Acne.org Products
I wanted to write this post to warn all users about the new moisturizer from acne.org, which has switched from containing licochalconean ingredient that is absolutely beneficial for acne-prone skinto niacinamide.
I have been using the acne.org regimen since 2011, and I have NEVER experienced any issues.
I have already spoken personally with Dan on the phone to explain what happened.
After two months, here is all the information you need to know:
At first, I thought the problem was the new BP, with its smaller particles, because my skin became incredibly oily after using the regimenunbearably oily. Previously, my skin was always perfectly dry after the regimen.
After a few days, problems started: every day, I would get 5 to 10 new persistent whiteheads.
After a few more days, terrible breakouts began. It felt like I was back to ten years ago, before starting the regimen. The BP had absolutely no effect against what was happening.
After a lot of trial and error, I realized that the problem was NOT the new BP, but rather the niacinamide in the new moisturizer. This is a TRANSFORMATIVE ingredient that triggers internal reactions within the skin. Without delving into the scientific details (a quick search is enough), niacinamide alters sebum production by changing internal skin processes.
In contrast, ingredients like licochalcone do not have this effectthey are simply anti-inflammatory.The transformative effects of niacinamide last at least 48 weeks, so it took me two months to normalize my skin by switching to other moisturizers but continuing to use the acne.org BP. I even had to add a 5% strength BP to mitigate the initial devastating effects of niacinamide.
Niacinamide can cause these issues even in people who have never had acne beforeit must be tested individually.
I strongly advise against niacinamide for anyone with acne issues, despite the current global pro-niacinamide trend that describes it as a miracle ingredient (most likely because its inexpensive for manufacturers).
As I told Dan, I will never purchase an acne.org product again as long as it contains niacinamide.
I hope my testimony is helpful to all users worldwide who are struggling with this issue.
Sorry it's not working for you. That sucks!
I am basing my decisions on what to include in products based on whatever is the latest and best science we have. Niacinamide, based on lots of good research, shows that it reduces oil production, tamps down inflammation, and significantly reduces acne in most people.
Does it cause problems in others? Perhaps it does on rare occasions, and perhaps you are one of those people, and in that case, remember that you don't have to use Acne.org products to do The Regimen. You can find other products that you feel work better for your particular skin.
One more thing I should note is that the new Moisturizer I formulated that contains Niacinamide is extremely effective - in other words, it is super hydrating. Almost everyone has been telling me a little goes a long way. Sometimes when you use too much of any Moisturizer it can cause issues. For instance, occlusives in moisturizer can keep other ingredients in contact with your skin. It's not necessary the Moisturizer itself, but its the way a Moisturizer can keep things in contact with your skin underneath if there's anything underneath that you don't want in long-term contact with your skin. Just a thought to keep in mind.
Just for a short synopsis, I asked ChatGPT and Gemini and they agree that Niacinamide overall helps with acne (attached). I have to go with the hard science when I make decisions on what to include in products. But I also absolutely hear every person who has issues with any product and I'm always considering that as well. Thanks for letting us know how things are going.
I wanted to write this post to warn all users about the new moisturizer from acne.org, which has switched from containing licochalconean ingredient that is absolutely beneficial for acne-prone skinto niacinamide.
I have been using the acne.org regimen since 2011, and I have NEVER experienced any issues.
I have already spoken personally with Dan on the phone to explain what happened.
After two months, here is all the information you need to know:
At first, I thought the problem was the new BP, with its smaller particles, because my skin became incredibly oily after using the regimenunbearably oily. Previously, my skin was always perfectly dry after the regimen.
After a few days, problems started: every day, I would get 5 to 10 new persistent whiteheads.
After a few more days, terrible breakouts began. It felt like I was back to ten years ago, before starting the regimen. The BP had absolutely no effect against what was happening.
After a lot of trial and error, I realized that the problem was NOT the new BP, but rather the niacinamide in the new moisturizer. This is a TRANSFORMATIVE ingredient that triggers internal reactions within the skin. Without delving into the scientific details (a quick search is enough), niacinamide alters sebum production by changing internal skin processes.
