I personally developed severe non-inflammatory (congestion) acne at the age of 15, when I stopped competitive swimming, and it never went away. Adding to the challenge was my sensitive skin, with several ingredient allergies and sensitivities and being prone to eczema. And above all, I was a compulsive skin picker, so my face always looked so much worse than if I could have just left it alone. It wasn’t until I was about 30 that I found an esthetician specializing in acne, who changed my skin, and therefore my life.

My original background is in chemical engineering (I worked in the semiconductor industry), so I have always been fascinated in particular by the plethora of ingredients that go into skincare products. I would ponder, and research, and try to figure out for myself - what is this ingredient? what is it effective for? what are the risks? Face Reality taught me that the term “non-comedogenic” is not regulated, and many of the products widely available claiming to be non-comedogenic (even ones recommended by my dermatologist for my sensitive skin) were a large contributor to my acne. Finding skincare products for myself became a Venn-diagram adventure of “no, I’m sensitive/allergic to that,” and “no, that will make me break out.” I am a Face Reality girl, through and through. Do I miss the promise of buying that new, luscious, trendy, delicious-smelling face product that everyone is raving about? Yes, but those of us with sensitive skin know that the tried-and-true routine is key, and consistently healthy skin is worth being a little mundane.