If you know that wearing SPF is important but struggle to find one that suits your chaotic, acne-prone skin, I feel your pain. The good news? You’re in the right place. I’ve been testing out loads of ‘acne-friendly’ (uh, we’ll see about that) SPFs to find which ones are worth your hard-earned cash… and which belong in the skincare-sin-bin. With that said, here’s my full review of the Purifide (Acnecide) Daily Moisturiser with SPF30. (Spoiler: for the price, it’s a good’un). Purifide (Acnecide) Daily Moisturiser SPF30 review Just in case you don’t want to read the full review (I don’t blam ..read more

I’ve lost count of the number of moisturisers I’ve tried. I’ve got extremely acne-prone, kinda oily-kinda-dry skin that’s – in all honesty – a bit of a nightmare. Most moisturisers are either rich enough but break me out… or not rich enough but don’t break me out. So if you’re an acne-prone gal or guy like me, you’ll know that it’s pretty damn tricky to get the balance right. Well, that’s what brought me to the Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion. Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion review This moisturiser claimed to be non-pore-blocking, light-weight and non-greasy, but nourishing enough to restore an ..read more

If you’re acne-prone and combination-skinned like me, you’ve probably done this too: Used the strongest cleanser you can possibly find, lathered way too much of it on your face in a bid to clear your skin and made the whole situation 10x worse. Think red skin, stinging and endless dryness – by the scientific term, a compromised skin barrier. That’s exactly why I was so excited to try the Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser. It claimed to ‘deeply clean and minimise pores’ without drying the skin, thanks to Cetaphil’s savvy blend of niacinamide (vitamin B3) and panthenol (pro-vitamin B5). For an acne ..read more

Acne-prone skin & facial SPF = a nightmare waiting to happen. I’ve tried so many well-known SPFs that have made my skin go from calm and clear to bumpy and inflamed within days.  But that’s no excuse to skimp on SPF – which, arguably, is the most important skincare product of them all. With that said, I’ve been testing loads out and have found another great SPF for acne-prone skin: the Ultrasun Face SPF30. Ultrasun Face Anti-Age SPF30 review Summed up, the Ultrasun Face SPF30 is super lightweight and – even better – non-comedogenic, so doesn’t make me breakout. Plus, there’s none ..read more

A few months back – and around 2 years since my last accutane pill – I was desperately searching for a natural option to treat my hormonal acne when I came across DIM. I’d already gone through most conventional treatments antibiotics, topical creams like Epiduo and Differin, spironolactone, Accutane and contraceptive pills. Most worked short-term, but my acne has always come back, at least to some extent. Women on Reddit, blogs and even in magazines like Women’s Health were touting DIM as the ultimate cure for their stubborn hormonal acne – and I wanted a piece of that magic, too! Your quick g ..read more

Radiance, fewer breakouts, faded acne marks and skin like a smooth criminal? Count me in. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution might be a beauty community favourite, but does it really live up to its cult status and bold claims? Well, I’ve tried it out so you don’t have to – here’s my complete The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toner review! But first things first… What is glycolic acid, anyway? Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid – or AHA for short. It’s derived from sugar cane. Yep. Sugar. Anyway, glycolic acid speeds up cell turnover, which means your skin will shed those crusty o ..read more

You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again: if there’s one thing you do for your skin, make it daily SPF. And if you’re looking for one that’s fragrance-free, super gentle and non-irritating, you might want to make it the Cetaphil Daily Defence Moisturiser with SPF50. Cetaphil Daily Defence Moisturiser SPF50 review I’ve been using SPF daily for a couple of years now (yup, should’ve done it way sooner), but finding the right one has been a total minefield. Some are sticky, some make me break out, some sting my eyes and some leave me with the most horrific white cast. No, thank uuuuuu. I ..read more

After years of living with acne and countless failed treatments, finally being handed a prescription for accutane can feel like a dream. But once you start reading the nitty-gritty details of accutane, it’s also pretty damn scary. Dry lips. Headaches. Tiredness. Joint pain. Nosebleeds. Mood changes. The dreaded purge. Uh, what the hell have I signed up for here?! I know exactly how you’re feeling, because I’ve been there. But guess what? It was totally worth it. I went from unpredictable cystic acne to clear skin within 6 months. Plus, those 6 months were nowhere near as bad as the internet m ..read more

Looking for a simple, fragrance-free and gentle moisturiser that packs in hydration power without feeling heavy on the skin? You’re in the right place! Here’s my full Cerave Moisturising Lotion review. I honestly can’t keep up with my skin. I’ve got acne one minute (well, most of the time, tbh) and insanely dry patches the next. Sensitive, troublesome skin likes mine requires a gentle, effective and non-pore-blocking daily moisturiser—and that’s exactly what tempted me to buy the Cerave Moisturising Lotion. This budget skincare staple is mentioned what feels like a hundred times a day all o ..read more

Do you have a fear of being seen without makeup? Wondering how to feel confident without makeup? After having cystic acne for 10 years, I felt exactly the same way for a very long time. Today I share my tips and advice for loving yourself, exactly the way you are, with and without makeup. Before I started writing this blog, I did some research on the subject of makeup and confidence. I can’t tell you how much it upset me to see Google recommending the following searches to me. FYI, that means these phrases are searched for in the UK a lot. Fear of being seen without makeup I hate my ski ..read more