In contrast, ingredients like licochalcone do not have this effectthey are simply anti-inflammatory.The transformative effects of niacinamide last at least 48 weeks, so it took me two months to normalize my skin by switching to other moisturizers but continuing to use the acne.org BP. I even had to add a 5% strength BP to mitigate the initial devastating effects of niacinamide.
Niacinamide can cause these issues even in people who have never had acne beforeit must be tested individually.
I strongly advise against niacinamide for anyone with acne issues, despite the current global pro-niacinamide trend that describes it as a miracle ingredient (most likely because its inexpensive for manufacturers).
As I told Dan, I will never purchase an acne.org product again as long as it contains niacinamide.
I hope my testimony is helpful to all users worldwide who are struggling with this issue.
Ok, so absolutely on board with this! Ive been using the acne org products years! Until the niacinamode was added to the moisturiser! I used it for 4 days and my face was literally cracking if I smiled., quick google and was like oh dear need to switch moisturisers.. found Cerave Moisturising lotion for dry to very dry skin. Its ultra moisturising, non comedogenic, large bottle (473ml for 19 Im in Ireland) and no niacinamide. Praise the Lord I was 2 weeks into the use of it before I realised the controversy over the Cetearyl alcohol + cetearyth 20 issue or I wouldve missed an absolute gem!!! Im almost 6 weeks into it (I had to apply 3x a day for the first 2 weeks to combat dryness associated with 4 days niacinamide use) and Im delighted I made the plunge. I still use acne org cleanser + BP tho 🙂
Ok, so absolutely on board with this! Ive been using the acne org products years! Until the niacinamode was added to the moisturiser! I used it for 4 days and my face was literally cracking if I smiled., quick google and was like oh dear need to switch moisturisers.. found Cerave Moisturising lotion for dry to very dry skin. Its ultra moisturising, non comedogenic, large bottle (473ml for 19 Im in Ireland) and no niacinamide. Praise the Lord I was 2 weeks into the use of it before I realised the controversy over the Cetearyl alcohol + cetearyth 20 issue or I wouldve missed an absolute gem!!! Im almost 6 weeks into it (I had to apply 3x a day for the first 2 weeks to combat dryness associated with 4 days niacinamide use) and Im delighted I made the plunge. I still use acne org cleanser + BP tho 🙂
The Cerave moisturisers all contain Niacinamide.
Ok, so absolutely on board with this! Ive been using the acne org products years! Until the niacinamode was added to the moisturiser! I used it for 4 days and my face was literally cracking if I smiled., quick google and was like oh dear need to switch moisturisers.. found Cerave Moisturising lotion for dry to very dry skin. Its ultra moisturising, non comedogenic, large bottle (473ml for 19 Im in Ireland) and no niacinamide. Praise the Lord I was 2 weeks into the use of it before I realised the controversy over the Cetearyl alcohol + cetearyth 20 issue or I wouldve missed an absolute gem!!! Im almost 6 weeks into it (I had to apply 3x a day for the first 2 weeks to combat dryness associated with 4 days niacinamide use) and Im delighted I made the plunge. I still use acne org cleanser + BP tho 🙂
The Cerave moisturisers all contain Niacinamide.
Not this one:
@marronn2 you are absolutely right. Thanks for the link I might try it as Niacinamide breaks me out too. I've been using neutrogena oil free moisturiser for years; it's a good moisturiser but since they've added salicylic acid to it it's not as hydrating as it used to be, especially in winter.
The only issue with this moisturiser is that it has Cerearyl alcohol + Ceteryth 20 but Im using it almost 6 weeks now and Ive found it great. I also bought this one, now I havent tried it yet but it does meet the criteria when you put it into the ingredient checker website and it doesnt contain niacinamide:
https://au.qandaskin.com/products/hyaluronic-acid-daily-moisturiser?variant=42428683157691
@marronn2 Thanks for the warning on that; my skin is extremely sensitive to comedogenic ingredients so that might be an issue. Still I might still try it once my skin has settled down. I think I saw your review on boots.com 🙂 Its becoming increasingly difficult to source good products for acne which is a concern.
