Acne.org Products
I used the St. Ives Apricot Scrub for Acne Prone skin instead.. I remember being sooooo excited over Botchla's regimen (two summers ago) I immediately went out and bought the products and although it never cleared me up, my face never got really bad..my acne "stabilized".
That is, until I tried the Murad Acne Complex...but that's another story.
Bottom line: if you have hormonal acne and are a teen, this regimen will most likely not clear you up, but exfoliate the pores and kill some of the bacteria. Your hormones will continue to break you out until it decides to stop.
I created an account just to respond to this thread. This is the first regime I tried from this board, and lucky for me, it worked.
I probably chose to try this system over any other because I've used C&C before and didn't mind their products. As well, Botchla's explanation on why this works seemed to make sense to me. Plus, could it be anymore simple?
September 2005 I found this board/thread. The next time I was shopping, I headed directly to the facial cleansers. There I found the C&C Blackhead Clearing Scrub. The C&C Continuous Control cleanser was nowhere to be seen. I was disappointed, but alas, bought the blackhead scrub. That night I wanted to use it, so I figured I'd use it with the BP product that I'd been using which keeps me semi clear - Proactiv.
Proactiv alone kept my skin around 10-12 zits at all times, with a new one always waiting for an old one to leave. I also tended to have painful cystic acne appear around my jawline.
Within a week of using C&C BHS + Proactiv I noticed my skin clearing up. I never got an initial breakout, maybe because I was already using Proactiv. The C&C BHS really aided my skin in an entirely positive way.
Months go by, my skin is practically clear (at anytime perhaps 1 or two small zits). I still could not find that damn C&C Continuous Control cleanser. I couldn't believe it. Everyone in this thread seemed to be able to find it.
January hits, I feel great, my skin is clear, my scars are fading. People are asking me about my skin and saying how good it looks. I enter another drug store, and there it is - C&C Continuous Control. I get excited, even though my skin is clear, and I don't need to switch anything. (FYI - I'm not a big fan of the smell of Proactiv, so changing to another cleanser was ideal in a way). I buy it. I use it that night. All's well for a week or so, then...I start breaking out a bit. And it gets worse, and worse. I stop using it after two weeks. I go back to the Proactiv and C&C BHS, things start clearing up. I think back to everyone talking about initial breakouts. So, I felt bad for not giving it a bigger chance. I started using the two C&C products together again, and by the 2nd week again, my face is ruined. Completely. My face had over 20 brand new zits that were going to leave a lovely new scars(some of them did, they're still fading now).
What a fool I was, seriously. Horrible! I couldn't believe that I'd been dumb enough to mess with what's working. After having acne since I was 12 (I'm 22 now), and finally getting a break from it, I sabotaged myself.
Well, since then, I've stuck to C&C BHS + Proactiv and things are cleared up. I've been using "Jessica's exfoliation" since early February to get rid of the C&C Continuous Control scars as well as my indented scars from years of acne. Using this method gives me tiny zits here and there, but I think that getting my face leveled out weighs that. Plus, I love the softness of the exfoliation. Proactiv has always made my skin feel a bit flaky to the the touch.
Anyways, this is my take on "Botchla":
Morning:
C&C Blackhead Clearing Scrub
Apple Cider Vinegar Toner
Night:
C&C Blackhead Clearing Scrub
Proactiv Cleanser
Apple Cider Vinegar Toner
Proactiv Repairing Lotion
I've done C&C BHS + Proactiv morning and night in the past but I didn't notice much of a difference. So, to save time, I just do it at night.
My advice to anyone out there willing to try this regime would be to try to find the right products that work for your skin with the SA + BP system in mind. Who knows, maybe you've tried this system before and it didn't work because you didn't use products that are right for your skin. I feel lucky that I didn't find C&C Continuous Control until January. If I found it on the first day I got C&C BHS, and it hurt my skin back then, then I never would have bothered to try the C&C BHS with the Proactiv. I would have thrown them both away thinking "Oh, yay, two more useless products".
