Proactiv is a popular acne treatment that has been around for years. It has gained more attention recently because Jessica Simpson is now its spokeperson. They have a great shot of her face with some nasty acne problems. She then goes on to explain that she took Proactiv and now her skin looks great, blah blah. It's the same type of thing you'll see with before and after photos for diet pills such as Hydroxycut (see review here). They doctor up the photos so much they can pretty much tell any story they'd like. I don't know if the Jessica photos were doctored or not, but they sure didn't leave me convinced.
Proactiv, surely, has helped some people clear up their acne. I just wish these people would come forward (independently) and say it has. From my research, I could only find very negative reviews: "the bumps on [my son's] face got larger and more red", "Since using it my face has gotten worse. I now have huge areas of acne bumps and nothing seems to be clearing it up", "I tried using it, since I still have occasional breakouts. I am 3p7 years old and looked worse than I ever have in my life...my teenage years weren't this bad."
I read a review from Minika, where she says it worked, but has a big complaint with vitapower. Apparently it's some autoship program that you're on when you use Proactiv and they make it pretty difficult to cancel or get a refund (because it's all in the very very fine print.
All in all, I can't say I'm impressed at all with the Proactiv Solution. You may want to check out some acne treatments we reviewed that actually lived up to their claims.
(Proactiv customer reviews quoted were found on www.infomercialscams.com/scams/proactive_solution)
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Keep Reading To See the Best Acne Treatments!
Sybervision Reviews | Your unbaised source for supplement reviews
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Bruunhause™– Advanced Hydronium H3O Acne Gel. Bruunhause intensive acne solution was developed by a medicinal laboratory that researches & develops internal and topical acne cures. What makes Bruunhause so unique is that it uses a combination of Mother Nature's most powerful herbal acne treatments in the world's first H 3 O hydronium based solution. The end result is, in our oppinion, the most powerful topical acne treatment ever developed. Bruunhause was the only acne treatment to receive a 100/100 on acne fighting power. There are rumors that it may contain the prescription ingredient Adapalene (a topical retinoid approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1996) which has one bad side effect of drying out the skin. We don't believe these rumors since Bruunhause works without drying out the users face one bit. We believe these rumors only surfaced because of the extreme effectiveness of Bruunhause. It is expected to be taken off the market so finding bottles in the U.S. is rare. --
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Keep Reading To See What Real Consumers Are Saying About this Product!
I just left a review for Acnexus an thought I would leave one for Proactiv as well.
In the past I've used "ProActiv" and found that it was too much like a chore. 3 steps was way too much work, especially since I stay up late at night. ProActiv also left me with an irritated red rash on my chin and near my nose that drove me nuts. I discontinued use, and when I called to cancel they tried to convince me to buy the sensitive skin version. NO THANKS YOU SLIMY BASTARDS!
#1 - Ben Barker - 01/29/2008 - 18:00
I've been using proactive for almost three years. When I first started it only took a couple days to completely clear up my acne. I didn't use nearly as much proactive as they said I should use, I usually was able to stretch a kit out to last about 4 months so I canceled the annoying subscription and just bought the products as needed from a kiosk at the mall. At one point I went on vacation and forgot to bring my proactive and the acne returned in less than a week. I went back on the proactive when I got home and within a week or less it disappeared. I was very impressed with the product.
However, about 6 or 8 weeks ago my acne suddenly returned at full force (while still using proactive). I had never really been perfect with following the proactive routine, so I decided to start following the directions religiously. My acne didn't really seem to get any better. So, I went to the kiosk in the mall and bought "Deep cleansing wash" to use instead of the "renewing cleanser." I've seen a very slight improvement with teh new "Deep cleansing wash," but not enough to justify spending $25-$30 for a bottle of that crap.
I don't know what to do now. I wish this stuff would work like it used to work, but I'm almost scared that if I quit using it my acne will get even worse. And I can't afford to get teh real deal from a dermatologist or buy the other pricier non-prescription acne treatments.
#2 - Cecilia Ernst - 02/12/2008 - 01:15
Proactiv Solution Review
In middle school, I started to have some minor skin problems. After seeing one Proactiv commercial with Jessica Simpson, I was convinced that it would clear everything up. My friend was using it and it seemed to be working for her, too. So I went to the kiosk at the mall and bought a kit. I was very happy with the results, and I kept buying it. I ran out one time, and I just didn't get to the mall to buy more. My skin went back to blemished, so I made it a point to get to the kiosk. When I got my new supply, I went home, put it on, and went to bed. To my horror, I woke up the next day with a swollen eye. It wasn't swollen completely shut, but it was definitely noticeable. I immediately stopped using Proactiv and the swelling went down within the next few days. I have had no more problems with swollen eyes, so I am convinced that it was an allergic reaction. I had always noticed that Proactiv was a little harsh, but I didn't want to stop using it. If I had known of its effects, I would never have bought it. Now I am still in search of a good acne face wash. I just recently tried SensiClear and I was not at all impressed. Despite what they say, it dried out my skin and didn't even get rid of the acne. Now I'm going to try Acnexus. Wish me luck!
#3 - Tori - 02/12/2008 - 17:31
Don't waste your money!
I have battled mild acne of and on for years. After I had my daughter, I get a flare up every month right before my "time". My oldest son has bad acne (puberty) and someone gave him Proactive. He just won't do it so I tried it. Yes it's "botanicals" made my face feel soft and the lotion was good but it was not worth it. The hard truth about acne is diet and horomones. The more acids you intake (pop,chocolate,etc) and the more fat (chips,fries) the worses your acne will get. If you are a woman, once a month you will have issues. So the best thing to do is 1)Drink LOTS of water. Cleanses you and will dilute the acids 2)Avoid pop as much as you can (duh) 3)WASH YOUR FACE NO MORE THAN 2X A DAY. The more you wash the more you dry your skin out. It produces more oil thus more bacteria and zits. 4)Use an oil free moisturizer. If your face still feels dry and tight, then a tiny drop of Vaseline Intensive Care LOTION, rubbed in your hands and lightly brushed around your face. I have always had the best results with Noxema + Clean & Clear Oil free moistureizer. Catch the big painful zits early. Just when you feel the sore redness, rub a little Clearsil vanishing creme on and it dries it out before they pop out. If you get a SUPERWHITEHEAD then the Clean and Clear Advantage Spot treatment works but not in the 8-12 hours it claims. More like 2-3 days and it makes the zit really big and ugly before totally drying out. Be very careful with thier whole Advantage line. It claims to be better than Proactive and it really is but it has so much salicylic acid it dries you out fast and you have snow on your face (smile).
#4 - Nikki - Cleveland - 02/18/2008 - 15:53
I never really had a lot of pimples in high school, but when I did get one, it would be very large, red and right in the middle of my nose, forehead or cheek so it was very noticeable. As I've gotten into my twenties, I've been having the same large pimples about every other week, but now I also have what looks like small bumps all clustered together on my forehead pretty much constantly. I thought I would try Proactiv since the stories they report seem like miracles. I've been using Proactiv about 2 weeks now and it did seem to clear up my larger breakouts and also smooth out my smaller ones. However, it is not the miracle they praise it for so often. For the amount that they promote this system it is a real letdown. I expected almost instant results for how much they praise the stuff, but it just seems to help slightly instead of cure it all together. Plus it really dries out my skin. I had to cut down to using it only once a day instead of the reccomended twice daily because my face was very noticeably dry. Plus the cost is insane. The only really great thing about it is the green tea moisturizer. It really makes my skin feel silky. Other than that I would say that Proactiv is all talk and no action...
#5 - Samantha - 02/21/2008 - 13:13
proactiv sucks
i used proactiv for three months and i saw no improvement.. it did absolutely nothing for my acne. don't believe everything you see on tv.
