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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!
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In Distress from New York
February 23, 2006
When I first started breaking out I immediately tried Cerasil and when it didn't help I turned to Noxzema followed by a bunch of over-the-counter products. I saw an infomercial for Proactiv and thought finally this might do the trick. I had such high hopes for this product and at first it seemed to help. I wasn't breaking out but my skin was red and I developed a lot of scars. I kept thinking if i keep using it, it will help but help did not come. I didn't want to give up but after having an eruption of blackheads on my chin (which I am not sure if it were caused by the ProActiv) I couldn't take it anymore. I finally went to see a derm and was put on Tazoric and Finacea which worked nicely for the first couple of months. But it didn't clear my skin. The redness and scarring especially are still there. I don't know what to do anymore. I am tired of living with acne, hiding in the house and avoiding human contact. My acne has taken me to the depths of depression and back. This is perhaps one of the worst conditions to be forced to live with. I just ordered the Murad and I've been using it for 3 weeks now without any results. I am breaking out more but the product is purging my skin according to the folks at Murad. After reading some of the Murad reviews I am very scared to continue using this as well.
Janet from Vacaville CA
February 23, 2006
When I first bought this product it was because I had tried everything else. I used it for two months straight and was thrilled with the results. However! It was around a week after I stopped using it (thinking breakouts were finally over for good) that I noticed a pimple on my forehead. I dabbed it with some rubbing alcohol and that was that. Then they started popping up more on my forehead to the point where they were hurting. I used Proactiv again and they went away but this pattern kept repeating. I love Proactiv but within days of not using it pimples are popping out on your face. The catch is that you have to keep using it and using it consistently to see results. Also, the shine that results from the "squeaky clean" result is very distracting on the T-Zone. The mattifying gel that Proactiv produces works well but without it your face is a beacon. Overall I give this product a 8 out of 10.
Anonymous from Indianapolis, IN
February 23, 2006
Seriously, this is the only thing that works. In the beginning it made my face itch a little, but honestly my skin got used to it, and I have NO ZITS NOW!!!!!!!!!
JUST BUY IT
JUST BUY IT
Rather not leave Name from Canada
February 23, 2006
Whether it's the fact that I'm almost to my 30's, continued stress or hormonal changes - I was continuously breaking out - there wasn't a day over the past year that I wasn't trying to cover something painful up on my face! But during the past 3 weeks of being on the Proactiv system again, I may have had 3 new pimples but I think they were PMS related and they disappeared within a day!
I have very sensitive skin and only use the reparing lotion at night and use Oil of Olay for Sensitive skin in the morning (because it has soothing aloe in it) after I use the Proactiv cleanser and toner - and have only experienced minor dryness here and there.
It is hard to judge in your life how stress and other factors are going to affect your skin, but I think if you use the products as they are intended, you will see results because you will have this head start on any stress your skin starts feeling and if you do get a breakout, it's probably not going to be as bad as it really could have been. But that's just my opinion.
I haven't decided yet after the bottles are done if I'm going to continue using the products either. The products are quite pricy in my opinion, which is one thing that is rather upsetting as it seems to say to people that if you don't have money then you don't get to have nice skin and have your confidence boosted, which is not fair, it's like expensive luxury cars that have the best safety features on them, compared to your average car - apparently average people don't deserve to be as safe as rich people? It would be nice to see the cost of these products decrease since they have been on the market for quiet some time, and there is a demand for them - Proactiv has a continued demand for the product all over the world and if the dermatologits that initially created the products to help people clear there skin, they would reach more people and have more people using the product if they were more affordable.
Also, there is that fact that the products are not readily available - ideally it would be nice if the local mall had a kiosk for it, then you definitly would have more control over your own skin.
I have very sensitive skin and only use the reparing lotion at night and use Oil of Olay for Sensitive skin in the morning (because it has soothing aloe in it) after I use the Proactiv cleanser and toner - and have only experienced minor dryness here and there.
It is hard to judge in your life how stress and other factors are going to affect your skin, but I think if you use the products as they are intended, you will see results because you will have this head start on any stress your skin starts feeling and if you do get a breakout, it's probably not going to be as bad as it really could have been. But that's just my opinion.
I haven't decided yet after the bottles are done if I'm going to continue using the products either. The products are quite pricy in my opinion, which is one thing that is rather upsetting as it seems to say to people that if you don't have money then you don't get to have nice skin and have your confidence boosted, which is not fair, it's like expensive luxury cars that have the best safety features on them, compared to your average car - apparently average people don't deserve to be as safe as rich people? It would be nice to see the cost of these products decrease since they have been on the market for quiet some time, and there is a demand for them - Proactiv has a continued demand for the product all over the world and if the dermatologits that initially created the products to help people clear there skin, they would reach more people and have more people using the product if they were more affordable.
