From eczema, to rosacea & acne, three skin-positivity influencers share how they learnt to feel happy & proud of their complexions
Thanks to social media, the line between filtered faces and reality has become more blurred than ever, but skin-positivity influencers are fighting back by showing their real skin, no filter. From adult acne to rosacea, skin-positivity has the same goal as body-positivity – to encourage skin acceptance and help everyone to feel confident.
We spoke to three skin-positivity influencers on how accepting their real skin helped their mental health and why their message is simple: love your skin.
Living with…Acne
Maia Gray (@its_just_acne)
“It’s incredible how many myths still exist about acne. The one I hear most often is that it’s just a ‘teenage problem’ – of course, acne does often first appear during the teen years, thanks to hormones, but you can’t ignore how many of us have it as adults.
The second is when people assume that my acne is because of something I’m not doing right, for example, not cleaning my face properly (acne is often wrongly considered ‘dirty’).
As one of the faces of the acne-positivity movement, I regularly post make-up free, unfiltered pictures of my face, showing my real skin with breakouts and scars. I’ve had acne since the age of 13 and back then, I was bullied by other kids at school and even once saw ‘Maia is ugly’ scrawled on a toilet cubicle door, which really affected my mental health.
The turning point for me was when I was documenting my skin privately for myself on social media and decided to make my profile public. Except for the odd ‘why is she showing us her spots?’ comment, so many people praised me for being honest about adult acne, realising there are lots of us out there living with this skin condition.
People are surprised when I tell them it’s not the acne itself that I’ve struggled with. I know that’s temporary and the breakout will disappear within a few months with the right products. But what took me longer to accept was the scarring.
So many people praised me for being honest about adult acne, there are a lot of us out there living with this condition
I’m not a picker, but because I have cystic acne (cysts that form under the skin), when they fade, they can leave a deep hole. It used to make me feel incredibly insecure, but now I’ve learned that large pores, breakouts and acne scars are normal – it’s part of being human and I’m perfect how I am. Learning this was a huge step towards my own skin acceptance.
I love brands like The Inkey List (their salicylic acid range is excellent) and Nip & Fab, and on days when I wear make-up, Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation SPF 10 (30ml), is my go-to – it’s a long-lasting, full coverage, soft matte. Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, also does a great job of covering any redness.
My skin doesn’t need to look airbrushed – it’s okay and normal if it has texture, too.”
Acne explained†
What is acne?
Glands on the face, chest or back produce too much sebum, which, when mixed with dead skin cells, can block hair follicles on the skin, causing white or blackheads that can get infected and become pustules or cysts.
How many people have acne?
Over one in 10 UK adults have the condition (one in five in Northern Ireland).
Who does adult acne affect most?
Women are most likely to have it as adults, due to fluctuations in hormone levels.
How to treat acne
A pharmacist can provide advice and, if suitable, treatment for mild acne. Treatment available over the counter for mild acne includes benzoyl peroxide. For more severe acne, a GP may be able to prescribe more suitable treatment such as retinoids or antibiotics*.
Maia’s product picks
Find out more about acne on the Boots Health Hub.
Living with…Eczema
Aramidé Onashoga (@myatopicskin)
“Throughout my twenties, surrounded by friends and out partying, I didn’t want anyone to know I had eczema. It was exhausting trying to pretend my skin was ‘normal’. When my eczema did appear, I’d never want to be seen without make-up. It was a façade that wasn’t healthy, so in 2018, I decided to embrace my real skin.
I started by finding out my triggers (dairy, wheat and pollen) through allergy testing, and trying to avoid them. It was the best thing I’ve ever done. Being a black woman with eczema brings an extra challenge, as it forms darker patches (rather than red), so I get uneven skin tone, which leads to hyperpigmentation.
I’ve never felt more beautiful and more powerful, standing in the imperfection of my skin
I’ve found it quite gaslighting having eczema with darker skin, as my skin tends to look a lot better than it is, and when others can’t see what you see, it’s lonely. People have also mistaken me for having ‘resting bitch face’, when actually, I’m experiencing discomfort which many don’t realise is part of having a chronic skin condition like eczema.
