Equate • Proactiv knock-off system • Skincare - Face
(22 reviews)
| Average Rating. | 4.4 |
| Would buy this product again. | 81% |
| Package Quality | 3.6 |
| Price | 2.2 |
| Ingredients | |
BrandiD81 on 3/22/2013 9:41:00 PM more reviews by BrandiD81
Age: 30-35 Skin: Normal, Fair Hair: Brunette Eyes: Blue
I have never had a breakout until i hit my 30s. Then I started having mild breakouts. Nothing worked. I wanted to buy proactiv but didn't want to have a chance of wasting 30-50$ for something that may not work. On a trip to Walmart I walked through the skin care aisle and came across this 3 step package that also came with a small tube of a sulfur mask for less than 12$ so I thought what the heck I'll try it because it said compare to proactiv and the price is so hard to pass up. I have now been using it twice a day for only 5 days and OMG my skin looks and feels amazing. My once red patches, dry, skin with the few pimples I had is clear and as smooth as a babies butt. I will be buying this again. I have had no dry patches and I have sensitive skin. this product is AMAZING!!!!!!!
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Snevets333 on 3/16/2013 7:27:00 AM more reviews by Snevets333
Age: 19-24 Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium Hair: Brunette Eyes: Brown
From the positive reviews on this site, this product clearly works for many people. Unfortunately, I was not one of them. I have never had any type of allergic skin reaction before, but after using all three steps 1-2 times daily for 3 days (and putting oil-free moisturizer on after step 3), I woke up to find that I had horribly puffy eyes and slightly red skin all over my face. I wasn't surprised by the red skin, but I was shocked by how puffy the bags under my eyes were. I am not naturally prone to swelling under my eyes, and have never gotten bags from lack of sleep or crying, so this was a very unexpected and embarrassing side effect. Only now, 5 days after I stopped using the product, are my eyes completely back to normal. I may use the toner and moisturizer to spot-treat problem areas, but it seems as though even washing my forehead in the shower and letting water drip past my eyes as it washes the cleanser away is too harsh for the skin there.
Bottom line: If you are going to try this product, make sure to do so at least a week before any important events in case you have a skin reaction similar to mine.
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roro101 on 3/15/2013 2:47:00 AM more reviews by roro101
Age: 30-35 Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Neutral Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine Eyes: Brown
I will echo the other reviewers in that I was very surprised at how effective this system was. I picked it up after my Proactiv set ran out and I didn't want to wait/pay for shipping, having heard about the toner here on MakeupAlley.com. My local Walmart only had the 3 piece set of the cleanser, toner, and lotion so I bought that for $11.98. Packaging - it looks just like the original Proactiv packaging of 15-20 years ago. They are all squeeze bottles with screw on caps. The inside cap on the lotion popped off and spilled a puddle of product all over my counter the 3rd day. Annoying, but easily fixed. Cleanser - this feels and smells like the original formulation Proactiv, not the more recent formula that has more silica for exfoliation. Toner - this looks like the Proactiv and contains the same amount of glycolic acid and has all the same ingredients but in different concentrations and fragrance. Lotion - its more gel-like than Proactiv and a little thinner.
With both Proactiv and Equate, I had zero success with the system until I started massaging the cleaser onto my face for much longer, like instead of 2 minutes, i have been cleansing once a day for at least 4 solid minutes, and sometimes longer. I noticed an immiediate difference once I started using the cleanser this way. I have very oily skin and my pores seem to clog overnight and I end up with milia and commodones in my T-zones and, since I had my 2nd child, I get the occasional cyst that doesn't come to a head but stays as a raised, reddish bump under the skin on my cheeks or jawline due to crazy hormone changes post-partum. Derms always say, oh don't worry! You'll grow out of it! to teens and I never imagined my teenaged flare-ups would continue to my mid-30s. Anyway, using the cleaser more like a mini-facial made the rest of the products actually work for me. I noticed my skin is softer, more even, and generally happier with smaller pores. The Equate toner works adequately - Proactiv was more hydrating and soothing and i prefer the scent. With the toner, I completely saturate a cotton ball and dab on my face until it's wet and then let air dry before applying a light layer of the lotion. I've been using the Proactiv oil-free moisturizer with spf 15 during the day after the lotion dries and it makes a nice matte but non-dry primer base for mineral makeup application. I generally don't moisturize as night, however. I do the long cleanse usually at night after wearing makeup all day. My morning routine in the shower is lighter, but i still really wet my face with the toner.