#6 - alex - 02/26/2008 - 20:00
Proactiv Did Not Work At All
Proactiv Solution was a waste of money, I tried the 3 steps along with some of the other product and it did not work, it actually made me break out even more, so after 2 months i Quit, I will never waste money on proactiv again!
#7 - wrj - 02/29/2008 - 00:50
Proactive Review
Both my teenage daughter and I used Proactive with positive results and had no problems with it. Each of us had used various other acne treatments, including prescribed medications, both topical and oral, and I have to say that the Proactive was the most effective. Proactive was the only treatment either of us tried that had absolutely no side effects, that worked within two weeks of beginning the process, and continued to work throughout the several years we needed it. The only reason that we stopped was that I finally outgrew my acne tendency as menopause crept up on me, and my daughter was put on a non-related medication that had the benefit of also clearing up her acne.
I had no problem at all in canceling our order over the phone, which was confirmed later through a polite email from Procative. I later rejoined, as my daughter started having breakouts again, then canceled just recently again, with no problems. The last few months of the shipment, before I cancelled, I had given the products we didn't need to a co-worker for her young teenager, and they were so happy with it! The young lady had been going through such a tough self-esteem issue because of her acne, and the Proactive was exactly what she needed.
I do recall as I write this that both my daughter and myself had to adjust our use of the lotion to how often our skin could tolerate it. No one should use it too often hoping that the acne will disappear overnight. I would suggest using it once every-other day until the skin has a chance to get used to the dryness gradually. After about a week I would step it up to once a day if the skin has not become too dry. If everything is okay after another week, try using it everyday, morning and evening.
The Procative folks with whom I've dealt have been very accomodating, and it's easy to call and get the next shipment changed to suit your needs - from say, one cleanser, one toner, and one lotion to perhaps, one cleanser and two lotions. And you can always call to get your orders shipped more often or less frequently. I'm very happy with what Proactive has done for us.
#8 - Jackie - 03/01/2008 - 23:02
Good Stuff
I've been using proactive for about two years now, and i just thought i would help people out who might be thinking about buying it. It really works, but you have to stick to it. I've known myself to get off of the cycle and forget for a few weeks or get lazy with it and the acne returns but other than that, if you use it how you should, you'll never have another pimple again!
#9 - Kayla - 03/05/2008 - 16:23
proactiv sucks
I'm 18 and i wanted to try it because so many other celebrities tried it. but it made my skin really dried out. i couldn't believe, i'll never try an infomercial again. very disappointed
#10 - donna winger - 03/06/2008 - 00:35
Proactive worked great
While this product did work great for my daughter\'s oily skin, it is expensive and hard to find at a retail location. The closest one to me is about 45 miles. I will be trying a new product called acnefree by the University Medical Products company. I can by it locally and have heard great reviews about it.
#11 - Mom - 04/05/2008 - 19:23
fool me once, shame on you! fool me twice, shame on me!
I didn't really have severe or even moderate acne but ocassionally a pimple would appear here and there on my face. Proving once more that it's all about the *MaGiC* of advertising I purchased Proactiv to rid myself of those ocassional pesky little bumps which chose to appear on the MOST important ocassions. BIG mistake. Instead of improvement all I experienced was dry, itchy, irritated skin and breakouts like never before!!!!!! Ever the optimist and having heard from other people that your skin actually gets worst before it starts to clear up, dumb lil me purchased another 2 kits and a complete line of proactiv make-up!!!!! What a fool I was! Proactiv ruined my complexion! I started breaking out in huge, horrible puss-filled, painful zits all over my chin and the sides of my throat!!!! You can imagine my horror. After stopping Proactiv I started using Mary Kay products and following simple recommendations such as washing with mild cleansers twice a day,drying my face with paper towels after washing instead of using the same bath towel everyday, not picking at my face and changing my make-up sponges every other week. This actually worked and although I still get the occasional pimple, my skin is much healthier than before. I recently started using Nature's Cure pills and slowly but surely my face is getting much better. The Mary Kay products are mild and effective but can get expensive after a while so I began washing with Neutrogena oil-free acne wash and applying the vanishing cream that comes with the Nature's cure pills at night. During the day I just use an oil-free moiturizer that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide and Spf15. This routine may not be a miracle cure but its simple and much more effective. PROACTIV DID NOT WORK FOR ME!!!!!
#12 - Annie - 04/07/2008 - 12:28
PROACTIV SCAM
its like a fake out-it works for most people at first, but it wears out and eventually stops. it started off doing exactly what the commercial says. i was glowing. a couple of months later...it just stopped working, i stopped because it started to make me look terrible. it is seriosly a SCAM!!!! and even if it does work for you, are u prepared to use it for the rest of your life?-ur not a celebrity-they should try telling the truths of the matter.
#13 - yea right-gunthy renker? who the hell r u? - 04/22/2008 - 09:04
Proactiv is a little on the expensive side, but has worked very well for me. I am in my mid 40's and never really had acne problems as a teen. When I hit my 40's it seemed that suddenly I had acne from out of nowhere! I work in public relations and needed a very quick fix, so I purchased the trial kit of proactiv. This stuff cleared me up FAST! I don't use all the extra stuff, but do faithfully use the toner and the repair cream and have had no more acne. I can even skip a day, (which I do once in a while on the weekends) and my face still stays clear. It has also made my pores much smaller and less noticable. I love proactive and have had no problems with it! PROACTIV IS A GOD SEND!!
#14 - Sandi - 04/22/2008 - 14:39
waste of time and money
I've had acne for as long as I can remember. A few years ago I ordered proactiv, hoping it would clear my skin up. It actually made my skin worse! I used the product for several months, thinking that maybe I was using it wrong and made myself believe that it would work. It never did and my skin was in worse shape after having used it.
#15 - Brittany - 04/27/2008 - 16:39
Proactiv is great
Proactiv is a little expensive but it works wonders for me. The hardest part is actually following their directions and using it when you're supposed to, but other than that I love it.
#16 - Emely - 04/28/2008 - 15:55
I think proactive works for adults not teen because 99.9%of people who are saying it works are adults..so yea it doesnt work for teens just for adults that dont have a serve acne
:D
#17 - Julie - 05/04/2008 - 01:49
DONT BUY PROACTIV
i have 4 kids, and a step son..
they all used it and broke out.. it dries out face...
SAVE YOU CASH, DON'T F#$%#@G BUY PROACTIVE
#18 - et - 05/08/2008 - 00:13
Its not THAT bad
ive been using it for bout 4 months and even though its cleared up my skin i had to stop because its dried my skin out too much.
even using it once a day my skin starts to peel with dry skin. its so yuk! i cant even wear make up with it because the make up goes all craky and my skin wont absorb it like it should. and i moistrize with their green tea moztrizer but my skin still so dry. and it used to be crazy oil prior proactiv!
it was kind of a win lose situation for me. pimple free skin verses yuk as dry skin.
dry skin won in the end. im about to start using clinique for my skin. heard its great!
#19 - Dani - 05/09/2008 - 17:04
WASTE OF MONEY..?
my mom bought me proactiv last year but then she misplaced it. i found it this year and decided to use it right away. i used it twice a day, only to get irrated, red, and oily skin. i decided to use proactive only once a day. i still got the same results. i'm not sure if using the proactiv a year after you buy it would make it suck, but my face is terrible. its really noticeable :(. before i used proactiv, i had some pimples, but after proactiv, i got so much more. i was so convinced through the commercials with the before and after photos, but i guess not everything you see on tv is real.
