After five weeks of using this product, my skin appears smoother as the blackheads are noticeably reduced. The area below my eyes, nose, and check bones contained a large amount of the blackheads. Cystic acne shows up on the side and creases of my nose and on my checks. This product has dramatically reduced the scars left from the cystic acne from my nose creases and on the lower part of my checks.
Overall, I love this product. My skin was damaged after using ProActive for two years. It left my skin overly sensitive, severely acne prone, and extremely dry. Normally, my skin is/was oily with moderate acne (stress/monthly). In addition to this product, I’m using BM Buffing Lotion (love), Enzyme Cleansing Gel (very nice), A.H.A. & Ceramide Moisturizer (night), Oil Free Moisturizer SPF 30, and the Drying Lotion (whiteheads & surface pimples ONLY). continued >>

I've been using this product 3-4 times a week for a month and feel ready to review. First off I was afraid to use this product because as of late my skin has been sensitive to practically everything and I suddenly have a lot of redness since I turned 30! I don't have acne but lots of whiteheads/blackheads in the tzone and my bronzer that I had a reaction to has left some noticeable scars on my cheeks. I bought this on a whim and was surprised the first time I used it my skin was not irritated or red the morning after but I was sure with continued use I would have a reaction.....This product has changed everything! My blackheads on my nose have diminished significantly, so much so all my sisters and husband have commented and want to try this product now. The scarring on my cheek are almost gone and this was all within the first 2 weeks of use. I can't completely attest that it was only this product that helped since I also started using a plethora of Dermalogica products but this has improved the areas that I put it on overnight. I think the price is reasonable for the amount of product and you only need to use a lightly. I'm so in love with my skin right now, so much so that I've started using tinted moisturizers since I don't need much coverage anymore.

I didn't realise how good this product was until I stopped using it. I was recently sick in beds for over a week and did nothing to my face in that time. Since getting better I've noticed some little whiteheads and a lot of blackheads and just the general surface of my skin isn't as smooth as it has been whilst using this gel. Needless to say I'm right back on it.
I have oily skin so I use it every night in conjunction with MB Glycolic Toner and the Glycolic Foaming Cleanser in the mornings and it doesn't dry me out at all, but I have noticed I am less oily during day, and wake up with almost no oil slick each morning, than I used to be (not sure if that's down to this or the other products but all I use now is MB). If you don't have oily skin maybe every other night would be safer but I have no tingling or burning when I use them. The only thing I get is smooth, even-toned skin.
At around $38 Australian it's a good buy because you use such a small amount that it will last quite a while. I've had mine for around 3 months and with nightly use I'm not quite half way through the bottle yet.

Wow, my skin hasn't looked this good in over 8 years. I have always known that I should exfoliate but I used exfoliators with little beads etc and I just found that they would only irritate my very acne-prone skin further. When I was given a sample of this, I was very skeptical, especially because of the high glycolic concentration, thinking that it would make my skin even dryer. But after one night, I noticed an immediate difference! Now after about 5 weeks of using it nightly, my skin is smoother and softer, my whiteheads are gone and my scarring is clearing up also. People have been commenting about how much better my skin looks! I never thought I'd find a serum so good- and relatively so cheap- ($38 AU a bottle at Kit Cosmetics- a little goes a very long way). Also, I had a few fine lines due to dry skin but now they are gone (I think it helps moisturiser work better, I use the MB oil-free one). I wouldn't recommend it to those with overly sensitive skin- but everyone else- it is definitely worth a try! I'm absolutely amazed!

I have never had bad acne but my black heads were outrageous! Two weeks after using this i had none. My esthetician was shocked the last time i went in to see her becuase my skin had improved so much! If you just want more even cleaner skin this is worth a try. I noticed with my skin this product helped my mosturizer sink in more just an fyi.

I don't often right reviews on products but after experiencing the difference that this product has made for my skin I just had to share. I have dry acne prone skin with minor discolorations. I have been using this product for three weeks ( I would give it 2-3 weeks before you give up on a product!) and my skin has completely turned around. My acne has stopped, my red marks are fading and my skin is just overall less congested! I would highly recommend this product. I know how much emotional pain acne can bring people (from dealing with it myself and from seeing those around me deal with it) so if I could say anything it would be that your acne does not in any way define who you are. So don't let it keep you from experiencing life!
ps. I would recommend pairing this product with a good moisturizer such as la roche posay's hydraphase intense moisturizer. ( has never caused any breakouts for me!)
much love <3 continued >>

This gave me cystic acne when I used it, I've never broken out so horribly for a long time. But I used it on my feet and woke up with really soft, exfoliated feet...so it's not completely useless to me.

the gel's texture is really nice and not thick.
however, i don't know if this has been doing anything for my clogged pores. =x maybe i haven't been using this religiously but i feel that it doesn't really exfoliate for me. =/
edit: this product does nothing for me.

