Red Rose Holly Aitchison opens up about her skin struggles, plus we discover the benefits of Nordic berries and the latest flake-fighting products for a healthier scalp

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New research by Clinique suggests that 29% of teens – of whom almost 80% are girls – have low self-esteem and a negative self-image.

To address this, the beauty brand has partnered with England rugby union player and Team GB Olympian Holly Aitchison, who has spoken openly about her struggles with her skin and self-confidence, to launch GameFace, a campaign aimed at encouraging young women to feel confident in their skin while supporting grassroots girls’ rugby teams.

Here, we chat to 25-year-old Holly about her skin journey.

How has the condition of your skin affected your confidence, Holly?

“Since I was about 17, I struggled to control my skin. I would never be seen without make-up, even in my college halls, in the house I shared with my mates or at training. Later, I refused to take media interviews – Icouldn’t get it out of my head that people were staring or judging me for my skin, when in reality, no one batted an eyelid. For me, it was all I could think about; it controlled my every emotion. Sport was the place my skin didn’t matter and where I always felt my most confident. This was partially due to my ability, but also how happy I was on the field.”