The journey to better skin is a very personal one

When I was a teenager, my granny brought me into the local pharmacy and pulled the sales assistant aside, saying “We need something for all these spots”. No room for sensitivities about your acne in the Towey household. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. I left that day with a range from La Roche Posay called Effaclar, which left my skin feeling tight, irritated and dry in patches.

I went through other brands, such as Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, Vichy and Clinique. All of them had the same irritating effect without helping to reduce the acne. It was then that my mother recommended the far cheaper option of Simple – a line she had used as a young woman – and I have been using it ever since.

I use the Moisturising Facial Wash, a cloudy white gel that leaves the skin squeaky clean but without that horrible tight feeling. I also use the Replenishing Rich Moisturiser, which I apply while the skin is still warm from the wash. It sinks in much better that way and doesn’t leave a greasy layer.

Last year I treated myself to a Dermalogica facial at Zinc Hair and Beauty in Kilmainham, where the ever-reliable Janine mapped my skin and diagnosed it as being very sensitive, prone to acne but with an oily layer. She used the Dermalogica ultra-calming cleanser and a great powder exfoliator called Daily Microfoliant (€53.05). The salicylic acid in this breaks down blackheads, even skin tone and calm acne. It is also mild enough not to leave skin red or stinging, as some exfoliators do. Janine warned that Simple can be quite drying for some people, as it has high levels of alcohol, but her advice was if it works for you, stay with it – and for €5 per set of two, I’ll happily take that advice.