A former teaching assistant has revealed how she used to call in sick from her job due to pupils’ reaction to her skin – until trying £16 ‘holy grail’ product.
While in her former line of work, Fi Styles would wake up dreading the day ahead.
And it wasn’t anything to do with her job – it was due to the kids, who used to berate her from the start of school until home time about her “spotty” skin.
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It’s something that’s plagued the 36-year-old ever since she was a teen.
At times, it got so painful that her face would be “throbbing” and she often questioned what she had done so wrong in life for the universe to be dealing her these “unbearable” cards.
After spending thousands on remedies and makeup, Fi tried her hand one last time.
And, after six months, her acne had cleared completely; all thanks to one £16 “holy grail” product.
“I could not believe the transformation in such a short space of time,” the kitchen designer, from West Sussex, told Need To Know.
“Each morning, after each use, my skin felt smoother and softer, as well as less inflamed.
“The redness calmed dramatically and I found myself applying less makeup.
“Before, my entire face felt like it had its own pulse.
“My skin was so red and blotchy, dry and scaly, but also incredibly oily.
“There was never a calm, happy medium.
“The flare-ups were horrific; lots of spots that were significant in size.
“And the amount of stuff that used to come out was terrifying.”
Fi began suffering from cystic acne when she was just 14 years old.
She had tried remedies such as blotting the skin with tea tree, cold compresses and other high street brands, to no avail.
With no end in sight, Fi felt at “rock bottom”.
She said: “I was stuck in a vicious cycle that I didn’t understand – or know how to get out of.
“I became convinced my whole life would be fighting this battle to be comfortable in my own skin.
“And it was only made worse by my peers at school – and the kids at work when I got older.
“They’d say: ‘You’re so spotty, why is your skin so bad?’ or ‘Gosh, you’re ugly’.
“It hurt when people would say there was clearly something wrong with me, or that I looked like a cartoon character.
“Kids at work would constantly ask what was on my face, or if I had something plastered all over me that shouldn’t be there.
“It’s not their fault, as they’re just curious, but it still made me very uncomfortable and self-conscious.
“I’d go home in tears and often call in sick due to the sheer pain and shame.
“One time, I had been at work in the peak of summer and my makeup covering a bad flare-up had not lasted the morning, let alone the full day.
“When I saw myself in the mirror at lunchtime, I was mortified, embarrassed and humiliated.
“I went home sick at lunchtime, and scrubbed my face red raw with an exfoliating mitt.
“I cannot recall what I thought I was relieving myself from, whether it was the pain, scrubbing off the make up or what.
“But I just remember scrubbing it raw in the mirror, and crying my eyes out.
“I felt like people didn’t like me because of it, like they thought I was dirty or something.
“Even still, I refused to leave the bedroom without makeup on, even when doing basic jobs or running errands.”
Growing “desperate” for a way out, Fi estimates she spent a “shameful” amount on makeup trying to cover up her skin.
But then, in December 2021, she came across an advert on Instagram for 47 Skin.
She tried her luck, purchasing their serum for £16.
While skeptical at first, Fi remained hopeful.
She said: “I was just very, very desperate.
“I wondered if something with a price tag less than what I had spent on all the individual products I had tried would actually work.
“I took the leap of faith either way.
“It took six months of regimented use morning and night for my skin to clear completely.
“Although the odd spot does appear every now and again, it doesn’t ever amount to anything anymore.
“Now, my daily life is completely different.
“On the weekends, I don’t wear any makeup – even when seeing family and friends.
“It’s turned my life around and I will forever be grateful to 47 Skin.
“If you’re suffering with acne, remember you’re not alone.
“The status of your skin doesn’t define you.”
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