BREAKOUTS, BREAKUPS
& the art of bouncing back
By Billy – 25, emotionally stable (ish), hormonally unpredictable
I always thought the worst thing about a breakup was the crying. Or maybe the overanalyzing. Or that one Taylor Swift album that hits a little too hard. But no. The real betrayal? The breakout that hits three days later. I wish I could say I handled my last breakup with grace. But let’s be honest — I was ugly crying into my pillow while binge-watching old episodes of Gossip Girl and stress-eating flaming hot snacks. And my skin? She was screaming. Chin? Cystic. Forehead? A war zone. Confidence? Missing. Turns out, heartbreak doesn’t just break your spirit. It clogs your pores too.
Cue the Post-Breakup Skin Spiral
They don’t tell you this, but grieving with poor skincare choices is practically a rite of passage. I went straight from “I’m fine” to “Why did I just buy 5 new serums I don’t need?” I was masking my sadness — literally — with anything thatpromised a glow. Spoiler: nothing works when you’re skipping sleep and crying every night.
But slowly, I got smarter. I started reading ingredients instead of old texts. I swapped out my exfoliating tantrums for agentle cleanse and a barrier-repair cream. I even started misting before bed like I was starring in my own rom-com.
From Breakouts to Breakthroughs
Three weeks later, I wasn’t checking his Instagram anymore — I was checking my cheekbones in the mirror. They were glowing. My skin calmed down. My mood lifted. And for the first time in weeks, I didn’t feel like a walking pimple of pain.
Breakouts don’t have to be your villain arc. They can be your main character moment. And breakups? Just the plot twist you didn’t know your glow-up needed.
GlowGirl Tips (Post-Heartbreak Edition)
Hydrate like you're trying to wash the breakup away.
Choose barrier-repair over bitterness — it works better.
Your ex doesn’t deserve to see you shine, but strangers do. Wear that glow loud.
Unfollow, unclog, unbothered.