A Love Letter to the Only Skincare Brand That Actually Helped With My Hormonal Acne
I thought I tried everything for acne—then I found Face Reality.
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As a beauty shopping editor, it’s quite literally my job to test our new skincare products, so it’s rare that I’m loyal to just one brand throughout my entire routine. Typically, I use a cleanser from one brand, a serum or two from another, a moisturizer from a third, and so on. Well, that was the case until I discovered Face Reality—a skincare brand with more than 30 products all formulated with acne-prone skin in mind.
Like me, Face Reality founder and licensed esthetician Laura Cooksey dealt with acne as an adult and struggled to effectively treat it. So she founded an acne-centric clinic and built a national network of experts, all committed to helping customers like myself achieve clear, healthy skin using Face Reality products.
When I first tried Face Reality, I got assistance with my routine from Madalaina Conti, a licensed esthetician and one of Face Reality’s certified acne specialists based in NYC. From my first meeting with Conti, it was clear that she wasn’t just simply selling me products. She thoroughly analyzed my skin, diet, exercise habits, and environmental factors to get a holistic understanding of my skin’s needs. From there, she crafted a personalized regimen full of pore-friendly products that addressed my hormonal breakouts and skin concerns. That level of detail and hands-on customization is what I love most about Face Reality. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to skin—especially when we’re talking about acne.
Oh, and did I mention that Conti is also podcast host/reality star/fashion influencer Paige DeSorbo’s esthetician too? The two have been working together for six months, using Face Reality products to tackle Paige’s breakouts. “My skin has never looked or felt as good as it has since I started using Face Reality,” Paige told me via email. “My skin has gotten so much more consistent since I started using the brand. I don’t have to be anxious about waking up to a random breakout anymore, which is the best feeling.” Same, Paige. Same.
Keep scrolling for a rundown of some of my favorite Face Reality products. And, ofc, if you’re dealing with stubborn breakouts, do your skin a favor and find a certified Face Reality Acne Expert for an in-person consultation.
Why I love Face Reality:
- The simple, no-frills formulas cleared my hormonal acne.
- It has a network of Acne Experts nationwide to help support you on your personal skincare journey.
- Nearly every product (aside from stronger chemical formulations) is under $40.
- The extensive product range includes everything from under-eye gels to spot treatments.
Many face washes strip my dry skin, leaving it feeling v dehydrated. The Barrier Balance Creamy Cleanser strikes the perf balance between effectively cleaning my face without voiding it of hydration. It’s also incredibly soothing for my sensitive skin (a tough feat for a cleanser) thanks to aloe and allantoin in the formula. I love using it in the morning on its own or with the Ultra Gentle Gel Cleanser as part of a double cleanse before bed. Not to mention, it’s a staple in Paige’s daily routine too. <3
Okay, I know I said Face Reality doesn’t take a universal or one-size-fits-all approach to their products, but this versatile formula is actually amazing for any skin type or concern. If you’re on the oily side, it serves as a lightweight moisturizer. If you have dry skin like me, it’s great for layering with a heavier cream or mask for an extra boost of hydration.
Face Reality Sulfur Spot Treatment
Stubborn pimples are no match for this Sulfur Spot Treatment. Just dab a small amount of this 6 percent sulfur formula onto an active breakout, and let it work to absorb excess oil and reduce inflammation.
Our very own beauty editor, Beth Gillette, is also a major fan. “It helps calm down my acne, especially after I’ve picked (I am not the blueprint), and helps kill bacteria to reduce more acne from forming too!” PLUS, it won a 2024 Cosmopolitan Acne Award for best spot treatment, so that’s when you know it must be good.
I love applying this mask before bed to flood my skin with hydration overnight. It absorbs into my face easily and evenly—without the heaviness of a typical moisturizing face mask. As the name HydraCalm suggests, the formula doubles as a hydrating and soothing mask, ideal for nights when you want extra nourishment after inflammation or a treatment. When I use this at night, I wake up in the morning with glass-like skin.
And Face Reality (of course) offers a couple of other masks to choose from for different skin concerns. Need a boost of radiance? The Brighten-C Mask will be your BFF. Want an extra clarifying step? The Soothing Clay Mask is ideal for absorbing excess oil.
As an acne-prone girlie who’s also prone to dryness, I always found it impossible to find a toner that cleaned out my pores without sucking away moisture too. But my long-awaited prayers were answered with Face Reality’s Moisture Balance Toner. While it cleanses pores (with no comedogenic ingredients, obvi), the hydrating formula also keeps dryness at bay.
And if moisture isn’t your main concern, do not worry! Face Reality has three (!!!) other toners. The sal-C Toner and Glycolic-Lactic Toner will provide a deeper cleanse and more exfoliation, and the Calming Facial Toner is ideal for soothing sensitive skin.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant shopping editor at Cosmopolitan and writes about all the best products you can add to your cart—including skincare products. As an acne-prone editor, she takes her skincare routine very seriously, making sure to research and review the most effective formulas. For this story, she interviewed licensed esthetician Madalaina Conti for her insight and tested all of the products herself.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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