I would consider myself very sensitive as well but thank God its been fine. I bought the Q&A moisturiser as a just in case but havent had to use it 🙂
Hi Dan,
I believe you're a good person, but I don't buy into your response of "you're free to use other products," which I've also seen given to other users who raised the same concerns.
Acne.org is not just a cosmetic brandyour mission was to help people. I can expect that kind of reply from commercial brands, but not from acne.org.
Licochalcone might not be everyones favorite, but it doesnt harm ANYONE.
Niacinamide might not be everyones favorite either, but it does cause problems for many.
A brand that truly aims to help people cannot choose an ingredient like that and simply say, "you're free to use something else."
The niacinamide trend, adopted by many mainstream brands, will eventually fadelike all trends.
What will remain, for me, is the conscious choice made by acne.org to follow that trend.
Science should not be followed blindly, otherwise it becomes a source of serious harm.
It is patients who shape science.
I hope one day youll understand this point of view.
I had Acne.org for 8 years before I even sold products. The Regimen is the most important thing. If you can't use one of my products, use a different one. That's the beauty of The Regimen. Anyone in the world can use it.
If you're considering a different product btw, feel free to post the ingredients here and I can have a look and give you my 2 cents on whether it's fine to use on The Regimen.
This is becoming broken record, but I base my decisions on each ingredient on science. And niacinamide has really good science behind it specifically for acne-prone skin. It's been shown to reduce oil production (the less oil the less acne), inflammation (acne is an inflammatory disease), and combat redness/hyperpigmentation (good for after you have a zit), among other things. I kinda view my products as iterations. If a much better ingredient comes out that is backed by even stronger evidence, I'll for sure consider it.
Just anecdotally speaking, niacinamide works well for me personally. My skin looks better when I'm consistently using it. It took a good month or even two for my skin to look better on niacinamide, but it does. Niacinamide isn't one of those things that works immediately. You need to give it a little time. I have heard a few anecdotal reports of purging at first with niacinamide (not in the literature that I've come across, but anecdotally). And initial purges normally subside and after the purge your skin should be better than ever. But the bottom line is if you don't want to give niacinamide time to do its thing or if you're sure your skin reacts poorly to it long term, try a different product.
Finally, I'll just throw in there that if you're tired of trial and error of products and want total control of every ingredient specifically for your skin and only your skin, you can make a Moisturizer yourself at home. It is possible and it's actually kinda fun. Then you can control every ingredient and you're not at the mercy of any brand. Just be sure to preserve it effectively and follow instructions from a reputable source.
Would it be feasible to have two versions of moisturizer available?
As Marron 2 points out, although some of Cerave's moisturizers contain niacinamide, the Daily Moisturizing Lotion does not. ( https://www.amazon.com/CeraVe-Moisturizing-Lotion-Hyaluronic-Fragrance/dp/B000YJ2SLG?th=1 ) I do not yet know if I am sensitive to niacinamide or not, but I am concerned because even Cerave's Daily Moisturizing Lotion gives me some stinging as I am starting too use it. Perhaps it is the hyaluronic acid or the ceramides? I have sensitive, fair skin and might have just started exhibiting erythematotelangiectatic rosacea. I am an almost 60 year-old male who still has acne-proneness and still has to routinely use benzoyl peroxide twice per day below my mouth to avoid acne lesions. Recently, my upper cheeks and around my eyes have started to flake, I am struggling to find an effective and safe non-comodegenic moisturizer. I have been using a generic version of Neutrogena's Oil-Free Moisturizer from Amazon but it is not effective enough for my upper cheeks and around my eyes so I have slowly been trying to introduce the more effective Cerave moisturizer, however I don't know if I can ever get to where I could use it all by its self.
