Unlisted Brand • Finacea Gel • Treatments

cowartgirl on 3/20/2010 9:05:00 PM more reviews by cowartgirl

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I got a sample of this at my dermatologist's office. I needed something to help fade discoloration left behind by acne. Two days later I woke up with a severe rash everywhere I applied it. It's bad. It dried up my new acne bumps right away. But that's all it's good for-spot treating new pimples. I am a bit mortified because my skin is now a raging mess. Two stars because it did do some good-spot treatment only.

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shipinabottle on 12/30/2009 3:41:00 AM more reviews by shipinabottle

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

doesn't help my acne too much but it's great for acne scars!!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

narrina on 8/13/2009 2:38:00 PM more reviews by narrina

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I have dry skin that rashes out if you just look at me wrong ! I really mean it... EVERYTHING rashes me out. I cannot use anything with fragrance, anti age ingredients, etc. When I say rash, I mean red, bumpy irritated skin that doesn't really feel like skin. The dermatologist said he wasn't sure what was going on with my face, whether it was rosacea, acne, rashing, etc. Years ago the dermatlogist diagnosed me with Rosacea, but Rosacea treatments didn't do anything for me. All I know is that whenever I would rash up, the only thing that would get rid of it was prescription steroidal cream, but I was afraid of overusing it because it thins the skin if used too often and I have been using it for over 10 years. I have been going through fertility treatments lately and apparently the hormones (follistim) have been wreaking havoc on my skin and I was rashing every other day. Because I was trying to get pregnant, the Dermatologist said he only felt comfortable prescribing finacea gel.

At first application, it stung like crazy and made my face so red and irritated that I regretted putting it on. Plus, my face is already dry and this dried it out even more. About half an hour later I felt brave enough to put moisturizer on my skin and my face began stinging all over again. I went to bed thinking my Dermatologist was a certified nut case.

However, when I woke up in the morning, my face was much less bumpy and irritated than normal, and so I used it that night too. Eventually, the stinging got less and less. It still stings sometimes, espeically if there is any water spots left on my face when I put it on (I have no idea why this is the case). I have been using it for about 3 months now and it has helped miraculously for the rashy, red skin I used to get. I sometimes can feel the irritation in my skin wanting to come out, but the finacea gel really seems to be keeping it in check. I don't know why the results are different for me than others, but I am so happy that this was prescribed to me. I can't say I have the best skin in the world right now, but I at least have skin that I am not embarrassed by. Other people have also noticed a difference.

Just a couple of things I wanted to note: (1) I use as little as possible. It dries very fast, so I put a little bit on my fingers and then rub in as fast as I can before it dries. I repeat this until I am able to get my whole face in. (2) I only use it once at night. I know some people are prescribed twice a day. (3) I think it is important that you are using a proper moisturizer afterwards and you need to make sure that the moisturizer isn't causing your problems, and likewise for foundation.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* wetbandit42 on 8/10/2009 1:15:00 PM more reviews by wetbandit42

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Sadly, this has not done a thing for me. I was so excited to use this after reading the rave reviews here, but it hasn't worked for me. My dermatologist first prescribed this in hopes that it would both clear any hyperpigmentation and treat my acne. Well, it didn't help with the acne. When I went back she told me to stick with it for the hyperpigmentation issue. After a year of use, my skin does not look any different. It also still makes my skin itch after applying, and it keeps itching until I apply moisturizer about 20 minutes later. I won't continue using this, and as I'm going back to the dermatologist soon, I'll ask her about Tri-Luma and Tazorac.

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YumItsAStickyBun on 7/13/2009 8:23:00 PM more reviews by YumItsAStickyBun

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I first decided to try Finacea after hearing raves about it both on the skincare board and on acne.org. It was supposed to help acne scars heal better, clear up blackheads, mattify the skin, prevent clogs, and help clear up redness and even out skintone. I was having some acne issues (just a couple spots now and then that Tazorac wasn't enough to get rid of) and decided to try Finacea out.