Since I tend to go through the kit faster with my routine, especially the toner, I'll likely be continuing with Equate until I run out of the Proactive moisturizer and have to repurchase. Even if Proactiv hasn't worked in the past for you, you could try the Equate and use it like I do and see if that makes a difference. With such effectiveness in a product, you might wonder if it's a HG candidate. I would say it could be, if the packaging were a little more secure and the toner was more like Proactiv. As it is, it's pretty great! Overall, I like this product and you just can't beat the price!
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sufferingfromvertigo on 1/19/2013 12:05:00 PM more reviews by sufferingfromvertigo
Age: 19-24 Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool Hair: Red, Wavy, Medium Eyes: Blue
WOW. Like... wow. I just can't express how shocked I am with the results I've gotten from using this product. I have moderate acne that gets significantly worse when it's that TOTM. I'll get around 1-3 cysts along my jaw during this time period, which will take about a month to heal, at which point the cycle starts all over again (ughhhhh). I tried Proactive when I was approximately 14-15, and didn't have noticeable results. Admittedly, it's been five or so years since then, so my skin is very different, but the results from using this product are remarkable. I have never seen results from using benzoyl peroxide, so I generally stick with salicylic acid as my acne fighter. But after three cysts ravaged my face last month, I decided to try something new. I happened upon this product and saw the great reviews and the cheap price and decided to give it a go. After about four days of using it twice a day, I saw a dramatic and fantastic difference in my skin. Small zits and bumps that were popping up were demolished. I actually felt comfortable not wearing makeup. After a while, it did dry my skin out, so I dropped down to only using it once a day, then every other day. I have recommended this to my friends and family, and am so thrilled that I can find this at my local walmart for such a cheap price. I don't think I will ever be without this product. (also, the sulfur mask that comes in the kit is a nice bonus that actually doesn't smell like sulfur and works well on any zits you might feel coming up). HG
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*TOP REVIEWER* homersmom on 1/7/2013 8:38:00 PM more reviews by homersmom
Age: 44-55 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium Eyes: Blue
This is for the repairing lotion - I swear by this product. I am on about my 4th bottle of it. I use it morning and night after cleansing my face (I use the Equate knock off of Clearasil facewash). I use about a dime size amount or less and really let it soak in. Also, if you have sensitive skin MAKE SURE YOUR SKIN IS DRY BEFORE APPLYING. Cannot stress that enough. After the lotion sinks in for a few minutes, make sure you apply a moisturizer - I use Cetaphil lotion. It may take a few weeks, but this will clear your face up like no other. I pretty much follow the acne.org regimen - you can research that and find out what I'm talking about. Basically, don't touch your face and when you DO, be as gentle as possible. If you're having trouble with acne, give this mild benzoyl peroxide lotion a whirl, following it with a moisturizer and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!
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ricebunny2013 on 12/22/2012 10:08:00 PM more reviews by ricebunny2013
Age: 18 & Under Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium Eyes: Blue
This stuff is absolute crap! I had such a good and inexpensive facial care, but then I decided I would step it up a notch and try proactive. Awful stuff! It made my skin flaky, and it made me break out even more, I have two on my cheek (there so bad there going to leave a dark mark), then I got a huge ugly one on my nose, one between my eyebrow, three right under my skin, and one on my chin. My skin looks and feels terrible. Don't spend money on this!!!!!!!!
