Sofie Pavitt knows what we’re all thinking: the world doesn’t need more beauty products. But even with product launch fatigue, the cool kids know to make an exception for the renowned esthetician simply because, in true New York fashion, IYKYK.
“No one has any business launching a beauty line in this day and age—I’m very aware of that. [But] I want to draw a line in the sand and say that we’re an acne brand,” Pavitt tells Beautycon over Zoom. “I don’t think people have the guts to do that a lot of the time. They want to do a bit of everything: they want to do a hydration line, they want to do an anti-aging line, they want to do a problematic skin line, etc.,” she says. But Pavitt doesn’t want those with acne-prone skin to feel like an afterthought anymore. “We’re going to take care of you and we’re going to clear it up for you,” the esthetician says.
And speaking of clearing things up, her newest product, Reset Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment Mask, launching today, will do just that. “I love using Benzoyl Peroxide products with my acne clients at my skincare studio,” she shares in the press release. “I love it in this short contact application that minimizes the risk of irritation,” Pavitt continues about the product that can be used twice daily. Not only is it sensitive skin-friendly, it’s also jam-packed with oil absorbing kaolin clay, hydrating pantheon, niacinamide for maximum suppleness, and exfoliating glycolic acid.
Leading up to this moment, Pavitt has amassed a cult following of devoted skincare enthusiasts who want a no-frills approach to tackling their acne. But her beauty origin story actually started when she was a designer at Michael Kors, where she found herself traveling to Seoul every 12 weeks. She quickly fell in love with K-beauty’s innovation in the skincare space and decided to go back to school and train to become an esthetician.
Her effective techniques and singular focus on this one skin concern earned her the trust of skeptical insiders and A-list celebrities (she counts “It” girls like Zendaya and Lorde as clients), with long waitlists just to book a consultation at her Chinatown studio. Naturally, the high demand is what inspired the launch of her very own brand, Sofie Pavitt Face.
“When I started online consults, I noticed that there weren’t any really beautiful acne products in the world; they were all drugstore [products],” she says. “My clients– who were quite discerning and liked to shop in Sephora, Bergdorf, Violet Grey, and all the fancy places– were all asking for problematic skin products. So, that really got me thinking about my own product line.”
Her eponymous line currently consists of four products: the Mandelic Clearing Serum, the Clean Clean Cleanser, the Nice Ice Toner Pads, and the newly launched Micellar Cleansing Pads. Each product sticks to her ethos of being acne-focused, separating it from the many that try to be a catch all for every skin concern possible. Plus, they work—and they work damn well.
And just like her treatments and products, Pavitt’s insights on skincare are fun and straightforward. With acne? Do your research on what type of esthetician you need to see and use her ingredient checker to see which ingredients will clog pores. TikTok trends? There’s a lot of B.S. and she confirms that rubbing a raw potato on breakouts won’t cure acne and beef tallow as moisturizer will clog your pores. A hot take? She hates oils and balms for acne-prone skin.
She praises skincare brands, such as Dieux, for their transparency with consumers when it comes to manufacturing processes and commitments to sustainability practices. (“[Its] products are also really cool,” she adds). She’s a huge fan of Soft Services and Experiment and is even a fan of a celebrity beauty brand. “I think Rhode is actually a really fun brand,” she says. “I think Hailey [Bieber] really did something new and everyone loves her. The lip tints are really fun.”
As for the best beauty advice she’s ever received and wants to pass onto others? She says to follow these three tried and true skin commandments: always wash off your makeup, always wear sunscreen, and don’t eat too much sugar. “It will give you wrinkles,” she says.
