Why My Skin Care Gave Me Acne: A Biologist’s Investigation (and the Birth of OUMERE)

By Wendy Ouriel, M.S. Cellular Biology — Founder, OUMERE Laboratories

In 30 seconds:

• Adult acne blindsided me at 25 — hormones and diet weren’t the cause.
• The trigger: common “skin care” (fragrance, essential oils, alkaline cleansers, physical scrubs).
• Barrier damage → inflammation → microbial imbalance = acne and accelerated aging.
• The solution became OUMERE: evidence-based, barrier-respecting, irritant-free formulations.

The skin care industry is ironic. If you were an alien who knew English but nothing about humans, you’d assume “skin care” means caring for skin. Yet much of it harms skin — and in my case, created adult acne after a pimple-free adolescence.

Suspect #1: Hormone fluctuation (ruled out)

Monthly labs over three months were normal. I crossed hormones off the list.

Suspect #2: Diet (ruled out)

I eliminated dairy and meat; acne persisted. Diet wasn’t the switch that flipped my skin.

Suspect #3: Bacteria (partial truth)

Antibiotics briefly cleared my face — confirming a bacterial component — but the acne returned as soon as I stopped. Short-term suppression without addressing the cause isn’t a cure; it’s a pause button.

Suspect #4: Skin care products (the real culprit)

Before my 20s I used only sunscreen and had clear skin. Then I tried “everything”: cleansers, scrubs, toners, moisturizers, peels, spot treatments. Within weeks I had redness and cystic breakouts. The more I chased fixes, the worse it got.

Mechanism: how common products create acne and “pro-aging”

• Fragrance & essential oils → irritants that inflame tissue and compromise the barrier.
• Alkaline cleansers → raise pH, disrupt the acid mantle, and reduce protective flora.
• Physical scrubs/brushes → micro-lacerations, biofilm niches, and removal of healthy live cells.
• Occlusive or oleic-rich oils → shift sebum toward comedogenic profiles in susceptible skin.

From problem to protocol: rebuilding with biology

While completing my M.S. in cellular biology (with coursework in extracellular matrix biology), I shifted from product roulette to mechanism-first formulation. Youthful skin correlates with:

• Intact barrier lipids (balanced linoleic:oleic profile)
• Controlled turnover (chemical, not mechanical, exfoliation)
• Low basal inflammation (no fragrance, no essential oils)
• Targeted actives (beta-glucans, protective extracts) supported by research

Key research pivots

• Fatty acid biology: acne-prone sebum skews toward oleic acid; rebalancing with linoleic supports barrier and reduces comedogenesis.
• Exfoliation: non-abrasive, chemical desquamation preserves live tissue and prevents micro-tears.
• Photo-protection via botanicals: select extracts (e.g., broccoli sprout, sulforaphane-rich) show protective effects in models.

The first formula (and the end of my acne)

After two years of research and iteration, I created Serum Bioluminelle — and then a complete system designed to heal rather than hustle.

The OUMERE difference (anti-trend by design)

• No fragrance. No essential oils. No drying alcohols.
• No mechanical exfoliants. Controlled chemical turnover only.
• Barrier-first cleansing: Oil Dissolution Theory (pH-balanced, lipid-compatible).
• Inflammation control & repair: UV-R (anti-inflammatory cellular support).
• Orderly desquamation: No.9 (controlled exfoliation).

Beauty Racketeering — creating a problem with one product and selling the “fix” with another — is the antithesis of science. OUMERE is built to end the cycle.

References

• Choi, E.H., Ahn, S.K., Lee, S.H. (1997). Follicular epithelium changes in comedones induced by oleic acid. Exp Dermatol, 6(1), 29–35.
• Dinkova-Kostova, A.T. et al. (2006). UV protection by sulforaphane-containing broccoli sprout extracts. Cancer Letters, 240(2), 243–252.
• Motoyoshi, K. (1983). Enhanced comedo formation by squalene and oleic acid peroxides. Br J Dermatol, 109(2), 191–198.
• Toyoda, M., Morohashi, M. (2001). Pathogenesis of acne. Med Electron Microsc, 34(1), 29–40.
• Katsuta, Y. et al. (2005). Unsaturated fatty acids and abnormal epidermal differentiation. J Invest Dermatol, 124(5), 1008–1013.
• Chen, J. et al. (2011). Collagen/elastin morphology in keloid disease (multiphoton microscopy). J Biomed Opt, 16(5), 051305.

Scientific disclaimer: Educational content summarizing current dermatologic and biological findings; not medical advice. If you have a diagnosed skin condition, consult a qualified professional before changing your regimen.