I was unfortunately one of the people that this product really just didn't work for. It stung whenever I applied (even after two months) and the blackheads on my nose worsened dramatically. The mattifying effect was short-lived and it did almost nothing for the redness of my skin or acne scars (although it did appear to even out the rest of my skintone).

All in all, it was a disappointment. I stopped using the product for a week and the blackheads on my nose decreased dramatically. I guess Finacea and I just didn't mesh, which is a pity because everything that everyone else seems to have been experiencing with it were the results that I have been looking for in a product.

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*TOP REVIEWER* AuNatural716 on 6/8/2009 5:36:00 PM more reviews by AuNatural716

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Slowly rids of post-acne red marks by regrowing the skin cells while exfoliating away the dead ones...Works AMAZINGLY on my foreheads acne marks but isn't as effective on my cheek's skin, and I realize its because my forehead and cheek skin react differently to breakouts and product etc...but this is also amazing in that it can be easily worn under makeup and is pretty much undetectable..I've been using this for almost a year and it does sting a little when you put it on but that means its working....

2012 UPDATE: After years and years of use, I basically can't live without this stuff. It makes my redmarks disappear much quicker and prevents and heals over breakouts throughout the day as it's a MUST-HAVE underneath my daily makeup. I've gone on and off with this at times, more often on, and in my 1-2 month trials without it (when I run out and see if I really do need it), my skin goes insane and then re-heals back up once I order more tubes in. It is expensive as are most Rx topicals in the US, which is why I order from either epharmacy and/or All Day Chemist. The formulations from each of those is different and shipping is expensive for both (like $30 no matter what) so I make sure to order at least 3 tubes at a time from epharmacy like 10 from ADC (a much smaller sized tube--called Aziderm there). You pretty much get the authentic US Rx Finacea from epharmacy and it is a 15% formulation that's called a gel but it actually looks like a very light cream rather than a gel. Either way the cream-like base does not cause any skin-clog issues and actually just get rids of red marks,blackheads, and clogs instead! ADC's Aziderm is a heavier cream base that is like 10% active I believe, and I find it helpful in the winter months. The tubes are much smaller and thus cheaper-priced per tube, and ADC is known to have fraud issues, so after like 3 separate orders in the past, I have since quit ADC and now use epharmacy. I do wonder which formula helps my skin out more every now and then since the bases are probably different too, so maybe one day I'll try to get another ADC order in or something.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* meriellyn on 4/30/2009 12:34:00 PM more reviews by meriellyn

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I've been using this for about a month now. I have mild to moderate acne and mild developing rosacea.

I was hoping to slow the rosacea progression and clear my skin up a bit. In the beginning, I was getting clearer but I've been really stressed the past couple weeks and have switched birth control pills so my hormones are a mess and it's impossible to tell what my skin would look like otherwise. I can say that the Finacea has been helping keep things in check and I know I'd be a mess without it.

I expected the clearing effect but didn't think it'd do much for my flushing. At first, it didn't... but this week I've been stressed to max capacity and have not been flushing! I've also been exercising more and haven't been coming home looking like a beet. And when I do get a little flush, it fades quickly.

Overall, I am very happy with the product and will continue to use it. I'm running low so I've gone back to once a day, and I've noticed a difference in effectiveness so I will probably be sticking with twice a day once me next order gets here.

I've stopped using all other treatments, aside from an occasional asprin mask. With the Finacea, my skin feels great without a lot of fuss. At first it left me pretty dry but now I sometimes don't even have to moisturize afterward, but it isn't making me oily or anything.

My skin generally feels healthier and my routine is much more low-fuss now. It also allows me to wear sunscreen without getting all clogged up.


