The Mom Who Finally Put Herself on the List: Tehillah’s Acne Transformation

If you’re a mom, you probably know the drill. You rush to make breakfast, get the kids where they need to go, answer approximately 4,000 questions before noon. You remember everyone else’s appointments, snacks, shoes, schedules, and emotional needs. Somewhere along the way, you realize you haven’t eaten enough, drank enough water, or done anything for yourself all day.

For Tehillah, putting herself last wasn’t just affecting her energy. It became part of a much bigger story with her skin. After years of trying products, diets, dermatologists, supplements, and just about every approach you can imagine, Tehillah finally decided she was done guessing.

Her postpartum acne had become impossible to ignore. What started as a search for clearer skin turned into something much bigger: a journey toward understanding her body, trusting herself, and finally putting herself on the list.

“I Was Just Shooting in the Dark”

Tehillah’s acne journey didn’t begin with motherhood. She first started struggling with acne around puberty and continued dealing with it throughout high school and college. She tried over-the-counter medications, dermatologists, different skincare products, dietary changes, and oil cleansing after hearing the idea that “like dissolves like.” Yet nothing really moved the needle for her skin. 

After college and getting married, she was determined to figure out why her skin kept acting up. She believed there had to be something happening beneath the surface, but she didn’t know exactly what that something was.

A dermatologist helped get her skin clear before her wedding, which was a huge priority for her. But the improvement wasn’t necessarily something she could maintain long-term. Over the years, she tried strict diets, DIY skincare approaches, “crunchy holistic” remedies, and another round with a dermatologist.

Eventually, she became pregnant and had to stop some of the treatments she had been using. Then came three pregnancies, births, and postpartum periods over roughly five to six years. Interestingly, her skin was relatively calm during much of that time. Then, after her third and final pregnancy, everything changed.

When Postpartum Acne Became a Bigger Problem

Tehillah initially assumed her skin was simply reacting to her hormones returning after pregnancy. She thought it was just her period coming back, and her hormones were still regulating. Maybe she just needed to give it time. But the breakouts didn't go away.

Her postpartum acne showed up across her face — along her hairline, sides of her cheeks, chin, upper lip, and even around her eye creases. It wasn’t just one predictable area of hormonal breakouts, either. She noticed that things seemed to get worse around ovulation and her period, which only added to the confusion.

She had followed Clear Skin Lab for years, and eventually reached the point where she thought: I’m ready. I need to actually figure this out.

She believed in addressing root causes, but didn't know where to start. It can be challenging to commit to another approach to clearing skin when so many haven’t worked before.

She had one person telling her one thing, an influencer saying something completely different, and a supplement company promising that their latest “superstar” product was the missing piece. Tehillah described it perfectly: she felt like she was “shooting in the dark.”

Was she not trying hard enough? Was she giving things enough time? Was she missing some vital supplement? Should she change her diet again?

It was exhausting.

The Difference Was Finally Having a Clear Plan

When Tehillah started working with Clear Skin Lab, one of her biggest wins wasn’t a skincare product, but having clarity on what was driving her acne. 

Her testing revealed several areas where her body needed nutritional support, including significant vitamin and mineral depletion and a need for additional iron support. Iodine became another piece of her individualized plan. There was also an identified immune response to gluten, so she experimented with removing gluten from her diet.

This is where acne and nutrition became a much more tangible part of her story. Instead of randomly eliminating foods because someone online said they were “bad for acne,” Tehillah had specific information to work from and could actually observe what happened when she made changes.

She was someone who responded very quickly to this approach. The changes were noticeable: digestion improved, she experienced less bloating, felt less sluggish, and her skin started responding, too.

She Expected Six Months. Her Skin Had Other Plans.

One of the things Tehillah appreciated about Clear Skin Lab was that she wasn't promised overnight results. In fact, she went into the process expecting that she might not see much change for six months.

So when she compared her initial photos and saw a noticeable reduction in inflammation and redness, she was shocked. By around two months, she wasn't dealing with the same constant cycle of pimples. Around ovulation or her period, she might still feel like something was trying to pop up, but her routine helped keep things under control.

For someone who had spent years wondering if her skin would ever cooperate, that was huge. It gave her something she hadn't had in a long time: Hope.

Not the “buy this miracle supplement and your skin will be perfect in 14 days” kind of hope. The grounded kind that comes from having a plan and seeing your body respond.

The Gluten Experiment Changed More Than Her Skin

Going gluten-free for two months wasn't exactly Tehillah's idea of a good time.

She had kids and she had a busy schedule to keep up with. She had also developed the very relatable habit of eating whatever was left on her children's plates.