I feel so fortunate to have found this board, to have found this thread. It was pure accident I ended up here - I think I googled "Glycolic Acid". I never knew a place like this existed. It has changed my life. I feel so much better about myself now. 
Thank you to the creators of this board, and a HUGE thank you to Botchla. 
I'm happy that those two OTC meds worked for you -- I wish I were so lucky.
When someone can can perfect skin from a good skin care routine without using the big guns, more power to you. I hope it will work for my 12 year old daughter, who is starting to get mild acne, and who I hope never has the problems I've had.
I have tried all those products for years and years, religiously and diligently... to no avail. They help a little sometimes but nope.
I sometimes get very impatient when random people go "Oh but have you tried Proactiv?" And I tell them that there is absolutely nothing in Proactive that you can't find in any other OTC acne medication out there. For that matter, my OTC skin care routine includes mostly all Nutrageona products -- they simply work best for me with minimal reaction. But they do not clear me up. My skin just laughs at OTC stuff saying "You fool! You cannot defeat me!!(insert evil laugh)." My skin scoffs at Differen and Retin-A, rebels against Tazorac, and rolls it's eyes at antibiotics. There are simply some types of really, really stubborn acne (mild to severe) that are just very resistant to any kind of treatment. That's my skin. Never did I think when I was a teen that I'd be almost 40 and still going through this. All those idiots who said that I'd "grow out of it" when I turned 18 (apparently that's the magic age where everything in life is supposed to be perfect) were wrong with a capital W.
But when I see someone get excellent results from a simple treatment, I'm happy for them, if not just a bit jealous.
Just started this regimen, my face is still tingling 5 minutes after, feels good. Have some questions, is it ok to pick whiteheads? These are the only types of zits I pick, if they are under my skin, I just wait a day or so until it forms into a whitehead then I pick it. Is this okay? Also, I'm currently using Vaseline Intensive Care: Firming & Nourishing, (heres the ingredients: http://www.medshopexpress.com/033167.html#) is this a good moisturizer?
Okay I started this regimen yesterday. My skin looks about the same (a wee better maybe, too early to tell) but it feels REALLY smooth and soft. A little background info on me:
I am 16 years old and have had acne since I was eight. It has been anywhere from mild to severe, but never gone entirely away. I have tried every over the counter prescription there is, save accutane. I even tried the famed Proacvtive. However, nothing has ever helped much. I have a lot of dark, deep blackheads all over my face and a dense concentration over my nose. Thanks to differin my forehead has cleared up a little but I still breakout pretty bad along my jawline and chin area. Anyways, here's hoping this regimen works, and if it doesn't I'm asking for accutane. If you ask me 8 years is a little too long for a 16 year old to deal with this.
I'll keep everyone posted!
Okay I started this regimen yesterday. My skin looks about the same (a wee better maybe, too early to tell) but it feels REALLY smooth and soft. A little background info on me:
I am 16 years old and have had acne since I was eight. It has been anywhere from mild to severe, but never gone entirely away. I have tried every over the counter prescription there is, save accutane. I even tried the famed Proacvtive. However, nothing has ever helped much. I have a lot of dark, deep blackheads all over my face and a dense concentration over my nose. Thanks to differin my forehead has cleared up a little but I still breakout pretty bad along my jawline and chin area. Anyways, here's hoping this regimen works, and if it doesn't I'm asking for accutane. If you ask me 8 years is a little too long for a 16 year old to deal with this.
I'll keep everyone posted!
Wow, I have the same exact background as you, except im 17 and my acne is mainly on my cheeks which I HATE. Im Irish as well. Do you get alot of redmarks left over from old acne spots? Cause I do, and my face has cleared up but looks like crap because of all the redmarks. Keep me posted
Thanks
I'm happy that those two OTC meds worked for you -- I wish I were so lucky.
When someone can can perfect skin from a good skin care routine without using the big guns, more power to you. I hope it will work for my 12 year old daughter, who is starting to get mild acne, and who I hope never has the problems I've had.
I have tried all those products for years and years, religiously and diligently... to no avail. They help a little sometimes but nope.