**Update** 20-May-09

I've been using this for almost 2 months now. I'm still very pleased with the progress. I'm not 100% clear by any means but my skin has improved a LOT. Pustules and blackheads have been *greatly* reduced. Some whiteheads and papules persist but to a much lesser extent. The rough, dry, flaky areas are gone. I've had a few small cystic bumps but they are reducing in frequency, duration, size, and painfulness. I should also note that those may very well be hormonal, because I just switched BCPs, so I expect that they will let up in a month or two and are pretty much unrelated.

My redness and flushing have been GREATLY reduced. To the point that I've gotten comments on how not-red my skin is.
I've also become markedly less sensitive. I've even been able to use a little AHA at night, in moderation. This wasn't possible at all a couple months ago.

The only thing is be careful not to apply too much! Lawdy mercy does that tingle/itch like crazy! Lol. As long as I don't apply too much and make sure I dried well around the sides of my nose before application, it doesn't normally sting or tingle anymore. But if I get sloppy and apply too much (which I did last night), it is definitely uncomfortable for a little while. Nothing unbearable, and certainly not like an AHA burn or lasting problem or anything. Just annoying as heck.
I do still sometimes get a little pinkness while applying/rubbing it in, but it's usually gone by the time I'm done applying the next section.

Overall, I'm still very happy. I picked up two tubes on my last order so I'll be set for next month, and will certainly be reordering. Wonderful product and the price can't be beat. Since I have no prescription coverage, buying it here would be const prohibitive for me (~$130), but thankfully I am able to get the exact same product OTC from AU for under $30 USD a tube, including shipping! That's no worse than an insurance copay! :D

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* simiparga on 4/1/2009 1:19:00 PM more reviews by simiparga

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I'm one of the few people that didn't get on with this product and thought it was time to share my experience.
I used this a few months ago and after just one use I had a few small pimples on my cheek so I stopped. After it cleared, I tried again and the same thing happened, so I stopped again. I did some further research and read that some people will and have experienced some purging with this so I believed that I was also experiencing the dreaded purge.
So I decided to take the plunge and just go for it! To use it continuously without stopping and just get over the purging stage and to actually give this product a chance to work.
I used it once a day and the pimples appeared again, this time I continued with using it and did not stop despite really wanting to - What a mistake! It was as if the spots were getting worse every hour and every morning I would wake up with more and more. The spots were rad and angry, some looked like mosquito bites and others like angry pimples, the surface of my skin was also bumpy - at it's worse I counted at least 15 spots all varying in size. Anyone with skin woes will understand that I was getting quite upset about the state of my skin.
In the end after about 5 days, I decided to stop using it. The spots were really bad and just on my cheeks - I shared my experience on the Skin Care Board and a few suggested that my bad experience may have been a bad reaction. I couldn't handle it anymore and had to stop as my skin was a mess. I have to say that this was probably the worst breakout I have ever had.
I also think I had a bad reaction to an ingredient in the Finacea as in the past I have used Jan Marini Bioclear which has Azelaic acid with no problems at all. It must be a base ingredient in this product that caused such a reaction.
A week after stopping using this, the red marks have really faded and I'm sure it won't be long till they have gone, thanks to MD Forte products. No further breakouts since I've stopped either and it was the ONLY new product that I introduced at the time.
I'm pleased that it's worked for others here, but this does not work for everyone and I wanted to just share my experience of this product. I will not be using this product again and if I want to add Azelaic acid to my regime, I'll just use JM Bioclear again.

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warhol on 3/31/2009 11:35:00 PM more reviews by warhol

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Skin type: normal/dry, acne-prone and resistant. Over 1 year post-Accutane, acne-free but dealing with scarring.



After seeing recommendations for Finacea on the Skin Care Board I decided to try it for myself to help fade acne scarring. I purchased my tube of Finacea from Wal's Pharmacy for about $30 without a prescription as it's available OTC in Australia.



I have been using Finacea both in the morning and in the evening for a little over a week and already I see some slight improvement in my skin tone. My post acne marks also appear to be starting to fade and I find that Finacea has helped take care of any TOM pimples and the marks they've left behind. Within the first few days of using Finacea I started to see some blackheads forming on my nose and on the areas of my face where my acne used to be. I did experience a slight itching feeling after the Finacea had dried, but that only lasted for a small amount of time.