#20 - sara - 05/13/2008 - 01:46
Dad ordered it for my brother because he had really bad acne. My brother stopped using it before 2 months was over and moved onto Roaccutane, which is working much better. When my dad bbrought over the 2nd batch, I decided to give it a go.
I hardly get any pimples, but when I do it\'s either a big one right on the tip of my nose or teeny ones all over my forehead or cheekbones. 2 days in and my skin\'s become extremely dry, moisturisers don\'t work and nor does bio-oil. I\'m going to stop using it and hopefully will have my face back the way it was OR cut down on how often/how much I use.
#21 - Carolyn - 05/14/2008 - 06:30
ProActive - Used for over 10 years!!
I have used ProActive since Judith Light was the spokesperson. I had cystic acne, tried everything, Doctors, minor surgury,then I ordered Pro-Active. I don't have a autoship program, I buy at the mall, but when I was on the autoship, ProActive sent what I wanted & when I wanted it. I have no complaints with Pro-Active as it worked great for my problem with cystic acne, from time to time I have a small breakout, but never have had cystic acne again & anyone that has had that type of acne knows how painfull it is. I will never stop using Pro-Active, it may not work for everyone, but it worked for me & I will always be thankful that I watched that infomercial over 10 years ago.
#22 - Ann Marie - 05/15/2008 - 10:52
My friend has been using proactive for some time now and she says that it works great and she has never had a zit since she started using it. I think that it depends on the type of skin you have. Proactive may be bad for a certain type of skin and for another type of skin it may work perfectly. I for one have been using clean and clear and have not really seen any results yet. Nothing seems to work on my skin, does anyone have any suggestions?!?
#23 - Lilly - 05/21/2008 - 15:58
miss
proactiv is really harsh - they make no secret abt sing benzoyl peroxide which is abrasive. I've used it for abt 4 year and finally come to terms with the fact that it doesn'y work - it makes my skin so dry and i thought the acid burn is noticeable - your skin will look ravaged eventually if you use it long term - especially in a hot climate where the combo of sun and benzoyl peroxide is extreme
#24 - kumbi - 05/26/2008 - 07:50
proactiv
how i will get the proactiv solution i really need it but i am in grenada
and i when it to clear up the black marks on my face,back, hands and chest plzz can u help me my aunt is staying in canada she say she will buy a cream for me but she donot no what yet so plz help me to get it u all can send it for me free or if i have to pay i will do that please help me
#25 - kesha - 05/28/2008 - 19:15
worked for me
I ordered Proactiv from a mailer ad, and it worked pretty well on the acne on my back. However, I found some stuff at Walgreen's called KlearAction, which has the same ingredients for 1/2 the price and seems to work just as well, so I cancelled my autoship of Proactive. However, I gave some of the extra Proactiv to my sister, who has had cystic acne for years, and it did nothing for her. I'm guessing it depends on the type and cause of your acne, and there's probably no "one size fits all" remedy.
#26 - christine - 06/04/2008 - 22:05
Proactive- worked for me.
I am a 38 year old male. I have been battling acne most of my life, since I was 15. I have all types of acne, cystic, pustules, blackheads and whiteheads. I started on Proactive because I was tired of trying all the usual remedies that do not work. I used proactive religiously just as the directions indicated. It was too drying and irritating. I reduced it to once daily (in the morning) and then at night I use the scrub and just seabreeze then the moisturizer. Guess what, my skin is clean and clear! The stuff works great for me. Everyone should at least try it because it might work and no one should have to live with acne with todays advanced skin care systems. I tell everyone what I am using and encourage them to try it.
#27 - Brett - 06/22/2008 - 00:40
ProActiv... It works but with the help of YOU!!
I recently started to use Proactiv. It really does work! However, the repairing lotion flares my skin up so I do without it and ProActiv still works. Its all with the help of you though! With your hormones raging & the constant drinking of pops that contains different acids and the constant eating of greasy fries and things, You're going to get zits! What about a fresh salad w/ meat on the side or some vitamin water or sum?? That doesn't sound to bad.. I also have the VitaClear Supplement Pills from proactiv and they work as well!! I'm very pleased.. SO FAR!!
#28 - Saint Ranson - 06/26/2008 - 16:41
ProActiv... It works but with the help of YOU!!
I recently started to use Proactiv. It really does work! However, the repairing lotion flares my skin up so I do without it and ProActiv still works. Its all with the help of you though! With your hormones raging & the constant drinking of pops that contains different acids and the constant eating of greasy fries and things, You\'re going to get zits! What about a fresh salad w/ meat on the side or some vitamin water or sum?? That doesn\'t sound to bad.. I also have the VitaClear Supplement Pills from proactiv and they work as well!! I\'m very pleased.. SO FAR!!
#29 - Saint Ranson - 06/26/2008 - 16:42
not good for me
seemed to make me break out more. do not understand why a product is expected to make a negative condition worse before it gets better. would not waste any more money on this stuff.
#30 - kimberly b. - 07/05/2008 - 02:51
Proactiv
My daughter used Proactive for about 2 months. I thought it was expensive for what you get but if it worked, it would be worth getting her skin clear again. It was very harsh on her skin and made it very dry and itchy. Then she got these tiny little bumps all over her face. She was miserable. I took her to the doctor and he put her on Tetracycline, an antibiotic. I called Proactive and the guy said she was having an allergic reaction to the main ingredient, peroxide. We were really disappointed with it.
#31 - VB in Tn - 07/21/2008 - 09:12
I have been using Proactiv for approx. 6 months now. I love it! I am 31 years old and never had an "acne" problem in my teens or in my early 20's. I turned 28 and I have terrible cystic acne. I went to see a derm and she put me on retinol a, which made me peel badly and differin gel which did nothing for my skin except make it shiny. I finally decided to try Proactiv because they had a small trial size set on QVC for 15.00. I used every other day for the first week and then moved to every day once a day for a week then twice per day every day. I found that using twice per day was too much for my skin, the toner made my face burn alot. I have sensitive skin so I went back to once a day and it has worked great. Here are a few tips that I found. When you wash with the cleanser your face needs to be just damp, not soaked. Don't "scrub" make gentle circles all over your face. After rinsing pat dry and wait about 5 minutes then use the toner, wait about 5 minutes then apply lotion then I usually follow with moisturizer. I know that it is a pain but to me it's worth the extra 10 minutes or so in the bathroom to not have these huge pimples on my face. I also use the mask twice per week. If I do get a small pimple or red spot, I use a little of the mask on it and sleep in it. That mask is great, it stinks a little though. I think that following the directions on application is key to this product working you just have to adjust how often you use it.
Good Luck
#32 - Melissa - 07/23/2008 - 04:37
I been using it for 4 yers now and still works good for me
i never had a problem with it only and its been 4 years .. it keeps my skin fresh and only have lik 3 pimples at most.. ii guess it depends on the person and for me thank god its still working.
#33 - james - 08/08/2008 - 19:10
Proactiv
I try the product for 8 days and my face became red, burning feeling, dry and very icthy. I stopped using the product. I called customer service and told them of the effects I was having. They try to sell me the mild version of Proactiv I told them no and to cancel my membership. I should have read the reviews before trying this product.
