TRANSFORMATION ‘I Tried to Stop Caring about My Skin, but It Didn’t Work’

Everyone’s skin has a story to tell — and we want to tell yours. Our True Transformation series brings a real customer’s skin journey to life, in their own words. Here, Meghan details her (long) search for a skin solution, and her failed attempt at skin ambivalence.

Dieting Didn’t Do the Trick  

I started breaking out when I was 16 with this cystic, hormonal acne around my chin. It was the most stubborn thing in the world, and I couldn’t get it under control. I tried everything under the sun — going to dermatologists, trying medications and topical treatments. I got these special facials using peels and extractions, which were very painful, expensive, and also didn’t work.

So, I turned my attention to my lifestyle, and figured that diet was my biggest opportunity. I was vegan for almost a year, then I did dairy-free, gluten-free, and I even tried the low-FODMAP diet on the recommendation of this holistic practitioner. I gave each diet at least 6 months to work, but they had little impact on my skin. 

Making (a Little) Skin Peace 

Every time I looked in the mirror, my skin was the first thing that I saw. At that point, I really thought that I just had some sort of imbalance in my body and that I would always have these painful, cystic pimples. So, I just googled something like “people with acne” to see if I could find some sort of peace with the situation. I read articles from people who basically said: “Yes, I have acne. But I’m still confident and feel beautiful.” I tried to find examples of people who had acne and had a positive relationship with their skin. It helped a little, but it was a struggle for me. I wanted to get to a place where I didn’t think about my skin all the time and where the breakouts didn’t bother me. I tried to stop caring about my skin, but it didn’t work—because underneath it all I did care.  

Starting the Healing Process

My girlfriend was the one who suggested I give True Botanicals a try, saying that she heard how it had changed people’s skin, even people with breakouts. At that point, I did not believe that putting a product on my face was going to help the issue. But I tried it anyway, figuring that the products smelled so good and felt so good on my skin — even if they didn’t fully clear my acne, at least I enjoyed using them. 

I started with the Clear Nourishing Cleanser, Clear Nutrient Toner, and Clear Pure Radiance Oil. Later, I added the Clear Repair Serum, Antioxidant Booster, and Moisture Lock Overnight Mask. 

It took a couple of weeks for there to be an identifiable difference. My skin had more moisture in it at first, and then it looked more clear. I’d say it took close to 6 months, though, for other people to really notice and comment: “Your skin is so radiant.” But there was progress along the way, with breakouts popping up less and less. There were no more deep, painful, cystic blemishes. I knew going into it, though, that the process — even if it worked —  would take time. So, the fact that it was gradual didn’t surprise me. Skin needs time to heal. 

Breaking Free from Breakouts 

It might sound silly, but these products have actually been life-changing for me. I used to put so much energy and thought into my skin previously, and I don’t have to anymore. 

I always felt like I had to wear makeup to conceal my blemishes. Freedom was walking out the door without makeup — just Pure Radiance Oil and SPF — for the first time and not feeling self-conscious. I hadn’t been able to do that in more than 12 years. 

When my skin was breaking out, I was really upset about it. In the back of my head, I thought: “I really shouldn’t be so upset about this.” I think in the moment, when it’s happening, the best thing you can do is to just try and say it doesn’t matter. But at least to me, I definitely learned that it does matter. Today, my skin is clear and healthy — and that makes me happy. 

–As told to True Botanicals