Update:
I've been using Finacea nightly and also during the day as a spot treatment for about 6+ weeks. Although Finacea did slightly fade my most recent marks I feel like that is as far as it will go. I don't think that it would help my older, slightly darker red marks. Also my blackheads have increased dramatically, prior to Finacea they were mainly on my nose but have since started to appear else where in parts of my face that I don't consider to be problem areas. It does even out my skin tone and I am still pleased with the finish and texture but I'm deciding to move on from Finacea. I wouldn't hesistate to recommend this to anyone though because I do believe it is a helpful product, it just wasn't for me.

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hellohello1980 on 3/30/2009 11:24:00 PM more reviews by hellohello1980

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

My skin is oily, acne-prone and sensitive. I rely on a combo of Diane-35, clindamycin lotion, and Retin 0.025.

In addition to my acne I developed either perioral dermatitis or rosacea this winter (my doctor wasn't quite sure) and he put me on mino to clear up the red bumps on my face. The mino made me feel really ill, I couldn't tolerate even a low dose, so I switched to Finacea, which has an antimicrobial effect, but is not technically an antibiotic. It cleared my pesky red bumps and after 6 weeks of twice daily use my skin is very clear. 2-3 times a week I skip it at night and use Retin-A instead. I love Finacea because it has been 100% effective at keeping me clear, it's not another pill to take, and it doesn't make me oily.

For adults with persistent acne Finacea probably isn't strong enough on it's own to clear you, works best in combination with other products. However, if you think you have mild rosacea it will definitely be effective, as it was on my red bumps (they looked like acne, but no pus inside) - those 80% cleared in about a week. My skin is also not as red as it was before, much more even toned. I go out now with only mascara - no cover up, no foundation, not even powder. This is a huge benefit.

For anyone considering Finacea the key is not overapplying and moisturizing after with something oil-free. When I over-applied at the beginning because I thought more cream would be more effective (silly), my skin just totally peeled. Not nice. I scaled back on the amount I was using, made a point to moisturize and my skin looks great now. Hopefully it won't lose its effectiveness over time.

7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

happynappy1 on 3/16/2009 11:09:00 PM more reviews by happynappy1

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Dark, Cool   Hair: Black, Kinky, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I guess kc_sunshine and I are the lone dissenters here. I used this for about a week and started getting dozens of little tiny pimples on my cheeks and temples. For the record, I never get pimples. My problem is mostly uneven skin tone and a few blackheads. I got pimples in places I haven't broken out since I was a teenager.
I'm now using only the Tazorac that was prescribed for me.

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*TOP REVIEWER* jjtexasgirl on 3/13/2009 1:01:00 AM more reviews by jjtexasgirl

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I've been using this approximately 2 months. While it does seem to be helping, it also isn't a miracle cream for me. It seems to provide a mattifying effect which is great for under makeup. At first, there was some mild irritation when I would apply it, but I think I'm getting used to it b/c I don't notice it much now. While I haven't noticed a decrease in the amount of my breakouts, I have noticed it has helped with the redness and seems to help with the healing process and reducing the scars. So, in other words, it isn't really doing a whole lot for my acne, but it's making what I have look better? If that makes any sense. I'm hoping it will improve more as I know it might take a little longer. I am also starting to add other treatments such as salicylic acid that might improve things a bit. My derm said that when you are first starting Finacea, you shouldn't use too many treatments or scrubs until you know how sensitive your skin will be. So far, I don't think it's any more sensitive than it was before so I think I'm safe to start adding other treatments. Also, I most often have to use a moisturizer over Finacea (twice a day). Otherwise, my skin would be too tight and dry. However, I wouldn't consider Finacea too drying. My skin just always need some sort of moisturizer or it gets tight and irritated. Retin-A works so much better for me, however, I'm trying to conceive and so it's off limits. Finacea is a Class B drug so it's perfectly safe for use during pregnancy. I hate the packaging and the cap doesn't seem to want to screw on very well. Also, it's very expensive. I have a high deductible plan and so I'm paying $113 for a tube. If anything changes with my use of Finacea, I'll report back but for now, I'll continue to use it as it does offer some benefit.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* stargazer_lily on 3/1/2009 2:25:00 AM more reviews by stargazer_lily

