Influencer Alix Earle Gets ‘Real’ About Her Acne Struggles with New Product Line

Whether caused from genes, hormones, age, stress, or lack of a regular cleansing routine, most people experience acne at some point in their lives.

According to PubMed Central, the skin condition affects approximately 9.4% of the global population, making if the eighth most prevalent disease worldwide. What’s more, over 40% of adults are experiencing breakouts with high rates in adolescents. Even “it” girls like Alix Earle.

The 25-year-old social media personality and influencer is cashing in on her years-long battle with cystic acne with a new line developed with Dr. Kiran Mian, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.

Four-Step System

Launching on March 31, the line, Reale Actives, features a four-step system including a makeup-removing cleansing balm; exfoliating gel cleanser; mandelic acid serum; and a ceramide/hyaluronic acid moisturizer. According to Healthline, mandelic acid is an oil-soluble alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from bitter almonds, ideal for treating acne, hyperpigmentation, and aging skin, especially on sensitive skin types. Given its large molecular weight, it penetrates the skin slowly and evenly, causing less irritation than fellow AHAs, such as glycolic acid.

Two years in the making, Earle chronicled her acne journey on TikTok dating back to 2022. Pictures showed her cheeks covered in pimples, which extended below her jawline. The condition mitigated with three rounds of Accutane and spironolactone, a potassium-sparing diuretic used to treat manage acne in women. Despite these treatments, in acne’s fashion, flareups continue to boomerang. Given a lack of consistent clearing, she worked with Dr. Mian to create a four-step topical skincare regimen to keep her skin clear while caring for the skin’s delicate microbiome to preserve its texture and prevent future breakouts. As with most people struggling with the recurring skin condition, Earle told People Magazine she was “overdoing it” with various products and not seeing the results she desired. She attributes patience and scaling back her routine with the few products in her Reale Actives line to helping her see a “ton of improvement” in her skin.

And Earle isn’t one to “fake it till you make it.” The first step in clearing up her acne problem, she said, was getting “real” about the issue with her 8 million TikTok followers – some of whom may be dealing with the same – with an unapologetic reveal. The goal? To offer a solution to others going through the same and not covering it up with cosmetics until the condition subsides. As the brand’s tagline insists, “Let’s show some skin.”

“I want it to be just kick-starting a wave of girls feeling confident in those imperfections because they’re real,” she told People.

Other Gen Z stars are also vocal about tackling acne and making its management “sexy.” Lili Reinhart launched Personal Day late last year after her own acne struggles. Check out Happi’s exclusive interview here.

Watch the making of Reale Actives here: