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Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel is a lightweight, water-based gel that delivers hydration, calms irritation, and supports barrier health in oily and blemish-prone skin. Face Reality, a professional-grade acne brand trusted by estheticians, formulated this gel to work seamlessly with active acne treatments without clogging pores or adding heaviness. The formula has a subtle botanical scent from essential oils including lavender, rose, and ylang ylang.
Key Benefits
Hydrates without congestion Sodium hyaluronate, the purest salt form of hyaluronic acid, holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water to pull moisture into the skin without clogging pores or contributing to breakouts.
Controls excess oil production Lilac leaf cell culture extract helps regulate sebum production while offering antifungal, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties to support clearer, more balanced skin.
Calms irritation from acne treatments Soothing botanicals including aloe, witch hazel, and honeysuckle extract help reduce dryness and sensitivity caused by benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, and acid serums.
Protects against environmental damage Totarol and Phenyl-t-Butylnitrone (Spin Trap) deliver antioxidant protection by trapping free radicals and converting them into useful oxygen, shielding skin from daily stressors.
Flexible hydration layering Water-based formula works alone as a daily moisturizer for oily skin types or layered under your favorite acne-safe moisturizer to lock in hydration and support barrier resilience.
If your skin is oily or combination and struggles to find hydration that doesn't feel heavy or cause congestion, this gel delivers moisture where you need it without adding weight or clogging pores. It's especially valuable for acne-prone skin using benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, or acid treatments that leave skin feeling tight, dry, or irritated.
Ideal for dehydrated skin that still produces oil, or sensitive, compromised barriers that need calming support without rich textures. If you've avoided moisturizers because they feel too heavy or make you break out, this lightweight gel offers a solution that hydrates and soothes while remaining completely acne-safe and non-comedogenic.
Layer hydraBalance under Face Reality ClearDerma during the day for a hydration boost that won't interfere with your sunscreen or makeup, then use it over your Acne Med or benzoyl peroxide treatment at night to calm any dryness without reducing the effectiveness of your acne-fighting actives.
Prepare: After cleansing and toning, ensure skin is clean and slightly damp.
Apply: Dispense 1 pump and apply to face, neck, and chest morning and evening. Use alone as a moisturizer for oily skin or layer under an acne-safe moisturizer for added hydration.
Technique: For skin experiencing mild irritation from correctives, try the hydraBalance Sandwich: apply a thin layer of gel and allow to dry, apply your corrective treatment and allow to dry for 1 minute, then finish with another layer of gel to buffer actives while maintaining comfort.
Frequency: Morning and evening. Always follow with SPF when used in the AM. Note: airless pump packaging requires 15-20 pumps before product dispenses when first used.
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Carbomer, Maltodextrin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hyaluronate (L), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Potassium Sorbate, Syringa Vulgaris (Lilac) Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Santalum Austrocaledonicum (Sandalwood) Wood Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Citric Acid, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Oil, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Totarol, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Alcohol, Cinnamomum Camphora (Camphor) Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil*, Phenyl t-Butylnitrone (Spin Trap) *Certified Organic Ingredient
What is Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel?
Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel is a lightweight, water-based gel that hydrates, calms, and protects acne-prone and oily skin. It delivers moisture without heaviness, supports barrier health, and remains non-comedogenic and acne-safe, making it compatible with active acne treatments.
Can Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel be used as a standalone moisturizer?
Yes. hydraBalance works beautifully as a standalone moisturizer for oily or acne-prone skin types who prefer a lightweight feel. For normal, dry, or compromised skin, layer it under an acne-safe moisturizer to boost hydration and help lock in moisture.
Can Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel be used with benzoyl peroxide or retinoids?
Yes. hydraBalance is specifically designed to layer safely under or over benzoyl peroxide, Acne Med, acid serums, and retinoids. Its water-based formula helps reduce dryness and irritation from acne treatments without interfering with their effectiveness or clogging pores.
What is the hydraBalance Sandwich technique and when should I use it?
