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Reviews
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Obagi
Clenziderm M.D. Acne System
Review
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Obagi has built
a reputation for high quality, high-end skin care products,
but while the "Clenziderm M.D. Acne Therapeutic System" may
sound a little overblown, its main ingredients are fairly
standard. Obagi has a few different varieties of their kits,
but the most popular one (and the one aimed at most acne
sufferers) is their "normal to oily skin" offering.
The Obagi
Clenziderm M.D. system includes 3 steps. There is a daily
care foaming cleanser with 2% salicylic acid, a pore therapy
lotion with another dose of 2% salicylic acid, and a serum
gel with 5% benzoyl peroxide. The first two steps aim to
cleanse and exfoliate your top layer of skin cells while
reducing inflammation. The third uses BP to kill
acne-causing bacteria in your pores.
Being a premium
brand, prices for Obagi can vary wildly, with some charging
as much as $130 for the kit. With a little effort you can
find it for significantly less (hint: Amazon), but even at
$55 it's not cheap, considering how common most of the
ingredients are. |
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Obagi Clenziderm at a
glance
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+
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Can successfully combat several types of
surface acne, for those whose skin can
handle it. |
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+
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Strong enough to work fairly quickly. |
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-
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Harsh ingredients will cause dryness,
irritation and peeling for many users (this
is definitely not for those with sensitive
skin). |
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The adjustment period for your skin may take
several months. |
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Hard to justify the price tag. |
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Key
Ingredients
Cleanser:
2%
Salicylic Acid
Pore
Therapy:
2%
Salicylic Acid
Serum
Gel:
5%
Benzoyl Peroxide |
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Who should try
Obagi Clenziderm
If you trust the
Obagi brand, don't mind spending a little more, and your
skin is tough enough to take some punishment, then the
Clenziderm M.D. system may be able to help. Many users
report faster than average results for clearing whiteheads
and blackheads, although it can still take a while to combat
deeper acne pustules. You should also be ready to commit to
a few months of treatment. This is a good idea with many
products, but since Clenziderm is on the harsh side, expect
your skin to require some adjustment time before the
irritation subsides. Following with a strong moisturizer
(like jojoba oil) is highly recommended.
Who should
not
try Obagi Clenziderm
There are plenty
of other acne treatments that use salicylic acid and benzoyl
peroxide, many of them for a fraction of the cost, so if
money is an issue you may want to avoid Obagi. This is also
far from an optimal solution for people with sensitive skin.
The concentrations of both active ingredients are on the
strong side, very likely to cause rashes, peeling and
flaking for those whose skin is easily irritated (which
could lead to further acne). And of course, those of you who
have built up a tolerance to these ingredients are unlikely
to see much real improvement from simply using them in
higher concentrations (I generally recommend against using
BP in concentrations above 2.5%).
Average Price
$55 to $130 at
most online retailers
Alternatives
Clearasil Ultra,
Max Clarity, other 3-step treatments with SA and BP
Have you tried
Obagi Clenziderm?
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