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[stefph]

Welll..I guess I'll introduce myself first. I'm Steph, 17, and this is my first post. Usually I only get pimples on my forehead, but now they're everywhereee! I'll confess that I have a habit of exaggerating, but they're popping up on my chin, near my mouth, my nose..everywhere!!
I got Proactiv for free from my boyfriend, who was too lazy to use it. It worked very well for me, the top of the bottle better than the bottom, for some reason, but it was drying. So, I started to use it at night and Aveeno's Calming Cleanser in the morning. Recently I ran out and he doesn't get it anymore, so I used an olive oil wash for a while called Olivella, which worked okay. I went from 1-2 pimples on Proactiv to around 5 I guess. I don't really know. Then after a week or two I started using Basis Cleaner Clean face wash, not the bar kind, and Queen Helene's Mint Julep Masque every once in a while. I just keep breaking out more and more though. I've been on this stuff for almost 2 weeks, and I don't know if it's working or not! Is this the normal Proactiv breakout I've heard of? I've a lot of little bumps, a couple blackheads, a few red pimple things, a few white heads, and two big ol' underground pimples. Is my regimen just not working for me? The Basis certainly makes my face feel clean.
Anyway, out of desparation, I started using my Neutrogena's Body Clear Body Wash (2% SA) that I bought for teh bacnes on my face to help with the little bumps. It's helped some, but not too much. I've a lot of little redmarks too, and my skin scars easily. I've also started using Proactiv's BP spot treatment again.

Wow, this is getting long ~_~

So, now for the questions.

Are BP and SA really bad for my face? I've read in a post that they were, and I don't know if there's any validity to that.
Everyone says that Proactiv is so bad for you, and that it's products are so basic that it's not worth the money. Are there separate OTC products I could buy to simulate a cheaper and less drying form of Proactiv? Does that even make sense to anyone? Idk if I said it right.
Is this breakout normal and should I just wait longer?
Any other suggestions/questions/empathy?


Regrettably, I don't have any current pictures to share.

[Cyph31]

SA and BP together are a recipe for disaster on your skin

even BP alone will make your skin flaky and severely impair its ability to heal

i used a BP cream for the first time in my life (24 now) last year for several months and am now left with a dozen red marks across my forehead/cheeks and will probably have them for years to come no matter how much i change my diet

before i used BP i never had redmarks longer than a few weeks