After nine seasons on Bravo’s Summer House, Amanda Batula knows what it’s like to live her life unfiltered in front of the camera. But while the reality star was taking over the Hamptons party scene with her friends, Batula battled something far less glamorous off-camera: persistent adult acne that deeply affected her confidence and mental health.
“I actually think I was more comfortable talking about my mental health than I was talking about my acne,” Batula shares. “Which is so crazy to say, because there’s such a stigma with mental health —and you can’t tell what someone’s going through. But acne? You can literally see it on their face.”
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting more than 50 million Americans annually. Face Reality Skincare, a professional acne brand, recently shared a survey that 91% of people with acne report anxiety, and 85% say it negatively impacts their self-confidence. Batula, a public figure constantly on camera and under scrutiny, felt that pressure intensely.
“When my acne was at its peak, I was hiding from the world,” she says. “I wouldn’t go to events. I wouldn’t go out. I was really hiding.”
She says her turning point came after filming season 2 of Winter House. As her breakouts worsened post-filming, Batula knew she needed support — and found it through Face Reality Skincare’s Clear Skin Method, a professional, customized treatment plan built specifically for acne-prone skin. (Her fellow Bravolebrity and bestie Paige DeSorbo also swears by the brand and has collaborated with them as a celebrity partner.)
She began working with NYC-based esthetician and acne expert Madalaina Conti, who helped her commit to a structured skincare regimen and monthly professional treatments. It wasn’t just about products — it was about consistency, trust and being patient with the process, Batula says.
Batula’s daily skincare lineup with Face Reality is a methodical one, focused on clearing breakouts without stripping her skin. In the morning, she double cleanses with the Ultra Gentle Cleanser (creamy) and Antioxidant Scrub (gel), then applies the Sal-C Toner or Salicylic Serum followed by the HydraBalance Hydrating Gel. She tops it off with the Clearderma Moisturizer and, of course, a good SPF (she doesn’t skip it!). For active breakouts, she reaches for Face Reality’s Sulfur Spot Treatment.
“Having a routine I can stick to has been huge,” Batula says. “And letting Madalaina handle the professional side — monthly peels, extractions — it actually stopped me from picking at my face, which was such a bad habit.”
As Batula began to see results — and feel better about her skin — she realized she wasn’t alone.
“I saw the reaction when I opened up about my mental health, and I thought, ‘Why not share this too?’” she explains. “So many people go through this. I’m still trying to clear up my skin, but I feel confident being honest about the journey.”
Batula hopes that by speaking openly about her experience — and sharing her before and afters — she can help others feel less alone in theirs.
“There was a lot of insecurity, especially being online and on TV all the time. But I think the more we talk about it, the more we normalize it. And honestly? I just want people to know that clear skin is possible.”
Below, Batula shares more about her skin journey, prioritizing self-care and how she and husband Kyle Cooke are gearing up for this season of Summer House.
PEOPLE: How did you first discover Face Reality Skincare?
AMANDA BATULA: Paige had worked with Face Reality. And I saw what it did for her skin. One of our summers that we spent together, I forgot my skin care that weekend, so I was using hers. I didn’t even know that it was Face Reality at the time. But yeah, I saw what it did for her skin because she’s dealt with breakouts too. And when the opportunity came for me, I was like, “Yes, I want to work with Face Reality.”
PEOPLE: Why did you decide to share your acne journey with the public?
BATULA: I think people who see anyone, a public figure on social media or on TV, feel like they’re untouchable. They have everything together. Their life is perfect. They’re making so much money. Everything is working out for them. But we have the same struggles as everyone else.
PEOPLE: How does your skin feel now after a few months with Face Reality?
BATULA: My skin’s not breaking out as much anymore, which is the whole point. But the texture and the way my skin looks has improved so much over these three months. I get compliments from makeup artists. I get compliments from strangers. “You’re glowing. Your skin looks amazing.” And I’ve noticed that there’s a difference when I have no makeup on. Even when I put makeup on over my skin, the texture — everything — is just improved. So Face Reality isn’t just acne. It’s really changing my skin.
PEOPLE: How do you deal with anxiety and mental health challenges?
BATULA: My best piece of advice for everyone with mental health is to talk to someone and just to open up. Just saying it out loud is extremely helpful and beneficial. It is a weight off your shoulders. And it finally, for me, felt like I could take action just admitting it out loud. When you hold it in, you’re very alone.
So just finding anyone that you feel comfortable sharing it with — whether it’s a parent, a sibling, a friend, a coworker, a therapist, a stranger on the street you meet at a bar one night — just saying it out loud is so helpful. And then also just being patient with your mental health journey and battling acne and skincare too. Nothing’s going to happen overnight. Being patient is a huge aspect to both your mental health and your skincare journey.’
PEOPLE: How did you feel when Paige announced she was leaving Summer House?
BATULA: I’m obviously very sad about it. Kyle has cried. Literally he put up a post about it and was crying at home, and I was like, “Get it together.” He was like, “I want to spend one more summer with her.”
But no, I kind of saw it coming. She has been so busy. She’s not outgrown the show, but she has so many other opportunities out there. And I know for sure she’s not done with TV. We have not seen the last of her.
Sierra was like, “Who am I going to sleep with?” I was like, “Why don’t we room together?” She’s like, “What about your husband?” I was like, “Forget about him.” But again, this is not the last of Paige. My hope is that she comes out in the summer. We’ll have to throw our second annual Snooze Fest to ensure she comes.
PEOPLE: What’s it like being one of the veteran cast members now?
BATULA: The scariest thing for me is the thought that I’m going to be one of the oldest people in the house, which, if you remember when I came on the show, I was the youngest for a while. The idea of being one of the elders… is terrifying. I think I’ll be the third oldest in the house.
PEOPLE: Do you get a say in the new cast members?
BATULA: We have no say. We used to be able to recommend our friends, and we still can, but they’ve gone through every single one of our friends that could possibly be an option. They’re not going to cast people in their 40s.
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PEOPLE: What’s your vibe when packing and dressing for the show?
BATULA: I’m wearing jeans and a T-shirt. That’s my vibe. That’s my style. I’m sticking to it. Every once in a while, I’ll pull out a dress, go crazy. But I feel like I really found my style and became very comfortable with it.
I used to try to dress for the show and match everyone else’s energy, so now it’s a lot easier to pack. I’ve also learned from Paige and Sierra to pack for the weekend instead of the whole summer. Everyone’s like, “There are so many Amazon packages at the front door.” I’m like, “It’s also probably mine and Sierra’s.”
PEOPLE: Is Kyle as good at packing as you are?
BATULA: No, he’s the worst. Kyle and I literally used to bring our whole wardrobe out there. He tries to pack himself. I’m normally picking out outfits for him all the time though.
Since being on my antidepressants, packing has been so much easier for me. So I’m just able to do it and be done with it. It’ll be midnight and I’m in bed watching TV, scrolling my phone, really getting ready for the next day, and he looks at my suitcase and is like, “Can you help me pack? What should I wear?” I’m like, “Dude. I packed three hours ago. You’re an adult man.”
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PEOPLE: Are you bringing your Amanda Batula Swim bikinis to the Hamptons?
BATULA: They’re the only ones that fit me at this point. The fit is everything — because first of all, you’re the most exposed that you’ve ever been. You’re basically in your bra and underwear.
So I think what makes a good swimsuit is something that you feel secure and comfortable in and you’re not worrying about constantly readjusting or it cutting you off in weird places. I’ve tried on bathing suits before. I have to adjust the whole time I’m standing in the mirror. And it doesn’t matter how much they cost — if it doesn’t fit right, it doesn’t work.”
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