💭 Gal Off Duty: Learning to Love My Skin — Breakouts, Pores & All

Just me, my coffee, and real skin. ☕

I used to think my skin would magically “grow out” of acne once I hit my twenties. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. I dealt with breakouts all through my teens, and even now — in my thirties — I still get the occasional flare-up (always on the chin, of course 🙃). And as if that wasn’t enough, now we’re adding fine lines into the mix.

But here’s what I’ve learned: your skin isn’t something to fix — it’s something to care for. It tells your story, just like scars do. Some days it’s glowy and smooth, others it’s irritated and unpredictable. And that’s okay.

✨ What’s helped me:

• Hydration, always. Inside and out. I drink a ton of water and keep my skin barrier happy with a good moisturizer (no matter how oily my skin feels). I also try to always carry a water bottle — a Stanley cup or any version you love — because it actually makes me drink more water. My favorite right now Owala FreeSip

• Consistency over perfection. Forget the 10-step routines. Stick to what your skin actually needs — for me, that’s cleansing, hydrating, SPF, and a gentle exfoliant a few times a week. And retinol — so important for texture, fine lines, and keeping things balanced.

• Don’t pick. Hardest one of all, but trust me, it makes a difference. What’s helped me is using pimple patches — they protect, heal, and stop me from touching my face when I’m tempted.

• Mind your stress. My flare-ups often come when I’m anxious, traveling, or not sleeping well. Skin listens to emotions too. I’ve started taking ashwagandha pills, and they’ve really helped me manage stress levels and keep things more balanced overall.

Most importantly — I’ve learned to love my skin even when it’s not “perfect.” We spend so much time trying to erase every imperfection when sometimes what our skin really needs is a little patience and kindness.

So if you’re breaking out, glowing, or somewhere in between — you’re still beautiful, skin and all. 🤍