Proactiv - Does it really work?

[Anonymous]

CVS has a knock-off in the skin care section -- it costs about $20 and it looks like it has the same 3 products as Proactiv (ie, cleanser, toner, moisturizer). I used that for a few months because I didn't want to buy Proactiv and get caught in the automatic billing.

[Anonymous]

It depends on what is causing your acne--specifically, if you have rosacea, Proactiv is a bad idea and could be very drying/worsen inflammation, in addition to being expensive. I would strongly recommending (assuming you have health insurance) seeing a dermatologist who specializes in treating adult acne to rule out other things, and see if the dermatologist can get you on a skin care set up that works for your specific issues.

[Anonymous]

About other benzoyl peroxide products - the thing that seems to make Proactiv work for me is the low dose of BP actually IN the cleanser, coupled with the low dose of BP in the lotion. I couldn't wear Oxy in public, and it didn't seem to prevent new pimples, just dry the old ones up.

The Proactiv "healing lotion" can be worn all day, or night. And when I use it any little blemish I had seems to disappear. I use it sparingly now or it will dry my skin.

I haven't tried the knock offs; I'm happy to stick with Proactiv since, for the first time in my adult life, I am now pimple free without medication - I used accutane as well.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all for your comments. I know I should probably see a dermatologist first - I was just curious whether the Proactiv actually worked. Sounds like it works for some but not others, like most things I suppose.

Good to know about the way they send it in the mail automatically - funny, do you all remember the days when you would subscribe to Columbia House or some other such music/CD company - they had the same ploy. (Am I showing my age now, or what?)

[Anonymous]

If you don't trust yourself to cancel the automatic shipments, there's a kiosk in the food court at Pentagon City mall. You can just buy it there.

[Anonymous]

There's one at Montgomery Mall too. I like buying at the kiosk because I tend to use up the bottles and different rates, so you can buy one bottle at a time.

[Anonymous]

OP wanted to tell you - I have had bad skin all my life. I would wear embarrassing amounts of foundation to hide it, which of course just made it worse. I tried everything. Antibiotics when I was a kid (back in the days when they would do that) accutane, every over the counter product I could find in stores, nothing worked.

Out of desperation I finally tried Proactiv. My skin is TOTALLY clear now and I don't need to wear any make up on my skin. My skin looks gorgeous. In fact, (I am single) the other night I was kissing someone for the first time, and he kept putting his hands on my face and skin, and looking at my face... and for the first time in my LIFE I actually enjoyed being looked at so closely. I wasn't cringing inside.

So I don't know about those other products but Proactiv has made a HUGE difference for me.

Good luck!