How Allies of Skin Founder Nicolas Travis Healed His Acne-Prone Skin (and Regained His Confidence)
May 12 | 3 minute read
Words by Izzy Wight
Trigger warning: this story contains content about self-harm.
Because, despite his now-poreless, otherworldly radiant complexion (seriously!), he hasn’t always had good skin. After years of living with severe acne, Travis suffered a tragic accident at 19, leading to several botched reconstructive surgeries, necrosis and infection.
“From 19 to 21, I went back to the operating room five times to try to fix the dents left by the infection and scars due to the first surgeon’s negligence, but they weren’t successful,” he explains. “I felt like a complete failure.”
In the aftermath of the experience, Travis suffered from depression and in his darkest moments, attempted to take his own life. “I went for weekly therapy and got prescribed antidepressants shortly after,” he says. “My therapist said… ‘If you had no choice but to live, what would you want to achieve by the time you’re 30?’ It was then that I came up with the idea of having a skincare line.”
And he was right. Boasting 13 brighteners, nine refining antioxidants and seven visibly firming peptides, the brand’s first-ever product, the Peptides & Antioxidants Advanced Firming Daily Treatment, is still its most-loved today. Like many of the formulas in the Allies of Skin range, it’s a supercharged solution to target blemishes and irritation – the kind of skincare saviour Travis was looking for on his own acne journey.
“Since my experience with acne, I’ve learnt that the path to clear skin isn’t a straight one. Healing isn’t linear. And just because something works for someone on social media, it doesn’t mean that it will work for you,” he says. “Sometimes, less is more, especially when it comes to exfoliation.
“Since my experience with acne, I’ve learnt that the path to clear skin isn’t a straight one. Healing isn’t linear. And just because something works for someone on social media, it doesn’t mean that it will work for you,” he says. “Sometimes, less is more, especially when it comes to exfoliation.
“I personally struggle with melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), so this can sometimes mean that I have to stay off exfoliating acids and use non-exfoliating brighteners,” Travis continues. “This is why I created the Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum. This power serum is a non-exfoliating formula that brightens and fades [the appearance of] stubborn pigmentation and melasma with daily use, perfect for use on even the most sensitive skin types.”
When asked about the biggest breakout-related myths in skincare (remember when we were putting toothpaste on our pimples?), Travis’ answer is immediate. “Oils are misunderstood. Not all oils are created equal… I love rosehip, tamanu and black cumin oil for acne-prone, sensitive skin.” For those struggling with active breakouts, he also suggests ingredients like dioic acid (a hero in the Promise Keeper Nightly Blemish Treatment, mandelic acid, copper tripeptide and bakuchiol.
Outside of using the right actives for your skin, Travis’ advice for those struggling with breakouts is simple: “Resist all urge to pick. Understand that everything will pass, and that your skin can clear up with the right regimen.” He adds that paying attention to your skin is key, and purging can be part of the healing process.
“Better out than in. Healthy purging occurs when your skin is breaking out in the same place that you normally break out. If you are purging in places that you normally don’t break out, then it could be that the products are not suitable for you.”
