Products I'm Loving Right Now: The Skincare and Makeup Actually Worth It (2026)
- merisahorgan
- Jul 2
- 4 min read
Watch above, or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
A couple of months ago I did a products episode, and I told you the truth: I was having a hard time finding things I actually loved. Something has changed. Since then I have fallen for a whole new lineup, and a few of them genuinely surprised me, including one I was almost sure would let me down. So this is the update, a fresh edit of the skincare and makeup I am reaching for right now, from skin to lips, and exactly how I use each one.
Is Alix Earle's skincare line, Reale Actives, worth it?
Yes, and I say that as someone who is genuinely skeptical of influencer skincare. I have dry skin, and in my late twenties I developed rosacea and some adult acne, mostly from stress, so I have tried a lot of things that did nothing. Reale Actives is Alix Earle's line, built for acne-prone skin, and it is a simple four-step routine: Get Bare, a makeup-melting cleansing balm ($29); Pore Power, an exfoliating gel cleanser ($28); Go Deep, an 8% mandelic acid serum ($39); and Dew More, a barrier-boosting moisturizer ($38). You can buy the whole thing as the Reale Essentials Kit for about $120, which is a genuinely great price for a full routine. I felt a difference the next day, my skin is smoother, my fine lines are less visible, it looks dewy, and it sits beautifully under makeup.
What body oil are you wearing this summer?
A Caudalie fig body oil, which my mom gave me a while ago and I only recently started using. It is a grape-based, antioxidant-rich French oil that sinks in and gives you a glow without feeling greasy, with a soft, fruity, summery scent, so I have been putting it on my collarbone and arms whenever I am in a dress. I also just ordered the Cyklar out-of-shower body oil, the leave-on version of the in-shower one I already love, so I will report back.
Is the Mary Phillips foundation worth it?
If you want makeup that looks like real skin, yes, the Mary Phillips Le Skin foundation is the best base I have found. Mary Phillips is the celebrity makeup artist known for Hailey Bieber and for the viral underpainting technique, and her foundation is hydrating and glowy, light enough for a little coverage and buildable enough to cover everything. It is so good that I have basically stopped using concealer. I pair it with her Underpainting Face Palette, which has a corrector, two contours, and two highlighters in a cream formula. Underpainting just means you place your contour and highlight first and lay the sheer foundation over the top, so the sculpting looks like it is coming from under your skin.
What cream blush and setting spray look like skin?
The Merit Flush Balm in Bespoke, a mauvey deep purple, and the Iconic London Prep-Set-Glow as a finishing spray. The Merit blush is a skin-like cream that stays dewy and blends right into the Mary Phillips base, and Bespoke is a nice change from the bright pink I usually reach for. I do not use the Iconic London spray to prep, I use it at the very end for a soft glow over everything.
The mascara I'm using, and what's next for my lashes
The Tower 28 MakeWaves mascara, a clean formula that is not clumpy and gives just enough length and volume. I also buy the mini version, because you are supposed to swap your mascara every three months and I do not go through a full tube that fast. And a heads up, I am getting a lash lift, a lash tint, and a brow tint in a couple of weeks, and I will let you know how it goes.
What lipstick and lip liner is Merisa wearing?
The Chanel Rouge Coco Flash lipsticks with matching Le Crayon Lèvres liners. I love color, and this summer I have been into a soft shine rather than a full gloss. My three Rouge Coco Flash shades right now are 68 Ultime, 91 Bohème, and 118 Freeze, a light pink, a rosy pink, and a red. For liner I like it matched to the lipstick, not an ombre, so I use the Le Crayon Lèvres pencil in 166 Rose Vif, a bright rose pink, and 174 Rouge Tendre, a warmer red.
That is the lineup, skin, body, and makeup that is making me feel good this summer. The full stories and how I use each one are in Episode 13, press play above.
Every product, linked
Reale Actives, the Reale Essentials Kit, about $120 (Get Bare cleansing balm $29, Pore Power gel cleanser $28, Go Deep mandelic acid serum $39, Dew More moisturizer $38)
Quick questions
Is Alix Earle's skincare line, Reale Actives, worth it?
For me, yes. It is a simple four-step routine built for acne-prone, dry skin, and it made a visible difference within a few days.
How much is Reale Actives skincare?
The full Reale Essentials Kit is about $120, or roughly $28 to $39 per product bought individually.
What foundation looks like real skin?
The Mary Phillips Le Skin foundation, a hydrating, buildable base from Hailey Bieber's makeup artist. It is skin-like enough that I skip concealer.
What is a good natural-shine lipstick?
Chanel Rouge Coco Flash, which gives real color with a soft shine, worn with a matching Le Crayon Lèvres liner.
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xx, HOU
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The details, sourced: Reale Actives, Alix Earle's skincare line for acne-prone skin, launched 2026; product names and prices from realeactives.com. Mary Phillips, celebrity makeup artist known for Hailey Bieber, creator of the m.ph line and the underpainting technique. Tower 28 MakeWaves, an Allure Best of Beauty winner. Every product named is one I bought and use myself.
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