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A note on acne and relationships, as it's Valentin

A note on acne and relationships, as it's Valentines Day and all 💜 I know that relationships can be difficult when you have acne (or another insecurity) and self-esteem struggles. I had several relationships during my time with acne (this was ten years odd in total, remember 😅) and it's only my now boyfriend, Jack, who has properly seen me without makeup. In fact, he's the one who took this photo.

Considering I had a three year relationship before this, it's kind of insane. I used to rush to the bathroom before bed, take my makeup off, then reapply my concealer and foundation so he didn't have to see my spots. This was nothing to do with him, in total honesty - it was just my lack of confidence in myself. I just assumed he wouldn't love my real skin. Mad right? But I know I'm not the only person who has experienced this. I've had girls messaege me about this, saying they don't want to date because of their skin. In fact, one of my best friends and I (who I adore 💜) used to do the 'run to bathroom, take makeup off, slap on concealer, act like you had nothing on your skin' bed routine together when we were younger and had boyfriends who were friends. We laugh about it now, but it's actually really sad that so many women feel this way.

My now boyfriend is a huge part of my boosted confidence. For the first year or so of our relationship, I was paranoid. But the makeup slowly started coming off. And he never even flinched. While we were still getting to know each other, I opened up about it. He literally shook me and told me that's the silliest thing I've ever said. He said he loved me for me and that he thought I was beautiful no matter what. When my acne got really bad in Vietnam and I wouldn't leave our flat, he used to look at me and say "okay, you've got spots, but your eyes are literally so pretty, that I don't even notice it". So my best advice here is (and I know it's hard) to take the damn makeup off in front of your boyfriend or girlfriend. You'll probably find they surprise you and still think you're beaut (cause you are). And if they don't? Well frankly, you've dodged a bullet there, and you deserve far far more.
Happy Galentines Day everyone 💜

Spots after accutane + spironolactone + antibiotic

Spots after accutane + spironolactone + antibiotics + Dianette + Yasmin + blue light therapy + topical treatments? Yes, I still get them 🤷🏻‍♀️ But instead of treating my acne like this evil invasion upon on my face, I now try (and it's still a work in progress) to just think of it as a part of who I am - and, actually, a really minor part.

Every single person is this unique being with all these wonderful aspects of their personality, with their own talents, quirks and eccentricities. It sounds cheesy, but it's true. 🌻 But when I was a teenager and had a bad breakout, it's ALL I focused on. In my mind, who cared that I was doing well at school? Who cared that I had friends and family who loved me and enjoyed my company? Who cared that I'd got a place at art college? People used to tell me they loved my eyelashes, or that I had a nice smile, but I didn't believe them or even stop to take it in. In my mind, I had spots, and that made me ugly - so none of the other stuff mattered. I considered all my value as a person lost the minute I had a cluster of spots appear. Well, at least until I'd slathered on the 50th layer of concealer and powder. Then I suddenly felt valid again.

See how ridiculous that is? And maybe you're feeling the same. But when you look at yourself in the mirror, please don't see your acne and forget all the other amazing things you have to offer the world, all the people who love you for who you are (regardless of what is on your face or not) and all the things you've achieved or will achieve. Acne is a part of you for now, but it's tiny in comparison to all the other amazing things about you.

How does your skin make you feel? 🖤

Spironolactone for acne: Complete guide + my exper

Spironolactone for acne: Complete guide + my experience ✨ I've just uploaded a monster spironolactone guide, which contains all the answers to the questions I'm regularly asked, including how it works, how long it takes to kick in, whether you have to take it forever, what the potential side effects are and whether it's a safe treatment option. Most people won't be interested in it, but I hope it'll help the few who are starting the medicine or are considering it 🖤 Find it at notesbyalice.co.uk or click the direct link in my bio 🌼 ps plz ignore the mascara on my hand I'm not good at this whole blogger photo thing 😅

Life in plastic isn't fantastic 🌼🌻🌱. So,

Life in plastic isn't fantastic 🌼🌻🌱. So, one of my new year's resolutions (I have like 10 this year 😅) is to be more eco-friendly. Does anyone else get eco guilt?! It's all about small and gradual steps, but I really want my (future) kids to look back and feel I did my best to help 😔, especially considering we share this planet with so many other wonderful creatures and critters who're struggling largely cause of us humans 🦘🦡🐧🐹🦏. Damn. It. I've actually been really frustrated and upset by all the bad news recently - the Australian bush fires, the amount of plastic in the ocean, the flash floods. It's so sad, and I'm determined not to look at it, say 'oh no', but then turn a blind eye.

One thing I'm really slacking on in this area is plastic. There's SO much in my house. It makes me feel so bad 😩. And skin care - which I LOVE - is plastered in it. I was really intrigued when I came across these plastic and palm oil free face soaps in my local shop. I'm already using body soap rather than shower gel, but still get through several plastic bottles of face wash every year. So i've picked one up and am really excited to see what it's like and if it does the job. It was only £3, so if it works it's defo a permanent swap.

