In our consumerist culture, it seems as though there’s always a new celebrity brand launching its products into the market. Whether it’s Hailey Bieber’s Rhode or Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty, it’s hard to tell if celebrity brands are actually high-quality products or just backed by a famous name.
Recently, Alix Earle launched hers: Reale Actives, a ‘sexy’ new line of skincare meant for acne-prone skin. In contrast to other social media influencers, Earle is transparent about many details in her life – especially her acne journey.
She has long struggled with cystic acne, and after multiple rounds of Accutane, she decided to launch a skincare line meant for skin types like hers. According to Earle, through the combination of these products and acne medication, she has seen a total difference in her skin.
“When you have serious acne, skincare doesn’t feel fun or cute,” Earle expressed in an interview with Cosmopolitan. “I could never walk into Sephora and just grab any of the viral products because I was worried they’d break me out. I want this brand to change that for other people.”
The social media star collaborated with Dr. Kiran Miran, a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in sensitive skin and acne. Together, they created 4 products designed to treat and hydrate acne-prone skin.
Let’s take a dive into each product to see what they do – and if they’re really worth it.
“Get Bare”
Earle went from late-night GURWM videos to creating a product that does it all for her. The “Get Bare” cleansing balm claims to remove long-wear makeup, improve skin texture and smoothness, and leave the skin softer with each use. It’s advertised as the first step in your evening skincare routine, getting rid of anything oil-based on your skin.
Ingredient-wise, this formula includes:
- Squalane: a saturated oil good for hydration, with anti-inflammatory properties to combat acne and eczema.
- Saturated squalene is non-comedogenic, while unsaturated squalene can cause acne. It is not clear what type of product it is, so take this into consideration.
- Green tea extract: packed with polyphenols, it can calm inflammation and may improve skin elasticity.
- Sebum dissolving oil complex: a specialized, lightweight cleanser that minimizes pore size and is strong enough to melt tough oil-based products and blackheads on the skin.
- Vitamin E: an antioxidant commonly used for hydration and UV damage purposes
- Centella asiatica extract: a botanical ingredient said to smooth, work against inflammation, and have wound healing properties.
According to many reviews online, this product does the job in getting a full beat off your face after a night out. However, it’s quite expensive at $29. You may be able to find a cheaper alternative like the Versed Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm, which retails for $23.99.
“Pore Power”
As the second step in Earle’s skincare routine, this product is said to gently exfoliate and deep clean your pores, while maintaining softness and not overly stripping down your skin. This is a product that works for acne-prone skin.
“I wanted a good everyday cleanser that was working towards good goals for my skin, but at the same time helping me feel good and comfortable in my everyday skin,” said Earle in a video on the Reale Active website.
Ingredients-wise, this product includes:
- Caprylol Salicylic Acid (LHA): a soluble salicylic acid used for exfoliation, reducing acne, and improving skin texture.
- Willow Bark Extract (BHA): a gentle exfoliant that removes excess skin and oil, while also tightening the skin and minimizing pore size.
- Resveratrol: a potent antioxidant found in the skin of fruits like grapes and raspberries that has anti-aging, calming, and hydrating properties.
- Fructan: a probiotic plant-based polymer that offers intense skin hydration, soothing, and supports the skin’s microbiome.
- Ginger Root Extract: as an anti-inflammatory, this can brighten skin tones, reduce acne, and soothe red inflammation.
- Fermented Rice Glycerin: rich in amino acids, antioxidants, and vitamins, this ingredient repairs the skin barrier, hydrates, and may have anti-aging effects.
If you’re looking for a product that gently exfoliates your skin, but also cleans out your pores and keeps the skin soft, this may be the cleanser for you. If it’s in your budget, I’d say it’s a safe product to add to your routine.
“Go Deep”
Out of all the products in Earle’s launch, this one stands out amongst the rest. While the whole line is pretty much promoted for those with acne-prone skin, this product may help the most.
According to Earle, she found that mandelic acid was the one ingredient that helped clear some of her skin texture, acne scars, and even her skin tone. So, when she decided to create her skincare line, she knew it had to be included.
