Yes, Arbonne does not contain mineral oil, BUT IT DOES contain oxytol palimate (aka liquid wrench) VERY COMEDOGENIC!!!! And while I do think that Arbonne has the right idea; there products don't seem to measure up in the acne department. I did not mean to sound so negative toward mlm's. There is someone that recommends arbonne and then puts their website on these threads and I think that it is a little self serving. To say it is great; and oh by the way I sell it and here is where to buy it from ME. I am not saying all consultants are this way; I am just saying as a person who suffers from acne - I think it is WRONG to promote a company that puts comedogenic ingredients in their products. I HAVE TRIED IT AND IT DOES NOT WORK FOR ME.
OH, BY THE WAY - HOW COME ARBONNE'S WEBSITE WILL NOT LIST THEIR INGREDIENT LISTS TO THEIR PRODUCTS?
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT ARBONNE IS THAT THEY WILL RETURN YOUR MONEY WITHIN 45 DAYS IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY. I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT INCLUDES USED PRODUCTS.
I am sure I ruffled some feathers and I am apologize this is how I feel.
I used to use the Clear Advantage line. I didn't care much for it until I started using the lotion over Neutrogena Clear Pore. The Neutrogena dried my skin out but the 2 of them together worked pretty well, it was never dry and my complexion evened out quite a bit. But in my honest opinion, there is a thread on here about Provon soap, and it has worked much better (and MUCH MUCH cheaper) than Arbonne ever did. I still use the Arbonne every once in a while but I honestly don't think it's worth what they charge for it, even with the discount they give for being a consultant. I do however like their Thermal Fusion Mask. It's an enzyme mask that gets rid of dry flaky skin. I would give the Provon a go before trying the Clear Advantage simply because of the price but like the other poster said, they do give a 45 day money back guarantee but if you don't get insurance, they like to loose the product that you send back. They will give you replacements if they loose it but will not give your money back. I honestly think the money back guarantee thing is a scam--just my opinion.
My teens are using the Arbonne line.
Positives
Seems gentler than some SA washes, AHA toner, and SA lotion.
Skin on nose, chin and forehead tolerate regimen well.
Helps keep black heads in nose and chin area clear.
Tones the skin. Skin becomes soft. Removes crusty skin.
Negatives
Seems harsh on cheek areas.
Red marks seem more noticeable
Doesn't stop cysts.
Overall, the product performs as an SA, AHA regimen would.
For cysts we are applying Benzaclin in the AM and Tazorac in the PM.
Just recently reincorporated Taz, so the SA may be too harsh a cleanser to follow with Tazorac. So redness could be a result of this combination rather than the Arbonne.
I also was disheartened to see that product ingredients aren't readily available on the website.
Yes, Arbonne does not contain mineral oil, BUT IT DOES contain oxytol palimate (aka liquid wrench) VERY COMEDOGENIC!!!! And while I do think that Arbonne has the right idea; there products don't seem to measure up in the acne department. I did not mean to sound so negative toward mlm's. There is someone that recommends arbonne and then puts their website on these threads and I think that it is a little self serving. To say it is great; and oh by the way I sell it and here is where to buy it from ME. I am not saying all consultants are this way; I am just saying as a person who suffers from acne - I think it is WRONG to promote a company that puts comedogenic ingredients in their products. I HAVE TRIED IT AND IT DOES NOT WORK FOR ME.OH, BY THE WAY - HOW COME ARBONNE'S WEBSITE WILL NOT LIST THEIR INGREDIENT LISTS TO THEIR PRODUCTS?
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT ARBONNE IS THAT THEY WILL RETURN YOUR MONEY WITHIN 45 DAYS IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY. I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT INCLUDES USED PRODUCTS.
I am sure I ruffled some feathers and I am apologize this is how I feel.
