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Proactiv
Review
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Proactiv is the
highest-selling acne treatment in the world, well known for
its celebrity endorsements. It's also largely responsible
for popularizing the now-ubiquitous 3-step approach (in this
case using a cleanser, toner and repairing lotion), although
Proactiv has since expanded their product line to include a
bunch of "optional, but you should really buy this also for
best results" side products.
The fact is,
Proactiv is a solid middle-ground acne treatment.
Guthy-Renker understands that you make the most money by
targeting the mainstream - the largest market segment -
which in this case means mild-to-moderate acne sufferers.
For many of those people, Proactiv's combination of benzoyl
peroxide (to kill bacteria) and glycolic acid (to promote
exfoliation) may be enough.
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Proactiv at a
glance
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The BP + GA formula has been proven to
reduce acne for many. |
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Glycolic acid is gentler than salicylic acid
(formula also includes moisturizing
botanicals) |
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People with sensitive skin will still find
the BP too harsh... |
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And people with more severe acne will find
the formula too weak. |
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Daily multi-step system can be a hassle. |
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This is a skin-deep solution, so don't
expect acne
prevention. |
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Key
Ingredients
Cleanser:
2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide
Toner:
Glycolic
Acid
Lotion:
2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide |
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Who should try
Proactiv
As mentioned
above, Proactiv is designed to target the mainstream acne
sufferer - people with mild-to-moderate cases of acne,
including whiteheads, blackheads and a few scattered
pustules - if that describes you, then there is a good
chance Proactiv will give you positive results.
Likewise, people
who find stronger systems (such as those that use salicylic
acid and/or higher BP concentrations) too abrasive may see
better results with Proactiv's gentler approach of using
glycolic acid and botanical moisturizers.
Who should
not
try Proactiv
If you fall
outside the mainstream, which is the case for many with
truly stubborn acne, Proactiv may not be enough. Those with
very sensitive skin will find the ingredients - even with
all the botanicals - will agitate their skin, leading to
more acne. And those with moderate-to-severe cases (who see
more frequent pustules and cysts) will likely find the
results underwhelming.
It's also very
common for people to see results temporarily. Many
Proactiv users find that their results diminish over time as
their skin becomes resistant to the active ingredients, and
if you've already seen poor or diminishing results from
other BP-based products, Proactiv is unlikely to be any
different.
Average Price
$45 plus S&H if
you buy at retailer like Amazon (recommended if you want to
avoid being subscribed into automatic payments), $20 for the
first month and higher thereafter if you order direct with a
subscription.
Alternatives
Hundreds of
imitators, Any 3-step system with BP & GA
Have you tried
Proactiv?
Submit a user review
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