#34 - Sandra Rodriguez - 09/08/2008 - 07:57
Proactiv Stories
My name is Meagan and I’m 14 years old, and like every teen when they hear something gets rid of acne THEY WANT IT! I only have a few blemishes here and there but it's not severe at all. I bought proactiv and it's been working ok.. I mean my face one week looks perfect but the next week I get acne. But truthfully the getting acne problem is my own fault. See I have this issue with picking at my face and it’s really a nasty habit. I like proactiv but it really does take a long time to start working, and it's really a task just to wash your face. I don't think people should trash proactiv’s name though. My own honest opinion is that your face turns red and you get bumps on your face is because YOUR HAVING AN ALLERGIC REACTION PEOPLE!!! That is why you should ALWAYS read the label if you know your allergic to something. But as far as I can say about proactiv that it works fairly well. But I'm going to try that new Zeno thing that helps get rid of zits on the spot. ;]]
#35 - Meagan-Rose - 09/23/2008 - 19:19
proactiv
dont use it . i bought it because i did no reasearch on it...and i thought it would work but actually it made my whole face worse. i never had wrinkles before (im 15) but now i guess it made me get wrinkles because of the benzoyl peroxide or whatever. all it did was make my face dry and peel . the skin would be black because of it all being dead . dont use proactiv . i tried to stop using it and my acne got worse. when i started using pro activ my acne wasnt even all that bad . i just wanted it to REALLy be provented . but ever since then it just got worse and it does nothing but bad things for your face . dont use it ok...im not typing anymore..
#36 - alex - 09/24/2008 - 12:00
Seeing Proactiv From the Outside In
So I haven't used Proactiv because i'm not willing to pay for it. My friend, however, decided to try it. He bought it from a kiosk at the mall for 59.99. They told him to give it 2 months. So I see this friend almost everyday. He would ask me how it looks, and I tell the truth. It looked horrible. His skin got worse, he had waaaay more pimples then he did before. The pimples were even more red then before. He went back to the kiosk, and they said this is normal, you have to wait the full 60 days for the results to begin. (which isnt what the commercial promises) So, being as dedicated as he is, he let his face be the guinee pig. After the full 60 days, he looks terrible. He finally took the crap back, but they refused to give him his money since he lost his receipt. So he lost his 60 bucks, and is now looking more clear just by stopping the use of that junk. DON'T BUY IT! I mean common, do you really think Jessica Simpson uses it? Yeah right, she goes to the best dermatologists around and get the best procedures if she had 1 stinking pimple. LMOA!!
#37 - LaurenLiZ - 09/25/2008 - 21:22
Proactiv
I've been using proactiv for about 2 weeks now, it's destroyed my skin. I'd get the usual 1 to 2 zits in a few weeks. So i decided to buy proactiv to take care of that, and it made my skin extremely red, even more acne then i had more, and my face was peeling my face was very dry an and it burned like hell, proactiv blows, complete scam if you ask me.
#38 - beau - 09/29/2008 - 18:27
proactive is great =)
honestly, im quite surprised to see so many people complaining about how Proactive didnt work for them. Maybe, they had an allergic reaction to it.
But, being honest, Proactiv has worked great for me =) i started getting really bad pimples last december and decided to buy Proactiv from the mall near my house, around March. After 2 weeks my skin was zit free! =) it was awesome. Yes, it was a bit dried but i figured it was because i used too much scrub. and the toner is SUPPOSED to hurt the first time because after srcubbing a bit ur zits are a bit opened, thus when the toner runs over it, it stings a bit. after that ur skin gets used to it.
I recommended it to my friend who had really bad acne. and it worked wonders for him as well.
My boyfriend also uses it now. And he looks better than ever =)
My face is clean and oil free now. I used to use Natio, Clean and Clear, and so many other things..even medicine and stuff from the doctor. i find that the things in supermarkets and pharmacies, like the cleaning scrubs, are so harsh on my skin because the beads are so big. But the beads in Proactiv are just the right size. Small but effective.
I think you should test it first on another part of ur body, not ur face to see if you get any allergies. if u do then stop.
But, anyways...Proactiv has worked great for me so I'm goin to keep using it =)
#39 - theresa - 10/01/2008 - 12:31
Proactiv Not Worth It
I started using Proactiv about 5 yrs ago after a friend recommended it to me. She did warn me about Proactiv drying out my face and it did! I was impressed with the results though because it improved my skin dramatically! (I was using Neutrogena before I started using Proactiv). But I was still worried about the benzoyl peroxide that Proactiv contains.
So I started to try a range of products (H2O, MD Formulations, Shiseido, Biotherm) - but nothing worked until I tried Dermalogica. It's not as harsh as Proactiv but it still does the job. You may not see results as quickly as you might with Proactiv, but my skin feels healthier, less dry and smoother! The obvious downside is the price. But for clear, great skin I believe the products are worth the price tag!
#40 - Grace - 10/13/2008 - 11:13
Proactiv still not sure, But Acne Free it works!!
Acne runs in my family, and I have been plagued with it since I was 12 years old. I discovered that certain Birth Control helps cure it. I had to suffer with acne trying everything for 5-6 years before I got on BC pills and it cleared my face up after a few months. I never even knew that a side affect actually was going to help with my mild to moderate acne. So I stayed on it for years. I didn't even get pimples during my monthly time. And it was so easy that I didn't even think about it and cosidered myself someone who "used" to have acne. Well for some reason or another, I got of birth control pills last year. ANd within in 2months I WAS COVERED in bumps. I pick them to so that made them no better. SO I stared the whole trying to find something to work . I have never had the money to buy PRoactive, so I found this product at walmart(acne free) It was on sale and I bought it. It said it worked better than proactive. So I used it and at first it made my face break out more. But I kept using it. And in about 3-4 weeks my face was like satin. IT was beautiful, my make up went on great my skin was smooth and I was happy. But then all of the sudden it just stopped working. So I figured I'd better get back on birth control pills, and once again it stopped. Well a year later and My face has cleared up, but now I guess being 27 now Acne has come back a little stronger, and I've started to notice more oil and clogged pores, (not really red bumps unless I pick) Not really acne but bad face conditions. SO since it was n't bad I just really tried not to pick my face, I even tried acne free again, It worked ok. But I didn't use like I was used to. Well about 2 months ago I got a flyer in the mail stating "try proactiv for free , just pay shipping and handling". SO I went online entered the info and payed only 5.95 for the trial pack of proactive. I was so excited because I have wanted to try it since it first came out. So i got it in the mail. And even though my face was not so bad, I just figured it would make my almost good skin even better. I have tried it, I have not experianced the redness that others have experianced but My face is now breaking out!? I don't know why, so I kinda let my use slack on it. Then I remember how the acne free made my face break out before it worked so I started trying it again. But A week later (now today) my face looks worse than when I stoped using it for a week or so ago. So I don't know. I think I am going to stick with it long enough to use the bottle. And not pick my face. But my face is so oily I can't stand it. I was hoping that was one of the things it would help with but it has made it worse. THe Green tea mosture is great I like it but the other stuff seems not to be working yet. i figure at least I only spent 6 bucks . But Hopefully like a few of the other posts say it is just clearing out the crap in my pores. I am really unsure if I should continue using it. But I guess I should give it a few more weeks, before I disc it completely.
#41 - Christina - 10/21/2008 - 16:49
still waitig...
ive been using proactive for about four days now and its starting to make my pimples alittle red and my face is getting dry!since ive only been using it for four days, im going to wait alittle longer and see if it starts working... im scared!
#42 - EVELYN - 11/07/2008 - 11:48
She and I...
I recently purchased proactiv because at 39 my skin is much worse than anything I ever experienced during my teen years; even my mother commented. Also our 13 yr old DD has her Dad's complextion and is in need of something to help b/c even with drinking lots of water and a very healthy diet the poor lamb is acne prone.
The proactiv started working within 3 days for me but I'm very cautious about amount because it is very harsh; it 2 of the creams tingle to the point of light stinging. I actually use an additional moisturizer with spf 15 after the 3 lotions they provide.
My DD on the other hand ended up with very painful red patches on her skin after only one use. Clearly it is too harsh for her very young, fair skin.
