Stephanie Criscione from Face Reality and I have one of our skincare conversations after my visit to Face Reality where she tells L+A about her career and her role at Face Reality. Stephanie also shares why Face Reality created a new product and treatment that I had the chance to experience during my visit!
“I had so much fun in July when I had the chance to experience ‘A top secret, all-new treatment and all-new product.’ I now know that the all-new product was the Face Reality hydraRemedy™ Gel Serum, which we recently featured.” Barry Eichner
Thanks to Face Reality for sponsoring this article.
Meet Stephanie Criscione, Licensed Esthetician, and Functional Medicine Health Coach
For Stephanie Criscione the last 22 years have been a professional journey with a singular focus: Improving her clients’/patients’ skin and wellness. As a practicing esthetician and small business owner, she developed and administered tailored esthetics treatments based on a deep understanding of the chemistry and biological underpinnings of healthy skin. A lifelong learner, it was a natural evolution to harness her passion as an educator at San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology (SFIEC) where she developed an advanced esthetics curriculum and trained hundreds of new estheticians in esthetic techniques and sales prowess. She has since worked in results-driven locations like SenSpa and Skin MedSpa.
Stephanie Criscione has been the Director of Education and Clinic at Face Reality Skincare for one year and one month.
“As the Director of Education and Clinic at Face Reality Skincare, I lead our Education and Clinic teams in all areas of education and clinic innovation. This involves developing comprehensive training opportunities for our Acne Experts, ensuring they’re ready to tackle any type of acne that walks through their doors. As a die-hard estie, I still love to keep my hands involved and I get the privilege of overseeing the implementation of innovative clinical practices that enhance our treatment protocols and provide the highest standard of care for our clinic clients.” Stephanie Criscione
Why Stephanie Choose Face Reality
During our conversation, I asked Stephanie to share why she chose Face Reality, here’s what she had to say.
“With over 25 years in the skincare industry, my passion for education and helping individuals experiencing acne led me on a winding path to Face Reality. I am deeply committed to empowering both our clients and skincare professionals by providing effective solutions and education that help restore confidence and improve individuals’ quality of life. As a lifelong learner and educator, I am dedicated to making clear skin possible and love supporting Acne Experts with tools and education to help their clients achieve the goal of clear, radiant skin. Having clear skin isn’t just about how someone looks, it’s about restoring confidence and giving people the freedom to live their best lives without the emotional weight acne often carries.” Stephanie Criscione
The most exciting part of Stephanie’s role at Face Reality
I asked Stephanie to share the most exciting part of her role at Face Reality, this is where she gets deeply personal about her own experience and how it fueled her lifelong career.
“As someone who experienced debilitating acne in my teens and twenties, the most exciting aspect of my role is witnessing the transformation our Acne Experts are able to make in clearing their clients’ skin and the positive impact it has on their lives. My entire life’s work has been dedicated to making clear skin possible and I absolutely love empowering skincare professionals to support their clients through their acne journey. Watching clients regain their self-assurance and truly embrace life again is what inspires me every single day. Helping to alleviate the emotional burden that acne brings and seeing people face the world with renewed vitality is not just my career, it’s my life’s work.” Stephanie Criscione
Why Face Reality Created hydraRemedy™ Gel Serum
After having experienced the all-new hydraRemedy™ Gel Serum, I asked Stephanie to share why Face Reality created this versatile product.
“Our clients, and clients in general, are looking for multifunctional products that address a variety of concerns. hydraRemedy™ Gel Serum is the birth child of a multifaceted serum that does way more than just hydrate. It supports barrier health, strengthens the skin’s microbiome, reduces redness/irritation, and increases skin hydration. PIE is a significant concern that many people with acne experience and this product does wonders to reduce PIE both during and after the clearing journey.” Stephanie Criscione
Stephanie on what she loves about this hydraRemedy™ Gel Serum
“The hydraRemedy™ Gel Serum is a versatile addition to any skincare routine, offering deep, long-lasting hydration while helping to fortify the skin’s natural protective barrier. Its soothing properties effectively diminish irritation and redness, including post-inflammatory erythema, making it particularly beneficial for those with sensitive, acne-prone skin. It also has a really cool blue tint (totally natural) that makes you instantly think, soothing. Lastly, it’s priced very comparably at only $45 for this amazing skin-calming powerhouse.
Face Reality Acne Experts can integrate the hydraRemedy™ Gel Serum into their clients’ treatments/routines in so many different ways! It can enhance hydration during colder months, act as a moisturizer for those with very oily skin, reduce irritation to help maximize penetration of active ingredients and support barrier restoration. This serum can be used for in-office treatments in place of or in addition to hydraBalance and is the star of the show in our brand-new Barrier Repair Treatment. Incorporating this serum in treatments and home care regimens can improve overall skin resilience and complement existing acne treatments.” Stephanie Criscione
All-New Face Reality Barrier Repair Treatment
During my July visit to the Face Reality Clinic, I had the chance to experience ‘a top secret treatment’! I asked Stephanie to share with L+A a little about this treatment and anything that may be coming from Face Reality in the near future, here’s what she had to say.
“The Barrier Repair Treatment is designed to restore an impaired barrier for clients who may be too inflamed for peels and extractions. By calming and soothing the skin, it helps better prepare it for introducing active topicals. This treatment is also an excellent option for colder weather and for clients who are clear but experiencing sensitivity or irritation. Additionally, it’s suitable for non-acne clients seeking to repair and restore their skin barrier.” Stephanie Criscione
What Does Face Reality Have In The Pipeline That You Can Share?
“You know I can’t spoiler alert; however, we have several exciting, innovative products and treatments in development aimed at supporting the clearing journey and offering acne-safe solutions that address secondary skin concerns. Our focus for 2025 and beyond remains on providing effective, science-backed products and protocols that support the clearing journey, enhance overall skin health, and empower our Certified Acne Experts to deliver exceptional results for their clients and patients.” Stephanie Criscione