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violet5748 on 12/16/2012 6:41:00 PM more reviews by violet5748
Age: 19-24 Skin: Very Oily Hair: Other Eyes: Other
I really like this product. It was about 4 dollars at walmart. I haven't used the entire system. I believe the entire system is about 11 or 12 dollars. Which is pretty cheap compared to proactiv. I only use the repairing lotion in this system. I got off my medicine from my dermatologist to try this product out. I was using Clindamycin before and it made my skin super oily, but it did help my acne. The Repairing Lotion though i believe has helped even better than the other medicine. It has benzoyl peroxide in it and i believe that is what has been helping my extremely oily skin. My pimples have definitley decreased and a few scars have even faded. My skin looks a lot healthier. I bet that my acne would completely clear if i used the whole system but i'm scared it'll mess up my progress. I definitely think that everyone who is suffering from acne should forget about stupid proactiv and try this system. They have the same main ingredients, but this seems to have worked a lot better for some people. It kinda burned my skin the first time i used the repairing lotion, but after the next uses it was completely fine. I use it on my face at night and then put lotion on top of it to combat the drying affect it has. I do not apply it in the morning only because i'm afraid it'll over dry my sensitive skin.
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mcclouas on 12/4/2012 4:00:00 PM more reviews by mcclouas
Age: 25-29 Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Cool Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium Eyes: Brown
So I have used Proactive for about 8 years. Every time I have tried weaning my skin off of it my face always broke out. I read about this online and thought it was worth a try and I am so glad I did! I only purchased the cleanser and the repairing lotion not the entire set; which is really nice. The cleanser was a little over $4, way less than proactive. The solution itself is not a thick or exfoliating as proactive, and the repairing lotion is thinner in consistency as well but this stuff works just as well as proactive. I have been using this product for about 6 months now and my face hasn't noticed a difference, but my pocketbook sure has!!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
sroberts89436 on 11/30/2012 5:57:00 PM more reviews by sroberts89436
Age: 30-35 Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium Hair: Other Eyes: Hazel
I have tried proactive years ago and it seemed to make my acne worse. I am in my 30s with acne so I have been using this for a month and it does work. I have extremely sensitive red skin so I don't use the whole system every day. I use Aminogenesis really really clean cleanser and the aminogenesis lotion with the equate repairing lotion everyday. I do not use it on my cheeks since they are dry with no acne. Twice a week I use the equate cleanser. I have stopped using the toner cause it makes my skin too irritated and dry. My skin is clear and smooth and all my blackheads are gone! If the whole system is too irritating for you than just try part of it and find what works. They also sell each item separately if you don't need the whole kit.
Highly recommended.
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ForeverRed90 on 11/10/2012 10:13:00 PM more reviews by ForeverRed90
Age: 19-24 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium Hair: Brunette Eyes: Green
I have been suffering from cycstic acne since 2004. I go to the dermatologist every 3 months for my acne. I have used proactiv on and off for many years along with creams my doctor would prescribe. I started using the equate proactiv a few days ago and I love it way better than the expensive brand name. My skin is super sensitive and I usually have a lot of redness from step 1 in proactiv. The equate step 1 still exfoliates but doesn't make me red and it doesn't hurt. I also like the step 3 equate better than the brand name step 3. I honestly cannot tell a difference in step 2. I can see such a difference in the redness and smoothness of my skin. My pimples also seem smaller and a lot smoother. This is a great product at a great price. Especially for college girls!
UPDATE: I still use step 1 as a light scrub for my sensitive, red skin but overall the 3-step system didn't keep up the good work. I started getting little bumps all over my face and it became really dry. Big let down :(
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cheergirl7410 on 9/30/2012 4:06:00 PM more reviews by cheergirl7410
Age: 19-24 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair Hair: Blond, Wavy, Coarse Eyes: Green
This system was simply to harsh for my skin. Maybe using it once a day would work, but then again my skin probably wouldn't even be able to handle that. Just using a topical 2.5 BP is enough for most. You don't want to damage your skin. The lotion is a weird consistency too. My suggestion is to just use a cleanser with a low dose of glycolic or salicylic acid ( I use skin effects glycolic cream cleanser), the topical and olay beauty fluid. However, I like the sulfur spot treatment! It works pretty well!! :)
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kloud04 on 9/15/2012 10:25:00 AM more reviews by kloud04
Age: 25-29 Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium Hair: Brown Eyes: Hazel
Phenomenal product, I have used Proactiv for the last ten years and let me tell you this is identical for a fraction of the cost. I cannot believe this stuff is so cheap. The proactiv kit is 45.90 every other month and even more for a non member. I now do not have to deal with them taking money out of my checking out every 60 days. The cleanser is a bit thinner (not as many scrubbies) but I like it better than Proactiv's. Proactiv cleanser can feel a bit rough on your skin due to all the micro crystals. The lotion in Equate's is also more like a gel which I love.This is truly a blessing for anyone needing a effective, affordable routine. Please do not ever discontinue! HG!