The program is an 'autoship' as you mentioned and I would say the cost is burdensome. Likewise the fellow that took my call was not helpful in the least and not especially friendly. All in all, I think you may find equally good options at a more affordable price with less hassle.
#43 - Rebecca - 11/16/2008 - 02:47
ProActiv was a HUGE waste of my $ and TIME!
I'm a former model, and up until 16 i've had perfect skin. It seemed that as every month went by, my face just seemed to worsen and worsen with ance. IT got soo bad, that it was even hard for me to talk to my friends at school, knowing that they were all staring at the massive constellations that had popped up on my face. Once being the confident teen I had been quickly turned into the feeling of being socially isolated. I was the only person in all of my classes that had acne. Sadly, some didn't even recognize me. I had seen the commercials about Proactiv and saw how it had great effects on the celebs and other random users, so i reluctently decided to give it a try. I went and found a kiosk at the mall that sold ProActiv and bought a kit. I tried it for about a month when i finally couldn't stand to take it any more. All it did was dry out my face and cause horrible redness and peeling, even with minimum use. It was awful! I then went back to the same kiosk and asked to try some of their moisturizer...and even that too didn't help. All proactiv did was make my ance worse. Hearing the rumors of how stopping using proActiv would mutulate your face, i was scared to death to quit...but finally got sick and tired and stopped all together...and actually, lol and sadly...i hadn't seen much of a difference in the acne...currently i'm searching for a new solution..if any of you guys have any "convienient" and "
"REALISTIC" tips..please let me know.
#44 - Anna - 11/20/2008 - 18:01
everybody's different
i started using proactiv right before college to clear up the horrible acne i'd had through high school... it worked almost immediately and continued to work as long as i used all three steps (not that big a deal) twice a day. i found that the cleanser polished the roughness from my skin, the toner took care of any deeper impurities or makeup left behind, and the lotion effectively moisturized. my skin was in better condition than i could remember.
after four years, i was starting to get little breakouts again (usually around that time of the month, which i hear is common) and wondered if my skin was becoming immune to proactiv. my mom had recently given murad a shot and was really pleased with her results. i'd also been told by a skin specialist at a spa that salycilic acid would be much better for my skin than benzoyl peroxide, which would only dry me out and "force the acne underneath instead of bringing it to the surface and healed." okay, i thought, maybe i'll try murad. so i did.
WORST decision i could have made. not only did my teenage acne return with a vengeance, it was even worse than i'd ever had... the salycilic acid brought everything to the surface, all right, but it STAYED THERE and never healed. i held out thinking, it always gets worse before it gets better, i need to give it some time, etc. i gave it
#45 - Caitlin - 12/04/2008 - 13:44
(sorry, this is the second half of the above post)
...four months and then i'd had it. unfortunately, a lot of scarring and discoloration damage had already been done. bummer that i chose to experiment.
after that i tried neutrogena's advanced solutions 3-step system, which is cheaper than proactiv, sold at stores like wal-mart, and combines salycilic acid AND benzoyl peroxide. it certainly calmed my breakouts down a bit, but didn't heal me up as much as i needed. i've been back on proactiv for a little over a month now and am all smoothed out again - although i still have a lot of scarring to get rid of. and for whatever reason, i've gotten extra-dried out this go-around, but i got their new green tea moisturizer free with my order and it's taking care of the dryness nicely - lovely scent as well. :)
bottom line is: you have to try things out and see what works for you. murad did wonders for my mom (when proactiv didn't do a whole lot for her) but absolutely wrecked my skin. proactiv is hands-down the best treatment for my skin, so there's no way it's a "scam" or anything of the kind. but i know it's not gonna work for everyone, and it certainly won't work if you don't use all 3 steps faithfully twice a day.
#46 - Caitlin - 12/09/2008 - 20:17
Proactive has ruined my life. Bad side effects 2 years on and counting....
I got proactive because I wanted something that got rid of my spots, just like everyone else, I had bad skin, but not extreme. I had problems since I was about 13, am now 26.
It worked I guess for the first month or two, then I noticed this little red mark on my top lip, really dry and would not go away. this continued to grow until half of my lip was covered in this crazy rash. If i did not shave then the skin would crack up and dry flaky bits of skin would appear. This was horrible, as I could not even eat without this happening. If I did shave my skin would look horrible like I had severe sunburn in this one spot.
So I stopped using Proactive, and goddamn, it just got worse and worse. It has ruined my life I have this rash on my top lip, around my nose and on my chin about 3 weeks out of a month constantly and NO amount of moisturiser will fix it. Iv tried a whole range but still no success, I even drink a small bottle of flaxseed oil over a week as this is supposed to get rid of skin dryness.
I definately would not recommend using this stuff.
I mean whats happening inside me if Im still getting this rash which is just as bad as ever(maybe worse) 2 YEARS after I have stopped using it??
ITs terrible I dont even feel like going out of the house some days, and as far as getting a new girlfriend, well this really makes it difficult because it looks terrible and makes me so slf conscious what my skin is doing. I have no control over it. My friends sometimes make jokes which only makes things worse. Id rather have bad skin than this burden to be honest.
Please stay away from this toxic crap.
#47 - Andy - 12/26/2008 - 02:09
Help.
okay so im 13 and i recently started to get like 4-5 pimples on my face a week , which really bothered me so i bought proactive and ive been using it about 3 days now and it has made my forehead get these dry , red itchy patches. I dont know what it is, or what i should do about it.
Any suggestions?
#48 - kaitynn - 12/28/2008 - 02:15
ProActiv
proactiv is a f-ing rip off...i thought it was working and i probably would have kept buying it if it wasnt for them trying to rip me off by charging me 4 times for just 2 shipments...do i look f-ing stupid???? when i called to ask why i was getting charged again they told me thats the price for the kit. so i asked if they were listening to a word i was saying..i got charged FOUR TIMES!!!HELLO!!!! she kept insisting that they didnt over charge me and that was the price..so finally i asked for the manager..i didnt get one, the same idiot i was speaking to came back and said i was right and they will refund me the money...but i have to send back the second shipment before they can refund me the last two charges..but like ive read in other reviews im sure the same thing will happen to me..they will say they never got it back and keep sending me more and charging me more money!!wtf did i get myself into..why didnt i read these comments before i bought that crap..and by the way i didnt have bad acne just a few pimples here and there but every time one goes away another comes...so its really not worth this f-ing headache.
#49 - Vanessa - 12/31/2008 - 14:54
proactive
I used proactive a few years ago when I spontaneously bought it from a mall kiosk.I was very excited.I remember it leaving my face a bit dry but I have dry skin and they DO warn you about it.The most important thing was that my acne was gone and other people noticed.I since then stop using due to life changes but I recently ordered it and im looking forward to it again
#50 - Starr - 01/16/2009 - 15:24
Proactiv
I have been using Proactiv for a year now. My skin has gotten a little worse I think. My skin is now dry, irriated, itchy, and the pimples and blackheads just don't seem to go away! My face gets really red after I use Proactiv and I've been searching for a acne-cleaner that will actually work! I'm 13 years-old and I think that Proactiv works on adults and now teens. It didn't work for me but it could just be my kind of skin.
#51 - Alysha - 01/27/2009 - 19:45
pro-active
i use proactive to help me clear my skin. In the first day of using it i broke out really bad worst than what i already was. Then i continued using it ...it helped clear my skin for a while.Then i stop using it for one or two days and the pimples came back again !!!! and it drys your skin lots !!
#52 - veronica - 01/31/2009 - 04:46
Proactiv
, This product is probably one of the better over the counter products. However, if you are going to pay this much, why not go to a dermatologist and get a professional opinion.
