Georgia Toffolo, a 31-year-old former star of Made in Chelsea, has publicly shared her 15-year struggle with severe acne. She has recently begun a new approach to manage her persistent skin condition: journaling.
Toffolo expressed bewilderment over the significant improvement in her skin when she is on holiday, contrasting it with its tendency to flare up shortly after returning home. This pattern persists even when she consumes foods like bread and ice cream while traveling, which she would typically avoid at home due to concerns about exacerbating her acne.
"Every time I come on holiday why does my skin become the best it's been all year, I genuinely cannot understand it," Toffolo stated in an Instagram video. "I've had severe acne for 15 years. Every time I go away, Italy, France, my skin settles down. Then I come home and within a few days it starts all over again."
She noted the inconsistency, saying, "Same face, mostly the same products, completely different skin." Toffolo believes she may have been focusing on the wrong aspects of skincare, questioning if the key to her skin's behavior lies beyond topical treatments. "Maybe the biggest clue to my skin has never been in a bottle," she speculated.
To address this, she is meticulously recording every flare-up, good skin day, and even random theories in a notebook. "I think if I write this down enough, maybe I'll eventually understand what's really going on," she explained. She has shared these notes on a social media page dedicated to her skin journey, emphasizing that it is not a perfect routine but rather her personal log in a determined effort to find answers.
Earlier this year, Toffolo candidly revealed her natural skin in a social media post, discussing the financial toll her acne has taken. She admitted to having "spent more on foundation than some have on rent" over the years. Toffolo has openly spoken about her lifelong battle with spots and scarring since her teenage years, describing it as her "biggest struggle."
She has previously advised a less is more approach to covering breakouts, stating, "The goal isn’t to plaster it into submission. It’s to quietly outwit it." She learned over time that accepting her skin is crucial and that panicking or overusing products can worsen flare-ups.
Toffolo's experience on "I'm a Celebrity" in 2017, where makeup is not permitted, marked a turning point in her journey to embrace her natural skin. While initially nervous, she found her skin did not drastically improve in the jungle. Over time, she has observed a connection between her skin flare-ups and stress levels. She recalled feeling less confident without makeup and experiencing some negative online comments after leaving the jungle. However, by discussing her skin issues openly, including a notable appearance on "This Morning" where she removed her makeup live on air, she has worked to overcome these insecurities.
The NHS reports that while most individuals see their acne resolve in their 20s, a small percentage, around three percent, experience persistent acne beyond the age of 35.