Okay, I'm really bad at writing reviews, but this one is different. This is the review I would've wanted to read, and despite the 5 stars I won't pull any punches here. First of all I want to address the complaint that this is not the 30-day supply but a "trial" or "travel" size. It is the advertised 2 fl oz, but I have had no problems making it last a month. The 6 fl oz that some people are expecting is a 90-day supply (it's actually a better deal too). But I bought this one with mountains of incredulity under my belt because of my history with acne treatment.
I first started breaking out when I was in the 3rd grade. That's right. I was that weird kid getting zits before we're even supposed to understand what those are. I got the standard comforting words like "it's a phase everyone has to go through" and "you'll grow out of it"... I have not. I am now 25 years old. I know I'm not alone on this one, so I don't need to tell you how utterly stressful it is to deal with acne on top of the normal pressures of growing up, then reaching my 20s and dealing with the new mess of adulting... while still dealing with acne.
Like many people, I tried EVERYTHING. About a year ago I finally decided to go natural with the new craze the "oil cleansing method", and got into using essential oil treatments for a while. It seemed to work in treating existing pimples, but never stopped my breakouts from occurring. I had always stayed away from proactiv because of the expense, the ridiculous number of products, and the celebrity endorsements (made it seem fake to me), but I reached my breaking point a little over a month ago. I just thought "I am an ADULT. What gives?" So I bit the bullet and decided to try it.
I went with the Proactiv+ because from my understanding it is more for adult acne, when your skin is less resistant to the harsher treatment in the original system. But that is all very dependent on your skin type. Some people here who have more aggressive acne may do better with the other version. My skin type is very sensitive combination oily/dry skin. The WORST kind (in my limited experience). In the past, my skin would get super oily and break out, then I would go after it with a treatment that would totally dry it out and cause cracking and bleeding. It was always back and forth, I couldn't find a balance. Proactiv+ gives me that.
But I won't lie, it wasn't easy to use. It can be very hard on your skin, but there are 2 things I discovered that mitigate that. 1. Do NOT use other acne products while you're using this system, and I'm actually including other Proactiv products on this one (at least at first). 2. Start SMALL. Use less than they recommend and start only once a day. After I used the 3 steps for 2 days, I honestly noticed a difference. Maybe it was just desperation, but I said to myself "this could actually work..." So I got a little overzealous. I tried to start small, but I was seeing the light at the end of my very long, dark acne tunnel and I sprinted. Used some of the supplementary products from Proactiv on top of this system. Bad idea. I burned my skin. Like, to a crisp. I had to stop wearing makeup and slathered aloe vera on my face for a couple days. So I backed way off and did a more gradual approach.
Now I'm almost exactly 30 days in (tomorrow is a month) and I still don't use it twice a day, every day. But my skin is definitely tolerating it better. It does dry out your skin, sorry. Personally, after almost 20 years of acne, I will totally make that sacrifice. The only Proactiv product I would recommend buying along with this would be the green tea moisturizer, because moisture is a MUST. To me, thing that makes Proactiv different is the fact that it does prevent breakouts as well as treat them. If I were to stop using it, I'm sure they'd come back. It's not a cure, it's a treatment. But I'll take it. Another reason to give it a try is that there are plenty of fad systems that attack Proactiv for exactly the reasons I never tried it. But they lose popularity fast and then vanish, while Proactiv is going strong. Because ultimately, it WORKS. I'm working my way up to using it more often, but my skin is looking so much better it's insane.
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From the manufacturer
Proactiv+ 3-Step System Products
Skin Smoothing Exfoliator |
Pore Targeting Treatment |
Complexion Perfecting Hydrator |
|---|---|---|
Cleanse
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Clear
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Hydrate
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Exfoliate
|
Treat
|
Soothe
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Minimize
|
Prevent
|
Brighten
|
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Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2017
Size: 3 Piece SetVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2016
Size: 3 Piece SetVerified Purchase
Small bottles way too expensive
By Karen Muehlheim on June 27, 2016
Works great, but it's the 30 day treatment not the amount the pictures show. Go on the proactive website and you'll get the same product for 30 dollars. Spent way more money than I should've. Will be purchasing off of proactive website though.
By Karen Muehlheim on June 27, 2016
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Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2018
Size: 3 Piece SetVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2019
Size: 3 Piece SetVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2020
Size: 3 Piece SetVerified Purchase
