Face Reality Acne & Skin Care Clinic

Laura is the BEST esthetician ever! Pros: Friendly, supportive, SUPER patient staff; miracle products! Cons: Can be a bit pricey, but worth every penny. more

Clear skin IS possible! I found Face Realty Acne Clinic (aka Face Reality Skin Care) on Yelp back in March '09 & glad I did =) ABOUT MJ's FACE: Short story, I'm 31yrs old & have been dealing w/ dark spots & bumps along my jawline of my face since I was 13yrs old (since 1993/1994 or so). Tried ProActive in 2007, & my face rejected it terribly =( Never had any professional acne treatment for my face 'till FRAC! LOCATION: On Callan Ave, which also turns into Davis St. Located across from Longs Drugs (or NOW known as the company name ""CVS Pharamacy""); on the corner closest to San Leandro Library, next to library really. Parking is street (unmetered), or do street parking in front of library. CLINIC: Small lobby area upon entrance, but it's never a long wait anyway for your appointment. Appointment visits only by the way. Exceptionally large & clean bthrm, yes I HAD to point that out. Each esthetician's office had a setting btw medical office & that of a spa; soft-dim lighting, massage table for you to lay on w/ products close by to treat your skin upon visit, desk-computer for staff, & typically soft-relaxing music playing in the bkgd. STAFF: Absolutely helpful, knowledgeable, polite, & professionally considerate! Spoke w/ gentleman-Pat (I believe co-owner/founder) who was very friendly on 1st phone call I made to make my appt. Receptionist-Ana always did the courtesy call reminder of an appt like 3-4days prior. 1st visit is w/ Head Esthetician (owner/founder) Laura who evaluates you skin & sets the tone of products to use & takes pics; visit w/ Laura again like 3.5mths later for normal appt & Laura saw positive results immediately in comparison to photos she took back in April. I delt with prob 3-4 different estheticians during my appointment visits during my 5mths coming here, & all ladies were informative, reassuring, supportive, friendly, & driven to seeing results on my skin as I was. Overall an awesome staff. Keep up the good work! PRICES & APPT: $25 initial consultation-appt, then $75 per acne treatment thereafter. Additional prices on products depending on what you're suggested to use. Cost on products can range from $10-$75. Anticipate using 3-4 (or more if req'd) of their products on a daily morning/evening home routine. Acne visit treatments prob start off about 1.5hr visit & decrease over time using their products. I went from 1.5hrs to 30min on my acne visits...my skin was clearing up nicely over time requiring less facial onsite treatment *tee-hee* MJ's JOURNEY TO CLEAR SKIN: Yep, started in April 2009, got my Tax Returns & thought why not! Honestly w/in a mth of using their products I had already felt results in my face-jaw area; dark spots were still visible, but I stopped feeling new bumps coming up on my skin. By June this Gemini (yes, I'm a June Baby) was very pleased & seeing results! Wasn't just me, my family noticed it too. Dark spots on face-jaw area had definitely decreased & not as nearly bumpy as past years. 4mths (or 120days) into the use of products & my face cleared up so nicely. My skin is still sensitive & I am continuing to use their products. I decided to have my last appt mid-August 2009 just due to finances. $75/visit, which typically was chemical peel & poppin' of pimples, or what they refer to as ""extractions"". I have a daily home routine morning & before bed with their products. If I feel the need to get my skin evaluated again, I'm welcome to come in free for a ""peek-a-boo"" review & see if changes need to be made in the products I'm using. A HAPPY CLIENT: Everyone's skin IS different, & I honestly believe FRAC makes the honest effort to help give you the clear skin you're looking for with the products they have. They're professional, knowledgeable, & sincere. Pricey yes, but in my eyes worth it. Maraming Salamat (Tagalog for ""Thank you so much"") Face Reality Acne Clinic =) Pros: Educated, helpful, polite, & optomistic staff =) Cons: Products can be pricey, but worth if u can save up $$ more

