Face Reality Acne Consult
$75A 45-minute consultation that comes with a prescribed home-care routine you can purchase that day or later. Your first in-office treatment is scheduled at checkout.
Book the consultClear Skin Guide
Understanding & Treating Acne
If you're frustrated with your skin, you're not alone. Over the years we've helped hundreds of clients clear their skin and keep it that way. This guide will help you understand why you're breaking out, learn what actually works, and start making smarter choices for your skin.
What Is Acne?
A chronic, inflammatory condition — not just a surface problem
Acne may show up as breakouts, but it begins deep within the skin as a chain of internal processes. We treat it with understanding, strategy, and consistency — not quick fixes. Here’s what’s really happening in acne-prone skin.
Excess oil (sebum) production
Your sebaceous glands produce sebum to keep skin lubricated. In acne-prone skin these glands become overactive — often influenced by hormones — leading to excess oil that can clog pores.
Abnormal skin cell shedding
Healthy skin sheds dead cells at its outermost layer. With acne this process turns irregular and slow, so dead cells stick together and mix with oil — creating a plug inside the pore we call a comedone (blackheads and whiteheads).
Bacterial overgrowth
A naturally occurring skin bacteria, Cutibacterium acnes, thrives in these clogged, oil-rich pores. As it multiplies, it contributes to irritation and triggers the immune system.
Inflammation
As the pore stays impacted, the body responds to the buildup of oil, dead skin, and bacteria with inflammation. This is what leads to the red, swollen, painful lesions — papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts.
Know Your Breakouts
The different kinds of acne & how we treat them
Not all acne is created equal. Select a type to see what it is, how to recognize it, and the exact approach we take to clear it — at home and in the treatment room.
Inflammatory
Non-inflamed (congestion)
Inflammatory
Papules
Inflamed, red bumps that do not contain visible pus. They form when a clogged pore becomes irritated, triggering inflammation beneath the surface.
- Red, raised, and often tender
- No white or yellow center
- Typically firm to the touch
Papules should never be picked — there’s nothing to “release,” and squeezing pushes inflammation deeper.
How we treat it
Focus: calm the skin and reduce internal inflammation.
Home care
- Gentle chemical exfoliants (like mandelic acid) to keep pores clear without over-irritating
- Anti-inflammatory ingredients (niacinamide, hypochlorous acid, green tea extract)
- Barrier-supporting hydration to prevent further irritation
In the treatment room
- LED light therapy, Aerolase, calming facials, and Glacial
- Targeted corrective treatments with our Face Reality Acne Program
Inflammatory
Pustules
Inflamed breakouts that contain pus, recognized by their white or yellow center. This is what most people picture as a “classic pimple.”
- Red at the base with a visible white/yellow head
- Slightly raised, often more superficial than papules
- May feel tender or pressurized
Unlike papules, pustules can sometimes be carefully extracted — but only when done properly to avoid scarring or spreading bacteria.
How we treat it
Focus: eliminate bacteria, reduce swelling, and safely clear the pore.
Home care
- Antibacterial ingredients (like benzoyl peroxide or sulfur)
- Targeted spot treatments — Face Reality InvisiClear™ Hydrocolloid Spot Patches
- Mild chemical exfoliation to prevent congestion (no abrasive scrubbing)
In the treatment room
- Professional extractions (when appropriate), high-frequency, Aerolase, Glacial
- Targeted corrective treatments with our Face Reality Acne Program
Non-inflamed
Closed comedones
Clogged pores where oil and dead skin are trapped beneath the surface. Not inflamed, but they create a textured, bumpy appearance — and can turn into inflamed acne if bacteria builds up.
- Small, flesh-colored or white bumps
- Smooth to the touch but uneven in texture
- Often on the forehead, cheeks, and jawline
Consistency is key — this type responds best to a structured routine and ongoing maintenance.
How we treat it
Focus: correct the root cause of congestion and normalize skin-cell turnover.
Home care
- Regular, controlled exfoliation to prevent dead-skin accumulation
- Acne-safe, pore-clearing home-care products
In the treatment room
- Professional treatments to gently break down buildup within the pore
- Professional extractions, Aerolase, Microneedling
- Targeted corrective treatments with our Face Reality Acne Program
Non-inflamed
Open comedones (blackheads)
Clogged pores that stay open at the surface. The dark color isn’t dirt — it’s oxidized oil exposed to air.
- Small dark dots within pores
- Most common on the nose, chin, and cheeks
- Skin may look oily or congested overall
With proper care, blackheads can be significantly minimized and controlled.
How we treat it
Focus: clear the pore and regulate oil production.
Home care
- Targeted exfoliation to keep pores from re-clogging
- Oil-balancing products to reduce excess sebum
In the treatment room
- Deep cleansing treatments to loosen and remove buildup
- Routine extractions, Aerolase, Microneedling
- Targeted corrective treatments with our Face Reality Acne Program
Why Your Acne Isn’t Going Away
It’s usually not your skin — it’s the approach
If you feel like you’ve “tried everything” and nothing sticks, you’re not alone. Acne is one of the most misunderstood skin conditions, and most clients arrive having been given the wrong plan — not because their skin is “unfixable.”
