate first so that brightening ingredients like Vitamin C don't just sit on the surface and can absorb deep into the skin properly. What am I supposed to do... Since everyone says I should avoid it at all costs, I'm so confused about how to utilize this great combination.