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*TOP REVIEWER* traes on 9/12/2012 9:34:00 AM more reviews by traes
Age: 44-55 Skin: Other Hair: Other Eyes: Other
I am so thankful for Makeupalley. It was because of MUA that I decided to try Proactiv five years ago, and when it broke me out, it was because of reading reviews here that I decided to try just the repairing lotion, which cleared my skin up. After about four years I was growing tired of the lotion. The fact that you had to buy the entire system from Proactiv. I had been buying the lotion on the Bay, but that was iffy. People were selling expired bottles, over charging.. It was just a pain in the butt. I had put off buying a new bottle and was sporadically using a bottle that expired 3 months ago. I've been in Walmart many times and never noticed this Equate system, which looks almost identical to the Proactiv system. AND, they sell the items as a set or individually for about $4 a bottle. So I purchased the toner and the repairing lotion and after two days my skin is looking great again! Proactiv was the ONLY thing that worked on my skin--everything else broke me out. This system works just as well, is half the price and easy to find. I'm amazed and VERY pleased that I can now buy everything I need for my skin by driving ten minutes from my house. And I never would have known about this if it weren't for this site, so thank you!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Happythenjaded on 8/15/2012 8:05:00 PM more reviews by Happythenjaded
Age: 19-24 Skin: Other, Fair-Medium Hair: Brown Eyes: Blue
First of all let me say this is only my 4th day using the system. And I only use it at night. I use DDF blemish foaming cleasner in the morning then follow w/ the toner and lotion from this set then apply GOW moisturizer ontop of that. I have sensitive skin with only a few blemishes. This set does make my skin slightly irritated but nothing major like most sets I've tried (ProActiv, Clinique, allllllllll the drug store sets!!!). So that is why I am impressed. It has flattened any blemishes I had and healed them. In just 4 days....using ONCE a day.... insane. I do feel slightly irritated for a little bit after using. But it didnt make me swell or rash like the others in the past have. I am so far very pleased. I gave it 4 lippies because I wish it was soothing but hey its worth the little irritation for a few minutes. I will continue using and update again. Hopefully my skin will adapt better to it! Give it a try... it was $11.88 at Wal-Mart.... its always sold out online and has rave reviews so why not try it....Im impressed and Im usually the one to buy the most expensive of everything...so! :)
**9/3/12 UPDATE** Okay wow! My skin took a little time to get used to this product but wow...what a difference!! My skin has zero bumps! zero pimples! Still some red from scaring but thats a whole other issue that i know takes a different product. But the first step was getting rid of the bumps and breakouts so I can treat the redness and scaring.
So its taken some trial and error but I have found what works for my skin (not saying it will work for all, sorry...) I use the cetaphil antibacterial bar soap and this cleanser together to wash my face (except my nose-- its always flakey so i use the Clinique bottled soap for dry skin for my nose) twice a day and then I get out of the shower, pat try with a PAPER TOWEL-- DO NOT USE A TOWEL FOR THIS IT HARBORS BACTERIA!!!! VERY CRUCIAL!! then I apply the toner with a cotton round, apply the lotion... let dry for 20 minutes then apply the Neutrogena for sensitive skin lotion w/ spf. Its worked for me.... try it! I also use the Clinique acne treatment mask twice a week. And for shaving (because I am a male) I use the Cool Fix to prevent razor bumps or whatever.