Also, there is that fact that the products are not readily available - ideally it would be nice if the local mall had a kiosk for it, then you definitly would have more control over your own skin.
HONEY from AUSTRALIA
February 23, 2006
PROACTIV...ON & OFF PRODUCT...DONT LIKE IT!! I BREAK OUT MUCH MORE THAN B4!! ive used it for 2 months & now my skin is WORSE!! its caused me so much sadness and embarressment at school and everywhere i go:(
I ONCE WAS LOST...BUT NOW IVE FOUND...
PROACTIV IS SO WRONG 4 ME!!
I ONCE WAS LOST...BUT NOW IVE FOUND...
PROACTIV IS SO WRONG 4 ME!!
Anonymous from texas
February 22, 2006
i used proactiv for about 4 months. it only worked for about the first week, then after that all it did was irritate my skin. my face felt like it was burning up and became red. if you do choose to use it try not to apply so much of it. to me it was a waste of money.
Anonymous from USA
February 22, 2006
I only had a few occaisional breakouts, and I thought I might try proactiv to heal them. BAD DECISION!!! Proactiv made my face look worse that it has ever been in the history of my acne. I gave it a five for consistency because it consistently made my face look worse. It felt good when I put it on my face, but not so good when I woke up the next morning to see tons of new pimples on my face, and absolutely no improvement on the old ones, they normally got bigger. Before I wrote this I began using a different product called Benzaclin to clean up proactiv's mess. It is working great and clearing up my face wonderfully. Now, though, I have many scars from proactiv that will take a while to clear up-SAVE YOUR FACE, DONT USE PROACTIV!!!
Dana from Canada
February 22, 2006
I initially tried something called Pure Perfection, which some people dubbed as the "Canadian ProActiv" & it seemed to work very well but the cost become a bit much & i decided i didn't need it anymore. Over the summer my skin was great. Then - in comes fall/winter. I was having a few stressful months so I started to break out around my chin hardcore. As soon as I got rid of a break out a brand new one would occur. So I bought ProActiv & it did SH*T all for me. My skin isn't that bad, it seems to go through phases. The past few months = very bad phase & it didn't help me one bit. After reading all of these comments, I'm starting to think maybe it's been the cause of my skins extended "bad phase".. I only bought it once & am pretty much at the end of the bottles but I'm throwing them out tonight. This stuff is a hoax, clearly. (no pun intended.)
Heather from Fayetteville, AR
February 22, 2006
My mom ordered it for her adult acne and it was too harsh so the company sent her the sensitive formula, which is salicylic acid instead of BP. It still made her skin red and blotchy so she gave it me. I gave it a real try but it actually made my skin worse. I only have a light case of blackheads, occassional pimples, and enlarged pores so I definitely didn't want something that would make my skin look worse. I figured out that salicylic acid reacts terribly with my skin. I probably would have better results with the regular product because BP has worked for me in the past for on-the-spot treatment. Proactive is too expensive, too, you can get similar results by using Cetaphil or other gentle cleanser and a daily BP medication as well as a gentle skin exfoliater.
Anyway, I used to have severe acne and did Acutane (now its considered even more dangereous) and it worked wonders. I know I don't need to use that again but I think its time to head to the dermatologist again.
Acne can be very emotionally devasting so if you have a severe case of acne do what you can to convince your parents to take you to the dermatologist. And, I suggest, being very clear with your dermatologist about your needs. Mine made me go through alot of products before acutane but that's very expensive so I got him to give most of the products to me as samples to keep the cost down.
Anyway, I used to have severe acne and did Acutane (now its considered even more dangereous) and it worked wonders. I know I don't need to use that again but I think its time to head to the dermatologist again.
Acne can be very emotionally devasting so if you have a severe case of acne do what you can to convince your parents to take you to the dermatologist. And, I suggest, being very clear with your dermatologist about your needs. Mine made me go through alot of products before acutane but that's very expensive so I got him to give most of the products to me as samples to keep the cost down.
Lori from NM
February 22, 2006
I have seen Proactiv work wonderfully on a friend, but hesitated for a couple of years before I gave it a chance. I ordered it 2 months ago - it worked really well for 2 days, but my face and eyes started itching and swelling real bad. Turns out I'm allergic to benzoyl peroxide, so I asked if there was a different kind for sensitive skin or something. They sent me another package for "sensitive skin." This kind has salycic acid. It doesn't work AT ALL. In fact I have more pimples than I've ever had in my life. Before using Proactiv, atleast SOME parts of my face were clear and soft. Now my ENTIRE face is just rough - full of pimples of every size! It must work on just some people. I'd recommend giving Proactiv atleast a try because I think that if you're not allergic to the benzoyl peroxide, then it may work. But I don't recommend looking at that stuff as if it's knights in shining armor finally comin' to rescue your face from zits, because it sure didn't rescue mine.
Total results: 5,960 Viewing page: 451 of 596