Does anyone else have any other plastic free/vegan/cruelty-free skincare faves I can try? I'd love to really overhaul my collection, but like I said... small steps 🌍✨

I was in The Sun the other day (loool whaaat 😳)

I was in The Sun the other day (loool whaaat 😳) - if you'd like to read it, Google 'Alice Lang acne' and it should pop up 😊 BUT I'm not gonna lie, some of the information in this article was totally exaggerated (by the journalist, not me), and I'm not going to hide it. It was curing my acne with roaccutane and spironolactone and working on my self confidence that changed my life, not the cream. However, I do totally recommend that cream - it REALLY helped my scars and uneven skin tone. I'm just keen on being misquoted and possibly misleading people who are suffering. It's a really great cream, but if you have cystic acne, please seek medical treatment - THEN consider the cream - Science Of Skin's Recue No.One. It's a great choice for clearing up your scars - and it's vegan and cruelty-free, which I looooove 💜. I get that papers have to make headlines sound more dramatic and clickbaity, but 🤷🏻‍♀️ honesty is important to me. The most important quotes in the article, for me, are "Having acne also made me realise I should not just value myself for what I look like. What you are like as a person and how you treat other people is a lot more important than your appearance. Treating acne can be a long process, so there's no point in waiting to feel good about yourself - you need to realise you are much more than your skin" 🌼 Also hey @emilykeel_ at the end 😍

Happy (very late) New Year everyone 🌼 I've fina

Happy (very late) New Year everyone 🌼 I've finally logged back into this account after a bit of an Instagram detox (IG stresses me out unnecessarily, anyone else?) 😅. I've decided I'm not cut out to be an aesthetic and cool blogger (literally can't do it) so I'm just gonna edit my photos crazily instead. This is what I ended up with 😂

Anyway, I hope you're all doing super well and have had a great start to the year! Skin wise, I'm still pretty clear and I'm amazed. I do still get breakouts before and during that time of the month. And my skin is still sensitive and very red without makeup. But I'm fine with that... cause who has perfect Instagram skin anyway?! 😊 I'm just so happy not to be dealing with constant cystic acne - it really has changed my life! I hope your acne treatments are all going well, and if you haven't found the right one yet, that you're still feeling good about yourself regardless. Because, trust me, you look beaut - and acne doesn't change that.

My main goal/resolution for this year is to get blogging regularly, but I want to focus on the actual blog rather than Instagram. So while I'll defo still post on here, you can find most stuff on my website at notesbyalice.co.uk 💜 I've actually just written a mini update on there if you're interested!

Someone's 👏🏻 opinion 👏🏻 of 👏🏻 yo

Someone's 👏🏻 opinion 👏🏻 of 👏🏻 you 👏🏻 is 👏🏻 not 👏🏻 fact 👏🏻. If you constantly worry about what people think of you, you're setting yourself up for misery 💁🏻‍♀️. I've read a lot of anxiety and self-esteem books. But this chapter of 'A quieter mind, a happier you' by @chloebrotheridge literally changed the way I look at things.

Most of us believe that our opinions (and those of other people) are in some way true. We think the way we see the world is like a video camera, taking in everything and perceiving it as it really is. But this isn't true. We're actually more like projectors, beaming out our thoughts, beliefs and experiences on to the world and, in the process, creating what we see.

When another person sees you, they're not seeing the real you. They're seeing all their own beliefs, experiences and emotions - and projecting them onto you.

Their upbringing, culture, beliefs about how people 'should' act and what people 'should' do with their lives, the sort of day they've had and whether you remind them of someone else can all come into play. And you can't control any of that. This doesn't mean you should never take on board what people say. It just means that you should avoid taking on the heavy responsibility for what other people think of you. It's OK not to be liked by everyone.

Credit @chloebrotheridge 🌼... but she's SO right 👏🏻 Don't take people's opinions of you to heart (I mean, unless you've actually been a shit person or bully, but that's different and not what I'm getting at here 😂) . It's inevitable that some people won’t like you. So many personalities make up this planet that you’re going to find some that will you rub the wrong way. It doesn’t make you any less of a person. It simply makes you human. Accept that not everyone will like you and stop pouring emotional energy into trying to make sure everyone does. Honestly, life becomes lighter when you stop worrying about what others think of you. I'm so much less concerned about being popular and SO much more focused on being myself nowadays... anyone else?! 🌞

I can't believe it's been a whole year since my vi

I can't believe it's been a whole year since my video with @bbcsesh 😲! I remember being so nervous for this - I'm much more accustomed to being behind the camera rather than in front of it 😂 I also regret doing it with makeup on, I feel I should've braved the bare face but I didn't have the guts 😭 I probably would now though, so atleast it proves I've made some progress in a year 😛 This is an edited down version btw - I wish IG would allow more than 1 min of video! 🤔

Everything I said still rings true though. It's scarily easy to feel crap about yourself whilst scrolling through Instagram and seeing photo after photo of perfect skin, perfect lives and, well, perfect everything 📸. I think it's important to remember that social media is far from reality, and most people only post their highlights - which is totes fine (I do it too, on my other account) - it's just important to be AWARE of that fact. I was having a conversation with a couple of my besties the other night (admittedly, whilst a little drunk, but hey 🍷), and it really saddened me to hear that these girls, who I think are literally AMAZING on the inside and out, feel unconfident about how they look. I think Instagram has a HUGE part to play in that, and it makes me so sad that this feeling is basically the norm for girls (and probably many guys, too) of our generation.

Please remember that the photos you see on Instagram are ultimately a highlights reel, that life is SO much more than the clothes you wear, what size you are or how clear your skin is, that likes on a photo literally mean nothing and that there is no set definition of 'pretty', even if Instagram makes you think so. ❤️ I'm so excited to get back into this blogging thaaang... can you tell?! 💻
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