I have been suffering from acne for as long as I can remember. I have tried everything. I can relate to all your frustrations. I was recommended to Face Reality Skin Clinic from a friend. I checked out there site and they had very informative information. When I called them I was experiencing my worse breakout. They fit me in that same day. I was desperate for something to work for me. I really was turned off by Acutane and I didn't want to put my body through such harsh treatment. Everyone was so welcoming and understanding at Face Reality. They really treat you with great respect and make you feel like family. I am proud to announce that after being treated for 4 months, I have been clear for the last month with no breakouts. My biggest suggestion to you is to stick with it. You may get frustrated and want to give you. But stick with it and in the end you will have clear skin. In the moment it felt like forever. Looking back on a lifetime battle I couldn't expect for it to magically go away over night. 4 months is defiantly worth the wait. Thank You All at Face Reality for giving me beautiful clear skin. I am forever thankful. Noelle more

I loved the staff at Face Reality and really felt that they worked hard to get their products to work, including refunding my money for two products they gave me that irritated my skin. They definitely live up to their word and work in partnership with you to find what works for your skin. And I have noticed some change in my acne. However (and I hate adding a negative note to such otherwise great reviews, especially when I do think it's a good place), I didn't really feel that their products did much more for me than the over-the-counter stuff I'd been using for years. I used their products for 3 months without any visible changes. They did, however, recommend that I change my diet, and that helped a lot. I owe them that recommendation, but I think people could save a lot of money by not buying the products and just following the diet recommendations. Pros: Staff works in partnership with you to get your acne better Cons: Expensive more

In a past i used pro active and it didn't work on my skin. My experience at Face Reality Acne and Skin care Clinic was superb. Ever since my face started to clear up i am more confident, and happy how I look now. Also people started to notice how my skin looks different from before. So i recommed eveyone who has a acne should tried Face Reality Acne and Skin care instead of using any other prouducts Pros: good servie Cons: nothing really more

I am so happy with this place! I have suffered with acne since I was 13 and tried EVERYTHING - antibiotics, birth control pill, accutane (twice!), various topical creams....had seen many dermatologists and nothing really seemed to work. Or lasted past a month. And then I stumbled across Face Reality while searching the internet one night and decided to give it a go. And I am happy to say that 4 months later my face is COMPLETELY CLEAR! I have even been complimented on my skin lately, which definitely never happened before. It's definitely a commitment in terms of visiting the clinic at the beginning, but if you want clear skin it's a commitment worth making. The regime they have me on now isn't too bad at all and i'm just on maintenance. \r \r I definitely give Face Reality a big seal of approval. The confidence I have from clear skin is amazing and I hope that anyone out there struggling with acne issues realizes that they can be helped and it's not that hard! more

I am lucky enough to not have had bad acne, however my lady love has not been so fortunate. She had been a victim of acne since high school and while she was in college she eventually cleared up. About a few years ago, she started to break out again and nothing seemed to be working (proactiv worked for a little while, zeno, retin-a, etc). She had also tried accutane in the past but did not like the side effects. She had become very distraught and I could see that it was really affecting her self confidence. I happened upon reviews here and after all of the very positive reviews convinced her into making an appointment, however skeptical she was at first. She is only into her 2nd month of treatment but I can definitely see a difference. The staff there is super nice and are attentive to her skin's unique needs. They even asked her to participate as a display subject for a meeting they had in exchange for a free appointment. I was observing the many questions they were fielding during this meeting and was impressed with their knowledge. \r \r Highly recommended!! more

I am 24 years old and throughout college, I never had acne...I had blackheads, but they never really bothered me because they weren't really that obvious. The second I graduated those blackheads must have finally come to the surface over my jaw line cheek area...and I'm talking cist like acne that was painful and painfully obvious. I tried everything from ProActiv to Obagi products to Dial soap only, etc, etc. Things would seem to be working for a while, then my skin would get worse or have no change. I was really discouraged and thought either these products didn't work for everyone or there was no hope for me because nothing will work for me.\r Finally, my uncle told my aunt and I about Face Reality. She had tried it out first then I thought I might as well and I have to say that I cannot believe how my skin looks now. I am shocked by how beautiful my skin looks and how clear it actually is. I also can't believe how many products we women (and sometimes men) use everyday that have pore-clogging ingredients in them. The Acne Treatments plus the home products are just amazing and the staff there is so encouraging and wonderful and all they want is to get rid of ALL of your acne problems forever! I am so happy with the results thus far and I truly think it will work for anyone! Oh and if it doesn't already sound too good to be true, their costs are alot less than any facial or spa products you'd probably purchased in the passed! I highly recommend this place to everybody and anybody who has trouble with acne in their teens and especially as an adult because we think acne is just a puberty thing, but it's not! Face Reality will get rid of your acne problems! Pros: Great Staff, Wonderful Products that work more

