Anya was still a teenager when she first asked to skip a school photo day.
She said she wasn’t feeling well. But her mother, Tanya Fransolet Groenewald, a skincare formulator and founder of Pharma PH Skin, knew the truth.
Her daughter’s skin was breaking out in painful, cystic acne. The kind that is red, inflamed and impossible to ignore. The kind that doesn’t just sit on the skin but settles quietly into a young person’s confidence too.
Supplied
Tanya remembers watching her once-bubbly daughter slowly withdraw. Avoiding photos. Turning her face away when people spoke to her. Trying to hide behind hairstyles, makeup, or simply avoiding being seen.
She wasn’t worried about beauty. She was worried about her child’s confidence.
And like many parents, Tanya felt a quiet helplessness. You can comfort your child. You can reassure them. But you cannot take away the way the world sometimes looks at problem skin.
“People think acne is just cosmetic,” Tanya says. “But when you live with it, you realise how deeply it affects self-esteem.”
For Tanya, this was not only personal. It was professional. As an aesthetic practitioner working with real women every day, she had heard the same frustrations for years: nothing works, or it works for a while and then the acne returns.
She didn’t want a harsh, quick fix for Anya. She wanted something that would respect the skin, calm inflammation and support healing long term.
That search led to the development of Pharma PH Skin’s professional 30% peel and a gentle, structured home-care system for acne-prone skin. Designed to calm, heal and strengthen rather than strip or shock the skin.
Why acne is so stubborn
Acne rarely appears overnight – it often begins forming weeks before you ever see it. What shows on the surface has usually been developing quietly beneath the skin.
Harsh scrubs and aggressive treatments can make inflammation worse and even spread bacteria. That’s why a gentler, consistent approach often works better.
Instead of attacking the skin, Tanya focused on supporting it:
- Keeping pores clear
• Calming inflammation
• Supporting the barrier
• Encouraging healthy renewal
Because acne differs from person to person, Pharma PH Skin routines are personalised. A typical plan may include products such as:
- Salicylic Wash to keep pores clear
• Purifying Cream to soothe and balance
• Acne Night Cream for targeted overnight care
• Stem Cell Serum to support recovery
• Enzyme Peel for gentle weekly exfoliation
Additional products are selected depending on each person’s skin, sensitivity and stage of acne.
Nothing extreme. Just consistency.
Expert care, personalised skin journeys
At The Neon Salon in Centurion, Tanya and her team uses advanced AI skin scan technology to look beneath the surface, helping clients understand what their skin truly needs rather than relying on guesswork.
Thousands of clients have walked through those doors. Many more begin their journey online through the BuyBeauty skin quiz. Each one is searching for solutions that work with their skin, not against it.
Tanya leads a team of experienced aestheticians and therapists who share her “healthy skin first” philosophy. Their combined knowledge ensures every recommendation is thoughtful, science-led and deeply personal, because skin is never one-size-fits-all.
When results become personal
The most powerful proof didn’t come from marketing. It came from people.
James, a student from Centurion, shares:
“After struggling with confidence and even physical pain from acne, my skin finally felt new again. These products helped me regain my confidence.”
Michelle Owgan recalls feeling unsure how to help her son. An AI skin scan revealed what was really happening beneath the surface.
“After four months on Pharma PH Skin, his acne is minimal and controllable. His skin is clearer and healthier.”
For Anya, the transformation was life-changing:
“My skin was red, inflamed and sore. My confidence completely tanked. Then I started using Pharma PH Skin and everything changed. My skin is clear, my confidence is back and I finally feel comfortable in my own skin again.”
For Roxanne van Rooyen, a Senior Practice Manager from Centurion, the journey with adult acne has been devastating. “For five years, I struggled with persistent skin issues. I tried countless products and vitamins, but nothing lasted beyond a month. My skin was both dry and oily, with painful blemishes on my cheeks and forehead that led to scarring.
Sleeping was uncomfortable, and my confidence took a serious knock. I never felt comfortable without makeup. I reached a point where I was willing to try anything. I finally visited The Neon Salon. After my first facial and starting Pharma PH Skin products, I noticed changes within days. I was sceptical at first. I had been disappointed before. But the improvement continued. My skin developed a healthy glow.
Breakouts became less frequent. Scarring began to fade. Today, seven months later, I feel confident and comfortable in my skin. I sleep without pain and often wear little to no makeup. For the first time in years, my skin feels calm and healthy.”
More than skincare
These are not overnight miracles. They are stories of patience, science and supporting the skin instead of forcing it.
Pharma PH Skin is built on a simple belief: real skin deserves real solutions.
- For teenagers.
For adults with persistent acne.
For anyone who feels their skin holds them back.
Because life is already challenging enough. No one should have to battle their skin alone.
Healthy skin is achievable. Not instantly. But with the right care and consistency.
Born in the treatment room. Perfected through real experience. Trusted for life.
The kind of skincare women discover once, and then quietly share from one glowing face to another.
For those near Centurion, consultations at The Neon Salon offer personalised guidance and advanced skin analysis. For readers further away, the BuyBeauty online skin quiz provides the same thoughtful direction. Tanya and her team believe every woman deserves support on her skin journey, and that no one should navigate it alone.
Woman & Home Reader Offer
Scan the QR code to receive 15% off your first Pharma PH Skin order at BuyBeauty.co.za.
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Featured Image: Supplied
