Our latest Beauty Boss is Alex Hernandez, Licensed Esthetician and Lead Educator for Face Reality Skincare—an award-winning acne treatment program that is dedicated to helping people achieve clear and healthy skin that helps them feel their absolute best.

June is Acne Awareness Month, and every year more than 80 million people experience acne. Face Reality’s unique business model meets their needs through partnerships with over 3,000 professionally trained and certified estheticians across the U.S., offering products and client services unlike any other acne company on the market. As the #1 Recommended Acne Brand By Estheticians, Face Reality was also recently named Best Places to Work 2023 by the San Francisco Business Times and named Best Acne Brand three years in a row by ASCP.

In her current role as the Manager of Education and Lead Educator, Hernandez oversees all professional educational training materials and classes on a national level. Additionally, she supports other key departments including marketing, R&D, and Face Reality’s Acne Clinic.

“Some of my favorite aspects of my job are teaching classes at trade shows, conducting live webinars with our Acne Experts, and working closely with professional trade publications writing articles and recording webinars for their audiences,” Hernandez says.

We chatted with Hernandez, who shared what inspired her to join the brand, secrets for success, wellness tips, and much more.

When was Face Reality Skincare founded and what does the name mean?

Face Reality Skincare was founded in 2005 by licensed esthetician Laura Cooksey and her business partner Patrick Romani when they opened up their 4-room clinic in San Leandro, CA. Laura always loves to tell the story about how the name came about! Essentially, it was by chance during a marketing meeting she had in the very early days of getting the business put together. One of the people she was working with said it and it just instantly clicked into place for her and she has stuck with it ever since.

How long have you been with the company?

I am coming up on my 5-year anniversary with Face Reality this year. I started in 2018 in our clinic as an acne specialist. When I started, Laura herself was still in the clinic to train me and I will be forever grateful for that experience

What inspired you to join Face Reality Skincare?

Prior to working at Face Reality and even before becoming an esthetician, I worked right around the corner from the San Leandro clinic. It was at that job that I first heard about Face Reality from my coworker who was going to receive treatments on his lunch breaks and achieved amazing results with his severe combination acne. Fast forward a few years, I had reached my potential in the spa I was working in and it was always my intention to work in truly corrective skincare so when I saw that the clinic was hiring for an esthetician, I jumped at the opportunity!

Can you share more about your background?

It has been over a decade now since I first entered the beauty industry. My journey began as a spa front desk associate where over the years, I worked my way up to being the clinic manager with 30+ direct reports. Being in that position allowed me to accompany my estheticians to various trainings put on by professional brands. This is really where my passion for skincare and ingredients began. Couple that with having family members close to me struggling with acne and the results I saw other estheticians making possible, my mind was made up. I went to esthetics school during the day while continuing to manage the spa at night, all with a one-and-a-half-year-old son at home. Upon receiving my license, I began working at that same spa that started my journey in the beauty industry.

What do you love about working in this industry?

I have always been a very introverted person, but being around other skincare professionals and our Acne Experts has really brought me out of my shell over the years. I love getting to meet, teach, and connect with other estheticians! If I am able to be of service to someone to teach them something new, give them advice, or just celebrate their wins with them—that’s when I am at my happiest in this industry.

Does Face Reality Skincare have a hero product?

Face Reality doesn’t necessarily have a hero product since we are very regimen based. But if I had to pick one, it would be our L-Mandelic Serum! I think if you were to survey all 4,000 of our Acne Experts, at least 3,000 of them would say the L-Mandelic Serum is their favorite. The hero ingredient of this product is the alpha hydroxy acid l-mandelic acid which has so many benefits for the skin and the treatment of acne. This serum also contains l-lactic acid which provides an additional level of chemical exfoliation and brightening for post acne marks. Our L-Mandelic Acid Serum is so universal in the sense that it comes in different percentages for different stages, its suitable for all skin types, and safe for all fitzpatrick types. 

What are your favorite products from the brand?

I have so many favorites but if I were to pick my top three, they would be: Moisture Balance Toner, Hydrabalance, and the Salicylic Serum. I am a dry, red skin type so my skin drinks up the hydrating ingredients in the toner, and Hydrabalance and the Salicylic Serum helps to soothe and calm my skin.

Where are your products sold?

Face Reality Skincare has a consumer website where potential users can become acquainted with the brand and our inactive products. From there, they are led to use the Store Locator tool to connect with one of our Certified Acne Experts to receive a proper consultation, treatments, and access to the full line. For many people, it is a big commitment to seek out an esthetician, pay for their services, and purchase a full regimen. The consumer site acts as a gateway for those overwhelmed by the idea of having to talk to someone and purchase a 6-step regimen. It allows them to try some of the inactive products like cleansers and moisturizers, fall in love with them, then decide to commit to seeking out a professional to begin their acne clearing journey. 

Future plans for the brand?

We are truly blessed to have experienced incredible growth over the past five years. Trade shows are still fairly new to us, and we will definitely continue to increase our presence and educational offerings going forward. We have also built out our product and digital product teams this year, so many new developments coming in the next five years!

Who inspires you?

It may sound cheesy, but I am truly inspired by the Acne Experts I have been able to meet over the years. I have made many new “estie besties” and continuing to watch their success inspires me to continue educating and putting myself out there in any way I can to hopefully make a difference for the next esthetician. 

Secret to success?

Not every industry has it and our industry doesn’t have it all the time, but community is my secret to success. I am constantly surrounded by amazing, talented, successful professionals that I know I can lean on and vice versa. This goes for the internal Face Reality team and our Acne Experts that I have been fortunate enough to build relationships with.

Beauty and secrets?

This isn’t a secret, but it warrants repeating: hydration and sunscreen are essential to healthy skin! 

Best advice?

My best piece of advice for other estheticians out there is to never stop learning. I am the lead educator for an acne brand, but I always learn something new whenever I attend a class! I am always seeking out new acne trainings, basic skincare knowledge, peel classes, etc. You can never learn everything in this industry so we need to remain diligent students.

Favorite way to relax?

I am a big reader! I read dozens of books a year and reading is my favorite way to unwind or pass the time. Reading really allows you to immerse yourself into another world where your own problems don’t exist, so you essentially get a break from reality for a little while.

For more information, visit Face Reality Skincare’s website and follow on Instagram: @facerealityskincare

[Images courtesy of Face Reality Skincare]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk