#InMySkin: Skin positive influencer Sophie Gray talks about her mission to normalize acne

When most people think of acne, they often associate it with problems that occur during adolescence during puberty. Sophie Grey, however, didn't get her first breakouts until after she stopped taking birth control as a teenager. To this day, Gray often breaks out on her skin, but she has made it her mission to help others deal with their acne and skin problems. She does this through her managed diary app DiveThru, her health and wellness podcast called SophieThinksThoughts, and her Instagram account, where she has nearly 300,000 followers who love her for her ultra-transparent and inspiring content. Read the in-depth interview on how she got to where she is today, including a motivational message for those struggling with acne. 

Tell us about yourself and your skin.

Hey! My name is Sophie Grey. I am the founder of DiveThru, a diary app, and host of the SophieThinksThoughts podcast. But this is what I do during the day. Who am I other than that? Well, I'm the type who loves my dogs (and my husband, but dogs come first) and chai latte. I am the proudest aunt of two nieces and one nephew. At the center of everything I do, personally and professionally, is a deep desire to normalize the mental health experience we all go through. So my skin? Man, it's been a journey. As a child and as a teenager, I had the best skin. After a short period of contraceptive use and many complications, I got rid of them and my skin has never been the same again. Since my late teens, my breakthroughs have been like clockwork. I get breakouts during ovulation and during my period. So my skin breaks down for two weeks a month. I have two weeks (never consecutive) of clear skin a month. Although I have frequent breakouts, I only occasionally experience cystic acne. Then my breakouts go away within a few days. In addition to breakouts, I have combination skin. While my skin journey has been an emotional rollercoaster, I also acknowledge my privilege throughout the experience. The breakthroughs I'm experiencing are still socially acceptable and haven't negatively impacted anything other than my self-confidence.

How has your relationship with skin changed since you started caring for it? 

When I first started experiencing breakthroughs, I was devastated. I realized how closely my self-esteem is related to my complexion. I have tried all of these. I have spent hundreds, if not thousands, to "fix" my skin. I would say that the biggest difference in where I am now compared to where I originally was is that I no longer view my acne as broken or even in need of a fix. Society needs to be corrected. Acne is normal. And while you can use skin cleansing techniques, this is a natural human condition and I won't be ashamed of it. 

What is DiveThru and what inspired you to create it?

DiveThru is a diary app. We work with mental health professionals to create guided diary exercises to help our users take charge of their mental wellbeing. In the app, you'll find over 1,000 diary exercises to help you DiveThru no matter what you're going through. I started DiveThru because of my personal need for it. At 35,000 feet, I had a panic attack that completely rocked my world and led to a 38 hour drive across the country. Through this experience, I moved away from my existing business and completely changed my personal brand. In an attempt to improve my mental state, I turned to journaling. It completely changed my life and I wanted to share it with the world. 

What is your podcast about? 

On my SophieThinksThoughts podcast, I talk about the thoughts we all have and the experiences we all go through - whether it's feeling like you're not good enough, a voice telling you that you're not good enough, or finding balance in your life. .

What is your daily skin care routine?

If there's one thing I terribly disagree with, it's my skincare. When I stay true to this, I use a cleansing milk to remove make-up in the evening, followed by a retinol cream. Then in the morning, I clean my face again before applying my daytime moisturizer. I'm all for a natural look, so I put on a low coverage foundation, concealer and blush, and that's it.

What's next for you on this skin-positive journey?

When I started my journey, I took a break from skincare. I wanted to get to a place where I felt good with my acne. Ever since I got there, I've wanted to gradually bring skin care products back into my routine, but in terms of empowerment. Then I plan to continue investigating why I'm having hormonal spikes and try to give my body what it needs to be in balance. 

What do you want to say to people who are struggling with their acne?

For those who struggle with their skin, here's what I want you to know: your value is not determined by your skin. You are much more than your appearance. You are not broken or less than for experiencing breakthroughs. Be gentle with yourself (and your face). Take a break from trying all the different skin care products.

What does beauty mean to you?

For me, beauty stands firmly in itself. It is great to know yourself and believe in this person. When I was able to connect with who I really was (through journaling), I have never felt more beautiful. The best part? It's not worth a damn thing.