Personal storyline from Olivia

When I was 15, I developed severe cystic acne, a skin disorder that causes indescribable pain and suffering. A disorder you really have to experience to understand. If you have been there yourself or are going through it now, my heart is with you.

Due to the severity of my case, I was put on Accutane, which is the last acne treatment they give you – the end of the road.

Known more technically as isotretinoin, Accutane is a prescription drug that does great job of clearing up your skin, but also has some serious side effects – including birth defects, mental health issues, internal damage, sun sensitivity and very dry skin. Even more acne is a potential side effect, and that was the case for me, so I completed two full rounds of treatment.

At this point of time, I had never felt more uncomfortable in my skin. And my self-esteem had been shattered.

Yet it was also the moment when my passion for skincare and makeup – the entire magical world of beauty first kicked in. It took me by storm. I fell in love with beauty products and all the wonderful rituals around them.

It felt so good just to sit down, get in my zone, and do my makeup. It was pure magic. A great form of therapy. And it helped me start gaining some confidence. In the world of beauty treatments, I found something I felt I was good at. And I became obsessed.

My sacred mission now was to find the best products. The cleanest. The purest. The truly magical. I studied every brand and list of ingredients to the tiniest detail. If a product wasn't perfect for me, there was no way I'd put it on my face.

But I never truly found the perfect match, and I began to dream of starting my own makeup company. To help others like me gain back their confidence and fall in love with makeup the way I had. To do this, I turned for help to my greatest inspiration – my father. And he has now helped make my dream come true, just as he'd done with his own dream before.

Together we created Zarko Beauty By Oli, a clean, vegan, fragrance free, cruelty-free and high quality makeup. It's a daughter brand to my dad's company, Zarkoperfume, and I couldn't be prouder to have my father as my business partner as well as best dad I could ever have asked for. He truly is my greatest inspiration, I am so proud of what he has created, and I hope that I can make him just as proud of me, with Zarko Beauty By Oli.

Today, my acne has gone. And it has taught me so many things. It's left me with some scars. Sometimes I cover them, sometimes I don't.

You shouldn't feel ashamed if you have problem skin. Beauty runs deeper than that. And with beauty comes confidence. Your imperfections makes you you. They make you special.

Just as beauty breeds confidence, confidence breeds beauty. The most beautiful thing you can wear is your confidence. For me, makeup enhances my beauty. Makes me feel confident. Whether it's a full face of heavy makeup, or a lighter, more natural look.

Whatever you want to wear, wear it. But most importantly, embrace your imperfections always.

Love,
Olivia Ahlmann