I tried to get a refund on 5 unopened shipments that I sent back and 6 months later I still haven't gotten the refund. I sent the product back, then in 6 weeks I sent and email asking about the refund. They claimed that the product was not received. I then sent the confirmation of delivery from the Postal Service. Then they claimed that it was past the 60 days so I was not entitled to a refund. I then stated that I wanted the unopened packages mailed back to me. As of yet not one reply has responded to my request to send the product back to me if they were not going to send a refund.
#53 - Susan - 02/03/2009 - 14:35
Proactiv
Didn't work for me. I've tried everything, EVERYTHING in the world. So far, what works best for me, Stridex pads (w/ no alcohol) on a regular basis. No joke. They're what, like five bucks at wal-mart? I use those twice a day with Clean and Clear moisturizer. That's about 12 bucks total, lasts forever, and works a lot better for me than proactiv ever did.
#54 - Brittany - 02/18/2009 - 19:04
Proactive Solution
I have used Proactive Solution for 2 years now and have been very happy with it. I only use it once a day, so it lasts much longer, but it really is great. Of course, not every product will work for everyone, but here is your independent review: I love it and will likely use forever! It really works for me. I had mild to moderate acne and am 40ish years old. I tried many products over the last 30 years and this is the only one that has given me consistent, positive results.
#55 - Tawny - 03/06/2009 - 11:27
Neurogena Soap Bars and Proactiv
My face has been more oily then its ever been and the only thing that has ever worked for me was straight up effin' benzoyl peroxide! you can buy it at the D store dollar store :D it's maximum strength and I hate,hate,hate,hate with the freaking passion clean and clear products make my skin shiny and oily which I hate so much :( then I used zap zit the three steps with it . it worked back in the summer and it dried my skin up bu I was happy my pimples were going away. But I tried it again and broke my face out ten times worse and like I started using neurogena soap bars acne prone skin and now I'm broke out horrid on my nose and upper cheecks IO mean my nose is so swollen and my right eye ewwwww! Yup scary and then I used Persa gel if that's what you call the stupid product never never worked made them more noticeable. Urgh whelp since I've used the three step kits before I'm really worried bout ordering proactiv now I'm horrid scared ov er it after reading the reviews. God I just feel so ugly ugly ugly I want to rip my face off and cry :( poooooo i just want to go die some where it's awful help help me some one my skins just oily to every product I usse its just flipping gayyy
#56 - Amanda - 03/09/2009 - 09:46
Proactiv
this product didn't work on my skin...it only made my acne worse...and i used it for almost 2 months...good thing it came with a 60 day money back gurantee...
#57 - Nicole - 03/13/2009 - 01:08
Proactiv
I have used the Proactiv system for going on 6 months now and couldnt be happier with it. As a pre teen and through my adult years I have suffered mild to severe acne of ALL types, taken many different types of prescription meds as well as accutane (very effective but very harsh) and I have tried name brand products as well as no name products but by and large Proactiv has worked the most effectively and fastest.
It may not work for certain types of skin, but if you dont see results within 60 days and are suffering worse results, try using the good sense you were born with (hopefully) and STOP. If you suffer from immediate painful irritation, STOP.
Like someone else mentioned, what you put in your body also has an effect. Junk like sodas and candy will cause worse skin blemishes. Drinking water works wonders!
For those wondering about why it gets worse first, any dermatologist will tell you this will ALWAYS happen. You have "crud" in your skin that has to come out even if you cant see it, and a good system removes this by bringing it to the surface, causing the worse before the better part!
And yes, sometimes you will become immune to products and you must find new ones. It happens, often you can return to your old product after a few months and it will work again!
#58 - SLR - 03/25/2009 - 16:45
proactiv
ITS A HORRIBLE PRODUCT.i am from india,i used proactiv,only to find my face n eyes swollen shut.it made my face itchy,red,swollen.i cudnt talk for few days coz my lips were swollen.reaction spread to eyes...they were swollen shut.i didnt have severe problem of acne,just some breakouts here n there.but after seeing the promotional adds on tv{zee cafe in india}and online,i wanted to give it a try.afterall its a US product,has to be good.I MADE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE BY USING PROACTIV.The people here who think it works for them,well it works now..later on,even they will regret it as it makes the skin more demanding n used to the product.so u have to use it for lifetime.i am a doctor,even then i made this stupid mistake of going after the fancy advertisements of proactiv.my dad whose doctor himself,saved me by giving me methy prednisolone tablets,steroids,to control my reaction otherwise i am sure i wud have landed in hospital.please people dont mess wid ur own face by using such harsh chemicals as found in proactiv.
#59 - ash - 04/21/2009 - 07:35
proactiv
The first two weeks of using this my face got red and itchy. My neck itched like crazy. It did help clear my skin though and made my face really smooth, so I dealt with the dryness and itching and eventually that went away too. After a couple weeks I started to get a little lazy and didn't use all three products all the time. I broke out terribly, worse than I ever had, so I continued using all three products religously but it still isn't going away as quickly as before. In fact, in some areas it seems to be worsening. Apparently I think my skin has become immune to the ingrediants, so I think that once the bottles empty I'm gonna look for a different brand of face wash. The mask does work good though
#60 - JBM - 04/30/2009 - 21:18
Proacive! love it!
I've been using proactive for about 3 years and I love it! I was one of those people that tried everything and nothing worked until I tried this. I was actually surprised when I saw this review and people were saying it didn't work for them. Everyone is different but I know it worked for me.
#61 - CLA - 06/12/2009 - 08:43
Proactiv
The product is not a good one. I bought it and within the firt week of using it, i noticed that I had blemishes wort thn before, I had acne nd I never had trouble with acne before, and it put boils on my face! Not to mention dry spots and discoloration. I would not recommend this product to anyone!
#62 - ebony - 06/18/2009 - 13:15
Proactive
I bought a two months supply at the mall for proactive. It cleard up a little blackheads but I am still breaking out like usual. I wont buy it agian
#63 - CDubb - 06/25/2009 - 23:28
Proactiv
Costs a lot of money and the results are definately not worth the money. Its good if you stick with it and CONSTANTLY use the mask, but i would recommend using something else. And its hard to cancel the subscription!
#64 - David - 07/22/2009 - 21:33
proactiv reparing lotion
i think the whole 3 steps from proactiv is too much for someones skin so what i do is just wash my face in the morning and night with clean and clear facewash and then put some proactiv reparing lotion. it works well because you are using 2 different brands and different ingredients so your skin doesnt get immune to one product. if it starts to, then just switch up the clean and clear to a different type for example, i switch it up from clean and clear morning burst then to clean and clear blackhead srub. so yeah i hope this helps
#65 - Karen - 08/02/2009 - 22:17
ProActive :)
I am currently using ProActive and i really like it! I didn't ever really get that much acne but, every once-in-a-while i would get nasty huge red bumps that were gross. I went to the mall, and got some pro active (the 6 step one). The first couple of times i tried it it cleared up a little, but was still dissapointed, and then the first week it seemed like i just got worse, but then if you just keep doing what it tells you, it will clear up. the only thing is, it takes 10-15 minutes doing all of the steps, but most acne solutions tend to make your face very dry and proactive makes your face smooth and soft. I would remember that pro active is just a MILD acne solution, so if you have really really bad acne i wouldn't try it. but if you are like me- you would really like it!