Here is a letter I wrote to an Arbonne Independent Consultant. As an ex-Arbonne Independent Consultant, I hope that my review is thorough and trustworthy:
I changed my diet (gluten free and dairy free), take natural supplements to help hormones, quit 20+ hours per week of work to be less stressed. I used the following products: Arbonne Clear Advantage and Arbonne FC5. The products just massively ruined my skin. I used the RE9 for a week and then the blemishes began, which is why I switched to Clear Advantage. I began using Arbonne products in November and December, and in March, I am STILL dealing with the horrific aftermath. I am appalled that, despite my very serious condition, an Arbonne Independent Consultant said to me, "When you are changing things like diet etc your body will go through a detox process, it's flushing all the bad out." Here was my response to her:
"I consulted with numerous MDs, holistic medicine specialists, and other "lay people" about the "detox" process that you and all people from Arbonne have spoken to me about, specifically regarding detoxifying topical products as well as changes in diet/routine. It appears that the people with whom I have spoken all have unanimous advice: if after 1 month of a serious, consistent detox process you aren't seeing any significant positive changes, then something isn't working. I gave Arbonne 2 full months to "detoxify" my skin, and have significantly changed my diet for the last 1 1/2 months. Unfortunately but truly, the opposite effect happened: I developed huge, painful CYSTIC bumps that have been on my face now for 75 days and counting. I'm not sure when the last time your supervisor said to you, "WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE?!" or a 4 year old said to you, "Hey, I know someone with chicken pox just like you!" or , "Teacher, why do you have so many bumps on your face? You're ugly." These are real life examples of how seriously my acne situation is affecting my life. By advocating the detox process, it makes me feel like you simply don't understand the emotional/psychological toll that serious, cystic acne has on the soul. I am not talking about a few pimples with white heads. I'm talking about the acne that is so painful, I literally cannot sleep on my side, because my cheeks hurt that bad. I think it's important that you really consider what I am saying, as I sincerely believe that Arbonne products are not a sufficient enough treatment for people with SERIOUS acne concerns. They may work fine for people who have occasional pimples or mainly whiteheads/blackheads. But I have found that it is simply not reasonable to ask a person who has already suffered the traumatizing effects of severe acne multiple times in her life to endure through countless months of "detoxing the skin," insisting that it will get better when there are zero signs of improvement. It's quite inappropriate actually. In fact, when I quit taking Arbonne supplements, including the acne treatment pill (that is mainly zinc based) and the protein shakes, my acne improved dramatically (although not enough to call myself healed by any means.)"
So it is my non-professional opinion that my acne was aggravated with the introduction of Arbonne products and the inflammation and growing colony of cysts all over my entire face continued as I used the products. As a consumer of the product, this is my review. As an ex-Arbonne Independent Consultant, this is my review of Arbonne Clear Advantage, Arbonne FC5, and Arbonne RE9. I'm sorry if it's not what you want to hear, but I feel it's important you hear it.
You might be interested to read the reply I received from an Arbonne Independent Consultant who was my "upline" after I had posted the above response in our private Facebook group:
"Soooo sorry to hear you are leaving your Arbonne business! I would of loved to have worked with you as you seem like such a lovely, beautiful, positive person and would be truly phenomenal at this! However I can only say that I deeply empathise with your situation my lovely and am so so sad and sorry that you have had this unusual reaction with the products!
That said I wanted to let you know that I have removed your post you wrote on our LA group, this isn't because I don't totally emphasise with you, it's just because and I hope you understand but our group, which is also for other teams too, is used to post positive, inspirational things and any updates or advice needed etc...so I know you personally had a bad reaction but honestly this is an extremely rare case and there are obv other factors causing this eg switching the reginme u were using b4 too soon can cause problems etc and a lesson maybe i hve learnt if i speak to someone that has problems to discuss this with Dr's next time or skin dermatologists first, the products are INCREDIBLE I know not for you personally but we have had a clinical trial recently done that is proven and absolute fact we have come out as top product beating the US leading competitor with a substantial percentage!! this was conducted by Top formulators and even our range is listed jn the pharmaceutical range too!!
The proof is there for the majority and your case is a rare minority so to write negative posts of others is not inspirational, positive or helpful to others that are doing their businesses and do believe and love the products."