The hydraBalance Sandwich is a buffering method for skin feeling mildly irritated from correctives. Apply a thin layer of hydraBalance and let it dry, apply your corrective treatment and let it dry for 1 minute, then finish with another layer of hydraBalance. This technique helps maintain hydration and comfort while using actives like acids, benzoyl peroxide, or retinoids.
What are the key ingredients in Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel?
Key ingredients include sodium hyaluronate to draw water into the skin and hydrate without clogging pores, lilac leaf cell culture extract to help regulate sebum production and calm inflammation, totarol for antioxidant and antimicrobial support, and Phenyl-t-Butylnitrone (Spin Trap) to trap free radicals and convert them into useful oxygen for powerful antioxidant protection.
Does Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel have a scent?
Yes. hydraBalance has a subtle botanical scent from essential oils including lavender, rose, ylang ylang, and sandalwood. The scent is light and dissipates quickly after application.
Why isn't my Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel dispensing product right away?
The airless pump packaging requires 15-20 pumps before product dispenses when first used. This is normal and does not indicate a defect. Once primed, the pump will dispense product with each use.
Why buy Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel from Art of Skin Care?
Art of Skin Care is an authorized retailer of Face Reality, so every product you receive is 100% authentic, sourced directly through official brand channels and never from third-party resellers. Our team is made up of licensed, acne-certified estheticians who hand-select the products we carry based on real skin science and professional results. We don't just sell skincare; we understand it. Not sure if Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel is right for your skin? Get a free skincare consultation and one of our estheticians will personally guide you.
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Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel is a lightweight, water-based gel that delivers hydration, calms irritation, and supports barrier health in oily and blemish-prone skin. Face Reality, a professional-grade acne brand trusted by estheticians, formulated this gel to work seamlessly with active acne treatments without clogging pores or adding heaviness. The formula has a subtle botanical scent from essential oils including lavender, rose, and ylang ylang.
Key Benefits
Hydrates without congestion Sodium hyaluronate, the purest salt form of hyaluronic acid, holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water to pull moisture into the skin without clogging pores or contributing to breakouts.
Controls excess oil production Lilac leaf cell culture extract helps regulate sebum production while offering antifungal, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties to support clearer, more balanced skin.
Calms irritation from acne treatments Soothing botanicals including aloe, witch hazel, and honeysuckle extract help reduce dryness and sensitivity caused by benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, and acid serums.
Protects against environmental damage Totarol and Phenyl-t-Butylnitrone (Spin Trap) deliver antioxidant protection by trapping free radicals and converting them into useful oxygen, shielding skin from daily stressors.
Flexible hydration layering Water-based formula works alone as a daily moisturizer for oily skin types or layered under your favorite acne-safe moisturizer to lock in hydration and support barrier resilience.
If your skin is oily or combination and struggles to find hydration that doesn't feel heavy or cause congestion, this gel delivers moisture where you need it without adding weight or clogging pores. It's especially valuable for acne-prone skin using benzoyl peroxide, retinoids, or acid treatments that leave skin feeling tight, dry, or irritated.
Ideal for dehydrated skin that still produces oil, or sensitive, compromised barriers that need calming support without rich textures. If you've avoided moisturizers because they feel too heavy or make you break out, this lightweight gel offers a solution that hydrates and soothes while remaining completely acne-safe and non-comedogenic.
Layer hydraBalance under Face Reality ClearDerma during the day for a hydration boost that won't interfere with your sunscreen or makeup, then use it over your Acne Med or benzoyl peroxide treatment at night to calm any dryness without reducing the effectiveness of your acne-fighting actives.
Prepare: After cleansing and toning, ensure skin is clean and slightly damp.
Apply: Dispense 1 pump and apply to face, neck, and chest morning and evening. Use alone as a moisturizer for oily skin or layer under an acne-safe moisturizer for added hydration.
Technique: For skin experiencing mild irritation from correctives, try the hydraBalance Sandwich: apply a thin layer of gel and allow to dry, apply your corrective treatment and allow to dry for 1 minute, then finish with another layer of gel to buffer actives while maintaining comfort.