I found Face Reality from a newspaper article write up by a third party that stated how their products and services had a very high success rate in clearing up acne. I am in my early forties and have had acne since I was about 14 years old. I have tried probably almost everything sold over the counter, prescription medication and prescription pills to help combat my acne. I figured that I had nothing to lose by calling them up and setting up an appointment. After about 2-3 weeks of using their products I really noticed a big difference in my skin and new acne (none). I have been using Face Reality's products for around a year now and could not be happier with the results. more

I am 32 and I have had severe acne since I was about 13 years old. I have spent tons of money and many emotionally scarring years with my skin issues. I tried several prescriptions and the side effects along with the limited effectiveness left me feeling hopeless about ever improving (much less resolving) my acne problem. \r \r I felt foolish for believing that a clinic promised to clear my skin when even powerful prescriptions couldn't help me. I live several hours away so I didn't try it until my dermatologist told that there was nothing more she could do if I wouldn't cooperate and take her prescriptions despite horrible side effects (like losing my hair). I cleared up within a month and after three months my skin looked better. In six months nobody could even tell I had ever had horrible acne before.\r \r I travel the 3 hours to get here gladly as Face Reality's promise of clear skin is the only one in over 15 years that ever worked as a long term solution to my problem and without any side effects like other products."" Pros: It Works more

Face Reality is a dream come true!\r I had been suffering from acne since I turned 30. For the last few years, I've tried everything you can think of, from dermatologists' office procedures (blue light, peels, facials) to antibiotics to two courses of Accutane to alternative herbal and over the counter medication and therapy, nothing has worked like Face Reality's skin regimen, and nothing has been more economical than Face Reality either!\r \r I was a little skeptical at first, but I figured it's right here in the Bay Area, and prices seemed very reasonable compared to the day spas and dermatologist that I go to, so I figured why not give it a try.\r I literally became clear on my 2nd or 3rd visit to Face Reality, and now after 5 visits, I wake up daily AMAZED at how clear and smooth my skin looks!!! \r \r It's literally saved me a lot of money and a lot of agony! The estheticians I have seen are all very professional and skillful at what they do. I'm amazed at how honest they are --they don't want to make money off of you; they just want to get your skin clear!!\r \r Pros: Reasonable Prices, Great Staff, Professionalism more

I faced acne for the first time as an adult shortly after I moved abroad for work in early 2006 when I started to notice non inflamed acne appearing on my cheeks and forehead. Being 28 years old made the situation embarrassing for me, so I sought out the help of a dermatologist who prescribed me with a benzoyl peroxide wash which helped to clear my forehead, but really did nothing for the impactions on my cheeks. She actually suggested that I try Accutane since the BP didn?t help that much. Luckily, I decided against it and waited till I returned to the US to deal with my problem at Face Reality Skin care. I had read about Face Reality when I was abroad through another website and living relatively close to their clinic I decided to give them a try. \r The environment is completely comfortable and friendly. Everyone at FR is professional, up to date with the latest in skin science, and cares about getting your skin healthy. Coming from a science background myself, I found it reassuring to know that they regularly attend conferences and are in contact with leading scientists in the field to keep learning about how they can help their clients skin?I would have to say in my experience they are even more knowledgable and caring than the dermatologist I visited about how to get skin healthy. After going to the clinic for 4 months, my skin is glowing and clear. I can finally go out without being embarrassed or preoccupied with how my skin looks. They are amazing. \r If you are facing any kind of acne, Face Reality clinic can help. Pros: Comfortable and friendly more