Ingredients include:
- Mandelic acid: an ingredient that is ideal for acne-prone skin that evens out skin tone, improves texture, fades hyperpigmentation, as well as reducing acne
- Synactin AC: a bioactive that is designed to treat acne-prone skin through fighting bacteria, cleaning out your pores, calming inflammation, and minimizing dark spots
- Arginine: an amino acid that hydrates, strengthens the skin barrier, and helps collagen production
- Squalane (see description under “Get Bare”)
- Licorice Root Extract: a natural ingredient that helps with calming inflammation, reduces dark spots, and is a good antioxidant against UV damage.
- Centella Asiatica Extract (see description under “Get Bare”)
- Garcina Mangostana Peel Extract: derived from exotic fruits, this ingredient is rich in antioxidants and provides anti-inflammatory and potential anti-cancer effects.
If you’re looking to purchase just one out of the 4 products in this line, this mandelic acid serum is a good choice. Earle claims this saved her skin, so hopefully it can do the same for you.
“Dew More”
To put the finishing touch on your clean skin, the ‘Dew More’ barrier-boosting moisturizer claims to give your skin the hydration and barrier protection it needs. It’s lightweight and clinically proven to hydrate the skin for 72 hours. It’s said to work as a good primer and under makeup.
“I didn’t want a moisturizer that leaves your skin feeling heavy and oily,” said Earle in a video on the Real Skin website.
Ingredient-wise, this product includes:
- Quad-Ceramide Complex: a blend of ceramides designed to intensely restore the skin barrier, deeply hydrate the skin, and improve elasticity.
- Hyaluronic Acid: a very common ingredient in skincare products, this acid aims to plump, hydrate, and improve the texture of skin.
- Glycerin: a non-comedogenic humectant that hydrates and protects the skin barrier through drawing moisture from the air onto the skin.
- Willow Bark Extract (see description under “Pore Power”)
- Ectoin: an amino acid derivative that provides intense hydration and improves skin barrier
- Lactobacillus Ferment: probiotic skincare ingredient that hydrates, protects the barrier, and reduces inflammation
- Shea Butter: This very controversial ingredient aims to nourish and hydrate the skin, yet some have seen pore-clogging effects.
This product and line itself claim to be non-comedogenic, meaning it doesn’t have ingredients that will clog your pores, but there has been a rising concern about the inclusion of shea butter as an ingredient in this formula. While others may experience clogged pores, you may have an entirely contrasting experience based on your own skin type.
If you’re looking for a good light-weight moisturizer that will make your skin glow, I’d say this is for you. However, there are plenty of others like this on the market for lower prices. With that said, go with what’s best for your skin and your budget.
Controversy
When Earle announced she was launching a brand, skincare was the last thing anyone expected. Some thought she’d maybe start her own alcohol brand or clothing line, to go hand in hand with her iconic nightlife adventures. Transparency is a great tool to gain your followers’ trust as an influencer, but it can also come with some side effects.
So, even though Earle has brought her followers along her acne journey, many questioned why she was promoting a skincare brand when she said acne medication was the only thing to clear her skin.
Earle and her team clarified that Reale Actives may not get rid of your acne, but it does contain ingredients that support acne-prone skin.
@realeactives She just takes a second to warm up 💚 we’re working to improve the initial pumps of the packaging to make this more seamless for you 😉
♬ original sound – Caroline Ricke
Another issue with the launch that has gone viral is more of a physical one — a packaging malfunction with ‘Get Bare.’ Customers have shared online struggles with getting the pump to work; no product has come out.
However, despite these controversies, Earle and her company have received it very well, taking the constructive feedback into account and working to improve the packaging to ensure customers can get the product out.
Final thought
Reale Actives is a brand that comes straight from Earle’s heart, one that’s been built off of her own experiences with acne.
All 4 products have high-quality ingredients that can positively benefit your skin in one way or another. If you have the budget to afford the whole line, which comes to about $132, go for it. However, like any celebrity brand, there’s always going to be cheaper products that affect your skin in very similar ways.
As always, it comes down to what’s best for your skin. Some people may benefit greatly from this line, while others may not even notice a difference. It’s evident that a lot of thought, carefulness, and research went into Reale Actives, which is visible in their formulas. Ultimately, if you’re someone who values well-formulated, research-backed skincare and is willing to invest in it, Reale Actives may be worth exploring, but it’s not a guaranteed game-changer for everyone.