Frequency: Morning and evening. Always follow with SPF when used in the AM. Note: airless pump packaging requires 15-20 pumps before product dispenses when first used.
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Carbomer, Maltodextrin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Alcohol Denat., Sodium Hyaluronate (L), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Potassium Sorbate, Syringa Vulgaris (Lilac) Leaf Cell Culture Extract, Sodium Metabisulfite, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Santalum Austrocaledonicum (Sandalwood) Wood Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Citric Acid, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Oil, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Totarol, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Alcohol, Cinnamomum Camphora (Camphor) Bark Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil*, Phenyl t-Butylnitrone (Spin Trap) *Certified Organic Ingredient
What is Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel?
Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel is a lightweight, water-based gel that hydrates, calms, and protects acne-prone and oily skin. It delivers moisture without heaviness, supports barrier health, and remains non-comedogenic and acne-safe, making it compatible with active acne treatments.
Can Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel be used as a standalone moisturizer?
Yes. hydraBalance works beautifully as a standalone moisturizer for oily or acne-prone skin types who prefer a lightweight feel. For normal, dry, or compromised skin, layer it under an acne-safe moisturizer to boost hydration and help lock in moisture.
Can Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel be used with benzoyl peroxide or retinoids?
Yes. hydraBalance is specifically designed to layer safely under or over benzoyl peroxide, Acne Med, acid serums, and retinoids. Its water-based formula helps reduce dryness and irritation from acne treatments without interfering with their effectiveness or clogging pores.
What is the hydraBalance Sandwich technique and when should I use it?
The hydraBalance Sandwich is a buffering method for skin feeling mildly irritated from correctives. Apply a thin layer of hydraBalance and let it dry, apply your corrective treatment and let it dry for 1 minute, then finish with another layer of hydraBalance. This technique helps maintain hydration and comfort while using actives like acids, benzoyl peroxide, or retinoids.
What are the key ingredients in Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel?
Key ingredients include sodium hyaluronate to draw water into the skin and hydrate without clogging pores, lilac leaf cell culture extract to help regulate sebum production and calm inflammation, totarol for antioxidant and antimicrobial support, and Phenyl-t-Butylnitrone (Spin Trap) to trap free radicals and convert them into useful oxygen for powerful antioxidant protection.
Does Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel have a scent?
Yes. hydraBalance has a subtle botanical scent from essential oils including lavender, rose, ylang ylang, and sandalwood. The scent is light and dissipates quickly after application.
Why isn't my Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel dispensing product right away?
The airless pump packaging requires 15-20 pumps before product dispenses when first used. This is normal and does not indicate a defect. Once primed, the pump will dispense product with each use.
Why buy Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel from Art of Skin Care?
Art of Skin Care is an authorized retailer of Face Reality, so every product you receive is 100% authentic, sourced directly through official brand channels and never from third-party resellers. Our team is made up of licensed, acne-certified estheticians who hand-select the products we carry based on real skin science and professional results. We don't just sell skincare; we understand it. Not sure if Face Reality hydraBalance Hydrating Gel is right for your skin? Get a free skincare consultation and one of our estheticians will personally guide you.
I will seriously never use another moisturizer. I am very sensitive to lotions and every other moisturizer either burns or leaves me oily. This is refreshing and light.
My three teens all use this along with their acne med routine. It’s soothing and moisturizing, yet lightweight and not greasy in our tropical climate.
This moisturizer I find doesn't make my skin have an oily feel which is great as an oilier skin type. Also feels super light and haven't had a break out yet - highly recommend
Use this almost daily
Had little to no expectations buying this, but now has become a staple. Glides on unassumingly, but feels silky smooth without being greasy or heavy. Not exactly serum, not exactly a toner and feels like it does more than its title job of gel. Perfect base for actives and more glossy serums and moisturizers on top. I notice a difference if I don’t use this- my skin seems more even and hydrated with it.