Face Reality—a Referral-Only Skincare Brand—Drastically Improved My Acne

Acne is something that I’ve been battling 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 with a focus 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 the course of 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, Dr. Dendy Engelman.  Below is the Face Reality product lineup that cleared my skin and helped me stay that way.