#66 - Cassidy - 09/26/2009 - 16:16
Proative
CAN IT GET ANY WORSE
i have sensitive skin and my skin wasn't too bad beforehand but then it slowly started to build up and i didn't want it to build up so i bought proacitv. the first what 3 days it was okay but with to worry about because it was only itchyness so i ignored that and moved on...within 2 WEEKS OR PURCHASE, for the first time in my life, i had acne all over my cheeks. its never ever been this bad and i even went to the doctor who gave me a pill, but then it got even worse. They should supply more information in their advertisements before selling their junk, for example 'only for severe cases' or 'only for very sensitive skin' because for those who have very sensitive skin it would be hell but sucessful for those with mild skin. in a week my face was very very itchy and it was going red. i thought it was nothing
#67 - anne - 11/04/2009 - 01:37
ProActive
Does ProActive Work?
It totally depends on YOUR skin....not what anyone else's did with it, PERIOD.
No it doesn't always work. the reasons are many-
-1. you dont actually have acne but another skin disorder that looks a lot like acne
-2. your PH balance doesn't mesh well with the medication in ProActiv, 3. you're not using it as instructed
-3. It is NOT true that if you stop using it your acne will always worsen. I'm proof of that
-read below for why-
Acne is a complicated skin problem that is effected by hormone balance, stress and PH levels in your skin.
it's a combination of factors that causes acne.
ProActiv is not a cure all or fix all...it's a minimizer and a management treatment.
If used as directed you more than likely will get some results...whether those are fantastic or minimal will totally depend on your skin's factors.
Okay, now that i've covered that ill tell you my personal experience. I never had acne as a teenager, but as an adult, after my 3rd baby i started breaking out in clusters all around my hair line and forehead. it was just awful and they HURT like heck too.
I tried everything but nothing seemed to really help for too long, so i finally decide to try ProActiv. I used it just like the directions told me, religiously 2xs a day. After about a month i got pissed that i wasn't seeing anything happening...but i kept at it telling myself over and over every day, "There are no quick fixes".
Eventually it DID start working, very slowly the clusters stopped coming in, and i would only get one or two break outs. then none. this was over the course of about 4 months (so two sets worth of ProActiv)...and i can tell you i don't use it everyday either now..it's been almost a year, and i probably use it 2 to 3xs a week to keep break outs at bay.
My skin used to be VERY oily but it's pretty tame now. I use it as a skin manager now (a deep cleaner), not as a daily thing...since i dont have severe acne anymore. One bottle lasts me 4 months now, i have so much stock piled i doubt i'll ever run out, even if i were to cancel my membership tomorrow. lol
I've gone as long as three weeks w/out and had NO issues with acne coming back (was out of town and forgot it).
My oldest son is 13, and he's been an on again off again user and it never really worked for him because he never used it as directed and only does use it when i get on to him about it. You cannot expect a product to work magically over night. I will say that they hype the stuff as being a bit over the top, but will regular use it might help to tame your acne, and then can be used sporadically as a management cleanser.
So if you expect something to happen in a week and then get pissed and throw it away, sure it's a failure, but if you keep at it, and be patient it might actually work well, and become a very good skin routine for you.
my opinion is it's worth the price, and you might even be able to find a ProActiv vending machine at your local mall...mine has one.
#68 - J. Kristen - 12/05/2009 - 16:39
proactiv
i just started usind proactiv!!!!!!!! but my family has been seeing that my face has cleared up moreso i recemended that u should use proactiv
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In the past I've used "ProActiv" and found that it was too much like a chore. 3 steps was way too much work, especially since I stay up late at night. ProActiv also left me with an irritated red rash on my chin and near my nose that drove me nuts. I discontinued use, and when I called to cancel they tried to convince me to buy the sensitive skin version. NO THANKS YOU SLIMY BASTARDS!
However, about 6 or 8 weeks ago my acne suddenly returned at full force (while still using proactive). I had never really been perfect with following the proactive routine, so I decided to start following the directions religiously. My acne didn't really seem to get any better. So, I went to the kiosk in the mall and bought "Deep cleansing wash" to use instead of the "renewing cleanser." I've seen a very slight improvement with teh new "Deep cleansing wash," but not enough to justify spending $25-$30 for a bottle of that crap.
I don't know what to do now. I wish this stuff would work like it used to work, but I'm almost scared that if I quit using it my acne will get even worse. And I can't afford to get teh real deal from a dermatologist or buy the other pricier non-prescription acne treatments.
I had no problem at all in canceling our order over the phone, which was confirmed later through a polite email from Procative. I later rejoined, as my daughter started having breakouts again, then canceled just recently again, with no problems. The last few months of the shipment, before I cancelled, I had given the products we didn't need to a co-worker for her young teenager, and they were so happy with it! The young lady had been going through such a tough self-esteem issue because of her acne, and the Proactive was exactly what she needed.
I do recall as I write this that both my daughter and myself had to adjust our use of the lotion to how often our skin could tolerate it. No one should use it too often hoping that the acne will disappear overnight. I would suggest using it once every-other day until the skin has a chance to get used to the dryness gradually. After about a week I would step it up to once a day if the skin has not become too dry. If everything is okay after another week, try using it everyday, morning and evening.
The Procative folks with whom I've dealt have been very accomodating, and it's easy to call and get the next shipment changed to suit your needs - from say, one cleanser, one toner, and one lotion to perhaps, one cleanser and two lotions. And you can always call to get your orders shipped more often or less frequently. I'm very happy with what Proactive has done for us.
they all used it and broke out.. it dries out face...
SAVE YOU CASH, DON'T F#$%#@G BUY PROACTIVE
even using it once a day my skin starts to peel with dry skin. its so yuk! i cant even wear make up with it because the make up goes all craky and my skin wont absorb it like it should. and i moistrize with their green tea moztrizer but my skin still so dry. and it used to be crazy oil prior proactiv!
it was kind of a win lose situation for me. pimple free skin verses yuk as dry skin.
dry skin won in the end. im about to start using clinique for my skin. heard its great!
I hardly get any pimples, but when I do it\'s either a big one right on the tip of my nose or teeny ones all over my forehead or cheekbones. 2 days in and my skin\'s become extremely dry, moisturisers don\'t work and nor does bio-oil. I\'m going to stop using it and hopefully will have my face back the way it was OR cut down on how often/how much I use.
and i when it to clear up the black marks on my face,back, hands and chest plzz can u help me my aunt is staying in canada she say she will buy a cream for me but she donot no what yet so plz help me to get it u all can send it for me free or if i have to pay i will do that please help me
Good Luck
But, being honest, Proactiv has worked great for me =) i started getting really bad pimples last december and decided to buy Proactiv from the mall near my house, around March. After 2 weeks my skin was zit free! =) it was awesome. Yes, it was a bit dried but i figured it was because i used too much scrub. and the toner is SUPPOSED to hurt the first time because after srcubbing a bit ur zits are a bit opened, thus when the toner runs over it, it stings a bit. after that ur skin gets used to it.
I recommended it to my friend who had really bad acne. and it worked wonders for him as well.
My boyfriend also uses it now. And he looks better than ever =)
My face is clean and oil free now. I used to use Natio, Clean and Clear, and so many other things..even medicine and stuff from the doctor. i find that the things in supermarkets and pharmacies, like the cleaning scrubs, are so harsh on my skin because the beads are so big. But the beads in Proactiv are just the right size. Small but effective.
I think you should test it first on another part of ur body, not ur face to see if you get any allergies. if u do then stop.
But, anyways...Proactiv has worked great for me so I'm goin to keep using it =)
So I started to try a range of products (H2O, MD Formulations, Shiseido, Biotherm) - but nothing worked until I tried Dermalogica. It's not as harsh as Proactiv but it still does the job. You may not see results as quickly as you might with Proactiv, but my skin feels healthier, less dry and smoother! The obvious downside is the price. But for clear, great skin I believe the products are worth the price tag!
The proactiv started working within 3 days for me but I'm very cautious about amount because it is very harsh; it 2 of the creams tingle to the point of light stinging. I actually use an additional moisturizer with spf 15 after the 3 lotions they provide.
