By Freya Pearce
For years, my skin was the last thing on my mind. I coasted through my teens with barely a blemish. But in my early twenties, things changed. Fast.
It started with breakouts on my cheeks, then spread to my chin, around my mouth, and up onto my forehead. Like most of us, I turned to social media for answers. TikTok told me to try this and that, follow viral trends, layer product after product. I tried it all.
The result? A wrecked skin barrier, zero progress, and a lot of wasted money.
At the time, I didn’t work in skin. I didn’t know what was happening beneath the surface. But now, as part of the team at About Skin and working alongside Xcell Medical Skincare, I’ve learned more than years of online advice could ever teach me and I want to share it with anyone stuck in the same cycle.
My Skincare Reset
Once I stopped overcomplicating everything, I stripped my routine right back and focused only on what my skin truly needed.
I turned to Xcell Medical Skincare, whose products are all formulated with chiral correct technology, meaning each ingredient is designed to work with your skin’s natural structure. For my acne-prone, reactive skin, this changed everything.
I began with Harmony Cleanser, a gentle, non-stripping formula that calms and protects the barrier while thoroughly cleansing. Then came Saturate, a hydrating, barrier-repairing moisturiser enriched with hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5. Both became my daily go-tos, morning and night.
To protect everything I was rebuilding, I finished with Tizo Ultra Zinc, a mineral-based SPF that’s acne-safe and invisible on the skin. It locked in the benefits of my routine and shielded me from further irritation.
Twice a week, I added in Enzyme Away, my go-to exfoliant. It gently clears dead skin cells without harsh scrubbing or overdoing it. The result? Smoother texture, fewer breakouts, and no sensitivity.
Little tip? Stop scrubbing your skin into “clear.” It doesn’t need punishment. It needs kindness.
This stripped-back, skin-first routine gave me a foundation that finally made sense. No overloading. No reacting. Just results that actually lasted.
The Treatments That Changed Everything
With my skincare in a good place, I began incorporating targeted in-clinic treatments at About Skin to tackle inflammation, post-acne marks and deeper textural scarring.
First up was Laser Genesis, a non-invasive treatment that gently heats the skin to reduce inflammation, break down scar tissue and destroy acne-causing bacteria. Over time, it helped soften scarring, reduce redness and improve my overall texture.
To accelerate progress, I paired it with the Pure Retinol Peel, a vitamin A-based peel that speeds up cell turnover and clears out congestion. It brightened, refined, and gave me that fresh-skin glow without the downtime.
For the deeper scarring left behind, we introduced Sublative Rejuvenation, a radiofrequency treatment that remodels collagen and resurfaces the skin from within. It’s safe for all skin types and delivers progressive, long-term results.
These treatments, paired with a consistent home routine, didn’t just improve my skin. They gave me clarity. I finally understood what my skin needed, and I was no longer navigating it alone.
Acne doesn’t get to run your life. You do.
You don’t have to live with acne. You don’t have to waste another minute or another paycheck on fluff made for someone else’s skin.
Whether you’re struggling with breakouts, scarring, sensitivity or just don’t know where to begin, book the consultation. Learn your skin. Take back control.
This is the perfect time to start fresh before summer. A new season. A new start. A reminder that you’re not breaking down, you’re breaking through.
By Freya Pearce