@matcha695 Which neutrogena moisturiser are you using? I've just started to use Peter Thomas Roth's water drench jelly moisturiser, which purports to be non-comeogenic.
https://www.peterthomasroth.com/products/water-drench-jelly-moisturizer-50ml
Would it be feasible to have two versions of moisturizer available?
That's not feasible. I run a very small company and need to keep things as simplified as possible.
matcha 695 You might want to give my Moisturizer a try. Niacinamide is known to be good for rosacea. Not many people react to it poorly. Most react very well. And the rest of the Moisturizer is what I consider to be perfect. Plus, a little goes a long way, so you can use it very affordably.
Hi All,
I am here in support of this post. I have been an acne.org user since 2013. There was one time, in 2021, that a friend convinced me to use another product, which had niacinamide in it. It broke me out severely anywhere I applied it, including places I never had acne before: by my ears, on my neck, by my eyebrows. I ran full speed back to my acne.org products and realized - I would rather be a little dry and acne free than have acne ever again.
I rely on acne.org products to be irritation free and have never questioned this. So, when I started breaking out severely again and in those same, odd places, I realized I should take a deeper look into the most recent product changes. Low and behold, Niacinamide was added. Luckily, I still had some of the old bottle left and the irritation immediately subsided.
I am a scientist by education and have worked 15+ years in the vitamin industry, specifically at a company that makes bulk vitamin powders used globally for all types of applications. What I know to be true is this: while the literature may tell you that Niacinamide helps acne, the data (including reviews here and elsewhere online, such as reddit subchannels) is that it can, in fact, exacerbate it for some people. This means the literature is incomplete, and science can't yet tell us why Niacinamide works for some skin types and doesn't work for others.
If you want to be a brand that stands for providing products that people can trust won't irritate their skin, then, in my opinion, the Niacinamide needs to go. I get that the moisturizer doesn't perform well - but at least it wasn't breaking loyal users out. I will personally continue to purchase the face wash and BP, but I will be unable to purchase the moisturizer while it has the B3 in it. If you decide to remove the B3, I will happily return to purchasing your moisturizer.
Hi All,
I am here in support of this post. I have been an acne.org user since 2013. There was one time, in 2021, that a friend convinced me to use another product, which had niacinamide in it. It broke me out severely anywhere I applied it, including places I never had acne before: by my ears, on my neck, by my eyebrows. I ran full speed back to my acne.org products and realized - I would rather be a little dry and acne free than have acne ever again.
I rely on acne.org products to be irritation free and have never questioned this. So, when I started breaking out severely again and in those same, odd places, I realized I should take a deeper look into the most recent product changes. Low and behold, Niacinamide was added. Luckily, I still had some of the old bottle left and the irritation immediately subsided.
I am a scientist by education and have worked 15+ years in the vitamin industry, specifically at a company that makes bulk vitamin powders used globally for all types of applications. What I know to be true is this: while the literature may tell you that Niacinamide helps acne, the data (including reviews here and elsewhere online, such as reddit subchannels) is that it can, in fact, exacerbate it for some people. This means the literature is incomplete, and science can't yet tell us why Niacinamide works for some skin types and doesn't work for others.
If you want to be a brand that stands for providing products that people can trust won't irritate their skin, then, in my opinion, the Niacinamide needs to go. I get that the moisturizer doesn't perform well - but at least it wasn't breaking loyal users out. I will personally continue to purchase the face wash and BP, but I will be unable to purchase the moisturizer while it has the B3 in it. If you decide to remove the B3, I will happily return to purchasing your moisturizer.
Dan must decide what is best for his business. I suspect the majority of users do not having a reaction to niacinamide, myself included. In fact, my skin has greatly improved because of it and has allowed me to incorporate Tretinoin into my routine along with BP and glycolic acid - I could not do this with licorice root
im sure, in time, there be a new ingredient that offers similar benefits without irritation. But for now, one group of users will need to find an alternative.
Niacinamide affects everyone differently, while it's widely praised for its benefits, some people, like myself, can react poorly to it, especially when it's introduced suddenly into a stable routine or used at high concentrations (over 5%). It may disrupt the skin barrier or increase oiliness, particularly when combined with other actives like benzoyl peroxide. Unlike licochalcone A, which simply calms inflammation, niacinamide actively changes how the skin functions, including oil production and pigmentation, which can be too aggressive for certain sensitive or acne-prone skin types.
