Hormonal adult acne humbled me fast.

One minute I had “normal” skin, the next I was dealing with painful cysts along my jawline, angry bumps that refused to heal, and skin so inflamed it felt hot. IVF, stress, hormones and harsh skincare created the perfect storm.

I started reading ingredient lists obsessively. Some ingredients weren’t the miracle cures social media claimed they were. For my skin, they made everything worse.

Here are 5 things I personally avoid now and why.

1. Coconut Oil

Yes, I know. The internet treats coconut oil like liquid gold.

For acne-prone skin though, it can be a disaster. Coconut oil is highly comedogenic, meaning it can clog pores easily. While some people tolerate it beautifully, my skin absolutely did not.

The breakouts I got from coconut oil were deep, sore and stubborn. The kind that sit under the skin for weeks like an unwanted house guest.

It’s rich in lauric acid, which has antibacterial properties, but the heavy texture can trap dead skin cells and oil, especially if your skin is already congested.

If you struggle with acne, “natural” does not automatically mean suitable.

2. Dairy

Certain dairy products, particularly skimmed milk, have been linked in studies to increased acne severity. Dairy may influence hormones like IGF-1, which can increase oil production and inflammation.

I noticed my skin became angrier after periods of eating more dairy. More clogged pores. More cystic spots around my chin and jaw.

Once I reduced it, my skin calmed down noticeably.

Not everyone reacts to dairy, but if your acne feels hormonal or inflamed, it’s worth paying attention to.

3. Paraffin (Mineral Oil/Petroleum-Based Ingredients)

Paraffin creates a film over the skin. That’s why it’s often recommended for very dry skin.

The problem? My acne-prone skin felt suffocated underneath it.

Some people tolerate petroleum-based ingredients perfectly fine, but I found they trapped heat, sweat and oil on my skin. Instead of healing, my spots became more inflamed and congested.

You’ll often spot ingredients like:

• Paraffinum Liquidum
• Mineral Oil
• Petrolatum

in moisturisers marketed as “gentle”.

My skin preferred breathable plant oils instead.

4. Artificial Fragrance

Fragrance is one of the biggest irritants in skincare.

When your skin barrier is already damaged from acne treatments, strong fragrance can push it over the edge. My skin became redder, itchier and more reactive when I used heavily fragranced products.

Some fragranced skincare gave me tiny bumps across my forehead and cheeks that looked like acne but were actually irritation.

That’s the annoying thing about adult acne. Sometimes it isn’t just acne. Sometimes your skin is screaming at you.

5. Harsh Alcohols & Over-Drying Acne Products

I used to think stripping my skin was helping.

If a cleanser made my face feel tight and squeaky clean, I thought it was “working”. In reality, I was damaging my skin barrier and triggering even more oil production.

Many acne products contain drying alcohols or overly aggressive actives that leave skin irritated and dehydrated.

My skin improved when I stopped attacking it.

Gentle cleansing, barrier support and calming ingredients worked far better than burning my face off twice a day. Funny how that works eh?

What Actually Helped My Skin?

Ironically, oil-based skincare helped my oily acne-prone skin far more than water-based products ever did.

After researching skin barrier function and sebum production, I realised oily skin often produces even more oil when it’s constantly stripped. Many water-based acne products left my skin tight, dehydrated and irritated, so my skin overcompensated by producing excess oil.

It became a vicious cycle:

• Strip the skin
• Skin panics
• Produce more oil
• More congestion
• More acne
• Repeat endlessly while questioning all life choices

Switching to gentle oil-based cleansing and nourishing plant oils helped my skin feel balanced instead of under attack.

Once my barrier calmed down, my skin actually became less oily.

What helped me most:

• Simpler routines
• Fragrance-free skincare
• Barrier-supporting ingredients
• Oil-based cleansing
• Nourishing facial oils
• Less obsession with “drying out” spots
• Paying attention to ingredients instead of marketing buzzwords

Acne is incredibly personal. An ingredient that breaks me out might suit someone else perfectly. Skin is awkward like that.

But learning to listen to my skin instead of TikTok trends changed everything.

My skin likes peace and quiet far more than 14-step routines.

Try my Acne Bundle for yourself and feel the difference.