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At first glance, 25-year-old influencer Alix Earle’s new acne skincare brand doesn’t exactly seem like it was made for me. I’m 41, with dry, sensitive skin and the occasional hormonal breakout. But I’ve been watching Earle’s TikTok content since her University of Miami days, when she was partying and sleeping in her makeup. I followed along as she struggled to get her acne under control, taking the beauty filter off to show followers her real skin—and even crying in frustration. I feel like I know her and her struggles, so I jumped at the chance to try her line.
I’ve been writing about beauty for more than 15 years, so I’m just as cynical as many people on the internet (probably more) about celebrity and influencer beauty brands. It can be exhausting to see famous people launch companies that seem to have little to do with them. This one, though, makes sense. Earle has publicly struggled with her skin and has done the kind of real-world testing that gives her credibility here.
Of course, she didn’t do it alone. Reale Actives, a play on her name, was developed with guidance from her dermatologist Kiran Mian, DO, FAAD, who, if you’re one of Earle’s more than eight million followers, you’re already familiar with. Dr. Mian tells me the brand isn’t just for people with acne, but it’s especially great if you have it.
“The ingredient profiles we carefully chose are multi-functional and address not just breakouts, but the broader ecosystem of the skin: barrier health, inflammation, hydration, and long-term resilience,” she says. “We worked to create a balanced system that optimizes the skin overall, is both corrective and restorative, and not just suitable, but desirable for all skin types.”
Well, that sounds like me. While I didn’t have acne growing up, I developed what many call a “second puberty” in my mid-30s, with cystic pimples popping up around my chin and jawline. For the first time, I understood the anxiety so many people with acne experience. I wanted to hide when my skin was especially inflamed.
I worked with a dermatologist and esthetician to get it under control, switching my skincare from heavy creams and oils to lightweight, non-comedogenic products. I learned that skin can be both dry and acne-prone. Who knew?
Now my skin is pretty clear, but I still stick to my routine to keep it that way. I use a chemical exfoliator most days, hydrating (but not pore-clogging) serums, and acne-safe moisturizers.
Instead of focusing on clearing my skin, I’m focused on its overall health. Fortunately for me, Reale Actives was created with this in mind.
“Effective skincare isn’t about targeting a single concern in isolation,” Dr. Mian says. “Ingredients like mandelic acid, licorice root extract, centella asiatica, ceramides, and squalane can simultaneously improve acne, strengthen the skin barrier, even out skin tone, smooth skin texture, and address the appearance of pores, refine and clarify the skin across all skin types.”
As with many influencer brands, news of Earle’s skincare line hasn’t been without controversy. Critics have pointed out that she used multiple acne medications throughout her skin journey, specifically Accutane and spironolactone. But anyone who has dealt with acne knows these treatments don’t deliver the same results without an effective skincare routine.
In my opinion, using acne medication doesn’t negate the need for good products. I’m not currently on any prescriptions, but I have used tretinoin (a synthetic form of vitamin A known as a retinoid), and I get acne-clearing facials. I still need an acne-safe routine every day to keep my skin clear.
For the past three weeks, this one has been working well for me. I haven’t had any new breakouts since testing Reale Actives, and my skin feels smooth and hydrated. I paused my usual skincare to really test the products, and I do like them. I’ll be adding my favorites back in while keeping the below Reale Actives in my routine.
Critics of the brand have pointed to “pore-clogging” ingredients in the line, citing online “pore-checkers.” But many experts, including dermatologists not associated with the brand, have noted how problematic those tools can be. They don’t account for the full formulation or the ingredient concentration, both of which matter more than evaluating ingredients in isolation at 100 percent potency.
Since everyone’s skin is different, and “non-comedogenic” doesn’t guarantee a product won’t cause breakouts, it’s best to consult your dermatologist or esthetician to see what’s right for your acne.
As a self-professed skeptic and acne-prone beauty editor, I didn’t expect to be impressed—but here we are.
