Benzoyl Peroxide

Overall rating: 3.42 / 5
(based on 337 votes)

Recommended by 67% of visitors

Average price: $14.62


         
  
By on

Let me just say that I've had acne for almost 10 years, im 26 now. I normally don't write reviews for this kind of thing, but after only a week's use, I can say that my skin is the best it's looked in 10 years. USE BP WITH CAUTION THOUGH. My first use, my skin was red, irritated and completely swelled up. One of the problem was that the BP kept eating at my face so I had to remoisterize every hour. I couldnt do this at night since I was asleep so when I woke up my face looked like hiroshima.

I stopped using it after 2 days and just used moisterizer for the next 4 days. After a week, my skin returned to normal and was free of pimples,. Now I just use it as a spot treatment. BP does work, even with a person like me who has incredibly sensitive skin. As with anything, please do extensive research before trying BP, best of luck to you all!

Pros

  • Clears pimples
  • fades scars a little

Cons

  • Will redden your face if you apply all over
  • May cause itchyness, dryness, irritation if you have sensitive skin
  • DO NOT WEAR AROUND YOUR EYES, may cause bags/wrinkles
  • DO NOT WEAR USE BP AT NIGHT ON YOUR FIRST TRY, do it during the day time
  • I got made fun of at work :(
  • moderately severe
  • for a day or two
  • $ 5
  • I recommend using this treatment.


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By on

BP is the gold standard over the counter acne treatment. I have used it for many years. When I started using it, it was very effective and I was happy. I started on 2.5%. A few years later the 2.5% stopped working so I switched to 5%. Again it was very effective. A year or two later it stopped working so I switched to 10%. Again great success. Now however 10% no longer works and I am unable to control acne with this product.

One thing I have noticed is that my skin is extremely oily now whereas a few years ago my skin used to be only moderately oily. In line with my experience, check out pubmed id 17309452: in this study BP increased sebum output by at least 10% over an 8 week period!

If excess oil is a problem for you, I suggest you try another product (as I am now doing).

Pros

  • it works (for a few years anyway)
  • after the initial period, it does not sting on application

Cons

  • it stops working after a while (after many years for me)
  • over time it seems to increase oil output
  • moderate
  • for more than a year
  • $ 15
  • I do not recommend using this treatment.


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By on

I got acneside 5% last week as recommended by my aunt who is a GP. I noticed the effects from day 1 and was v impressed.

This is definitely the best topical ointment I have used for acne, being much more effective at spot drying and skin clearing than salicylic acid or tea-tree oil based products.

However, after a week I am a little disappointed that I am still getting spots although the BP is great at clearing them up quickly.

I am going to stick with it along with trying to eat healthier as being having too much chocolate over Xmas may also be causing breakouts.

So yeah, BP is great but it is a response rather than a solution to acne and so must be combined with some preventative measure.

Pros

  • Dries up spots overnight better than any topical ointment used before, clears away blackheads and whiteheads and leaves skin feeling smooth, great for oily skin - leaves it matt, you can get it without prescription

Cons

  • Does cause severe drying and is a killer if you get it anywhere near your eyelids so you have to be careful, leaves red marks where you had a spot, I still keep getting spots so it doesn't prevent you getting them just helps clear them faster, I am a little concerned about premature aging so think I am going to just put it on the individual spots for most nights
  • light
  • for about a week
  • $ 15
  • I recommend using this treatment.


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By on

YOU MUST GET SOMETHING WITH THIS IN IT. Only 2.5% please!

I saw the BIG improvement the very first night. Now, proud to say, my skin has been its clearest in 6 years! I don't even recognize my skin anymore. This is amazing. The drying is SO worth it. Plus, the peeling sort of gets rid of my acne scars. :]

Pros

  • Gets rid of acne FAST
  • Clearer skin in just days!

Cons

  • Dries out skin [need moisturizer]
  • moderately severe
  • $ 6
  • I recommend using this treatment.


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By on

Okay, look guys... if you use 10% BP on your face, it's going to burn your skin. You don't need anything stronger than 2.5%, and you only need to apply it once or twice a day. Don't go crazy with it. BP is the only thing that helps my stubborn acne. It hasn't cleared me up completely to date, but it is literally the only product that has given me any hope for improvement.

I say it has the potential to dry your face out. There WILL be some drying regardless of what you do, but you can avoid the horrible peeling and tightness if you use a good-quality moisturizer, you have a method of exfoliation and you DON'T use BP strong enough to strip the paint off your car.