The face reality acne & skincare clinic is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have suffered from acne all of my life and have spent a fortune over the years on products that ""claim"" to work, only to find out that NOTHING ever cleared up my acne. This past year has been the worst with acne due to a medical condition and trying to bounce back from baby number 2. A friend suggested I see the clinic, but I definitely had my doubts. To my surprise, it was the answer to my acne nightmare. Everyone on the skincare team is polite, caring, helpful and most of all, they provide a sense of hope for what has been a life long challenge for me. I am happy to report that I am clear for the first time ever! I have named Laura the ""face goddess"", as she truly deserves the highest praises for the work that she and her team does for acne sufferers. It has been a blessing to meet everyone in her clinic and am so grateful for gaining so much knowledge from them about acne. Everyone suffering from acne MUST go and see them! Pros: They are the most knowledgable team on acne I have ever encountered more

I live in Georgia and came across Face Reality Acne Clinic's website and decided to check it out. And every day since then I am so happy that I did. When I first emailed Face Reality Skin Clinic and ordered their products I was a little skeptical, only because we live thousands of miles apart. But I can honestly say that the very first day I started using their products and following the routine they gave me, I could tell a noticeable difference. I am only 21 years old but within the last couple of years I have spent thousands and thousands of dollars on treatments and products that never worked for me. And it's hard to believe that just a few conversations with Laura and a few test rounds of the products, I've finally gotten my skin under control by using the right products for my skin type, and it feels great. Because at one point I was just ready to give up. I was so depressed and had absolutely no self-confidence whatsoever, but now I can walk out of my house with no makeup on and feel amazing. So-once again I just want to thank you guys!\r \r more

I am 38 years old and for the last 23 years I have fought unsuccessfully my acne .. three months ago I went to Face Reality in San Leandro and it was as a miracle; I had my third follo-up appointment two days ago and they told me I didn't need to visit them anymore (very honest!!)\r \r so I can totally and absolutely recommend this Clinic, great location, very professional and my skin looks as if I were 15 years old\r \r thanks to all the Face Reality team!!!\r A. Tomas Greene more

i have had an acne problem sence high school, i am now 26 and still have this problem, ive gone to doctors, dermintalogest, tried all kinds of different pills for my ance. though some worked a little , i was still concered with putting these pills in my body, and never had a doctor given me a topical treatment that really worked. one day i heard about Face Reality, and ever sence ive been hook, not only are the people great and helpful but their product really works, and no pills! they are truly concered about each individuals recovery. i highly recommend checking them out if you have an acne problem, they are very informative and have products that actually work! more

Well, everyone knows the sob story of an acne sufferer, so I?ll spare you all from reading another one.\r \r I found out about Face Reality from a user on a popular acne website. At first I was skeptical, but after reading all the glowing reviews, I was convinced and promptly set up an appointment. That turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Now, after six to seven years of combating acne on my own (with no luck), I'm thrilled to finally be able to say that I possess the ever-coveted clear skin!\r \r The staff members at Face Reality are very friendly and can empathize because they, too, know what it feels like to have acne; it also helps that they have a wonderful sense of humor. They truly care about each and every one of their clients. And they do weird stuff like notice your new hair cut (I bet the people behind Proactiv, your own dad, or that person you're trying to impress never notice your new hair cut).\r \r But you don't just go, get a regimen and a facial, then disappear off the face of the earth until your next treatment! No--instead, you have to keep in contact with these people all the time since they're a tad nosy and want to know if your skin is okay 'cause they're more into clear skin than you are. No one else ever went through all that trouble for me. My general physician just prescribed me antibiotics and told me to come back in a few months when they ran out!\r \r The price tag may be a little hefty for some people, but believe me (and the 30 people who posted so far) that this quality service is worth every penny. Not only do you get clear skin, you also get peace of mind, which is a plus. I?d give them all the stars in the galaxy but City Search only allows up to five. So come pay these nice people a visit--you won't regret it. Besides, Laura says she's getting bored with me because I have like no pimples left to extract (popping pimples is her *favorite* pastime). ;) Pros: You don't have to think for yourself anymore, just sit back and let the pros tell you what to do! more

