‘I got sucked in’: Nurse’s warning over ‘miracle’ acne creams

Australians struggling with acne scars, pigmentation and damaged skin are being urged to stop spending hundreds of dollars on expensive creams promising dramatic transformations and start understanding what is actually happening beneath the surface of their skin.
 

Registered nurse and Cosmetique Mandurah franchise owner Sonique Marie knows the frustration firsthand. This is one of the key reasons why she has become part of Australia's growing cohort of nursepreneurs.
 

In her late teens and early twenties, Marie suffered from debilitating acne that eventually left significant scarring across her face. Like many young women desperate to improve their skin, she spent considerable amounts of money trying products that promised results.
 

"I got sucked into it. When you're young and struggling with acne and scarring, you'll buy almost anything if someone tells you it's going to give you clear skin," Marie said.
 

"I spent so much money on creams and lotions promising incredible results and was constantly disappointed.
 

"It wasn't until I discovered skin needling that I started seeing a meaningful improvement in the appearance of my acne scarring. That experience completely changed the way I thought about skin."
 

Now an experienced registered nurse and owner of Cosmetique Mandurah in Western Australia, Marie has turned her own experience into a career helping others better understand their skin and the treatment options available to them.
 

"I know what it feels like to look in the mirror and only see your skin," Marie said.
 

Marie said people who have never experienced severe acne often underestimate its emotional impact.
 

"Acne can consume you. You wake up and look at your skin, you think about it when you're getting dressed, when you're going out and when somebody looks at your face," she said.
 

"Then the acne eventually settles and you think it's over, but you're left with scarring that can remain for years. I understand the frustration because I've lived it."

Marie eventually underwent skin needling to address the appearance of her acne scars.
 

"I could actually see changes in my skin and the appearance of the scarring over time," she said.
 

"For me, that was the moment I became fascinated by what could be achieved by working with the skin rather than continually covering it in expensive products."
 

Why skin needling is attracting attention
 

Also known as microneedling, skin needling involves creating controlled microscopic injuries to the skin using fine needles, triggering the body's natural wound-healing response.
 

The process can stimulate collagen and elastin production as the skin repairs itself and is used clinically to improve the appearance of concerns including certain acne scars, skin texture and pigmentation.
 

"As a nurse, I find the biological process fascinating," Marie said.
 

"Skin needling isn't about pretending you can magically erase every imperfection. It is about creating a controlled response that encourages the skin's own repair and remodelling processes.
 

"Collagen plays an important role in the structure and appearance of our skin, and treatments that stimulate collagen production can be useful for appropriately selected patients."
 

She stressed that treatment outcomes vary and that skin concerns should be properly assessed before treatment.
 

Stop expecting a jar to perform miracles
 

Marie said she is concerned by the enormous amounts consumers spend chasing products promoted through social media.
 

"The beauty industry is incredibly good at selling hope in a bottle," she said.
 

"People can end up with cupboards full of products because every few weeks they're told there is another cream, serum or ingredient they absolutely must have.
 

"Good skincare absolutely has a role in maintaining skin health, but consumers need realistic expectations. A topical product and a clinical treatment are not interchangeable.
 

"If you have significant acne scarring or another concern, get professional advice about what is appropriate for your skin rather than continually buying the next product being promoted online."
 

Cosmetic medicine isn't simply Botox and filler
 

Marie believes there is also a widespread misconception about what modern cosmetic clinics actually do.
 

"People hear 'cosmetic clinic' and immediately think Botox and lips. The industry is much broader than that," she said.

"Many people come to us because they're concerned about the condition and appearance of their skin. It could be acne scarring, pigmentation, sun damage, uneven texture or changes associated with ageing.

"Treatments can be about improving skin quality and supporting collagen production, not simply changing the way somebody looks."
 

Marie said she particularly enjoys working with people experiencing concerns she understands personally.
 

"When somebody comes in worried about acne scarring, I don't have to imagine how they feel. I've been that person," she said.
 

From hospital nursing to business ownership
 

Marie's journey into the aesthetics sector also reflects a broader change occurring across Australia's healthcare workforce.
 

After working as a registered nurse, she found the pressures of the traditional healthcare system increasingly difficult and began looking for a way to remain within health while creating greater control over her working life.
 

"I love nursing and I wanted to continue using my clinical background, but I also reached a point where I wanted to build something for myself and work on my own terms," Marie said.
 

"I didn't want to walk away from healthcare. I wanted to find another way of using my skills."
 

That search ultimately led her to Cosmetique and the opportunity to own and grow the Cosmetique Mandurah franchise.
 

"For me, it brought several parts of my life together: nursing, skin health, business and my own experience with acne," she said.
 

Turning a painful experience into something positive
 

Marie said becoming a clinic owner has given an experience that once caused considerable distress an unexpected new meaning.
 

"If you had told me when I was younger and struggling with my skin that one day I would own a clinic and be helping other people dealing with some of the same concerns, I wouldn't have believed you," she said.
 

"But sometimes the things that affect us most deeply end up shaping what we do with our lives. My acne made me incredibly self-conscious, but it also created this fascination with skin and ultimately helped lead me here.
 

"Now I can use my nursing experience and my personal experience to help people make informed decisions about their skin. For me, that's an incredibly rewarding outcome."
 

About Cosmetique
 
Cosmetique is Australia's First Accredited Cosmetic Clinic. With locations in Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and New South Wales, they are home to some of Australasia's most skilled and experienced injectors. They are passionate about providing everyday Australians with exceptional cosmetic medical services to enhance their confidence and allow them to feel the way they deserve. Above all, they abide by the principles of professionalism and utmost care to ensure their patients experience the highest quality service and outcomes.  Their most sought-after treatments include lip fillers, dermal fillers and wrinkle relaxers.
 

In 2025 Cosmetique launched its national franchise program, marking a powerful new chapter in the brand's rapid growth and redefining what's possible in Australia's booming $1 billion cosmetic and aesthetic industry. With some 25 clinics currently operating across the country, Cosmetique is on track to have over 40 operating by the end of 2026.. This growth includes a mix of brand-new clinics and successful corporate locations transitioning to franchise ownership. Cosmetique has also launched a unique pathway program to help nurses transition their health experience into business ownership. The program is called the Cosmetique Ascent pathway (https://cosmetique.au/ascent- pathway/).
 

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