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In a world where beauty founders are plentiful, Sofie Pavitt stands out. Not only is she a celebrity esthetician to some of your favorite stars – like Zendaya and Lorde – but she also has a way of making acne feel less scary. It’s probably why she’s earned the title of New York’s Acne Whisperer.
After working as a handbag designer for Michael Kors, Pavitt left to become an esthetician, launched her spa in 2018, and eventually created Sofie Pavitt Face a few years later.
“I spent 15 years in fashion as an accessories designer. When I was working for Michael Kors, I started traveling to Seoul regularly and completely fell in love with skincare. I decided to get my esthetician license (which was not a glamorous career pivot at the time) and focus on treating people instead of designing, and all these years later I can confirm it was the best thing I ever did,” Pavitt tells TQE.
Now, her acne-focused product line can be found on Sephora’s Next Big Thing Wall, and her hit product, the Madelic Clearing Serum, has hundreds of positive reviews and has garnered a cult following.
Below, Pavitt talks me through her journey of becoming one of the most coveted estheticians in New York, the cult favorite mandelic serum, and skincare tips and tricks she loves and avoids.
The Journey to Becoming a Celebrity Esthetician and Launching Sofie Pavitt Face
TQE: What was it like being a bag designer for Michael Kors, and how do you feel like that creativity fuels what you're doing with Sofie Pavitt Face now?
SP: It was a great career, and I genuinely loved product design. I loved being part of such a powerful design team: we had a blast. It was such a fun moment for us all working in that era of MK!
I think of Sofie Pavitt Face as a fashion brand. The same instincts I used in accessories – obsessing over the details, thinking about how something feels in your hand, making sure it solves a real problem – all translate to the brand. I also got to travel extensively, and when someone else is paying for it, it’s even more fun.
TQE: What gap do you feel like the studio and your brand are filling in the skincare space?
SP: For us, the studio is where treatment, maintenance, and education happen rather than what people might picture when they think of a spa experience. I think there's a lot of toxic positivity in the "acne is a gift!" type messaging, and I find it condescending. My clients want solutions, so that's what we're here to provide. I’m a results-driven facialist; it’s not so much to relax, as to learn about your skin and get you on the straight and narrow with your routine.
TQE: Acne is overwhelming and utterly confusing, especially now with so much information being thrown at us through TikTok. What is the first step you recommend someone take to help them on the path to clear skin?
SP: Simplify. Stick to cleanse, treat, hydrate, and resist the urge to buy every new, fun thing you see online. If you're struggling with acne, chances are doing less will be your best first step. I have some hot takes on the ingredients to use, but you can look up my method in my videos over on TikTok!
The Cult Behind Sofie Pavitt Face’s Mandelic Serum
TQE: The Mandelic Serum seems to be a fan favorite amongst many (myself included!). What about the ingredients makes it special and a star product for your customers?
SP: I love mandelic for my clients. The larger molecular size means it penetrates slowly and gently to dissolve the bonds between dead skin and healthy skin underneath, so it's less likely to dry you out.
That, plus the addition of hyaluronic acid and panthenol (our trademarked blend called MANDELIC-SP3), means you're exfoliating and hydrating at the same time. Honestly, most of my clients use it regardless of whether they have acne. It just makes skin smoother, brighter, and clearer, and that makes it great for anyone who wants their skin to glow and have radiance.
TQE: How do you recommend using the Mandelic Serum, and are there any ingredients we should avoid when using the product?
SP: Start every other day to see how your skin responds, then work up to daily use over about two weeks. It sits in your cleanse, treat, hydrate routine as the treat step. If you're using retinol or other actives, I recommend alternating: mandelic in the AM, retinol or other active in the PM. You just want to make sure you're not overdoing it with your actives.
Pavitt’s Skincare Tips and Tricks
TQE: In this day and age, it's easy to give up on a skincare product when you don't see quick results. As an esthetician, how long do you recommend sticking to an acne skincare regimen to see its full effects?
SP: 12 weeks. That's the honest answer, and I know it's not what people want to hear. Acne has a 3-month lifespan from start to finish, so that's really where we see a marked improvement with a skincare routine. The biggest mistake is giving up too soon and reaching for the next thing. Consistency is genuinely the most important part. Give your routine time to work. Also, my hot take on this is to take out your retinol products if you're still dealing with inflammation until it's calmed down, and focus on mandelic acid and benzoyl peroxide as your actives.
TQE: What is one skincare trend that is completely overrated?
SP: It's always going to be micellar over oil cleansing for me, especially for my acne-prone clients.
TQE: One skincare piece of advice you wish more people would listen to?
SP: Check the other things you're putting on your face. This could look like checking makeup and haircare for pore-clogging ingredients, but it's also washing your pillowcase, cleaning your glasses, or swapping out that dirty towel for disposable ones (Sofie Pavitt Face Come Clean Towels plug, they really are amazing!). People spend so much time obsessing over their skincare routine and completely overlook something like the dirty towel in their bathroom.
TQE: There are plenty of expensive skincare treatments; which do you feel like are worth it, and which do you feel are scams?
SP: Rejuran shots are genuinely incredible. Aerolase is technically a laser hair removal treatment, but it has so many other amazing skin benefits. We perform this in the studio, and it’s amazing to treat acne clients and anyone dealing with persistent redness, laser hair removal with a side of skin improvement too. I do Thermage and Ultherapy yearly also.
The Future of Sofie Pavitt Face and Products She Loves and Avoids
TQE: Can you walk us through your daily skincare routine?
SP: I do my nighttime routine as soon as I get home from work so I can be on mum duty in my pajamas; otherwise, I fall asleep in a toddler's bed in my outdoor clothes with a full face of makeup on! I cleanse, treatment step varies but typically a retinol or other active, and moisturizer. In the AM, I'm usually doing a quick routine after a workout, so micellar, cleanser if I can, Mandelic Clearing Serum, and sunscreen always. I like a sunscreen that can act as my moisturizer, too.
TQE: Are there any products you recommend adults with acne to avoid completely?
SP: Check for pore-clogging ingredients. Heavy oils, certain silicones, coconut oil — these are things I see constantly in moisturizers and primers that are actively working against you. I'd also say over-cleansing with harsh, stripping cleansers is something to avoid. It damages your barrier and can actually make acne worse by triggering more oil production.
TQE: Aside from your own line, what are other beauty products you swear by?
SP: I've been loving Chris McMillan's new Detox Shampoo; the cooling sensation is incredible. Josie Maran body butter is a fav. We recently got before-and-afters from a studio client who has been using Cyspera for hyperpigmentation. We sell it at the studio and her results are truly amazing.
TQE: What's next for Sofie Pavitt Face? Anything new you can tell us about upcoming launches?
SP: We launched the Sofie Pavitt Face Temp Check Hot & Cold Therapy Mask Duo on October 6! This is a kit that comes with two skin-perfecting masks using contrast therapy to treat problematic skin at home. Start with the Warming Facial Mask that instantly warms upon application, working to exfoliate and even out skin tone. Follow with the Cooling Mask, a gel format that leaves your skin hydrated, firm, and plump. And there is definitely more coming; stay tuned! We have some really exciting things on deck that I can't fully share yet, but I will say we're revisiting some existing products and have some new launches coming that I think people will be really excited about.
You can shop Sofie Pavitt Face at Sephora.com and sofiepavittface.com.
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