Acne is something that I’ve been combatting for what feels like forever. I was one of the first people to get acne in middle school and continued to have serious breakouts until I got on hormonal birth control at 16. Fortunately, the pill kept my skin relatively clear for 10+ years—but when I recently went off of it, my acne came back with a vengeance. All of a sudden, I was dealing with recurring cystic breakouts, hyperpigmentation, and texture that I hadn’t seen in over a decade.
After trying everything from upping my spironolactone prescription to changing my pillowcases frequently and trying countless spot treatments to no avail—I decided I needed to seek some professional help. Finally, my search led me to esthetician Sofie Pavitt, a New York-based skincare expert and licensed esthetician focusing on acne and blemish-prone skin. While Pavitt offers consults and specialized facials, I was particularly drawn to her Acne Program. The program took place over a few months and involved frequent facial appointments, weekly check-ins, and essentially having Sofie at your fingertips for any and all of your acne questions. After our initial consultation, she introduced me to the acne-first skincare brand, Face Reality, which Pavitt started using in 2019.
Face Reality was co-founded in 2005 by Laura Cooksey, who had struggled with acne into her mid-thirties. After finding an esthetician who helped clear her skin, she was inspired to become a licensed esthetician as well. 15 years later, Laura opened an acne-only clinic and started a community of Certified Acne Experts. From there, she sold her Face Reality products to estheticians to help their clients achieve clear skin. Now, Face Reality has evolved into an award-winning acne brand that focuses on treating even the most stubborn type of acne. So, at Pavitt's recommendation, I tested the line and was thrilled with the results.
Read on for my full Face Reality review and before and after results.
How Face Reality's Referral-Only Model Works
While Face Reaity’s acne-friendly formulas have been a godsend for me, you shouldn’t feel out of the loop if you’ve never heard of the brand before. Face Reality is hard to find (and for good reason) due to its referral model, which means you can only purchase and use the products at the recommendation and guidance of an esthetician. If you’re interested in trying the products, you’ll visit the Face Reality website where you’ll be paired with an esthetician. This expert will review your profile, skin concerns, and more before curating a regimen tailored to your needs. Only when the esthetician determines you’re a candidate for Face Reality can you purchase the products—and only the products they recommend for your specific, customized skincare routine?
The goal of the "referral" is to cut through the noise and clutter of the acne industry that inundates (and confuses) consumers and provide a simple, effective, easy-to-follow routine. "The hardest part about treating acne is keeping clients consistent and not straying from a routine," says Pavitt. And honestly, what made it easiest for me to stay consistent was my streamlined Face Reality routine.
My Acne-Fighting Routine With Face Reality
Although my routine evolved during the time that I was in Pavitt’s Acne Program, the core products stayed the same. The level of concentration of the acids fluctuated depending on how my skin reacted, which was honestly my favorite part of the program. I had a routine that was changing with me, because ultimately, “There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for acne,” according to a Board-certified dermatologist, Dendy Engelman, MD. Below is the Face Reality product lineup that cleared my skin and helped me stay that way.
Ultra Gentle Cleanser
Face Reality Ultra Gentle Cleanser $31.00
Face Reality’s Ultra Gentle Cleanser is (of course) created specifically for acne-prone skin but also contains some added benefits that help to even and calm the skin. It contains licorice extract, which is a skin brightener that can help with hyperpigmentation (post-breakout dark spots) and also has anti-inflammatory benefits. Finally, it boasts makeup-removing properties, which I can attest to as someone who has used this many times to remove a full face.
5% L-Mandelic Serum
Face Reality 5% L-Mandelic Serum $40.00
A super important part of treating acne is exfoliation. “One of the main causes of acne is clogged pores, which occurs when dead skin cells, excess sebum, and debris collect within the pores and become infected,” says Dr. Engelman. Causing, you guessed it—acne. That’s where the mandelic acid comes in because it “Gently exfoliates the skin, removing dead skin cells, clearing pores and reducing blemishes … while being relatively gentle on skin,” says Dr. Engelman. Because of its gentle exfoliation properties, I’ve been using this morning and night to treat my acne.
2.5% Acne Med
Face Reality 2.5% Acne Med $27.00
Face Reality’s Acne Med is a water-based gel with the main active ingredient of benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is widely known for being an acid that combats acne. That’s because it “Kills bacteria beneath the skin’s surface and helps prevent clogged pores, making it excellent for treating acne breakouts and maintaining clearer skin,” says Dr. Engelman. I’ve found that by using this product nightly, my acne heals faster, and my breakouts are much less frequent.
Hydrabalance
Face Reality Hydrabalance $29.00
When using actives on your skin, it’s essential to make sure it’s properly hydrated, and that’s why Hydrabalance will always be a part of my routine. Hydrabalance is a water-based hydrating gel containing sodium hyaluronate, improving dryness, reducing wrinkles, and replenishing skin. Because of the texture of this gel, you can use it after toner and serum for extra hydration before applying actives. I’ve also found it to be incredibly calming and cooling on my breakouts, which can sometimes feel inflamed.
Clearderma Moisturizer
Face Reality Clearderma $29.00
Moisturization is crucial to keep your skin barrier hydrated and intact. But so many moisturizers are formulated with comedogenic ingredients that will ultimately make your acne worse. What I love most about this formula (aside from being acne-safe) is that it’s lightweight and incredibly hydrating for my skin. It’s formulated with green tea extract to reduce sebum while soothing and protecting the skin. It is also formulated with allantoin, which is a moisturizer and exfoliator that helps to heal injured skin. I only need a little bit of this moisturizer to cover my entire face, which means it’s always the last product I need to restock.
Daily SPF 30 Lotion
Face Reality Daily SPF 30 Lotion $33.00
Finally the last thing I put on before makeup is Face Reality’s Daily SPF 30 Lotion. It provides UVA & UVB protection and blends in without a white cast so it wears perfect under makeup and doesn’t pill. As a bonus it contains Green Tea extract and Allantoin, as many of the Face Reality Products in my routine do, to soothe and protect the skin throughout the day.
