Georgia Toffolo, the 31-year-old television personality, has publicly shared her ongoing 15-year battle with severe acne and her attempts to understand its causes. She has begun journaling her experiences in an effort to find a resolution.
Toffolo expressed bewilderment over the consistent improvement of her skin when she is on vacation compared to when she is at home. She noted that during holidays, she consumes more bread and ice cream, and is less diligent with her skincare routine, yet her skin still clears up. "Everytime I come on holiday why does my skin become the best it's been all year, I genuinely cannot understand it," Toffolo stated in a video shared on social media. "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 finds the contrast particularly perplexing given the similarity in products and routines. "Same face, mostly the same products, completely different skin," she observed. "And here's the bit that makes absolutely no sense. On holiday I eat all the bread, all the ice cream. I barely think about my skin care. I am much less strict than I am at home. Somehow, every single time my skin looks better."
Toffolo believes she may have been approaching the issue incorrectly, questioning the focus on finding the right products. "Maybe the biggest clue to my skin has never been in a bottle," she theorized. She has started a journal to record flare-ups, good days, and any emerging patterns, hoping to gain insight into what truly affects her skin. She shared her notes on the social media page "untitled skincare," describing it as a space for "no perfect routine, no perfect answers," but rather a record of her determination to understand her condition.
Earlier this year, Toffolo candidly discussed her acne in a social media post, admitting to spending significant amounts on foundation to cover breakouts. She has dealt with spots and scarring since her teenage years, describing it as her "biggest struggle." Toffolo advised a less-is-more approach when covering blemishes, emphasizing that "calm skin behaves better than cross skin" and that panicking or over-applying products only exacerbates the issue. She identified Erborian UK CC Red Correct, Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation & Concealer, and Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm as part of her coverage strategy.
Toffolo's journey toward embracing her natural skin began during her stint on "I'm A Celebrity" in 2017, where makeup was not permitted. She admitted to initial nervousness and a feeling of not being fully herself without makeup, a sentiment compounded by some negative comments received after the show. However, she found that discussing her skin publicly, particularly through a segment on "This Morning" where she removed her makeup on air, helped her overcome insecurities. She recounted reading aloud negative comments she had seen on social media during the segment, which she found to be impactful.
The NHS reports that while most individuals see acne resolve in their 20s, it can persist beyond age 35 in about three percent of the population. Toffolo has previously linked her skin flare-ups to stress levels.