Authentic Beauty

Authentic Beauty is owned and run by Clara, a licensed esthetician, from its studio at 346 Raleigh St., Suite A in Holly Springs. The studio focuses on facials, skin treatments and brow services, and serves clients from Holly Springs and Raleigh.

New clients can start with the Foundational Consult & Facial, which combines a consultation with a customized facial. Other facial options are the 60-minute Signature Tailored Facial and the 90-minute Signature Tailored Luxe Facial. Clients who want only a skin consultation can book an In Person Consult, a one-on-one session with Clara that does not include a facial. Customized facials are generally suggested every four to six weeks.

The Acne Bootcamp is the studio's main skin program. It combines custom facial treatments, a hand-selected skincare regimen and lifestyle guidance, and uses the Face Reality skincare line for home care, which clients must use exclusively. The first consultation and treatment appointment runs about 1.5 hours, and later treatments run 45 minutes to an hour and are recommended every two to three weeks. Treatments after the first appointment cost $99 each, and the initial product investment is $150-$200. Clients taking prescription topical products are asked to stop them two to four weeks before starting. Minors may take part only with a parent or guardian present at every appointment, providing consent.

Each brow visit starts with a consultation and brow mapping, followed by waxing, detail tweezing, trimming and a finishing aftercare oil. The menu includes the Signature Brow Wax, a Wax + Tint service and Brow Lamination. The tint in Wax + Tint typically holds for roughly three to four weeks on the hair and one to two weeks on the skin. Brow lamination is a semi-permanent process that lifts and smooths natural brow hairs and holds them in place, and it can be combined with a tint. With good home care, results may last as long as six weeks, and a complimentary aftercare kit comes with the service. Lamination clients should leave six to eight weeks between sessions, stop using active skincare ingredients seven to ten days before brow appointments, and skip tweezing or trimming in the days beforehand.

Appointments are booked online through Vagaro. Hours are Tuesday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Wednesday 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Thursday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and Friday 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, with the studio closed Saturday through Monday. Changes need at least 48 hours' notice, new clients pay a 50% deposit to secure their first visit, and late arrivals of more than 10 minutes must reschedule. Children should not attend appointments, and other guests may come only if they are also booked for a service. Product sales are final.

Clara builds customized treatment plans and teaches clients about their skin, with ongoing support through each client's skincare routine. Product recommendations are hand-selected to be acne-safe, and an online ingredient checker is available to help clients choose.