My Skin’s Mid-Life Crisis
Early Beginnings: A Routine Born from Necessity
I started a skincare routine at age 11—not because I loved self-care or found joy in slathering on creams, but out of necessity.
I began showing signs of inflammation early on. Minor breakouts quickly escalated into full-blown teenage acne, leaving behind scarring across the central zone of my face—eyes, cheeks, and nose. The redness, the eruptions… they troubled me deeply and made me incredibly self-conscious. Even now, there are still days I find it hard to look at myself in the mirror.
A personal reflection on inflammation, resilience, and finally finding what works.
Early Beginnings: A Routine Born from Necessity
I started a skincare routine at age 11—not because I loved self-care or found joy in slathering on creams, but out of necessity.
I began showing signs of inflammation early on. Minor breakouts quickly escalated into full-blown teenage acne, leaving behind scarring across the central zone of my face—eyes, cheeks, and nose. The redness, the eruptions… they troubled me deeply and made me incredibly self-conscious. Even now, there are still days I find it hard to look at myself in the mirror.
Thankfully, my mom took notice and gently introduced me to higher-end skincare. My first regimen came from Clinique: a diagnostic-based 3-step routine featuring a weird amber-olive soap I loathed, a toner that reeked of alcohol, and a yellow cream whose smell and texture I hated even more.
At first, the habit didn’t stick. I wasn’t yet initiated into the true power of skincare and its potential to transform the skin.
Trial, Error & Adult Acne
In my teen years, I turned to salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. They targeted the blemishes well—but often left my skin dry, discolored, and irritated. As I entered adulthood, the acne didn’t stop. My skin remained reactive and inflamed, and I cycled through endless routines: oil-free moisturizers, acne lotions, gels, hydrators, calming creams.
As a lifelong makeup wearer (and artist), I always understood the importance of giving my skin days off—to let it heal and breathe.
But between my sensitive skin, its inflammatory nature, and consistent breakouts, adult acne became my norm. And more recently, I began developing signs of rosacea.
Retinol, Lasers & Lockdowns
In my early 40s, I discovered retinol—a vitamin A derivative with incredible benefits for collagen production, acne management, and skin renewal. For a while, alternating between retinol and salicylic acid helped me keep things in check.
I even dabbled in laser treatments, which I highly recommend. If you're curious, I can refer you to Access Medica in Kirkland, QC—their laser specialist is kind, knowledgeable, and incredibly gentle. They helped me firm, smooth, and brighten my skin.
Oddly enough, my skin peaked during the pandemic lockdowns. Minimal exposure to pollution and stress made it glow like never before. It was glass-like—a finish I’d never seen on my own face.
The Breakdown
But the last few years brought trauma: a surgery, two lay-offs, and the heartbreaking closure of the programs I taught for nearly two decades.
My skin spiraled. It became red, inflamed, dull, and textured. My stress manifested through massive breakouts—Godzilla-sized pimples that wouldn’t heal. None of my holy grail products worked anymore. For a full year, I battled my skin with almost no relief.
Makeup could only do so much. You can conceal discoloration, but texture never lies. Covering raised, swollen blemishes? Nearly impossible.
The Azelaic Acid Revelation
Seven weeks ago, desperate, I typed my condition into AI and asked for recommendations for acne-rosacea-prone skin. The answer? Azelaic Acid—an ingredient I hadn’t explored yet.
Azelaic Acid is a wheat-based compound known for targeting inflammation, improving discoloration, boosting collagen, and calming reactive skin. It’s not mainstream, but it should be.
What I’m Using
If you’re curious about trying Azelaic Acid yourself, here are two products I’ve been experimenting with and would personally recommend:
The INKEY List Redness Relief Solution (10% Azelaic Acid) – Affordable, lightweight, and great for reducing inflammation and redness. It’s a gentle introduction to the ingredient.
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% – A no-fuss formulation that delivers results. A bit creamier in texture, it’s effective for brightening and targeting texture.
Supporting Skin from Within
I also started revamping my diet:
✔ More berries, avocados, kale, carrots, nuts, and eggs
✔ Daily omega-3 sources
✔ Less sugar, less processed food
✔ Home-cooked meals, fresh dressings, and breads I bake myself
I added a daily yoga practice, which has helped both my physical and mental health. And thanks to a friend I’ve grown quite fond of, I started drinking saline water to improve hydration and electrolytes.
Light at the End of the Pore
These changes have made a remarkable difference in how I feel—mentally, emotionally, and physically. And slowly, they’ve begun to reflect in my skin.
Is that vain? Probably. But let’s be honest—we live in a society where looks matter, and there’s stigma attached to acne. So yes, seeing my glow return feels like a blessing.
And yes, Azelaic Acid caused a purge at first—those deep imperfections surfaced fast. But they diminished in size daily, and the scarring faded faster than I expected. After nearly 8 weeks, my skin is calming, the redness is fading, and the texture is smoothing out.
My skin is not yet flawless—and it may never be. At my age, discolorations take longer to fade. But each day, I wake up a little more comfortable in my own skin. And for that, I’m grateful.
Until then? There’s always concealer. 🖤
Please Note
Always patch test on your inner wrist to see how your skin reacts prior to using. As always, if any irritation or inflammation occurs, please consult a skincare professional.