Discover my skincare journey

Where It All Started¶

Hi! I’m Eléonore, a 33-year-old French gal living in Berlin, and I’m passionate about skincare.

Skincare has been a significant part of my life for many years. It all started with a pimple on my forehead at age 11, which quickly escalated into a long and painful battle with cystic acne—one of the most severe forms of acne. I’ve struggled with my skin for more than 20 years and tried hundreds of products since my teenage years. But in late 2019, at 27, everything took a turn. The world was shutting down due to COVID-19, and little did I know, so was my skin.

My Worst Acne Episode¶

Along with the usual pimples on my face and back, I suddenly developed painful cysts on my lower face and neck. Never in my worst teenage acne phases had I experienced such aggressive-looking and painful cysts, let alone ones that spread down my neck. I later discovered this was hormonal acne. If there’s one thing I’m grateful for during the lockdown, it’s that I didn’t have to show my face in public much, and could easily hide in online meetings behind my computer screen while working.

Acne Hits More Than Just Skin¶

Acne is no joke. It impacts your confidence and mental health. There I was again, in my late 20s, crying in front of the mirror, looking at the state of my skin, getting ready with minimal to no lighting in the bathroom until I’d applied the first layer of foundation, just so it was more bearable to look at myself. I was cancelling social events because I felt “too ugly.” Urgh… acne is a real bitch. And if you’re there right now, or dealing with another skin condition that weighs on your mental health, I see you.

Knowledge Became My Weapon¶

That’s when I decided enough was enough. I went back to product hunting, which, for me, means learning more about brands and, most importantly, actives! During the early months of 2020, I rekindled with an old friend: Benzoyl Peroxide (BP). At the time, I followed a cystic acne protocol I had found through a facialist on Insta. To my surprise, I began to see some improvements.

Then I started following a bunch of acne warriors on Instagram—most of them in their early to mid-20s—who shared their journeys and the products they were using. It was a relief to see I wasn’t struggling alone, and I discovered so many new brands. Then came Caroline Hirons, a skincare expert my sister introduced me to. I spent hours reading her blog, devouring her cheat sheets, product reviews, and routine tips. Boy, I wish I had that same stamina when I jog!

Why This Blog¶

From that point on, I dove deeper into learning about actives, supplements that could support my skin, brands, and more. I gave myself a year to test how my skin would respond to this new regimen, including paying attention to my diet (that’s when I noticed that drinking or eating greasy food excessively caused flare-ups the next day). But I have to admit—it still wasn’t enough.

Fast forward to summer 2022: I got engaged (love you, hubby!). My skin was doing okay—I was no longer dealing with those crazy deep cysts as much—but it was still too unpredictable for my liking. I was tired of seeing new scars forming on my face. My bacne wasn’t improving. And I was obsessed with one thought: I don’t want to have acne on my wedding day. I can’t carry this stress.

So I decided to go for a third round of Accutane. It was the best decision for me. In retrospect, I think I should have done it sooner—but honestly, I wouldn’t have learned everything I now know if I’d jumped straight into another treatment. I also wouldn’t have discovered how much I love skincare—learning how products are made, how actives work, sharing product suggestions with friends (and harassing them when they don’t wear sunscreen every day—I can be relentless on this topic!). The list could go on…

Now, here I am in 2025, finally starting this blog—not just to let people know I love skincare, but to showcase it. I hope to contribute positively to your skincare journey and help you learn more about products and find the ones that truly work for you.

Love, Eléonore.