After discovering the “holy grail” product, a skin specialist with severe acne has started a business to help people with troubled complexions.
Phoebe Carter, 25, who lives with her fiancé Aaron Ali in Essex had a series of particularly angry outbreaks after the couple got engaged on holiday in Bali in 2019, and she began to feel very stressed and anxious by her inflamed skin.
She had suffered with acne on-and-off since her teenage years, but this recent bad outbreak led her to spend £100 a month on different products to ease her angry skin.
Phoebe has to also deal with the hormonal condition polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which can further worsen her acne.
In despiair over lockdown, she creating an acne positivity page on Instagram, which is where she discovered the ‘miracle’ product in the form of a £36 face oil with anti-inflammatory properties that’s given her back her glow.
Phoebe Carter, 25, began spending up to £100 a month on new skincare products to try and help her acne after suffering from an outbreak after her trip to Bali in 2019
Phoebe stated that she felt like a fraud for recommending treatment to clients while having such terrible skin.
“I was worried they’d think that she doesn’t know how manage her skin, so I didn’t want to listen.”
Strangely enough, though, I received a lot requests for my services while working in a Mayfair, London spa.
“They thought I was very relatable as I could openly talk about my skin and problems.
Photo taken at Phoebe’s September 2019 engagement party. Phoebe stated that she was anxious about her skin after her Bali vacation.
“The lockdown began in March 2020. Because I couldn’t see my customers daily, I was not feeling very productive. I also felt low due to all of the stress I had and having taken a lot antibiotics because I suffered from a serious flare-up.
“That is when I began an Instagram page all about acne. Everything changed.
Phoebe claims that her symptoms have been caused by her PCOS and the contraceptive pills.
She continued: ‘My skin really affected my confidence.
“I suffered a massive panic attack in the days leading up to my engagement party. It made me miserable.
Phobe came across many helpful anti-inflammatory remedies like Chinese herbs. As she explored the topic, Phobe then discovered Monday’s Child skincare pages and saw a significant improvement in her skin.
Phoebe’s lockdown experience has changed the way she views her skin.
“I hate wearing too much make-up. But I didn’t really know what I was doing.
“All that I could do was thank God it wasn’t my wedding, but my engagement party.
“The Pill may help with acne but it is not a permanent solution. You can often get worse if you take it off.
It is best to stay with one treatment for at least six to eight weeks. This gives the chance of it being effective. Phoebe realizes now that she did more damage than good by constantly trying different remedies every week.
Phoebe states that, after she stopped taking the contraceptive pills, she had a terrible outbreak
She used products and treatments that stripped her skin instead of replenishing its oils with good stuff. This was because she was afraid it would become more oily and patchier than usual.
She stated, “I was scared of oil.”
You think that if you have severe acne you will not apply oil to your face.
“At beauty college we used to do facials together every day. And I still remember the horrible, cheap and sticky oil that was applied on my skin. It made it horrible and congested.
“The oil smelled and was terrible, so I decided to never include it in my daily routine.”
Although she didn’t expect to be a skincare professional after graduating college where she was more focused on eyebrows and semi permanent make-up, her skin issues helped her connect with clients.
She shared that they felt connected with her, and she found helping them to be very satisfying.
Phoebe had to go into lockdown when Covid attacked.
Her face became reddened and angry after she tried to remove her problematic skin with a beauty exfoliating routine.
After feeling fed up, she created an Instagram blog named Bare Faced Fi that aimed to the acne community.
“I was shocked to see how many bloggers were out there and I started following them,” she said.
I was very open with my skin, which gave me some confidence and a lift.
After discovering the £36 skin perfecting oil by Monday’s Child, she realised the products she had been using were really harsh and stripped her skin of the oils it needed
‘I spent a lot time recording my skin regimen and was able to assist people due to my experience through my job.
I also discovered a lot helpful anti-inflammatory stuff such as Chinese herbs that were really helping.
‘And it was while I was exploring the anti-inflammatory approach that I discovered the Monday’s Child skincare page and found this skin perfecting oil for £36.
“I was inspired by success stories and realized that I still used harsh products on my skin that I didn’t like.
“I read the oil’s ingredients and decided to order a bottle.
Suffering from acne on-and-off since her teenage years, Phoebe had a particularly bad outbreak after her fiancé Aaron Ali proposed on holiday in Bali and it continued when she got back home to their new flat in Essex
It was really effective in healing my soreness and crusts.
“A lot of acne sufferers need to be treated, because their skin is really damaged.
“I began with only a small amount, but by the middle of the week it was all over my face.
“This is the holy grail product for me,” I declared. “I’m going keep it in my routine.”
Since then, Phoebe has been using it in her beauty regimen and her business Face Glow By Fi.
She said that although my routine is very oil-based, she does use many botanicals and plants as well as anti-inflammatory products.
“I also love face massages and yoga. My Instagram account taught me how vital this was for the removal of toxins.
You need oil, Monday’s Child says I’m able to do this right now.
Phoebe now enjoys the holiday season with clear, healthy skin.
“This oil works like magic and it is reassuring to know that I can still use it even if I get a flare up.
“I’m not obsessed about having flawless skin. It doesn’t matter how clear or glowing your skin is.
Phoebe, feeling confident and ready to go for the wedding, is positive.
“I still haven’t begun planning for my wedding,” she said. Covid has put me on hold. It will come when it comes.
We would like to visit Spain but have not been able see the potential sites yet. So we believe it might be 2023.
“Then, we hope we can have the exact thing we desire.
“And since my friends, family and clients constantly comment on how beautiful my skin now is, I’m hoping that it will remain this way until my big day.”