What Makes Us Different?
First, we analyze your skin to make sure you are getting the products at the proper potency. If the products are too weak they will not work or if they are too strong your skin may become dry and irritated. We will be sure to get the products just right and guide you through these changes over a 12-16 week timeframe. If we did not make these bi-weekly adjustments your skin would stop improving. As your personal Acne Specialist, I will help you tackle your acne in a customized, week by week way. Our Face Reality program provides you with strong products and a customized regimen while not over drying your skin. Our in-office acne treatments also speed up the process and with our support our clients find that their skin is clear in a few months.
Are the products natural?
Yes. 99% of our ingredients are naturally occurring acids, antiseptic oils, and potent fruit botanicals. Some products may have some stabilizers added to the formula but you will not find any damaging chemicals here. In fact, all of our active serums have antioxidant benefits for maximum skin nutrition.
Can I use this system if I’m pregnant?
Yes! Pregnancy can wreak havoc on a woman’s skin and all too often she is left with ineffective treatment options. Our products are potent but natural so they are safe to use even while pregnant or breast-feeding. We will provide you with a list of your home care items and their ingredients to show to your doctor for added peace of mind.
Can I just buy your products and skip the treatments?
No, we do require a consultation and full treatment before selling you our products. Because of the potency, a sensitivity test will need to be performed. When clients skip treatments the skin does not get re-trained and it is unlikely to get good results. Having the products is not enough! The results come with the proper routine. We will show you how to use your products slowly at first so that you skin is responsive but does not get irritated or breakout. Usually within 2 weeks of starting with your new Face Reality regimen your skin will get used to what you are doing so we will need to “amp up” the regimen. This may mean adding another product, increasing frequency of use of a product you are currently using or layering a few active products.
What happens after I get clear? Am I cured?
It depends on you! We have an after-care plan that is designed to keep your acne gone, so if you keep using the tools we provide and come in for regular maintenance treatments you will have continuously clear skin. If you go back to using pore-clogging ingredients the acne will of course come back. There is no cure for acne, only ways to manage it.
What are the treatments like?
This is where the magic happens. Your skin will be thoroughly cleansed, exfoliated with specific enzymes and fruit acids, extractions will be performed, and we will restore vital nutrients back into the pores to calm inflammation. During the treatments we monitor your progress and modify the home care guidelines to keep challenging the skin so that it never gets immune to your products.
Does my diet affect my skin?
Absolutely. Acne is an inherited condition but can be greatly affected by your diet. During your treatments we discuss your diet to identify problematic foods or ingredients. Often times there are certain vitamins and minerals that we can provide to reduce oil production and calm inflammation.
Why do certain acne products work for some people but not for me?
There are many forms of acne, many possible triggers, and your skin is unique to you. If you are experiencing inflamed, painful lesions but your friend has tiny white bumps you shouldn’t expect that her acne medicine will work for you. In fact, using the wrong products can make breakouts worse so be careful whose advice you take. You need a unique regimen suited to your skin to get clear.
How are we different than dermatologists?
Dermatologists tend to prescribe a “one size fits all” regimen of oral antibiotics, topical prescription creams such as Retin-A (which contains pore clogging inactive ingredients), Benzyl Peroxide and topical antibiotics. When this approach ends up failing a few months later, the doctor will then prescribe a round of new antibiotics and then another until they come to a point where nothing is working and the last resort is Accutane (isotretinoin). Not only do these prescriptions fail to cure the acne they also cause health-depleting side effects such as constipation, diarrhea, liver damage, depression and many more.
What about ProActiv?
This skin care line has the right idea but the products are so strong that they typically cause dryness, redness, itching and an initial “purging” breakout. Plus, your skin will get used to products over time will need more aggressive products every few weeks to keep acne from developing. For those who make it past the dryness and irritation, the skin may get clear for a short time but typically this is only temporary.
How are we different than day spas and traditional estheticians?
Most estheticians are not “Acne Specialists”. It takes specialized continuing education and training outside of a basic Esthetician license program to learn how to effectively work with acne-prone skin. Estheticians are primarily trained in facial techniques and the biology of the skin. Day spas and estheticians may even offer a few acne products but they most likely will contain pore-clogging ingredients that can make your acne worse simply maintain the acne instead of clearing it. The Face Reality program that we use is the only line sold only by their trained Acne Specialists and only non-pore clogging focused acne line.