What often goes wrong
- Harsh, stripping products that compromise the skin barrier
- Too many active ingredients layered without a clear strategy
- Jumping product to product without consistency
- Treatments that manage symptoms but never address the root cause
The Level approach
- Identify your specific acne triggers and skin behavior
- Strengthen and protect your skin barrier
- Targeted, intentional home care — not overwhelming routines
- Professional treatments that accelerate results
- Consistency and accountability through every stage
Clearing acne isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing what’s right for your skin.
Your At-Home Routine
Simple & effective — morning and night
After a Face Reality consultation we build a routine that resembles the one below. Everyone’s is different — there may be more or fewer steps depending on your skin. Toggle between morning and night.
- Gentle cleanser
- Toner / mist
- Treatment serum (custom to your skin)
- Hydrating serum
- Moisturizer
- SPF (non-negotiable)
- Double cleanse
- Toner / mist
- Treatment serum (acne-targeting)
- Hydrating serum
- Moisturizer
This is a baseline. Routines are generally in the $300–$500 range, with monthly product replenishment between $50–$150. Consistency morning and night is the key to results.
Key Active Ingredients
The actives that help acne — used the right way
These are the ingredients we reach for most. The key is the right combination for your skin — not everything at once. Tap any ingredient to learn what it does.
A beta-hydroxy acid that gets into the pore to dissolve the oil and dead-skin buildup behind congestion and breakouts.
Targets the C. acnes bacteria that drive inflamed breakouts — especially useful for pustules when used at the right strength.
A larger-molecule acid that exfoliates gently, making it a great fit for sensitive and acne-prone skin that can’t tolerate harsher actives.
Speed up how quickly skin cells turn over, helping keep pores clear and improving texture and post-acne marks over time.
Reduces inflammation and helps regulate oil production while supporting the skin barrier — gentle enough to pair with stronger actives.
A quick but important note
Products with active ingredients need to be prescribed by a professional in a way that makes sense for your specific case — so please don’t buy actives just yet. Guidance comes during your consultation.
Barrier-friendly favorites anyone can use
These focus on repairing the skin barrier and reducing inflammation and bacteria — no prescription required.
- Barrier Pro 1-Step Cleanser 5 fl oz (150ml)
- Green Tea Cleanser 4 fl oz ( 118 ml)
- Skin Nourishing Toner 4 fl oz ( 115 ml)
- HA Intensive Hydrating Serum
- Sulfur Spot Treatment 1.5 fl oz (44 ml)
- InvisiClear™ Hydrocolloid Spot Patches
- Barrier Care Gel Cream 2 fl oz ( 60 ml)
- Allantoin 3 fl oz (86 ml)
- Hydrinity HYACYN ACTIVE Purifying Mist 3 fl oz ( 90 ml)
Professional Treatments
The catalyst that accelerates your results
Think of home care as your foundation and professional treatments as the catalyst that moves your skin forward faster — reaching deeper to address inflammation, pigmentation, and texture in ways products alone can’t.
Signature Program
Face Reality Acne Program
A structured, results-driven program that clears acne through customized protocols and consistent guidance.
Learn more LaserAerolase Neo Elite
Advanced laser technology that targets acne, inflammation, and pigmentation with minimal downtime.
Learn more ResurfacingMicroneedling
Improves post-acne scarring, texture, and overall skin regeneration over a series of treatments.
Learn more
Healing
LED Red Light Therapy
Supports healing, reduces inflammation, and promotes overall skin health between corrective sessions.
How Long It Takes
Clear skin is a process — not a quick fix
Everyone’s pace is different, but here’s a realistic picture of the journey. Select a milestone to see what to expect.
4–6 weeks — initial improvement. Skin begins responding to a properly prescribed routine. You’ll often notice fewer new breakouts and calmer inflammation as your barrier stabilizes.
8–12 weeks — visible progress. Clearing becomes obvious. Congestion and active breakouts continue to drop, and we adjust your plan as your skin changes.
3–6 months — major transformation. With consistency and professional support, this is where the biggest, most lasting changes show — in clarity, tone, and texture.
- Consistency beats perfection
- Professional guidance speeds everything up
- Your routine should be customized to you
Can Lifestyle Affect Acne?
Yes — but everyone’s triggers are different
These are factors we commonly see in acne clients. What affects one person may not affect another — part of your consultation is figuring out which apply to you.
- Diet (especially high sugar, dairy, and processed foods for some)
- High-stress lifestyles
- Poor or inconsistent sleep
- Non-acne-safe skincare & makeup
- Very physically active lifestyles
- Polluted or non-supportive environments
- Smoking (tobacco and/or marijuana)
- Excessive alcohol consumption
Ready To Clear Your Skin?
Stop guessing. Start clearing.
If you're tired of guessing and want real results, the next step is a consultation. Choose the option that fits you best.
In person
Acne Consult + Treatment
$175Everything in the consult plus your first Face Reality acne treatment — gentle yet effective, and safe for nearly all acne clients.
Book consult + treatmentVirtual (not local)
Virtual Skincare Meet & Greet
FreeA quick, general consultation to walk through how virtual care works and answer your questions. No acne-specific guidance is provided here.
Book meet & greetVirtual Skincare Program Consult
$100For those ready to commit. After booking you’ll complete an intake form with guided photos; a custom routine is prescribed within 5–7 business days, with monthly check-ins and support in between.
Book program consult✔️ Consistency beats perfection · ✔️ Professional guidance speeds everything up · ✔️ Your routine should be customized to you