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Proactiv Solution Reviews
People have asked me about Proactiv® so much that I decided to try it so I could give my feedback. I found it to be surprisingly irritating and utterly ineffective. However, Proactiv is on the right track in recommending benzoyl peroxide, and specifically recommending it in 2.5% strength.
Where I think Proactiv veers off track:
- Cleanser: The Proactiv Cleanser contains scrubbing beads, and Proactiv recommends washing for 1-2 minutes with this cleanser. I am quite stunned at both of these oversights. It is absolutely vital to avoid irritation when treating acne, especially inflammatory acne—the kind most of us have. Scrubbing beads, and washing for this amount of time introduces unnecessary and damaging irritation, perpetuating the acne cycle.
- Toner: I think the Proactiv toner is fine, albeit unnecessary to achieve clear skin.
- Treatment: Over my 20+ years of benzoyl peroxide research and experience, I have found that for benzoyl peroxide to completely clear acne, people must apply it generously. “Use a lot!,” is my simple mantra. It is amazing what this simple act will do toward achieving completely clear skin. Unfortunately, Proactiv packages its treatment in a 1oz. container. The small size of Proactiv ’s treatment bottle leaves people skimping and often disappointed in results. Next, Proactiv combines their benzoyl peroxide treatment with moisturizer. One of the main reasons benzoyl peroxide works so well is because it is a drying and peeling agent, which helps prevent clogged pores. For this reason, it is a good idea to apply benzoyl peroxide without moisturizer, and let the benzoyl peroxide do its thing for a few minutes (5-15) before introducing moisture. Unfortunately, you don’t have that choice with the Proactiv treatment. Lastly, the treatment is heavily scented. I personally avoid scented products because they must be applied right under the nose, and tend to linger and leave me feeling a little nauseated throughout the day.
My suggestion: To completely clear acne, it will prove far more beneficial to buy a gentle cleanser without scrubbing beads, a large, unscented 2.5% benzoyl peroxide medication, and a non-comedogenic moisturizer. Then follow these steps precisely to achieve completely clear skin.
If you currently own Proactiv Solution products, don't throw out the Repairing Treatment. If you can handle the smell, it should work in a pinch, as long as you are generous with it. I would not recommend using the Proactiv cleanser. I would also forgo the toner until you’re completely clear. Then feel free to add it in if you’d like and see how things go.
As a final note, I am thankful that Proactiv hires celebrities to talk about acne. This helps reduce stigma, so thumbs up on that!
Total results: 5,139 Viewing page: 1 of 514
fralli from minnesota
July 28, 2010
| Pros | fewer pimples |
|---|---|
| Cons | very drying irritating redness bleached my towels stings |
| Bottom line | I could not handle the stinging! My face had fewer pimples, but was read and irritated. and this was using it sparingly once a day. |
| Recommended | No |
| Price paid | $19.99 |
| Acne severity | moderate |
AstrumMortis from IA
July 26, 2010
| Pros | -Overall more gentle than other products -Simple process -Good percentage of medicine -more options than just the three core products-- gentle and extra strength, plus line extensions available |
|---|---|
| Cons | -acne can get worse before it gets better -requires patience: can take up to 6 weeks for full results, and that's when you use it properly, which is twice a day every day, no skipping - expensive for some people - doesn't help cystic acne-- that requires serious dermatological help that Proactiv just can't touch |
| Bottom line | Proactiv, in my experience from myself and my customers, works quite well. It is a well designed and consistent product. But the three main products-- cleanser, toner, and treatment-- aren't a solve-all for every problem that comes with acne. Dry skin will require a moisturizer, oily the various oil controls in the line, combination skin needs both. It's also pricey compared to some other products. Fifty dollars for a two month supply is sometimes too much for some people, but it's a product that doesn't cut corners on quality. You'll never find mineral oil or alcoholic fillers, but you will find things like tea extracts, chamomile, witch hazel, tea tree oil, and china clay. From a customer angle, my customers tend