A higher percentage of BP doesn't mean it'll work more effectively or quickly - it just means you're going to get a rude shock when it hurts you. You have to start out gradually with 2.5% BP, apply it VERY gently, and gradually increase how much you're using to allow your skin to develop a tolerance for it.

The Regimen on this site has clear instructions for those of you who aren't sure if you're doing it right or if you're using the right products. Look through all the information that's available to you, it's awesome.

Excuse me for sounding like a parrot, but seriously, don't use 10% BP on your face. It's fine on your body. But DON'T put it on your face!

(I've been there. Not cool. Live and learn, guys.)

Pros

  • Good availability
  • Eliminates moderate acne with consistent use

Cons

  • Quite drying to skin
  • Has the potential to cause damage
  • moderate
  • for a few months
  • $ 15
  • I recommend using this treatment.


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By on

Ok, so..

I used something called Basiron (swedish brand) AC 10%, this is the "strongest one".

I would say for all of you,

buy the least strong one, you don't want to expose your skin to unnecessary harsh conditions.

A model gave me this tip,

use a VERY thick layer and put it where it is the most needed only! Wait for it to dry, wash it off, then repeat but the second time don't wash it off! Put a towel on your pillow (to avoid bleaching) and sleep with it on your face!

Do this max.. 3 days in a row because it will even after the first day feel like your face has tightened up! I used to do this (when my acne was at its worst) about once a month, like a rehab treatment hah!

Now from time to time I use it on my smaller pimples or when I get hormonalbreakouts or one huge zit somewhere very exposed...

When you start to use this MOISTURIZE. Dont care if oilfree or with oils WHATEVER.

Just use something on your faces people!! Even if you at the beginning do not even see flaking, this still dries your skin out from the inside..

I do recommend this stuff because it is cheap and it works if you know your skin.

If you have real acne then do not use this because it is too strong, Dermalogica are expensive but I swear by their every product. They changed my life. Just invest in one product and you will see and feel a difference..

Good luck, and remember that acne is nothing to be embarrassed about! Many ppl go through this so you are not alone!!!

Pros

  • All of those small pimples disappear
  • More clear skin
  • Kills bacteria from inside
  • Cheap
  • Easy to find/get

Cons

  • Extremely drying if used regurarly/on a daily basis. Flaking of skin also.
  • Might sting
  • Redness for severe acne
  • Too harsh on skin
  • Bleaches textiles
  • moderate
  • for a few months
  • $ 2
  • I recommend using this treatment.


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By on

wen i use dis for 4 wks all my ancne are gone but it left redspots on my face. err!!

Pros

  • get rid of acne

Cons

  • leaves redspots,dryness,and dries my skin >.<
  • moderate
  • for about a month
  • $ 1.52
  • I recommend using this treatment.


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By on

I used this before my acne got worse, it did clear my skin greatly. Now I use Clindamyncin with benzoyl which I find works even better but you do need a prescription. But overall I find this works just as good. As for me a prescription is free. But I do recommend this product to everyone who wants quick healing of acne. And that cannot get a presciption. This would be the best store bought product for acne healing!

Pros

  • Works at healing acne fast
  • Dont need a prescription

Cons

  • Makes your face dry and possibly peel
  • moderately severe
  • for more than a year
  • $ 15


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I think for those with complicated lesions, inflammated, difficult to deal with I would recommend that. But what worries me a little is the "Peroxide" in the formula. We all know that Hydrogen Peroxide generate free radicals and seems to be the case in BP, meaning premature aging.

So I think if you manage to control your acne, then you should consider using Tea Tree Oil and Salicylic Acid (SA) on the spot. SA works wonderful reducing inflammation and avoiding the red big bump we all hate. tea tree oil kill bacteria.

Pros

  • Kill bacteria, one of the best to do that.

Cons

  • Premature Aging.
  • moderate
  • for more than a year
  • $ 10
  • I recommend using this treatment.


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i'm willing to take 2 pros over all those cons. use mousturizer and take care of your skin and this will work wonders. all the tiny pimples i had that would irritate me so much all dissapeared after just 2 uses.

this has helped me so much,

i've been using it for 1 week and 4 days along with tretenoin, but i'm almost out only because i've used this product before and there was only a little left when i started again

i'm not sure how much it cost, but a little goes a long way.

i'm purchasing more very soon because the day i ran out, 2 new pimples emerged. i guess that proves that bp prevents my pimples

from moderate acne to light acne

Pros

  • gets rid of acne!
  • fades scars!

Cons

  • redness
  • flakiness
  • dryness
  • tightness of skin
  • moderate
  • for a few weeks
  • I recommend using this treatment.


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