Skincare Spotlight: How to Love Your Skin with Joanna Kenny
Every Thursday Kristin & Co. will be featuring people, products and companies
supporting skin positivity and education around issues such as rosacea, acne, psoriasis and more.
Have a nomination? Send me an email to get featured!
Have you ever looked in the mirror to check to see how big a new spot is, only to find yourself 30 minutes later with an extremely inflamed face and several spots oozing from picking and popping? The walk of shame from these moments is REAL and one that people with clear skin have a hard time understanding… or worse, think is disgusting.
Joanna Kenny is changing and reframing this “shameful” act we all participate in to one that is liberating and empowering. Just check out her post here to see what I’m talking about. Her positive and inspiring take on how to love yourself - acne and all - made her a clear fit for today’s Skincare Spotlight. I’m so excited to share her story with all of you and hope that it gives you that little boost you may be needing regarding your own journey with acne.
Enjoy ☕ xoxo Kristin
Name: Joanna Kenny
Age: 31
Skintype: Acne
IG Handle: beautifulbybreakfast
At what age did you develop skin issues?:
I first developed acne at fifteen. It started out as blackheads and small pustules but by the time I reached my twenties it became cystic and more severe.
How did you feel/perceive acne and rosacea before? After getting diagnosed?:
Before I developed acne I was completely unaware of my appearance and how other people looked. But I do remember being on a family holiday and my dad commenting about spotty teenagers around the pool. He would ask "did you see that girls blackheads? She needs to squeeze them out!" I didn't see what he was talking about at the time... I didn't know what a blackhead looked like but according to my dad they were revolting.
When I developed acne myself years later I felt ashamed. I must be revolting too? My family constantly made comments about my skin when I just wanted to ignore it. I started applying makeup before breakfast to prevent them from updating me on any new breakouts that I was already aware of!
How did you come to #embraceyourface, “imperfections” and all?:
It took a long time for me to finally accept that I had acne and there was no miracle cure. After thirteen years of different medication, treatments and skincare I finally started to see beyond my skin. It felt like the right time in my life to stop concealing and just be myself. I was so exhausted of keeping up appearances and not feeling 100% authentic with my boyfriend (now husband). We'd been together for two years before I could take my makeup off in front of him and show him the real me. It was so liberating. Two years ago I decided that I would create an instagram account to show my real skin and empower others to do the same. It took a while before I worked up the courage to be barefaced around colleagues and friends but slowly over the course of a year I went from wearing less makeup to being completely foundation free.
What are your ride or die skincare products?:
While I was on medication for my skin I favoured natural, aromatherapy formulations for my skin. But since I started introducing friendly acids and retinol into my skincare routine I've seen incredible results. When I first made the switch it was to a brand called DermaQuest. I've never experienced such noticable results before in such a short time. Right now though it has to be Dermalogica's retinol.
What is the best way you’ve found to manage your acne or rosacea?:
My skin is predominantly clear now and I don't think that one single thing is responsible for my progress. As cheesy as it sounds, self love and working on my mental health has been the most effective thing to manage the effects of my breakouts. And because that stress and pressure of getting a new breakout is no longer there, it enabled me to focus and think logically about what my breakouts are trying to tell me. I started journaling to record anything and everything that might impact my skin with the hope that I would identify patterns. I instantly felt more in control. I made a series of changes and for the first time measured my progress through journaling and taking pictures. I couldn't believe I hadn't tried that approach sooner.
Any final thoughts or words of advice?
The psychological effects of having a skin condition prevented me from taking care of my skin in a healthy way. That's when I decided to create my own journal, to motivate and inspire people to take back control and understand their triggers. But most of all, I hope through my gentle encouragement throughout the journal people learn to love their skin in the process.
You can follow Joanna on Instagram and shop her Love Your Skin Journal to start tracking your skin journey today.