to return the product either because it's too harsh or they don't think it works or... rarely... because their regular shipment came in the mail and they don't need what they bought from us anymore. The first problem is typically solved with fewer applications or an exchange for the gentle kit. The second problem either needs proper usage or an extra strength kit. The last? Well, there's no help for those. The fact of the matter is that for many, many people, this is a more consistent, dependable, effective, and gentler system than many others out there. And that's why I've kept my job selling this stuff for almost three years now-- the customers are happy, and my life much easier because of it. |
| Recommended | Yes |
| Price paid | $50.00 |
| Acne severity | light |
Anonymous from Wisconsin
July 26, 2010
| Pros | -removed acne for a while and relatively quickly -kept it away for a while -moisturizer works and works as sunscreen |
|---|---|
| Cons | -stops working as you build up a tolerance to it -once you build up the tolerance, it actually makes your acne get worse |
| Bottom line | I needed a quick fix before my junior prom so I tried proactiv. I had about a week and half to play with, and it worked wonders. I was totally clear and thrilled after struggling with mild acne for a few months. I continued using it for 9 months and it worked great! I was completely clear except for the occasional pimple. I was used to flawless skin until my junior year started. hormones? I dont know. but I had some acne. In January, it seemed to stop working. I dont know if it was the "new" proactiv or what, but it wasnt clearing me up. I took a break, tried probably 4 different treatments (exposed, baking soda, la roche posay), and nothing worked as well as proactiv had. Finally, after trying Exposed for a month with mixed results, I figured I'd try Proactiv again. I was down south and working out a lot, where I'd sweat, and I thought the cleanser with the beads would help exfoliate my skin. I couldnt have been more wrong. After seeming to help the first week, the next two were a disaster. I just went in circles. A zit would start receding just for another one to reappear elsewhere. It drove me crazy. Now I'm frustrated as possible and don't know what to do....college starts in a month and I have no idea what I should do to stop this problem. I do know, though, that I"m done with proactiv |
| Recommended | No |
| Price paid | $35.00 |
| Acne severity | moderately severe |
unhappy from pennsylvania
July 25, 2010
| Pros | some reduction in pimple size other than that, absolutely nothing!!!!!!! |
|---|---|
| Cons | dried skin redness severe pain and irritation costly rough on sensitive skin |
| Bottom line | i have only used proactive for 3 days and i have already regretted getting it. the secod time i used it i began to notice dryness and it just got worse from there. my skin began to enflame and was sooo red. the it started burning and i just wanted to strip the product off of my face! my acne even started to get worse! i had more bumps on my cheeks even though proactive is supposed to prevent new pimples. i never should have bought it. if someone tells you to try proactive,dont! you and your skin will regret it. it actually makes your acne worse. try using neutrogena. it is much safer and soothing for sensitive skin. |
| Recommended | No |
| Price paid | $25.00 |
| Acne severity | light |
Jake from NY
July 23, 2010
| Pros | Nothing |
|---|---|
| Cons | Makes skin oily Or really dry Doesn't work |
| Bottom line | Sucks |
| Recommended | No |
| Price paid | $30.00 |
| Acne severity | moderate |
Pat from Chicago
July 22, 2010
| Pros | -Cleared most of my acne after a while -Made my skin look and feel better in general - Not much drying at all |
|---|---|
| Cons | -First month acne actually got worse -Took a long time to clear up most of my acne (4 months or so) - Can burn a bit - Will discolor towels |
| Bottom line | I hear a lot of people rip on Proactiv for being overpriced or not working. I also hear people say it actually may make acne worse. This is partially true- my acne got worse for the first month or so. Then it soon started to clear up pretty well. You also have to really keep up with it. I found that if I missed just one or two applications I'd break out within a few days. If you can handle the slightly high cost and make sure to keep up with it, it works. At least it worked well for me. I also had no issues with flaking or drying- my skin is actually smoother and looks overall much better (even my girlfriend has noticed this). I imagine it just comes down to how your skin reacts, as we all have different skin. It worked well for me and I will keep up with it as long as I can afford it. Don't be discouraged by all the whining and negative reviews. Give it a try for a few months and it just might work! |
