'Acne doesn't suck any less as an adult': Kendall Jenner reveals what it is like to battle 'gnarly zits' when 'the whole world is watching' - days after being slammed over Proactiv video ad

  • The 23-year-old model detailed her acne journey on Thursday during an event with Proactiv MD in New York City
  • She revealed how her acne came back after going off birth control 
  • Kendall wanted to use her platform to shed light on the woes of adult acne
  • Last year, Kendall officially joined Proactiv as a skincare ambassador
  • But she has faced backlash from people online for appearing disingenuous
  • Kendall shared a video last week of herself washing her face, which also sparked backlash from fans criticizing the entire clip      

Kendall Jenner has opened up about the realities of suffering from adult acne, while calling out the importance of speaking about blemishes that impact grown-ups, just days after she faced backlash for her Proactiv MD commercial.    

In a controversial move, the 23-year-old partnered with the skincare brand last year while praising its products for helping to clear up her skin, having spent years battling blemishes and persistent acne. 

And now Kendall has spoken out about the importance of recognizing that blemish-prone skin plagues people far beyond puberty and teenage-hood, detailing her own struggle to deal with adult blemishes. 

Flawless: Model Kendall Jenner, 23, detailed her acne journey on Thursday in an event with Proactiv MD in New York City

Flawless: Model Kendall Jenner, 23, detailed her acne journey on Thursday in an event with Proactiv MD in New York City

The struggle: She revealed how her acne came back after going off birth control

The struggle: She revealed how her acne came back after going off birth control

Slip on PVC heels like Kendall wearing Amina Mauddi

Kendall Jenner stepped out to promote Proactiv at a Teen Vogue event recently, and she was spotted in princess-like glass slippers - which fit Kendall so beautifully!

The supermodel sported Amina Mauddi "Begum Glass" slingback heels, which featured a round crystal embellishment atop a see-through foundation, a pointed toe, and, of course, the designer's signature geometric heel. Rihanna was spotted in these same heels recently, so there's no question these are the current "it" pump! Kendall is a fan of Amina Mauddi, as she was seen sporting a different pair from the designer earlier this week. We definitely love of the label's vibrant colors and playful aesthetic!

While this exact pair is sold out online, you can click (right) to shop other shoes from the brand at MyTheresa. Or, take a look at the edit below to find a PVC heel that's perfect for your princess-wardrobe dreams.

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Speaking out: '[Acne as an adult] is not any less painful, for lack of better words,' she said. 'You know what I mean? It's not any less annoying, it doesn't suck any less when you're older

Speaking out: '[Acne as an adult] is not any less painful, for lack of better words,' she said. 'You know what I mean? It's not any less annoying, it doesn't suck any less when you're older

Pushing through: Kendall, pictured in January 2018, confessed being a model made having acne more stressful

Pushing through: Kendall, pictured in January 2018, confessed being a model made having acne more stressful 

'As women, our hormones shift every six to seven years and everything changes," she told Bustle at a Proactiv even in New York.  

'[Acne as an adult] is not any less painful, for lack of better words. You know what I mean? It's not any less annoying, it doesn't suck any less when you're older. If anything, it could suck a little more when you're older.'

Breakouts started for Kendall when she was 14 years old. 

She would get the occasional zit until eventually her forehead was covered in little milia — small white bumps that form often near the nose and cheeks when keratin becomes trapped underneath the skin. 

'And then it just grew from there,' she said. 'It started to happen all over my face — milia and also gnarly zits.'

Her acne went away at the age of 16 after going on birth control, but the blemishes then came back in full force once she decided to go off the pill for health reasons. 

'I experienced [acne] in two different times in my life,' Kendall explained. 'One being high school, when all you're trying to do is be accepted and be part of something, and I wouldn't even look people in the eyes when I would speak to them.

'The next time it came around, I was supposed to be this model who has everything together. That's never the case, first of all — good skin or not. But the whole world is looking at you, and it's like a magnifying glass on everything that you do and what happens to you.'

Controversial? Her event comes after Kendall faced backlash for a video she shared of herself washing her face using the skincare brand

Controversial? Her event comes after Kendall faced backlash for a video she shared of herself washing her face using the skincare brand 

Step-by-step! Kendall first squirted out a dollop of product before massaging it into her skin
Step-by-step! Kendall, 23, then massages the product between her hands before placing it on her face and rubbing it around her skin for a few short seconds

Step-by-step! Kendall first squirted out a dollop of product before massaging it into her skin. People criticized her technique and leaving the water running 

She has since partnered with Proactiv and said her next phase with the brand will focus on 'realness'. 

Her focus comes after the model experienced backlash starting the very first day she joined the brand as a skincare ambassador, when people accused Kendall of being disingenuous about her struggle with acne and using Proactiv. 

Yikes! The model has faced backlash after sharing the video, as dozens of her followers have criticized her for wasting water by leaving the tap running for the video

Yikes! The model has faced backlash after sharing the video, as dozens of her followers have criticized her for wasting water by leaving the tap running for the video 

Recently, Kendall shared a video of herself washing her face with the product. But it only sparked a variety of critiques from fans. 

The video showed Kendall massaging a dollop of facial cleanser into her skin before rinsing it off with water.  

She captioned the video: 'My daily face washing routine never gets old…@proactiv #proactiv_ambassador.'

And since the video was uploaded last week, fans have been quick to point out a few problems they see with her routine. 

Several have criticized Kendall for leaving the water running while she washed her face, with one Twitter user saying: 'It gives me so much anxiety when she didn’t turn the water off.'

One user said: 'I'd feel so guilty if I left the water running for that long,' while another simply instructed her to 'turn off the water!'

Several others criticized the amount of time she spent washing her face, with many stating that she cleansed her skin too quickly. 

One user said: 'It was really that fast... she not letting the product soak in her skin. It's not really helping her if her does that fast.'

Another added: 'Who washes their face that quick tho? What's it cleaning?'  

Kendall never responded to the criticism after she first shared the video last week.  

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Kendall Jenner details her battle with teenage and adult acne

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