OP made a post describing how acne.org products being changed without giving a fair warning about ingredient changes had terrible effects on their skin so a bunch of people decide to come and tell them why theyre wrong. Including the owner who is most at fault.. this is exactly why this brand has become a joke and I would under no circumstance purchase from again. Ive made a post similar to this and seen 20-30 more (most of which have been deleted.. watch someone say we dont delete posts.. bs you dont). OP is talking about their experience & how it affected them, they didnt ask you to go ask ChatGPT what it recommends so out of touch, its insane. Switched products up on loyal customers who depended on you for clearing their skin, and when they dare ask or say that it made their acne worse, yall wanna come try to argue a point. Now watch raziel 101 come running to their defense like they do under every post I make
@starpower Feel better now? 🤣
@starpower Feel better now? 🤣
Youre one of the biggest shills on this forum and anyone can see it, stop commenting under every post I make .. you two follow me around like little school girls on a DEAD forum & its incredibly weird, do you think its gonna make Dan like you more? lmaooo
I wanted to write this post to warn all users about the new moisturizer from acne.org, which has switched from containing licochalconean ingredient that is absolutely beneficial for acne-prone skinto niacinamide.
I have been using the acne.org regimen since 2011, and I have NEVER experienced any issues.
I have already spoken personally with Dan on the phone to explain what happened.
After two months, here is all the information you need to know:
At first, I thought the problem was the new BP, with its smaller particles, because my skin became incredibly oily after using the regimenunbearably oily. Previously, my skin was always perfectly dry after the regimen.
After a few days, problems started: every day, I would get 5 to 10 new persistent whiteheads.
After a few more days, terrible breakouts began. It felt like I was back to ten years ago, before starting the regimen. The BP had absolutely no effect against what was happening.
After a lot of trial and error, I realized that the problem was NOT the new BP, but rather the niacinamide in the new moisturizer. This is a TRANSFORMATIVE ingredient that triggers internal reactions within the skin. Without delving into the scientific details (a quick search is enough), niacinamide alters sebum production by changing internal skin processes.
In contrast, ingredients like licochalcone do not have this effectthey are simply anti-inflammatory.The transformative effects of niacinamide last at least 48 weeks, so it took me two months to normalize my skin by switching to other moisturizers but continuing to use the acne.org BP. I even had to add a 5% strength BP to mitigate the initial devastating effects of niacinamide.
Niacinamide can cause these issues even in people who have never had acne beforeit must be tested individually.
I strongly advise against niacinamide for anyone with acne issues, despite the current global pro-niacinamide trend that describes it as a miracle ingredient (most likely because its inexpensive for manufacturers).
As I told Dan, I will never purchase an acne.org product again as long as it contains niacinamide.
I hope my testimony is helpful to all users worldwide who are struggling with this issue.
Just adding my support of this post. I'm having a similar and devastating reaction to the moisturizer. For me, it causes severe redness and inflammation, so I was using MORE moisturizer thinking the balance was off with the BP! I just realized that it was only the moisturizer causing the issue and I came there to see if anyone else was having a similar experience. Thank you.
It's obviously an ingredient that is in a lot of cosmetic products, but I've been getting these products from DanielKern.org since 2007 and never had a problem. I thought they were "better than average."
To your last point:
"I strongly advise against niacinamide for anyone with acne issues, despite the current global pro-niacinamide trend that describes it as a miracle ingredient (most likely because its inexpensive for manufacturers)."
I think you're spot on. It's a cheap additive with little benefit. A quick web search pulls up medical research about how it's meant to supplement B3 for a deficiency. I'm honestly shocked that Dan Kern's response to this was to post AI slop. If that's the kind of research that's being done to change products that already work, I don't know if I can trust the products anymore. At best it's a real "fix it until it's broke" mentality.