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I am really excited about Finacea. I was previously a Differin gel fan but my problems with Differin are: (a) it is much slower to work and (b) it made my skin very oily over time. I took the plunge and decided to try Finacea about 3 months ago. I'm lucky enough to live in Australia where this is available without prescription and I got mine from Towers Pharmacy for AUD$23.95 http://www.towers.net.au


When I started Finacea, I was in fact breaking out for the first time in years. I had just come off my BCP and was using an expired tube of Differin every 2nd night (it had probably lost some potency). I get breakouts on my chin that are cystic - that means they are red lumps which are sore and rarely come to a head. They leave scars too. :-(


The first thing I love about Finacea is that it is a pleasure to use. I have experienced no stinging or burning. When I first started using it I applied a small amount on clean, dry skin at night. After a short time I started using it twice daily (in accordance with the instructions enclosed in the pack). I have had no issues with purging or flaking. It does not dry my skin out.


What I also love about Finacea is that it not only keeps my skin clear (yes I'm clear!) but it works on my redness to keep my skin looking calm. It is truly great stuff. I've also begun using it on my nose blackheads and I am seeing really good results here too. It is quite a fast acting topical. I was seeing results in less than 6 weeks.


I have read reports that Finacea can have some effect on fading pigmentation spots in the skin so I am trying it on my sundamaged areas now (so I am now using it on my entire face). I will edit my review here if I see any fading.


In summary, I'd recommend Finacea to any acne sufferers. It is different to most other acne treatments. It is not a retinoid. So if you have had no luck with other topical treatments, this is definitely worth a shot. Do try to order it from an Australian online pharmacy to save yourself some cash. 5 lippies from me. This has changed my skin for the better!


EDIT July 2009: I'm sorry to report that I stopped using this because my acne returned and I decided to get back into retinoids. I had great success with Finacea initially as my review shows, but those results sadly did not last. I have taken one lippy off my rating. I would still recommend acne sufferers give Finacea a shot though.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* olelala on 2/20/2009 9:25:00 PM more reviews by olelala

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I've finally found my HG acne product! Sorry if this is long, I want it to be thorough... This winter, I've been having horrible breakouts. Mild to moderate acne, but all over my face (forehead, cheeks, chin), and NOTHING would make them go away. My skin texture was bumpy with a frigging map of spots - from whiteheads, to blackheads, to cysts, to red marks from past spots. I couldn't cover it up with even the toughest concealer, because the texture was so obvious. It got so bad that I was literally holing up in my apartment, afraid to see any of my friends because I knew they'd wonder what the heck happened to me. I tried SA, AHA, BHA, glycolic peels, Doxy, Klaron lotion, all without any success. After much thought, I bought Finacea from epharmacy as a last resort and crossed my fingers.


Oh my gosh, I should have gone to it from the very start!!


Finacea caused very minor purging in the beginning, whiteheads - it basically brought everything to the surface and allowed me to extract it very easily with a simple whitehead removal tool. Within a week, I kid you not, I went from bump-city to 99% clear. My spots have faded from a dark chocolate color, to a light pink. I have NEVER had such a dramatic result from one product.


How I use it: I wash my face with Juice Beauty Cleansing Gel (another HG), dry it thoroughly with a towel, and then rub a small amount of the light cream into my problem areas until they've been absorbed. I then put a thin coat of Persagel 10 on top of that, and proceed to put on my makeup. Some users reported stinging or burning or itching, mine was minor enough to ignore. Its gentle and doesn't cause dryness either. It doesn't oxidize makeup, nor does it cause any oiliness. It actually creates a nice base for whatever you put on your face.