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saure on 8/10/2012 7:46:00 PM more reviews by saure
Age: 19-24 Skin: Acne-prone, Medium Hair: Brunette Eyes: Brown
Tried proactiv... did not work at all. Just made pimples even worse and irritated ;( made my skin peel and itch like crazy, too. So I was at walmart and saw the neutrogena all in 1 acne control cleanser, and wanted it sooo bad. My mom saw this box with the cleanser, toner, AND the moisturizer for only $12. I was really hesitant because it had "compare to proactiv" on the front, and I do NOT want those results. My mom bought the system even after all of my complaints, and I am so glad she did! Usually the term is "you get what you paid for." Not with this. I got so much more than what I paid for. It hasn't even been a week and my red face has settled down. Most of my huge swollen bumps are gone. The rest are still there, but are flat and red. I'm positive they'll clear up in a week of so. This system has evened out my skin tone, made it incredibly soft, moisturized, and made my acne clear up. Now, I can go outside with only my aveeno positively radiant spf 30 tinted moisturizer (I highly recommend it for a flawless, beautiful finish) and I look like I have insanely beautiful and healthy skin. My definate HG acne product! :)
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pinkqueen on 5/18/2012 11:49:00 AM more reviews by pinkqueen
Age: 30-35 Skin: Combination, Medium Hair: Black, Wavy, Coarse Eyes: Brown
Love this product. Seems to be gentler on my skin than Proactiv. Wish they would use easier dispensing containers.
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Bonn77 on 5/12/2012 11:41:00 AM more reviews by Bonn77
Age: 30-35 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair Hair: Red Eyes: Other
HELLELUJAH for this stuff. I am 30 years old and about a year ago out of nowhere I started getting awful breakouts on my chin, forehead and cheekbones. I'm also very fair-skinned and the acne left dark spots even after the pimples themselves had healed.
I tried the proactiv system and it did work, but I kept running out of the toner and cleanser in week 3 and having way too much repairing lotion leftover at the end of the month. So then I'd have to order extra cleanser and toner, and they are really expensive if you buy them individually, and the autoshipments kept coming and long story short I always had too much (or not enough) of all the wrong steps and it was costing a small fortune!!!
Then I found this kit at WalMart and for $11 for all three steps plus the sulfur refining mask, I figured I'd try it. I am SO GLAD I DID! I read the packaging and the product is identical to the ingredients in the proactiv system, but at a fraction of the cost. And it works just as well as the brand name stuff, I don't have to pay shipping or wait for it to arrive, and if I want to buy individual products all the steps are $4.79.
I love love LOVE this stuff, and I hope to heavens they never discontinue this line of products. I finish off the 3 steps with Clinique's Even Better SPF 20 Lotion to help with the dark spots and to provide sunscreen protection, and my skin looks like it did when I was 19 again - smooth, dewy, bright and clear!
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tmoney1 on 5/3/2012 11:59:00 PM more reviews by tmoney1
Age: 36-43 Skin: Combination, Dark, Warm Hair: Brown, Fine Eyes: Brown
About a month and a half ago I was considering purchasing Proactiv again and initially searched on MUA for reviews on Proactiv. But I came across reviews of the generic Equate version and decided to give it a try. So happy I did, it's worked wonders on my skin. I've used Proactiv in the past and without a doubt this product rivals Proactiv at a fraction of the cost. I used it to clear up some trouble areas in my T-zone and it did the job. I'd recommend to anyone looking for a less expensive, higly effective alternative to the monthly obligations/bills of the brand name product.
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*TOP REVIEWER* stefie2104 on 4/26/2012 1:04:00 AM more reviews by stefie2104
Age: 30-35 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium Hair: Black Eyes: Brown
I was on Holiday in USA (California & Arizona). I just love shopping in Walmarts. Managed to give this Proactiv dupe at USD12+. I had some huge outbreaks at my jew areas. Wow this baby cleared these acnes within 1 week. Nothing has works so well and fast. I do use this routine twice a day, some areas are very dry, so I just use Nivea Q10 night cream over them. Followed by Eucerin Daily SPF30 sunscreen (Another great product). My skin heals up very beautifully.
I almost wanted to get Proactiv set, the pricing is consider very ex, glad that I found this baby instead. Only 1 bad point, I can get via internet. If I need to stock up, will have to buy acnefree version in amazon.com.:):)
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mmbabies on 2/21/2012 9:37:00 PM more reviews by mmbabies
Age: 19-24 Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium Eyes: Blue
I bought this generic Proactive system at Walmart for about $11. I've been using it morning and night for 2 weeks now and it cleared up my existing breakout and hasn't dried out my already dry skin. The only thing that sucks about it is the step 1 cleanser bottle. The little hole where the product comes out kept getting clogged so I just popped the little plastic piece out and now it fine.