My DD on the other hand ended up with very painful red patches on her skin after only one use. Clearly it is too harsh for her very young, fair skin.
The program is an 'autoship' as you mentioned and I would say the cost is burdensome. Likewise the fellow that took my call was not helpful in the least and not especially friendly. All in all, I think you may find equally good options at a more affordable price with less hassle.
"REALISTIC" tips..please let me know.
after four years, i was starting to get little breakouts again (usually around that time of the month, which i hear is common) and wondered if my skin was becoming immune to proactiv. my mom had recently given murad a shot and was really pleased with her results. i'd also been told by a skin specialist at a spa that salycilic acid would be much better for my skin than benzoyl peroxide, which would only dry me out and "force the acne underneath instead of bringing it to the surface and healed." okay, i thought, maybe i'll try murad. so i did.
WORST decision i could have made. not only did my teenage acne return with a vengeance, it was even worse than i'd ever had... the salycilic acid brought everything to the surface, all right, but it STAYED THERE and never healed. i held out thinking, it always gets worse before it gets better, i need to give it some time, etc. i gave it
after that i tried neutrogena's advanced solutions 3-step system, which is cheaper than proactiv, sold at stores like wal-mart, and combines salycilic acid AND benzoyl peroxide. it certainly calmed my breakouts down a bit, but didn't heal me up as much as i needed. i've been back on proactiv for a little over a month now and am all smoothed out again - although i still have a lot of scarring to get rid of. and for whatever reason, i've gotten extra-dried out this go-around, but i got their new green tea moisturizer free with my order and it's taking care of the dryness nicely - lovely scent as well. :)
bottom line is: you have to try things out and see what works for you. murad did wonders for my mom (when proactiv didn't do a whole lot for her) but absolutely wrecked my skin. proactiv is hands-down the best treatment for my skin, so there's no way it's a "scam" or anything of the kind. but i know it's not gonna work for everyone, and it certainly won't work if you don't use all 3 steps faithfully twice a day.
It worked I guess for the first month or two, then I noticed this little red mark on my top lip, really dry and would not go away. this continued to grow until half of my lip was covered in this crazy rash. If i did not shave then the skin would crack up and dry flaky bits of skin would appear. This was horrible, as I could not even eat without this happening. If I did shave my skin would look horrible like I had severe sunburn in this one spot.
So I stopped using Proactive, and goddamn, it just got worse and worse. It has ruined my life I have this rash on my top lip, around my nose and on my chin about 3 weeks out of a month constantly and NO amount of moisturiser will fix it. Iv tried a whole range but still no success, I even drink a small bottle of flaxseed oil over a week as this is supposed to get rid of skin dryness.
I definately would not recommend using this stuff.
I mean whats happening inside me if Im still getting this rash which is just as bad as ever(maybe worse) 2 YEARS after I have stopped using it??
ITs terrible I dont even feel like going out of the house some days, and as far as getting a new girlfriend, well this really makes it difficult because it looks terrible and makes me so slf conscious what my skin is doing. I have no control over it. My friends sometimes make jokes which only makes things worse. Id rather have bad skin than this burden to be honest.
Please stay away from this toxic crap.
Any suggestions?
I tried to get a refund on 5 unopened shipments that I sent back and 6 months later I still haven't gotten the refund. I sent the product back, then in 6 weeks I sent and email asking about the refund. They claimed that the product was not received. I then sent the confirmation of delivery from the Postal Service. Then they claimed that it was past the 60 days so I was not entitled to a refund. I then stated that I wanted the unopened packages mailed back to me. As of yet not one reply has responded to my request to send the product back to me if they were not going to send a refund.
I have used the Proactiv system for going on 6 months now and couldnt be happier with it. As a pre teen and through my adult years I have suffered mild to severe acne of ALL types, taken many different types of prescription meds as well as accutane (very effective but very harsh) and I have tried name brand products as well as no name products but by and large Proactiv has worked the most effectively and fastest.
It may not work for certain types of skin, but if you dont see results within 60 days and are suffering worse results, try using the good sense you were born with (hopefully) and STOP. If you suffer from immediate painful irritation, STOP.
Like someone else mentioned, what you put in your body also has an effect. Junk like sodas and candy will cause worse skin blemishes. Drinking water works wonders!
For those wondering about why it gets worse first, any dermatologist will tell you this will ALWAYS happen. You have "crud" in your skin that has to come out even if you cant see it, and a good system removes this by bringing it to the surface, causing the worse before the better part!
And yes, sometimes you will become immune to products and you must find new ones. It happens, often you can return to your old product after a few months and it will work again!
CAN IT GET ANY WORSE
i have sensitive skin and my skin wasn't too bad beforehand but then it slowly started to build up and i didn't want it to build up so i bought proacitv. the first what 3 days it was okay but with to worry about because it was only itchyness so i ignored that and moved on...within 2 WEEKS OR PURCHASE, for the first time in my life, i had acne all over my cheeks. its never ever been this bad and i even went to the doctor who gave me a pill, but then it got even worse. They should supply more information in their advertisements before selling their junk, for example 'only for severe cases' or 'only for very sensitive skin' because for those who have very sensitive skin it would be hell but sucessful for those with mild skin. in a week my face was very very itchy and it was going red. i thought it was nothing
It totally depends on YOUR skin....not what anyone else's did with it, PERIOD.
No it doesn't always work. the reasons are many-
-1. you dont actually have acne but another skin disorder that looks a lot like acne
-2. your PH balance doesn't mesh well with the medication in ProActiv, 3. you're not using it as instructed
-3. It is NOT true that if you stop using it your acne will always worsen. I'm proof of that
-read below for why-
Acne is a complicated skin problem that is effected by hormone balance, stress and PH levels in your skin.
it's a combination of factors that causes acne.
ProActiv is not a cure all or fix all...it's a minimizer and a management treatment.
If used as directed you more than likely will get some results...whether those are fantastic or minimal will totally depend on your skin's factors.
Okay, now that i've covered that ill tell you my personal experience. I never had acne as a teenager, but as an adult, after my 3rd baby i started breaking out in clusters all around my hair line and forehead. it was just awful and they HURT like heck too.
I tried everything but nothing seemed to really help for too long, so i finally decide to try ProActiv. I used it just like the directions told me, religiously 2xs a day. After about a month i got pissed that i wasn't seeing anything happening...but i kept at it telling myself over and over every day, "There are no quick fixes".
Eventually it DID start working, very slowly the clusters stopped coming in, and i would only get one or two break outs. then none. this was over the course of about 4 months (so two sets worth of ProActiv)...and i can tell you i don't use it everyday either now..it's been almost a year, and i probably use it 2 to 3xs a week to keep break outs at bay.
My skin used to be VERY oily but it's pretty tame now. I use it as a skin manager now (a deep cleaner), not as a daily thing...since i dont have severe acne anymore. One bottle lasts me 4 months now, i have so much stock piled i doubt i'll ever run out, even if i were to cancel my membership tomorrow. lol
I've gone as long as three weeks w/out and had NO issues with acne coming back (was out of town and forgot it).
My oldest son is 13, and he's been an on again off again user and it never really worked for him because he never used it as directed and only does use it when i get on to him about it. You cannot expect a product to work magically over night. I will say that they hype the stuff as being a bit over the top, but will regular use it might help to tame your acne, and then can be used sporadically as a management cleanser.
So if you expect something to happen in a week and then get pissed and throw it away, sure it's a failure, but if you keep at it, and be patient it might actually work well, and become a very good skin routine for you.
my opinion is it's worth the price, and you might even be able to find a ProActiv vending machine at your local mall...mine has one.