I am about the incorporate RAM into my routine to help with hyperpigmentation and fight wrinkles, but I'm no longer going to depend on it for acne. It's such a relief, to be able to walk outside without worrying about being pitied by random strangers. Whoever has reached the end of their line with acne, whoever has had serious blows to their self-esteem because of it, who has tried it all and gotten no results, I definitely recommend Finacea + BP.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

EternalKudra on 2/17/2009 12:11:00 AM more reviews by EternalKudra

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Here's a little history: I've been dealing with acne for over 15 years, moderate in amount but severe in type, and persistent. For a while, my skin was almost where I wanted it to be using BHA and BP, but I needed more. I tried Diacneal for a while and had okay results, bumped up to Differin and had a horrible experience with it for around 6 months. Frustrated, I went back to BHA and BP, but added Finacea. I had tried Finacea months ago, but never managed to consistently work it into my routine because I was juggling too many products. Now I've been using it daily for a few weeks. Finacea is a nice texture, it soaks in and leaves a nice matte finish. It tingles for a few minutes, especially if my face isn't totally dry yet, but doesn't burn or irritate. But most importantly, my skin is finally clear! I did also step up from 2.5% to 5% BP, so I don't know how much of the difference to attribute to Finacea, but I suspect the Finacea has more to do with it than the change in BP. The only reason I'm giving it 4 out of 5 is because I also have a lot of redness in my face, both from past breakouts and just in general, and I haven't seen a rapid reduction in that like others have. Otherwise, I'm happy. Soon, I'll try taking a break from my beloved BHA to see if Finacea is effective enough at keeping the blackheads and tiny bumps away, and I'll update then. For now, I'm happy with the combo!

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*TOP REVIEWER* zernelle on 2/8/2009 1:44:00 PM more reviews by zernelle

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

When I first met Finacea it was love at first use. I loved that it reduced facial redness and didn't irritate my skin. It also seemed to help clear my pores and prevent pimples. I was sure I was heading into a long-term relationship with Finacea, and I was ready to commit to such a great skin treatment. But after a couple of months, things changed. Instead of calming facial redness, Finacea began to cause my skin to sting, and red bumps would temporarily appear upon application. I have now broken up with Finacea, as I can see now that this relationship simply isn't going to work, even though it seemed like true love at the beginning.

6 out of 10 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

ashsparagus on 1/24/2009 3:12:00 PM more reviews by ashsparagus

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

I've been loitering around MUA for at least four years now, but I never felt compelled to write a review until I tried this amazing product. Finacea has really been life-changing for me, as I've battled with acne for about 15 years now, spending hundreds (maybe thousands) of dollars on products that never really had any lasting effect on my skin and visited several dermatologists who prescribed products (both topical and oral) that did nothing.

Finally, mid-way into my twenties, I can happily say that I have flawless skin. I've been using Finacea for about 4 months now, and when I go to put on makeup in the morning, I still immediately pick up my concealer, prepared to start the process of covering up the unsightly marks, but there's nothing to cover (well, except for dark circles, but that's a separate issue). I don't need to use foundation, even though I still do - my skin is healthy and glowing all by itself.

I recommend this product for anyone who feels like they've tried EVERYTHING and still have skin problems. My new dermatologist told me that this product works like a miracle for some, but not everyone, but I think it's still worth a shot. I use it at night in conjunction with the generic of Klaron, which I use in the morning (love that too!). I pay $15 for it, but I would pay much much more if my insurance didn't cover it, just because it's such a wonderful product. I don't use any other acne treatment products - just a gentle cleanser 2x a day and a gentle moisturizer under my makeup and at night.