I sometimes get very impatient when random people go "Oh but have you tried Proactiv?" And I tell them that there is absolutely nothing in Proactive that you can't find in any other OTC acne medication out there. For that matter, my OTC skin care routine includes mostly all Nutrageona products -- they simply work best for me with minimal reaction. But they do not clear me up. My skin just laughs at OTC stuff saying "You fool! You cannot defeat me!!(insert evil laugh)." My skin scoffs at Differen and Retin-A, rebels against Tazorac, and rolls it's eyes at antibiotics. There are simply some types of really, really stubborn acne (mild to severe) that are just very resistant to any kind of treatment. That's my skin. Never did I think when I was a teen that I'd be almost 40 and still going through this. All those idiots who said that I'd "grow out of it" when I turned 18 (apparently that's the magic age where everything in life is supposed to be perfect) were wrong with a capital W.
I absolutely loved what you wrote! Thank you for saving me from ordering Proactiv. I've wondered if I should try it, but had my doubts it would work any better than the other things I've tried. I keep trying different OTC meds in different combinations. I keep breaking out. Mostly it's confined to my chin area. I'm trying a medicated makeup now which can be applied three times a day. Hopefully something will work soon and prevent me from having to see the dermatalogist. I've been fighting this last breakout since January. Was fine for years before this and now it seems I'm back to where I was many years ago. I am even older than you and still going through this crap. Have you ever seen a 90 year old woman with acne? I'm wondering if that is what I will be...not that I'm near that age yet, just looking ahead.
But when I see someone get excellent results from a simple treatment, I'm happy for them, if not just a bit jealous.
I love clean and clear products but I am frightened that since I don't have oily skin it might cause so much dryness and I wouldn't be able to use any mousturizers because my skin does not react well with mousturizers...would jojoba oil be a good combo with the two c and c products to use in the evening as mousturizers?
I see people postin in here and still tryin this so im just lookin to help. i started this regimen at the beginning of january and cleared up after about 4 months, give or take a week or two. so to those who are tryin this, just like any regimen whether the CSR or botchlas u gotta stick with it, i think after 4-4 1/2 months you should be completely clear. now my only problem is gettin rid of some pesky marks
Okay I started this regimen yesterday. My skin looks about the same (a wee better maybe, too early to tell) but it feels REALLY smooth and soft. A little background info on me:
I am 16 years old and have had acne since I was eight. It has been anywhere from mild to severe, but never gone entirely away. I have tried every over the counter prescription there is, save accutane. I even tried the famed Proacvtive. However, nothing has ever helped much. I have a lot of dark, deep blackheads all over my face and a dense concentration over my nose. Thanks to differin my forehead has cleared up a little but I still breakout pretty bad along my jawline and chin area. Anyways, here's hoping this regimen works, and if it doesn't I'm asking for accutane. If you ask me 8 years is a little too long for a 16 year old to deal with this.
I'll keep everyone posted!
Wow, I have the same exact background as you, except im 17 and my acne is mainly on my cheeks which I HATE. Im Irish as well. Do you get alot of redmarks left over from old acne spots? Cause I do, and my face has cleared up but looks like crap because of all the redmarks. Keep me posted
Thanks
Ace!
Yeah, I got these red marks all over my face. 
Ergh. But, there is good news...
It's been a week since I started this regimen, and I must say I'm very happy so far. My skin is sooooo soft. I can't help stroking it now and then, lol. (I know I shouldn't but I haven't had smooth skin since I can rememeber and it's so neat) I've been noticing new acne has been clearing up much more quickly. Pretty much it's there one day and gone the next. Hardly any new acne, I've just been concentrating on clearing up the old marks and blackheads. The old red marks have less flame to them, and my left side is actually clearing up very nicely. The blackheads are still here, but I remember reading it takes about two months for those to go away so I'm not too concerned. I'll check in again next week, week 2!
I don't know, Greg, but I'm sure someone will jump in here soon with an answer!
I'm actually using different variations of this regimen for over a year now and I have to say - the two product thing works the best. Right now I'm using St. Ives Medicated Scrub for the SA wash and just using Dan's BP gel for the BP part of this regimen.
Works very well.
