My Skincare Journey: The Love-Hate Relationship with My Skin

 

My Skincare Journey: The Love-Hate Relationship with My Skin

I’ve always had a complicated relationship with my skin. It has been one of my greatest hurdles in life—testing my confidence, my patience, and my ability to embrace myself fully.

Growing up, acne was my biggest struggle, especially during my teenage years. It felt like no matter what I did, my skin refused to cooperate. The worst part? The comments. People rarely realize how deep words can cut, but I do. I remember in high school when someone called me “guava skin”—as if my skin’s texture was something to joke about. That moment, and many other passive comments, chipped away at my self-esteem, making me feel like I wasn’t pretty enough.

Desperate for a solution, I tried everything. Home remedies? Check. I slathered my face with lemon juice, avocado paste, and aloe vera. Nothing. I experimented with different products, hoping one would be the magic fix. Then, a friend introduced me to Gentle Magic skincare. The lotions and serums actually worked for me! For the first time, I felt like I was in control. My skin improved, my confidence slowly returned, and I thought—finally, I’ve found my holy grail!

But just when I started to believe my battle was over, my skin turned against me again. After two years of using Gentle Magic, my skin problems resurfaced. I was devastated. It felt like I had won a war only to lose the peace afterward. My self-esteem plummeted once more. People had their opinions—“Try turmeric paste,” “Use Portia M,” “Tea tree cream works wonders,” “Take Vitamin C tablets.” I followed their advice, hoping something would work. But nothing made a real difference.

One day, someone said something that stuck with me:

"Different people have different skin. You need to find your triggers instead of blindly trying every product someone suggests. What works for them might not work for you."

That hit deep. I was frustrated, exhausted, and desperate. So, I did something radical—I stopped everything. No more products, no more experiments. Just water and patience. I needed to listen to my skin instead of fighting it.

When I finally saw a specialist, they told me my acne was mostly triggered by allergic reactions, hormonal imbalance, and possibly stress. That revelation changed everything. It wasn’t just about what I put on my skin—it was about my body as a whole.

Then, I moved to Japan. The Japanese are known for their flawless skin, and being in this environment reignited my curiosity. But this time, I was more cautious. I experimented again, but with mindfulness. One brand, Acnes, seemed to resonate with my skin. I bought the soap and powder lotion and incorporated a Vitamin C serum at night. Slowly, my skin started to recover. But here’s what I also noticed—my diet had changed. Japanese food, rich in fish, greens, and fermented goodness, was probably playing a role in my skin’s improvement, too.

I’m still battling with my skin, but this time, I am not fighting blindly. I am learning to understand it. To anyone else going through the same struggle—take heart. Your skin is yours, and no one else’s. Don’t let society’s unrealistic beauty standards make you feel unworthy. Learn your skin, give it time, and most importantly—be kind to yourself.

“Your skin tells the story of your journey—embrace the scars, cherish the glow, and trust the process.”