Mac and cheese, chicken nuggets and her beloved homemade sourdough bread were part of her normal rotation. The idea of removing gluten felt intimidating and annoying. Once she did it though, she noticed something she hadn't expected. Digestion continued to improve, as well as energy and skin. It made her realize she had been living with discomfort for so long that she'd started thinking it was normal.

As a former professional dancer, Tehillah was also used to pushing through discomfort. Her body hurting or feeling uncomfortable wasn't necessarily a reason to stop. That realization became part of her larger health journey. Sometimes we don't recognize how much better we could feel because we've gotten so used to feeling “fine.”

The Missing Ingredient Was Sometimes… Eating Enough

Another major part of Tehillah's story was surprisingly simple: She wasn’t eating enough food for her body’s needs. As a busy mom, she was used to putting herself last. If there wasn't enough time, she could skip a meal. If the kids needed something, she could deal with herself later.

Her work with Clear Skin Lab helped her recognize that nutrition wasn't something she could keep putting at the bottom of the priority list. This was one of the most practical lessons in her clear skin journey. She needed to build habits that could actually work in her real life.

A major part of her focus in Clear Skin Lab was implementing foundational habits that supported her body consistently. When something went off track, she learned to look at her checklist instead of immediately assuming something was terribly wrong.

Didn't eat enough today? Skipped meals? Forgot a supplement? She knew exactly where she needed to focus to get back on track. That shift gave her more confidence and less panic.

She Also Learned That “Clean” Doesn't Automatically Mean “Right for You”

Tehillah came into the process believing she was already using “clean” products. When she worked with Clear Skin Lab esthetician Marissa, they reviewed her routine together and found products that may have been contributing to breakouts around her hairline.

That was another lightbulb moment: Just because something is marketed as clean, natural, organic, or gentle doesn't automatically mean it's the right fit for your individual skin. Sometimes the problem isn't that you're using bad products. It's that you're using products that simply aren't right for your skin.

The Biggest Transformation Wasn't Just Her Skin

When asked what changed the most, Tehillah could have talked about her clearer skin, and she did praise her progress. But the bigger transformation was what happened internally. She felt more connected to her body. She started understanding how food, supplements, skincare, and daily habits affected how she felt.

She gained more confidence in recognizing patterns and stopped feeling like she was completely lost. Tehillah described the experience as freeing. After years of conflicting information from doctors, dermatologists, influencers, blogs, and supplement companies, she finally had someone helping her connect the dots.

She knew what she was working on, what to watch for, what habits were required for the long term, and what questions to ask. That's a pretty powerful place to be.

Putting Herself on the List

One of Tehillah's biggest takeaways was also one of the simplest: she had to decide that she was worth taking care of.

As a mom, it can be incredibly easy to spend your entire day making sure everyone else is fed, happy, clean, on time, and cared for. Then suddenly it's 3 p.m. and you're realizing you've eaten half a granola bar. Tehillah learned that taking care of herself wasn't selfish, but foundational. She couldn’t show up in her day to day in the way that she wanted to if she didn’t prioritize herself.

Her Advice for Anyone Who Feels Completely Overwhelmed

Tehillah understands that investing in this kind of support isn't always easy financially. She had to consider her budget and ultimately chose a shorter timeframe for financial reasons. What she appreciated was that the Clear Skin Lab team worked with her.

When a product recommendation was too expensive, Marissa helped her find more affordable alternatives. Some were available at places like Target or drugstores for around $10. Supplements could also be adjusted to more cost-conscious options. She never felt like she was going to “fail” because she couldn't afford the most expensive version of everything.

Improving your skin shouldn't feel like you have to buy your way into being healthy.

A Clearer Path Forward

Tehillah started this journey because she wanted to understand her postpartum acne. She ended up learning much more about herself in the process.

For anyone struggling with their skin, and feel like they’re also shooting in the dark: You may need better information, a personalized plan, and someone who can help you make sense of the information you're already getting. Most importantly, you may need to stop putting yourself at the very bottom of your own list.

Because you deserve a seat at the table, too.

Ready to Stop Shooting in the Dark?

If you're dealing with stubborn postpartum acne and feel like you've tried everything, you don't have to keep guessing your way through it. Your skin is part of a bigger picture, and understanding that picture can make the journey feel a whole lot less overwhelming.

If you're ready for more clarity around your skin, nutrition, lifestyle, and individualized next steps, the Clear Skin Lab team is here to help you connect the dots — without the judgment, overwhelm, or endless cycle of trying the next trendy thing.

Because clearer skin is great. But feeling confident, informed, and connected to your own body?

That's the real transformation.