Acne.org : Moisturizer with Licochalcone (OLD)

I have used the regimen faithfully  for 10 years. I struggled with acne through my teens and 20s until I started using the acne.org regimen / products in my early 30s.  Simply put, It changed my life, and I am truly grateful. I have never commented on anything until now, and I feel bad giving a less favorable review after all these years of using a product that has done so much good for my life.  As soon as the licochalcone was swapped out, I started having several problems. I have stuck with it now for many months and I still struggle.  My face is often red and itchy. I get that burning sensation more often after application. I appear to break out more, possibly from some extra irritation. I've also been getting small hot spot rashes that seem like little eczema patches (have never had this before). Ive been struggling more with dry weather changes, having extremely dry and irritated flaky skin. I am also noticing faster wrinkle formation that may correlate with my struggles.  Overall my skin feels more consistently inflamed and irritated, which is frustrating after 10 years of being satisfied. It is as if it just doesn’t counteract the negative effects of BP as well as it used to. Even though I actually liked the feel and yellow tint of the old formula, I really don’t care about how a moisturizer feels, smells, or looks, as long as it works. I should say that I also regularly used the AHA, but that also appears to have had the licochalcone swapped out and the irritation is even worse when I use it. More recently (after trying to acclimate), I have been trying less BP, more moisturizer, more jojoba oil, etc to try and find a good combo for me, but have not had success yet. Note that there are no other obvious changes in my life that might have this impact. If nothing else has changed (excipients, ratios of excipients, etc)  for BP or moisturizer, then i am very suspicious of the licochalcone swap specifically. I am curious if even ratios of other excipients have changed recently, I am also curious if the BP excipient ratios have changed or if there is a batch or two that has elevated BP.   I have not tried any other moisturizer with the regimen, but I’m considering trying others. As a biotech drug discovery scientist who works in formulation development among other things (not making this up), I remain open to the possibility that an unknown variable other than the licochalcone change is the source of my problems. I also understand that my single anecdotal experience holds little weight, so I would encourage others to rate and review (good or bad) so that product decisions are made with the most accurate information possible. Perhaps a separate/new product review that doesn’t mix reviews with the old formula would be helpful. I am very curious if most people are having success with the change, which might help me understand if my problems truly are the moisturizer or not. Having both versions of the old and new moisturizer and AHA is probably the best option from a customer point of view (people appear to be more split on moisturizers in general than they are about the cleanser and BP treatment; perhaps a single moisturizer doesn't fit all skin types?)  but I understand that may not be possible from a business point of view. Also, I understand if there are supply and financial issues at play driving the switch, I guess not a lot you can do there. Again, I am truly grateful for the past decade, and I hope to continue use into the future. 

I wish I could rate this with no stars. I am not happy about this change. My skin feels so oily and greasy like it can’t breathe. And my skin is starting to breakout as well with this new change. I have been using these products since 2012 and it has the only thing that has cleared my acne. Please go back to the other formula. Having changed some of the ingredients because the color was yellow is absolutely ridiculous. Now because others complained about the color of the product others have to suffer with breakouts because the formula isn’t the same. This product changed my life and the thought that my skin is going back to what it used to look like is devastating. Is the color really worth letting down your customers that depend on this product to have clear skin?!!!!!

Hi, I just wanted to say that I’ve been using the Cerve hydrating cleanser and acne.org benzoyl and the acne.org moisturizer for about 4 or 5 years and Ive been loving it I didn’t mind the yellow formula I actually love it until they change it to the white moisturizer. The new white moisturizer feels thick, milky and cakey on my skin and burns but then goes away plus in the morning when I wake up I run my hand gently around my face and it flakes the moisturizer off my face or I don’t know maybe dry skin but I think it’s the moisturizer because it’s white flakes and skin feels a lot more dry than before. Another thing that I developed on my face is a itchy inflamed dry patch on my right cheek.

I’m really disappointed with the new white moisturizer! Please bring back the yellow formula moisturizer!

The change in the formula of the moisturizer was a great choice. No more yellow tone on my skin. The new one blends in perfectly on my skin. Keep up the good work. All your products are great.

I noticed the moisturizer was different. I thought maybe I got a weird batch and was frantically looking for info online, only to find out what happened in the reviews. It would've been a lot easier to try and adapt if the company had some transparency with it's customers, such as putting in pamphlets to explain the change, or at least writing an article online. I'm not sure if acne.org has a pr team.



