Where It All Began
I was brought up by a mum who was a skincare formulator before I became one myself. I will admit it, I rebelled. Hands up, I was that teenager in Boots with my school friends, shopping the skincare aisles like we were kids in a sweet shop.
I was a sucker for free skincare samples from magazines. Obsessed, I bought anti-ageing creams at 15 and believed every glossy advert I saw and watched, never realising those flawless models were filtered to within an inch of their lives.
What is more worrying than all of that? I was layering on product after product, without understanding the damage I could be doing to my skin. I genuinely believed that if skincare didn’t sting, it wasn’t doing anything, and therefore wasn’t working.
When Hyperpigmentation Hit
In my twenties, I developed hyperpigmentation. It was heartbreaking. Was it the contraceptive pill, my hormones, sun exposure, or was it my skin finally reacting to years of harsh, overused products?
I still get a heavy heart thinking about how my skin used to shift from porcelain white in the winter, to a rich olive tone in the summer. Then the darkened patches appeared, and with them, my confidence started to fade.
I thought it couldn’t get any worse, but then the comments came, like a riverbank bursting. From “Why don’t you wear makeup all the time?” to “What happened to your skin?”, and of course, a flood of unsolicited advice, “Try this product”, “Wear a hat”, “Stay out of the sun”.
It hit hard. With my confidence already hanging by a thread, I became even more determined to fix it. I turned to every option I could find, laser, skin bleach, high-strength vitamin C, chemical peels. I tried it all.
Nothing worked. If anything, my skin (and my self-esteem) felt even more raw than before.
Let’s Talk Vitamin C
Out of everything I tried, high-strength vitamin C felt like my last, best hope. It was everywhere, sold as the holy grail for dull, uneven, tired skin. Supposedly the secret to looking like you’d had ten hours of sleep, a facial, a green smoothie, and maybe even a minor life breakthrough.
The packaging promised glow, brightness, and an even tone. What it didn’t mention was the burning.
The first time I applied it, it felt like my face had been dipped in lemon juice and set on fire. I grabbed a book from my daughter’s bookshelf and frantically fanned my face. It was a sharp stinging pain, but the 15-year-old version of me whispered, "It means it’s working, don’t panic".
To be fair, my skin did look slightly brighter after a few weeks. However, what followed was constant redness, dryness, a familiar irritation, and to add insult to injury in certain lights, my pigmentation even looked worse.
What I’ve Learned (The Hard Way)
Vitamin C works by speeding up cell turnover, shedding the top layer of skin and revealing the fresher layer underneath.
Sounds promising, doesn’t it?
Here is the catch; that new layer is incredibly delicate. It’s more vulnerable to sunlight, heat, and hormonal triggers. So you get the glow, and then the setback.
Vitamin C can be brilliant. In the right strength and natural formulation, it’s protective, collagen-boosting, and glow-giving. However, most high-strength serums on the shelves today are far too aggressive, especially for sensitive or hormonally reactive skin like mine.
Skin Needs TLC, Not Fireworks
We’re talking 10% or higher concentrations levels that should come with a warning label:
“Proceed with caution (and SPF)”. Yet most bottles suggest daily or alternate-day use, as if it’s just another moisturiser.
This isn’t your five-a-day vitamin C we are talking about here. It’s often synthetic (lab-made, sometimes plastic-adjacent), or oxidised (already broken down by light or air exposure), which means it’s not only less effective, but it can actively trigger inflammation and imbalance.
Just when you think it couldn’t get worse, it does. Vitamin C continues to be marketed as a one-size-fits-all miracle. It’s now landing in the hands of teens on TikTok with baby-soft skin, when all they really need is a gentle cleanser and a bit of SPF.
At the other end of the scale, as we age, our skin naturally becomes thinner, drier, and more fragile (oestrogen drop and testosterone too in the case of men). Slathering high-strength vitamin C on already delicate skin? That’s a fast-track to barrier damage, reactivity, and ironically even more pigmentation.
Skincare should never feel like a punishment. If it’s burning, it’s not “purging”, it’s not “detoxing”, it’s your skin shouting, “Please stop”.
What I Know Now
I wish I’d known then what I know now, that gentle, nourishing ingredients work better, especially long-term. That healthy skin is built through consistency, not extremes. No miracle product (even with gold foil packaging and anti-ageing promises) can change your skin overnight.
If you’re staring in the mirror wondering what else to try, I see you. I’ve been you. You’re not alone.
So if you’re struggling with hyperpigmentation or just want brighter, healthier skin, go gently. Choose lower-percentage vitamin C (under 10%, ideally stabilised), wear SPF daily (after 10 minutes of exposing your eyes and skin in the sun), and consider vitamin D supplements (low levels are often linked to pigmentation).
Above all else, treat your skin like your favourite cashmere jumper with patience, care, and no harsh scrubbing.
What I Use Now (And Why I Created It)
Having exhausted every conventional treatment and after developing a strong aversion to chemicals during postnatal depression (PND), I turned to my mum for help and guidance.
I went back to my roots, and after three years of learning, researching, and formulating, I created Olive & Joyce and launched The Balance Skincare Range.
It’s a simple two-step routine made with 100% natural ingredients, designed to help protect your skin, support your barrier, and gently bring your skin back into balance over time.
The Balance Skincare Range was born directly from my hyperpigmentation journey. It was the very first range I formulated and created to nourish the skin, not strip it.
It includes natural vitamin C alternatives like carrot seed oil and turmeric oil, alongside broccoli seed, neroli, and bitter orange oils to gently brighten without the burn. No synthetic vitamin C. No harsh actives. Just a calming, restorative blend to support your skin barrier, not challenge it.
Because your skin deserves kindness. Trust me, your future self (and your face) will thank you for it