LOADS of us would admit we feel more confident with a bit of makeup on, but one mum has confessed she used to refuse to even open the blinds with a bare face.
After suffering with painful breakouts, she’s now revealed the £16 ‘miracle’ item that has helped her become ‘unrecognisable’.
Lydia Jennings had longed for a solution to her burning and bright red skin.
The 34-year-old had suffered with painful breakouts for most of her life, though these worsened after giving birth.
At one point, it got so bad that the mum refused to open the blinds without any makeup on.
Now, she’s able to go bare-faced in public and her skin is clearer than ever after coming across a “miracle” product that only costs £16.
“I don’t rush to put makeup on – I open the blinds, answer the door and don’t worry about what I look like as my skin is clear,” the specialist nurse, from Leicestershire, told creatorzine.com.
“A few years ago, I would never have dreamed of leaving the house without makeup on. But that’s a normal day for me now,” she said.
“I get up, look in the mirror and I’m thankful for the difference everyday.”
Lydia, who says she’s otherwise very healthy, has always battled with red and angry skin, coupled with hormonal blemishes.
After giving birth, though, her whole face was covered and said It felt “so raw.”
“I barely wanted to touch it and would wince if anyone went near it. I didn’t even recognise myself anymore.
“I had to address my acne before anyone had a chance to comment on it. I’d rather acknowledge it than let it be the elephant in the room,” she explained.
Then when her skin flared-up post-partum her daughter commented on the mum’s face and asked why it was so red and spotty.
The mum admitted the comment broke her hear.
“I know she didn’t say it to upset me, but it hurt knowing she recognised that I was different,” she said.
Lydia had spent “thousands” on creams, medications, breakout treatments, dermatology support and even light therapy.
Sadly, nothing worked.
Until October 2024, when she came across an advert for 47Skin.
The mum said: “I was at my lowest point and I didn’t care about spending money anymore.
“I bought anything I saw and hoped it would work.”
It was during this time she finally found something that worked for her skin, and she noticed a difference in just one week.
“My face was less angry and painful. After a few months, I looked like a different person.
“The redness had gone down, the spots had healed and I started feeling like myself again,” the mum said.
Within four months, all her breakouts and blemishes had virtually gone.
She attributes their anti-blemish serum as her “saving grace”.
Lydia added: “I cannot thank 47Skin [enough] for giving me my life back.
“I’ve fought for what feels like my whole life. I would never dare stop using it now.”
Most important skincare advice
Faye Purcell, Head of Research & Development at Q+A Skincare shared her knowledge with Fabulous.
What skincare advice would you like everyone to know/follow?
Can I give two! Firstly, wear SPF daily and secondly, double cleanse! Wearing SPF daily, even on cloudy days and during the winter months, is one of the most important things you can do for your skin.
Double cleansing is one of the most effective (and often overlooked) ways to upgrade your skincare routine – especially if you wear sunscreen, makeup, or live in a busy polluted city. I’d suggest an evening double cleanse for best results.
What is a big skincare myth?
Luxury doesn’t mean more effective. You absolutely do not need to spend a fortune on skincare to get great results and Q+A is the perfect example of this. Many affordable products use the same active ingredients as luxury brands like hyaluronic acid, retinol, vitamin C, peptides, or salicylic acid – we use these in lots of our face and body products. A smart, consistent routine with well-formulated products – regardless of price – is what truly delivers results.
If someone is new to skincare, what’s one product you’d recommend them and why?
A moisturiser with SPF. Moisturising daily is an essential for all skin types and can make a perceivable difference to the appearance of the skin quickly. As SPF is also essential, combining these two steps can build good habits quickly and prevent skin cancer. Not only is SPF essential for protecting the skin from sun damage/skin cancer but also helps keep premature ageing at bay e.g. wrinkles/pigmentation.
Q+A have three excellent facial SPF50s (£15 each) – Peptide Anti-Ageing SPF50, Niacinamide Balancing SPF50 and Squalane Hydrating SPF50, that are available from Sephora and Holland & Barrett.
What is Q+A’s number one best seller?
Our Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum. It’s our number one best-seller one is sold every 90 seconds!
When it comes to the body, it’s the Q+A Salicylic Acid Body Wash – we sell one every two minutes.
Q+A is available from Sephora, Holland & Barrett, selected Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose stores and qandaskin.com.