| Recommended | Yes |
| Price paid | $90.00 |
| Acne severity | moderate |
Isabella from Atlanta, GA
July 21, 2010
| Pros | Gives you an illusion of less ance problems. |
|---|---|
| Cons | Burns, turns my face red, not only it does not work after a period of time, acne problem comes back twice or three times bad as before using proactiv. |
| Bottom line | My acne problem is worst after using proactiv. Also, proactiv have bad customer service, they keep sending stuff I never ordered. After I refuse to pay, they transfer me to collection agency. |
| Recommended | No |
| Acne severity | moderate |
Anonymous from Latham. NY
July 21, 2010
| Pros | reduced pimple size calmed irritation smelled nice keeps skin clear for a while refining mask works |
|---|---|
| Cons | EXPENSIVE causes cystic acne makes skin VERY oily stops working after a few years |
| Bottom line | The system worked perfectly fine until my skin got used to it and ultimately produced an excessive amount of oil, and now my face shines and I continue to struggle with more acne breakouts! Aside from the lotion, the product reaked of excessive oilyness and just made my skin more oily than it already is. It worked for the first few weeks but after a while it stops!! It's EXPENSIVE and it irritated my skin! If you have mild acne or moderate I would recommend it but don't be surprised if you get hit with cystic acne. be prepared. |
| Recommended | Yes |
| Price paid | $70.00 |
| Acne severity | moderate |
ld30 from IL
July 20, 2010
| Pros | Worked for about 1.5 years could see difference in 1 week worth of use it was consistent |
|---|---|
| Cons | drying peeling stopped working after 1.5 years inflamed white heads on chin and cheeks |
| Bottom line | At age 17, I was still on antibiotics for back acne (figured sports was the cause). I never broke out on my face but had little bumps on my forehead and upper cheeks. The dermatologist gave me a topical prescription (can't remember, long time ago) and told me to clean my face with a light cleanser such as cetaphil. The cetaphil cleanser barely removed any make-up and left a residue on skin. It wasn't really helping the bumps. I saw the proactiv commercial and decided to try it and my friend loved it. After the first week, it was very drying but cleared up the bumps. I think within a month or two my skin was pretty much clear besides a few red marks from the product bringing a some pimples out. It worked great through my senior year and my first half year at college. Around the end of my freshman year, I started to get cystic acne on my chin. I thought maybe it might've been from hormonal medication. I stopped the medication and went to the dermatologist. The derm told me that proactiv was too harsh for my skin. He gave me antibiotics and told me to use a gentle cleanser. I tried Cerave with tretonin topical cream. It took a year to work and I broke out after make-up applications. (Skin sensitivity?) Try Proactiv again because I missed being completely clear. First few days my skin felt great; I was still breaking out while old ones healed which I was expecting for the first few weeks. My chin started getting bumps. After three and half weeks my chin broke out in full cystic acne that was painful. It started to spread to my cheeks. (I was only getting one or two pimples on Cerave.) After I stopped Proactiv and switched to Clean and Clear gentle antibacterial foaming wash, no new pimples and the old infected ones are trying to heal. My mom only uses Dove soap, my sister Clean and Clear, my boyfriend Dial, my girlfriend shampoo. (They have very little skin problems) Maybe I was doing too much and irritating my skin |
| Recommended | No |
| Price paid | $30.00 |
| Acne severity | moderate |
Nicole from Texas
July 20, 2010
| Pros | Nothing! |
|---|---|
| Cons | After one year of use it STILL didn't work! What a waste of money!! |
| Bottom line | I've been off of proactiv for almost two months. Once I stopped using proactiv my face cleared up! It makes me sick how much money I wasted on this stupid product! |
| Recommended | No |
| Price paid | $30.00 |
| Acne severity | moderate |
Total results: 5,139 Viewing page: 1 of 514