At first I thought it burned but, I kept observing and kept using it and it's a fairly regular moisturizer, and still doesn't clog my pores, and there was no additional burning apart from that initial try, so it could've been mental. I noticed the slight difference in scent/color.



It's hard to say I wasn't attached to the old formula too. Technically speaking, the current moisturizer is still serving it's purpose from what I can tell.

Have been a customer for MORE THAN FOURTEEN years (since before the 2008 store revamp).  I know the products very well by now, as you'd imagine.  The second-to-last bottle of moisturizer I bought was milky in consistency.  This can't be explained by normal variations.  It was a broken emulsion or bad batch or something.  When I contacted customer service, they were obnoxious in their insistence that it was normal (again, talking to someone that's used the products since GWB was president).  And they wouldn't send out a replacement unless I paid to ship the defective bottle out (seems hostile to someone that's been a regular customer since before the store went live and has NEVER before made a payment, shipping, or product complaint).

Just reordered a new bottle and, despite being aware that there were formulation changes said to result in a lighter colored moisturizer, find that the new version isn't just lighter - it's dead white and doesn't even have the customary smell despite having identical ingredient lists.  It did not have any kind of tamper-proof seal upon arrival.  Just a box, some packing material, and a pump bottle.  No manifest, no Regimen documentation or resources.  No referral to the website.  Just a bottle filled with some sort of unrecognizable lotion that doesn't work the way I'm familiar with.  The bottle arrived with a broken pump that leaks valuable fluids every time it's used and I'm disgusted.  At one point, the moisturizer was probably the best thing Kern had going - it was CHEAP compared to competing products and of great quality.  Now, I'm looking at a $34 bottle of random lotion not up to standards IN ANY WAY, provided by an organization with BAD customer service, and thinking I'll just stick with the name brand stuff.  I'm feeling really betrayed, Daniel.

I rarely leave reviews, but for this moisturizer (with Jojoba oil) and regimen, I felt obligated too. I live in NJ where climate gets very cold and dry, and every year for the past 5 years I get extremely dry skin. I would have to apply moisturizers 3 times a day just to keep my skin from flaking. These were high brand moisturizers too, Kheils, Origins, Cerave, etc...Not only is this regimen keeping my acne away in record time, I don't even use two pumps of the moisturizer (as instructed), I tried using just one, and to my surprise, it keeps my skin even and free from any dryness ALL DAY. Mind you temperature drops and dryness here are brutal, and my skin is notoriously dry to the point where it was painful to the touch and to move my face. I can't believe this stuff actually works as well as it does, BUT IT DOES. Follow the directions, and get the results, simple. Cannot thank Dan enough for formulating this acne killing regimen, but most of all this moisturizer which keeps my skin strong and healthy looking even after a large benzoyl peroxide application. 

Something has changed in the ingredients and I came to confirm on their site and now I’m sure it what has been giving me an allergic reaction of rash and itching on my face near my mouth and my neck. I’ve used the moisturizer since 2016 and as of recent I begin to have reactions and had no clue why. I stopped using everything for months and kept it basic with vanicream wash and moisturizer only. I went back to try the glycolic lotion, which I believe contain the same ingredients as the moisturizer and surely my face developed the same reaction within ours. Unfortunately, no more of the moisturizer or the glycolic lotion for me, had to trash it. That sucks bc it used to work so well. Also to note when this happens it takes time for my skin to heal and it’s quite annoying to need to care for my skin to return to its normal state when this happens. The rash gets really stained and drying. I hope it doesn’t take longer to care since I noticed it right away as the culprit instead of consistent use as I did before realizing the problem. 

As a skincare ingredient expert, it is sad to see people think this is causing dryness. There is literally not one ingredient that would cause irritation or dryness. It is other things people are using, such as getting over the BP dryness phase...absolutely not this perfect moisturizer. Please stop posting negative reviews and asking for formula changes, if it does not work for you, try another, but you will not find a more gentle, perfect moisturizer for sensitive, acne-prone skin, backed by science. I am a fan of this for life, and please Acne.org do not reformulate based on uneducated reviews.

Lately I've found that the moisturizer is drying out my skin, especially near my eyes, chin, and neck. I have extreme itchiness and flaking. I'm not sure if I'm suddenly allergic or if it's because of the formulation change that other reviewers are discussing. So many others have the same issue, so I can only assume it's the formulation change.