When I moved to Vancouver in 2008, I started to have a lot of acne issues. I don’t think I really understood my skin. I was using harsh products to try to battle cystic acne, but I didn’t even know if it was oily skin, or combination skin, or something else altogether that was causing my breakouts.
I didn’t have a family doctor yet, so when I decided to do something about my acne, I went to a drop-in clinic, and was referred to Dr. Humphrey. When I started working with her it was specifically to address my acne. Fast forward ten years, and I no longer struggle with acne, but I still work with her religiously to maintain the overall health of my skin.
A lot of what we do these days is preventative: I work in film, so it’s important to me that I stay as proactive as possible when it comes to maintaining a healthy appearance. We’re also doing a lot to address sun damage from years spent baking outside. That means a combination of laser treatments, microneedling, and Botox. That might sound like a lot, but everything I do is conservative and I definitely err on the side of caution. I find it so easy to trust Dr. Humphrey — she’s beautiful and looks totally natural, so I have complete faith in everything she suggests.
Since December, we’ve been placing a greater emphasis on building an effective skincare regime, too. It’s tricky to speak to results, since with anti-aging programs a lack of change is often a good thing, but I’ve definitely noticed an improvement in pigment and an all around more even skin tone just a couple months in.
I have a lot of friends — especially in the film industry — who have tried DIY treatments, or chosen cheaper options, but to me there’s no question. They either have harsh results or don’t see any improvement — it’s so worth the investment to work with an expert right off the bat.
A decade ago, my skin had a huge impact on my mood and my confidence, and Dr. Humphrey played a huge role in changing that for the better. It’s crazy to think that now people turn to me for skin advice. It’s taken a lot of hard work to get to a place where I can comfortably leave the house without makeup, but I couldn’t be happier. I’m so grateful that acne doesn’t impact my quality of life anymore.