I think it's important that we as consumers evaluate these massive claims thoroughly. Where are the clinical trials? Why can't I find records of these on EbscoHost or other premier search engines for scholarly, medical research?
Not only expensive, but I found it ineffective. Don't trust those that say it is great because, they probably sell it (think mary kay pushers) or multi-level marketing.
Kinda harsh and it's not noncomedogenic!!!
You're absolutely right. I used to be an Arbonne Independent Consultant, and I felt I was becoming BRAINWASHED into believing that these products are AMAZING. Until they RUINED MY SKIN HORRIFICALLY, and all of my Arbonne "friends" said, "Well, this is the detox process, so you're just going to have to endure through it." Yes, it's reasonable to ask a person to sell skin care whose face is COVERED in cystic acne BECAUSE OF Arbonne.... Hmm.. Makes no sense, right?
QUOTE(Julez @ Jun 27 2005, 03:25 PM)Yes, Arbonne does not contain mineral oil, BUT IT DOES contain oxytol palimate (aka liquid wrench) VERY COMEDOGENIC!!!! And while I do think that Arbonne has the right idea; there products don't seem to measure up in the acne department. I did not mean to sound so negative toward mlm's. There is someone that recommends arbonne and then puts their website on these threads and I think that it is a little self serving. To say it is great; and oh by the way I sell it and here is where to buy it from ME. I am not saying all consultants are this way; I am just saying as a person who suffers from acne - I think it is WRONG to promote a company that puts comedogenic ingredients in their products. I HAVE TRIED IT AND IT DOES NOT WORK FOR ME.OH, BY THE WAY - HOW COME ARBONNE'S WEBSITE WILL NOT LIST THEIR INGREDIENT LISTS TO THEIR PRODUCTS?
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT ARBONNE IS THAT THEY WILL RETURN YOUR MONEY WITHIN 45 DAYS IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY. I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT INCLUDES USED PRODUCTS.
I am sure I ruffled some feathers and I am apologize this is how I feel.
You are certainly entitled to feel however you wish about Arbonne. I don't push it on anyone but it DOES work for some people. AND I was unable to find anything called "oxytol palimate" in the Clear Advantage products so I'm not sure where you obtained that information. I even asked Arbonne directly about that ingredient and any comedogenic ingredients. Their response: "Please know that all of our products are non-comedogenic, including our Clear Advantage acne products. It would be very contradictory for Arbonne to sell a product that is formulated for mild to severe acne but clogs pores, this would not likely yield a very good response. We do not use an ingredient called oxytol palmitate in any of our products. An ingredients list for ALL products can be acquired by emailing or calling customer service."
Arbonne's philosophy is to bring the Clients to the Consultants so that they can discuss specifics of the products or ingredients, answer any questions, etc. Arbonne is happy to provide an ingredients list if you email or call them. I don't necessarily agree with not posting it right on the site but some product websites don't even offer the list by phone or email!
Arbonne does give a 45 money-back guarantee for ANY reason.
Jasmine69-I haven't had any complaints of returned product being lost and refunds not issued. Arbonne is not out to scam anyone. I do know things DO get lost with our USPS, unfortunately. I'm sorry if you had a problem with returning product. I'm sure the consultant you ordered through would have been happy to help you. Also, I am just now trying a microbial soap with chloroxylenol (just not Provon brand) hoping it will get to work on my oiliness. And, yes, it is VERY cheap!
Well, enough about that. I had no intention of discussing Arbonne to this extent but I do want people to have accurate information about their products. As I said before, it works for some, not all.
This sounds like a typical response from an Independent Consultant.... every IC I know speaks in this way.... Ironic. The fact is, Arbonne Independent Consultants are NOT doctors. They are not trained at all in dermatology and dealing with severe skin conditions. If you have a severe skin condition, DO NOT go to Arbonne. Instead, go see an MD. Tell them you don't want drugs. Tell the doctor you want to work collaboratively on finding a solution to the acne problem that doesn't damage other parts of the body. Arbonne has a good idea, but the products simply don't work on serious cystic acne...