I struggled with age from the age of 13 with fluctuating hormonal breakouts here and then but it is really my adult years where my acne journey took a turn. After two years of being on the birth control pill, feeling so disconnected with emotions and body, heavy brain fog and sudden lack of motivation for the things I loved I decided to get off of hormonal birth control. Little did I know that 8 months later I would end up with the worst acne covering my entire face in painful cysts. I have vivid memories of crying myself to sleep not even just from the look of my skin but the physical pain it brought on. This lead me down a new road of self love because I really had two choices: sit in a dark room and wait till one day my skin was clearer OR live my life to the fullest and embrace the journey I was on.

3 years later and I am grateful for the lessons having severe acne taught me. It allowed me to detach my sense of worth from my physical appearance because your skin doesn’t define you, it taught me self love and patience through focusing on progress over perfection, and most importantly the power of a positive mindset and taking back the control over your insecurities.