There's only one suitable response to the single hormonal abomination on my forehead, staring back from my reflection on the morning of my 36th Valentine's Day. And that is: ‘F*CK IT.’ Seriously? I’m 36 f*cking-years-old! Haven't I got over this yet?! Only expletives will do!

It’s a universal truth. Spots still happen, even to (long) post-pubescent beauty experts with a world of solutions at their fingertips. Why? This week I’m blaming the facilities team at ELLE HQ.

It’s a seasonal thing. The weather changes. The light changes. The skincare routine probably doesn’t change, but the temperature of the office most certainly does, and suddenly my forehead oscillates between cold and dry to a heat-induced extreme sebum response. My pores cannot cope, and it seems I'm not alone judging by the surreptitious emails in my inbox from my colleagues.

To: Sophie Beresiner

From: I-can't-possibly-say@ELLEUK.com

Subject: Advice

Body: Hello, this is not an urgent question but my skin (specifically my cheeks/temples) have totally broken out and I never get spots there. I think it's the tinted moisturiser and night cream I'm using. What can I do?! x

Stop stressing my friend you’ve come to the right place. First thing's first: Do. Not. Touch. The temptation is irresistible but when the weather gets weird your skin tends to dry out, which means picking can be more damaging.

You need to rethink your skincare. I always go for a recalibration when the seasons change, which involves starting again from basics.

Go back to the most gentle cleanser/moisturiser combo for three weeks (I swear by Cetaphil) and then introduce what your skin is asking for. It will most likely be a light serum to fool your pores into halting their sebum production – ‘We’re moist enough already, thanks’ – and a targeted moisturiser for your needs. Dry skin, go richer; oily skin, go lighter; still spotty skin, go salicylic and step away from the dehydrating scrubs. I’ve discovered the most satisfying mask in the world. Imagine those Bioré strips that extract your little blackheads and leave disgusting roots sticking out from the paper, but in a whole peel-off mask by JorgObé. It’s the most satisfying thing you can do with your evening.

My clear skin kit

bareMinerals Blemish Remedy Mattifying Prep Gel
A treatment base that allows your concealer to go on more easily, and treats what you’re concealing at the same time. Genius.

bareMinerals Blemish Remedy Concealer
Even more genius. A concealer that treats while it conceals but doesn’t block pores and means that soon you won’t need it anymore.

Cetaphil Cleanser And Moisturiser
When I run out of this I get preemptive stress spots. I’ve now taken out a subscription on Amazon.

JorgObé Black Peel-Off Mask
Ew, but oh! And woah. And wow! Ahh.

Any old muslin cloth. This is just essential daily exfoliation, double cleansing tool. Lather cleanser onto dry skin, remove with hot damp muslin cloth, re-lather, splash off. It's simple genius

Skin Horror Stories