I bought this in hopes of lightening my acne scars. I have naturally dark skin, so my scars are super dark. They have lightened up a bit with the use of this product, but they're still visible. I also tend to have bouts of cystic acne, so by the time my old scars have faded significantly, I have new scars from my cystic acne (annoying, I know!). I also love how nice my skin looks in the morning, especially if I've had a long night's sleep. Overall, this is an awesome exfoliator. If you have sensitive skin, watch out 'coz this stuff stings!

not for sensitive skin. i bought his to help with breakouts and to rid my skin of tone issues. i used it a few times a week and have stopped. very drying to my skin. so dry, that my lips have chapped...this is weird because i used this no where near my mouth. the bottle is a pain to use. should be in a pump bottle.

Awesome exfoliator for am or pm. I personally use it at night and use a salicylic and glycolic serum in the day to combat my acne prone and oily skin. I always wake up with smooth skin and really takes away congestion and cystic acne. You only need a little and it goes along way. Mario badescu products have high concentration in their products so always a plus! Especially when the serum is only $25, what a steal! Seriously serums go for 50-100 bucks, and this works just as well. Very good investment for oily skin types! Cleared me up :)

I use this at night and (if I've slept long enough...) wake up with beautiful skin!! It's expensive (!!!) but fabulous... a little goes a long way. The only thing I hate is the pump thing... it constantly gets clogged.

I think this will be a new MB fave of mine! I just got it in my last purchase, and have definitely noticed a difference in the appearance and texture of my skin after only a short time. The gel is a little liquid-y, and you don't need that much at once. It doesn't sting or hurt or cause irritation, but it does make the skin glow nicely. I've experimented with applying it several different ways (always the same complaint with MB products -- insufficient directions!) and I'm still not sure if I've decided on any one way.
I notice that if I apply directly to clean, un-moisturized skin and wait for it to absorb it forms a sort of filmy barrier on my face, which makes putting moisturizer on (on top) sort of awkward... But I feel like it should go on my face before -- not after -- moisturizer, tho I'm not really sure. The directions just tell you to apply it at night, so, they're not really helpful.
Besides the little confusion I mentioned, it's a good product, effective, lasting, and just kinda cool... :)

I am on my third bottle of this stuff. I really like it. I wash my face with cetaphil and alternate between this and acne cream by PCA. This gel keeps my skin clear and glowing. It is expensive, but you only need a little bit so it last a long time.

I think this is working REALLY well for me!! I'm Baumann's Oily/Sensitive/Pigmented/(Wrinkled or Tight? don't know). I moved from a humid climate to a cool, windy, dry climate. My acne was harder to deal with b/c the dead skin and oil build-up was a problem, but overstripping it and moisturizing it would cause more acne.

I've had to experiment with this product. First of all, I'm using very gentle cleansers day and night, and I'm letting the gel do the exfoliating at night. I use a small amount of this gel every night on the sides of my face and on my T-zone. Then I use a serum (Suki) over all areas (without it, my skin will look and feel rough and raw). The brown pigmentation was dramatically lighter within the 1st week, but now I think the effects will be more about maintenance. For me, this product (in combination with others) has helped me prevent cystic acne and things that I think are milia seeds. I highly recommend Mario Badescu's buffering lotion for cystic acne!! EDIT: I don't think they sell this anymore. I bought the glycolic acid toner and treat the same areas i described above. I don't use jojoba on my face anymore, I use vaseline! sorry suki!

Bought this on recommendation of esthetician who had given me a few great facials. Was trying to get rid of monthly hormonal outbreaks along my chin. Was way too harsh for my sensitive and dry skin. Stung, caused redness and peeling. Not fun.

This gel is reminiscent of PTR's AHA hydrating gel - both contain glycolic acid to moisturize and exfoliate the skin. MB's is much more reasonably priced but works just as well - in fact, I find it a tad more moisturizing than PTR's. It doesn't prevent my monthly breakouts, but it does help them heal faster, and absorbs quickly to provide light moisture and even out my skin a little. The liquid is blue (don't know why) and it comes in a clear plastic squeezy bottle which is convenient for travel. It's an effective yet gentle treatment for my combo/sensitive skin, and I'll definitely be repurchasing when I finish the bottle.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!
This is one of the only products that has helped to clear up my acne (I am 38 years old!).
I've discovered that glycolic acid (delivered perfectly for nighttime use in this product) from this gel, used in MB cleanser and toner is my perfect combination.
This is a great product.

UPDATE 11/17/08: This gel was ok, but too expensive for me to repurchase. Now that I've found Nature's Cure, I won't spend more than $10 for a clear face.
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I love this gel! I bought it on the recommendation of the saleswoman where I buy my MB stuff and I'm so glad she told me about it! I use this in combination with the Glycolic Foaming Cleanser and the Special Cucumber Lotion and my skin looks great! My combination skin and acne are finally under control The price may seem steep, but the bottle will last forever since you only need to use a tiny amount and it's definitely worth it!
UPDATE 11/17/08: This gel was ok, but too expensive for me to repurchase. Now that I've found Nature's Cure, I won't spend more than $10 for a clear face.

Daily use of this for a couple weeks has made my skin ridiculously soft, smooth and bright. It's a quickly absorbing gel, so it's easy to use with other products. It stings a bit on application, but not too badly. Highly recommended. (For reference, I have combination acne-prone skin.)