For this month’s column, Louise Thomas-Minns, Founder and CEO of Louise Thomas Skin Care, gives an honest account of her lived experience with adult acne, what worked for her – and what could work for you, too
I want to talk honestly about something I see daily in my treatment room and lived through myself: adult acne. It’s frustrating, embarrassing, and deeply emotional. What makes it even worse is the idea that if you just find the right serum or product, you can make it disappear overnight. Believe me I massively over treated my skin to within an inch of its life! And, yes, I am an expert in this stuff!
The truth? Your adult acne is rarely just a skincare issue. It’s your skin reflecting what’s happening inside and out. At Louise Thomas skin care we have always come from a place of a three-pillar approach to nurturing skin back to health.
Understanding Adult Acne: Beyond the Surface
- Acne is a complex inflammatory disease — it’s not about “dirty” skin or clogged pores alone.
- Adult acne often has different drivers than teenage acne:
o Hormonal fluctuations (PCOS, perimenopause, stress)
o Chronic inflammation in the body
o Diet and gut health (evidence links high-glycaemic diets and dairy to breakouts in some people)
o Barrier dysfunction — over-exfoliating and stripping the skin
o Stress hormones (cortisol can increase oil production)
“If you’re only treating the surface without asking why the inflammation is happening, you’re playing skincare whack-a-mole.”
Everyone’s Obsessed with the Perfect Serum, But…
As a facialist, formulator and reformed Acne sufferer, I’ve tried and tested hundreds of products. I believed for years that there had to be a perfect serum to fix my acne. But it wasn’t until I simplified, supported my barrier, and addressed root causes that my skin truly healed.
What Actually Helped Me (Louise’s approach)
✅ 1. Simplifying my routine
- Cleansers that respect the skin barrier
- Single, proven actives (like niacinamide, Lime pearl extract, Teflose) at sensible strengths
✅ 2. Protecting my barrier
- Overuse of exfoliating acids (AHAs, BHAs, retinoids) can cause micro-inflammation
- Barrier damage = more breakouts
✅ 3. Focusing on gentle anti-inflammatories
- Ingredients like Redyless, Tasman pepper berry, Roman camomile
- Calm the skin so it can heal itself
✅ 4. Looking inward
- Managing stress (mindfulness, sleep hygiene)
- Balancing blood sugar (fewer refined carbs, more whole foods, adequate Protein)
- Checking hormones & bloods with my GP & a functional medicine expert
✅ 5. Being patient
- Skin renewal takes 4–6 weeks at minimum
- Healing the root causes can take months
Science-Backed Ingredients We Trust
Cuivridone – The Skin-Strengthening Copper Complex
BioEcolia® – Your Skin’s Prebiotic Protector
Lime Pearl™ Extract – The Gentle Yet Powerful Skin Refiner
Our Louise Thomas Skin Care Philosophy
We don’t believe in punishing your skin. We believe in supporting it to heal.
That means:
- Science backed, minimalist formulations
- Clinically validated actives at safe levels
- Always respecting sensitive and reactive skin
Closing Thought
If you’re struggling with adult acne, know this: it’s not your fault, and it’s not just a skincare problem.
It’s your skin asking you to look deeper — at your routine, your lifestyle, your stress. Our mission at Louise Thomas Skin Care is to help you listen to that message with products that support, not strip.
Visit Louise Thomas Skin Care.
Featured image – supplied
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