I am the mother of a soon-to-be 16-year-old daughter. From the time she was 11, her skin began breaking out. As she got older, the acne got worse. My lovely, steady, intelligent girl became more and more withdrawn. She avoided social occasions, didn't want to go to school, and didn't want to meet people. We tried everything: over-the counter products, beauty salon products, products advertised on TV, and medical treatments from dermatologists. Nothing worked; in fact, her skin seemed to get worse. When she turned 15, we heard of Face Reality. It took a while for us to convince her to go: ""Why?"" she said. ""Nothing works anyway."" But finally she agreed to go in. What she got there was patient, kind, compassionate care and treatment. The people there do not just sell you a product and send you on your way. Instead, they combined in-office treatment with products specific to my daughter's needs; specific directions on product use; advice about diet; and affirmative encouragement: ""Don't give up!"" Their accessibility, calm kindness, and their matter-of-fact, direct approach with my daughter was invaluable and gave her more than clear skin: they gave her the courage and determination to make a commitment and stick with it. Today, her skin is clear and she SMILES. She has moved on to other teen-age worries, but she handles them with a new confidence gained from the example set by the people at Face Reality. I can't thank them enough for what they did for my lovely daughter. It's so nice to actually ""get what you pay for"" -- and so much more. Kathryn H. Pros: comapssion, calm, easy-to-use products, reasonable price, great atmosphere more

Laura, Pat, and Julie, of Face Reality Acne & Skin Care, are truly experts in their field. The first time I went in for a consultation and treatment, they spent some time looking at what was going on with my skin, and then they described to me how they were going to tackle my breakouts and keep my skin clear. Through a combination of their treatments in the clinic, and a home regimen that they tailored exactly for how my skin acts, they got my breakouts under control. They really keep careful tabs on my skin, and they tell me exactly what adjustments to make to keep it clear and healthy.\r Face Reality does not make false promises -- this clinic focuses on one thing, clearing acne, and they really know how to do that. They are very honest and informative with their clients -- they provide a lot of information about what causes breakouts and what we need to do to help our skin get and stay clear. \r Before going to Face Reality, I had spent sooooooooooo much money on every product under the sun -- ProActiv, Retin-A, antibiotics (yuck), and every conceivable soap / lotion / cream that promised to help, but of course nothing did. I also spent a lot of money on the most expensive makeup, and all would just make my breakouts worse, which you can't cover up with any kind of makeup. Laura, Pat, and Julie have now gotten my skin to the point where I don't need to wear makeup, but if I feel like it, they have a fabulous line of makeup that wears very nicely (mineral makeup), and is actually good for my skin!\r Like I said, they are truly experts in their field, and I have loved seeing my skin go from being marred by huge constant acne breakouts to clearing up. I have received so many compliments and comments on how good my skin looks, that it amazes me that I waited so long before seeking professional advice and help to get my skin looking good. I an hour and a half away from their office, but its been worth it for me to take the time to get treatment from the best! Pros: friendly and flexible people Cons: far away from where I live (Santa Rosa) more

I have struggled with acne since I was in junior high and like most people went to countless dermatologists who put me on a numerous amounts of antibiotics and topical creams such as retin-a. Once the antibiotics stopped working and I learned more about antibiotic resistance, I turned to advertised products such as Pro-Active, Murad, Exposed Skin Care, even a laser light treatment....nothing worked. As I got older my acne only grew worse and six months before my wedding I went to a dermatologist who told me there was nothing else I could do. I was desperate. One day my mom came across Face Reality online. We gave them a call and were incredibly impressed with their friendliness and genuine desire to help. Not only are they friendly and helpful, they are incredibly knowledgeable about acne and the best ways to treat it! Face Reality skin care clinic is with out a doubt the best treatment for acne because it provides one on one interaction and personalized attention and care to your skin and type of acne. Face Reality works with you and does not just prescribe a general product, they provide a system that will clear your skin. On my wedding day, my skin was completely clear, it had not been like that since junior high This is the first acne treatment that actually does what it claims to do. \r I would recomend Face Reality to anyone, especially those who are tired of products that don't work. I have been using their product for a year now and regularly going in for facials and my skin has is like new and completely clear!!! This truly is the best acne treatment you will find, I would recommend them to absolutely anyone. I am so grateful to Face Reality! Pros: Easy to make an appointment, Staff is Friendly, Knowldegeable about the subject, Care about your situation, Great Service, Nice Ambience, and Good Products Cons: No cons...everything is great! more