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Reviews
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Dermalogica
MediBac
Review
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The Dermalogica
Skin Kit - MediBac clearing system is a 5-step acne
treatment regimen that claims to target adult acne, although
the ingredients appear equally suited to teens. The regimen
starts with a cleanser that uses a gentle concentration of
salicylic acid (SA), followed by a mattifier with a stronger
dose of SA, a spot treatment with sulfur and SA, an
overnight clearing gel with more SA, and a 2-3 times per
week sebum clearing masque with, you guessed it, even more
SA.
So if you like
salicylic acid, Dermalogica is the acne treatment for you!
Of course, there's more to the ingredients than that.
Despite all the SA, it's used in concentrations no higher
than 2% so as not to be especially harsh on your skin. The
formulations are also balanced with herbal ingredients such
as balm mint extract and tea tree oil for antibacterial and
anti-inflammatory effects, and several of the products, such
as the mattifier and masque, are fortified with vitamin A,
niacin and zinc.
What it all
amounts to is a fairly thorough system if your skin is badly
in need of exfoliation. Don't expect generous portions,
because the tubes are pretty small in the kit, and while you
can buy more separately, the individual products are rather
expensive. Many users also report their skin getting worse
during the first month (this is common with SA-based
treatments), but many who stick with it do see improvement
afterwards. |
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Dermalogica
MediBac at a
glance
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A comprehensive treatment system for
exfoliating your skin, good for
surface-level acne. |
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Besides the SA, Dermalogica also includes
some side ingredients that help regulate
your oil glands. |
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Not terribly expensive for a 5-step system. |
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If SA doesn't work for your acne type, this
is unlikely to really help. |
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Many will experience irritation and an
initial breakout at first, and your skin
will be left more susceptible to sun damage. |
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With 5 steps, daily use may be a
hassle. |
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The portions that come with the kit are very
skimpy, and buying more will cost a lot. |
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Key
Ingredients
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Cleanser:
0.5%
Salicylic Acid
Mattifier:
2%
Salicylic Acid
Spot
Treatment:
5%
Sulfur
Witch
Hazel
Zinc
Oxide
Salicylic Acid |
Overnight Gel:
Tea Tree
Oil
2%
Salicylic Acid
Masque:
0.2%
Triclosan
Kaolin
Bentonite
Salicylic Acid |
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Who should try
Dermalogica MediBac
Do you want a
topical system without benzoyl peroxide, that instead
focuses on varying strength doses of salicylic acid?
Dermalogica is gentler than some BP-centric products, and
provides sufficient exfoliation to help with most
surface-level acne, provided you can stick with it through
the painful first month. Some of the ingredients may help
with pustules as well, although I would strongly suggest
adding a moisturizer to the mix, as all that SA could
otherwise leave you more vulnerable to fine lines and
wrinkles.
Who should
not
try Dermalogica MediBac
If you are
easily irritated by salicylic acid or your skin has built up
a resistance to it, this is probably not the solution for
you. Those looking to avoid an initial breakout may also
want to pass. Some of the ingredients that target reducing
oil production are a good addition, but there are other
products that specifically combat that problem better, and
an approach like this that focuses mainly on exfoliation is
not the right answer for everyone, especially if you suffer
from deeper pustules or cysts.
Dermalogica also
falls into the common "too many steps" category that makes
it a hassle for users who don't want to spend all day in the
bathroom, and pushes several "buy this also if you're
serious about stopping acne" side products, seemingly giving
you an incomplete system if you only buy the kit. These
factors, along with the small size of the tubes included,
might annoy some users.
Average Price
$35 to $45 at
most online retailers
Alternatives
Clear Pores,
Zenmed Derma Cleanse, Murad Acne Complex, other SA-based
topical systems
Have you tried
Dermalogica MediBac?
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