NGPR: Has anyone tried Proactive?

brij2006 · April 2014

Has anyone here tried Proactive, and have you had success with it?

I'm at my wits end with this acne.

mrshall1027 · April 2014

I tried it and hated it.

It dried out my skin like crazy.

What worked for me really well was the Boscia Clear Complexion Kit. *clicky*

sparklingdiamond · April 2014

I used it and it actually worked pretty well for me. Unfortunately, it does bleach out your pillow cases and towels and stuff, so you have to be careful about that. But it did help my skin clear up.

RockABye · April 2014

We used Proactive years ago. It worked well for about 6 months then it stopped working for both DH and me and made ud break out like crazy. Plus, it will stain your towels so don't use good towels to dry your face or anything. I give it a 5 out of 10. Maybe check for other options with a dermatologist if it's really bad?

What has made a huge difference for me is the Clarisonic. I use it regularly (2-3X a week) and it keeps my face super clear. When I first used it (and if I go too long in between using it), it will cause me to break out though so I've found that consistency is key. Not sure if it matters, but I use Burts Bee's facial cleanser with it.

brij2006 · April 2014

That's really good to know about the bleaching thing.

Right now I use Mary Kay's acne set. It's just meh, and I still get the hard clusters of what should be zits, but they don't pop. They're only on my cheeks too. Everywhere else gets actual zits.

Does it dry out your skin much, or do the others you girls have recommended dry out? I have slight rosacea, so I have to make sure to not use anything too dry. But if it's too oily then I have a sheen on my face by 1pm (like now with the Mary Kay stuff).

nfp147 · April 2014

I thought about trying it when I went off BCP because I broke out like crazy, but friends who have tried it warned me that they found it really harsh.

I've had really good luck with the Neutrogena Clear Pore line:

brij2006 · April 2014

@nfp147 I may give that a try first since I could find it locally. How often do you use it and do you use the Mask part of it? If so, how often?

nfp147 · April 2014

brij2006 said:

@nfp147 I may give that a try first since I could find it locally. How often do you use it and do you use the Mask part of it? If so, how often?

I've never actually used it as a mask, I just wash daily with it. There's also a toner that I like.

formerlyGDaisy09 · April 2014

brij2006 said:

That's really good to know about the bleaching thing.
Right now I use Mary Kay's acne set. It's just meh, and I still get the hard clusters of what should be zits, but they don't pop. They're only on my cheeks too. Everywhere else gets actual zits.
Does it dry out your skin much, or do the others you girls have recommended dry out? I have slight rosacea, so I have to make sure to not use anything too dry. But if it's too oily then I have a sheen on my face by 1pm (like now with the Mary Kay stuff).

full disclosure, I sell Mary Kay.

are you using the "old acne set" or the "new acne set"?

I have acne problems and I actually found I have more luck with the Mary Kay Timewise set than the acne set. I use the combination-to-oily set and then use the botanical effects formula 3 mask 1-2 times a week. I also use the facial brush when I wash my face at night, it made my acne worse for a week or two, but now it's better than it's been for a while.

LuckyAngel07 · April 2014

I tried so many acne products between graduating high school and a few years ago, lemme tell you! I can't even remember everything I've used.

I did try Proactiv for about a month. I was not impressed. I don't recall it bleaching anything, though.

I finally gave up on the "acne" branded products and went with natural cleansers and scrubs. I did oil cleansing method for a while, which was actually okay, but I started getting annoying little breakouts that would NOT go away. I've been doing Goat Milk Stuff's tea tree soap bar daily for over a year along with Burt's Bees citrus scrub a few days a week.

brij2006 · April 2014

@gdaisy09 I use the Clear Proof face wash with the Timewise face lotion.

@luckyangel07 I tried the tea tree goat soap a year ago when I ordered samples, and it didn't help me at all. :-(

Maybe I need to try using a scrub or something, but those usually make me break out worse.

formerlyGDaisy09 · April 2014

brij2006 said:

@gdaisy09 I use the Clear Proof face wash with the Timewise face lotion.
@luckyangel07 I tried the tea tree goat soap a year ago when I ordered samples, and it didn't help me at all. :-(
Maybe I need to try using a scrub or something, but those usually make me break out worse.

hmmm...if you have rosacia too maybe you need something more gentle? if you're planning to change things up maybe give the Botanical Effects formula 3 a try, that one is designed for oily and sensitive skin...or go with the timewise combination-to-oily cleanser and matching lotion.

GoodWolf · April 2014

I use proactiv, and have for the last two years consistently, and off and in through high school. it's the only thing that has helped me. I only use step 1 and 3 though, the "toner" (step 2) makes me break out more. I replace it with another item like green tea moisturizer or their mask. I don't go crazy with step 3, I think using too much (it's the repairing lotion) also makes me break out more. I have white towels I use to dry my face after washing it in the morning, but I haven't bleached any towels in a few years. I think they may have changed the formula? I used to bleach towels all the time. I'm sorry you're dealing with acne

it sounds cyclic, on your cheeks. I'd see if you could get and RX to knock that out and then go from there. I needed that when my acne got cystic and it hasn't been a problem since. I was just prescribed a retin-a type cream (not the gel, that stuff is horrendous), used it until it got manageable, and I've been fine since.

FutureMrsWright2012 · April 2014

I ended up having to go on a prescription med to help mine (tretinoin) a couple years ago because nothing OTC seemed to work. My dermatologist said to stay away from harsh exfoliation, too FWIW. After about 6 months or so, I was able to dc the med and have been virtually acne-free since.

DangerMuffin23 · April 2014

I did and do. I used it full time in my earlier twenties (meaning once a day), but now I only use it twice a week bc it's so much better. (PR RELATED): I now use Boscia black during pregnancy due to a change in my skin type, but I'm sure I'll go back once I run out and I give birth.

Flamingo86 · April 2014

I've never used it, but most hardcore acne treatments dry out my skin (and I've tried everything....former Accutane user here). I currently use Alba Botanica Acne Dote.

abt8113 · April 2014

I used it, and it worked for a while, then just stopped. I am now doing to a derm who has prescribed me a few things to take. Just FYI she told me that anything with salicylic acid can be harmful during pregnancies. Brij, I know you aren't TTC right now, but just wanted to see if you were aware of that.

Xan921 · April 2014

I used proactive for about a month in my early 20's but it made me break out like crazy. My brother, who is in the beauty/skin care industry, said that unless you have really really bad acne, then proactive isn't for you.

When I shower I use a plain ol' regular bar soap (normally Dove) with warm water and a wash rag on my face, then for in between washes I swear by Clean and Clear morning burst and I've been using Murad moisturizer for the last month or so and my skin has never been better.

brij2006 · April 2014

@abt8113 That is one thing that I'm trying to keep in mind. Most face products last me close to a year. So I want to get one that's TTC friendly. Even though the stuff I currently use and have been using for a year wasn't TTC/PG friendly. I'm trying not to overthink that it could've been harmful during our pregnancy and loss and I didn't even realize it.

amccul20 · April 2014

I used the proactiv for a while in high school, in college, and then again after I got married. it worked for me but I found that I was only using the facewash and they were sending it more quickly than I could use it...and so I always got annoyed and cancelled.

now I use Neutrogena oil free face wash and it works really well. I actually have one on the sink and one in the shower because I tend to get some body acne. its been working well for me for several years now

NGPR: Has anyone tried Proactive?

Re: NGPR: Has anyone tried Proactive?

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