My face is where it springs up most, then the corners of my arms and backs of my legs. When I have a rash, I try not to use make-up and let it heal, but with hyperpigmentation I tend to wear a bit of make-up just to bring back brightness. Loving your skin doesn’t mean you can’t wear make-up, especially if it makes you feel confident.
I’ve never felt more beautiful and more powerful than by standing in the imperfection of my skin. As a model, having a skin condition can be difficult, but I’m proud to show off my natural skin – as the more inclusivity there is in beauty, the more we normalise skin disorders and reduce the stigma, which is what skin positivity is all about.”
Eczema explained††
What is eczema?
Atopic eczema causes the skin to become itchy, dry and cracked. Some people have small patches, others might get inflamed skin all over. The patches look red on lighter skin, and brown, purple or grey on darker skin.
Why do people get eczema?
It often occurs in people with allergies and develops alongside conditions such as asthma and hayfever. Other triggers include soap, detergent, weather changes and everyday stress.
How to treat eczema
A pharmacist can offer advice on ways to manage eczema and provide treatment for flare-ups, if appropriate. For more severe forms, GPs may prescribe stronger treatments or refer you to a dermatologist for alternative treatments.
Aramidé’s product picks
Want to know more about eczema? Read about it here.
Living with…Rosacea
Lex Gillies (@talontedlex)
“I always tell people with rosacea, ‘your skin is the least interesting thing about you’. Which, as someone who runs the world’s largest rosacea Instagram account might sound a bit strange! But the skin condition is often misunderstood, and during a flare-up I’ve been asked if I’m sunburned, drunk, or flushing because I’m lying.
It took a long time to stop seeing my skin as the enemy... I love being a positive force for the rosacea community
A university GP diagnosed me when I was 21 and experiencing angry red and purple patches on my face, triggered by stress, white wine and late nights. During a flare-up I’d feel uncomfortable, hot and itchy – I’d also get self-conscious and avoid situations that brought attention to myself, and I’d cover the redness with heavy, full-coverage make-up.
At that time, there was hardly any information out there about rosacea, so when I decided to talk openly about my experience on my blog, the reaction was unbelievable – people from all over the world contacted me saying thank you for speaking out, and that they felt less alone, which shows the power of the skin-positivity movement.
It took a long time to stop seeing my skin as the enemy, but over the past two decades I’ve accepted my condition, through the trial and error of finding the right products, choosing when to avoid my triggers and when to let them go.
For anyone at the start of a rosacea journey, find out what your triggers are
I also try to manage my everyday stress levels (the moment I get sad or stressed, I know my skin will flare up). Now, I love being a positive force for both skin-positivity and the rosacea community. People come to my social media not just for product recommendations, but also for support.
They might have a job interview, or a date; their skin has flared-up, it’s affecting their mental health and they’re panicking. Just speaking to others who know what it’s like can be a confidence boost.
For anyone at the start of their rosacea journey, find out what your triggers are. For some it’s a long, sweaty run, for others it’s sitting next to a radiator.
Next, be honest with friends and family; mine now automatically book restaurants with umbrellas if we’re sitting outside, as they know the sun is a trigger for me. I also wear SPF every day to protect my skin, usually La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF50.
I could wake up one morning and my skin is calm, or I could be in the middle of a bad flush. Either way, I’ve come to realise people will still love me and I don’t need to hide my skin – my rosacea doesn’t define who I am.”
Rosacea explained†††
What is rosacea?
Redness and flushing across the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin. Redness can be harder to see on brown or black skin. Skin can feel hot or painful.
What does rosacea look like?
Can appear as red bumps, pustules or a thickening of the skin, particularly on the nose.
How to treat rosacea
A dermatologist or GP may be able to help with symptoms with creams, gels or antibiotics. Wear SPF30+ daily and skincare designed for sensitive or rosacea-prone skin.
Lex’s product picks
Find out more at the Boots Health Hub.
Where can I get support for skin conditions?
Boots Online Doctor’s experienced clinicians offer help and prescription-only treatments for many skin conditions**, including Acne & Skin, Rosacea, and Eczema Treatment services. Visit onlinedoctor.boots.com for more info.
