Having been a lifelong acne sufferer, I thought that finally - at the age of 23 - my skin would have cleared up and I would only need to rely on an ultra-sheer skin tint a là Bella Hadid.
Thanks to a combination of different factors (mainly coming off the contraceptive pill) over the past year, my acne has come back with a vengeance. We're talking spots, breakouts and redness. All the fun stuff, eh?
Whilst on my acne journey, I have been on a quest to find the products that actually do work (and trust me, it's a lot less than you think.)
Note: Like many acne sufferers, my skin type is definitely on the oily side and I find skincare products which help to eradicate excess shine works best for me.
SHOP: my favourite products for hormonal acne
1 of 5Boots Blemish Stick
Genuinely one of the greatest products that I have ever used for acne - I saw a difference in my skin in mere days. Plus, at only £3.50 there's no reason why you shouldn't give it a go. Working like a mini deodorant, roll the product across any particularly problematic areas.
2 of 5Skin + Me
When I spoke to friends about the products that they recommended for dealing with acne, so many of them cited Skin + Me as finally clearing up their skin for good. A monthly subscription service, Skin + Me is specifically designed for each individual user meaning that before you're sent your tube of cream in the post, you have to complete a questionnaire and send in pics. Their moisturiser and cleanser also gets a 10/10 from me.
A little bit expensive for some people at £30 a tube, we've got a handy hack for you that will reduce the price of your first tube to just £3.99. If you download the app TreeApp on your phone and start planting a real tree somewhere in the world every day - you should really download the app anyway! - eventually you will receive a code from Skin + Me who sponsor the planting of some of the trees. You also get a load of discount codes for other sustainable brands.
Where can I find it? Skin + Me
3 of 5Skin + Digestion Tablets
Not to get too scientific with you, but all parts of the body essentially link to everywhere else and there's an especially strong bond between poor digestion and breakouts on the skin. That's why sometimes, if nothing else seems to be working, you might need sort out the inside in order to fix the outside such as with these tablets that also contain vitamins and minerals.
Where can I find it? J S Health and Boots
4 of 5FOREO LUNA 4 Smart Facial Cleansing and Firming Massage Device
Boost your morning face wash and cleanse by using this facial cleansing device from FOREO. Vibrating gently as you massage your face, this device is proven to remove 99% of dirt, oil and make-up residue leaving your face extra clean and thus less likely to break out. Make sure you pick the one that works best for your skin type.
Where can I find it? Look Fantastic and John Lewis
5 of 5La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Moisturiser for Sensitive Blemish-Prone Skin
Even oily skin needs to be moisturised and upon the recommendation of my friends and colleagues, I plumped for this one and have genuinely never looked back. A small tube lasts a surprisingly long time as well.
Where can I find it? Look Fantastic and Boots