Sorry for the lengthy review, but I just can't stop gushing about this product. Make an appointment with a dermatologist and see if you can try some samples of it before you purchase it. Good luck! :-)

9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

pietzsche on 1/8/2009 10:03:00 PM more reviews by pietzsche

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I have been using Finacea 15% GEL for about 5-6 months and it's great. $9 with insurance. It is a work in progress because I still have acne scarring and saucers but it looks and feels GREAAAT!!! I occasionally break-out, but it heals in a day or 2 and the scarring is less noticeable. I also use Benzoyl wash ($3) and Doxycyline Hyclate ($3). Basically, I use 2 topicals and 1 antibiotic, 2 times a day. Thank goodness for my cheap insurance. Honestly, my skin has never felt more better. I have been using Benzoyl for 5-6 months and Doxycycline for almost a year. Yes, I agree that Finacea does sting after use, but I got used to it. And I always splash some cold water to alleviate the stinging if it really gets on my nerve. (FYI: I use MAC Studio Fix Fluid everyday - NC42. As for the moisturizer, I use Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture spf 15.)

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*TOP REVIEWER* boogiedisease on 12/31/2008 4:33:00 PM more reviews by boogiedisease

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Green    

I wish I would have gone to the doctor MONTHS ago for my skin woes.

I have a rather annoying combination of rosacea and perioral dermatitis (mostly the latter). It affects the area around my nose, but mostly my chin.

I had it all-- redness, flushing, pustules, blackheads that really weren't, plaques of hard skin that wouldn't budge, burning, sensitivity.

I discovered that it was due to my use of oral contraceptives. I was at wit's end. My gyn told me to either stop the pill, or to see a doctor. Since stopping the pill is not an option, I opted to see my GP (who used to be a dermatologist back in the day).

She was happy to prescribe Finacea for me when I told her I was completely against taking an oral antibiotic. I'm taking enough pills/supplements as it is.

I about choked at the pharmacy cash register when the total came to approx. $126 (USD). That was WITH the $10 instant rebate that Finacea offers on their website. I toyed with the idea of ordering it online from Australia. However, I know my luck and I could forsee it being seized by customs. Haha...

It's called a gel, but it's more like a cream, in my opinion. Regardless, it works...

Results were seen a mere hour after application. The redness diminished, and my face no longer felt like it had been blasted with a welding torch.

I've experienced a LOT of purging with this cream. When I say 'purging', I don't mean breaking out. I had a lot of clogged pores that would not come clean, no matter what I used. In fact, most of the products I used that I *thought* would clear them out only made matters worse. I've always had clogged pores in my chin area, but this was just ridiculous! No amount of squeezing would bring this stuff to the surface, either. Well, it's nearly all gone. Finacea allowed the stuff to come forward; I was able to easily squeeze it all out.

The reduction in inflammation and soreness in extraordinary. I haven't used an exfoliant of any sort (chemical or mechanical) in months because it hurt too much. Two days after I first used Finacea, I was able to use my favourite Fresh Appleseed Brightening Exfoliant on my face again. Now things are baby smooth...

I constantly suffered from these pustule-looking things. Like whiteheads, but filled with clear fluid. They would remain hard and would fill up with more fluid, even after popping them. I've not seen any in a few days.

I didn't experience the initial burning, stinging or itching associated with application of this product. I've had no irritations whatsoever.

My skin tends to be dry, but I use moisturisers that impart a plentiful amount of moisture to my skin-- both day and night. I find that my skin isn't any drier than usual.

Right now, I am using Korres Mastiha and Citrus Oil Anti-Acne Cream Gel, Korres Yoghurt Cooling Gel and Korres Thyme & Honey moisturiser. I am applying Finacea 2x a day and am also using a combo of a dead sea salt bar of facial soap I picked up at my local natural food store (no makeup days) and Fresh Soy Facial Cleanser (with makeup). These products were the only ones that kind of kept my skin in check while I was dealing with these flare-ups. Now, all looks near flawless with this regimen!

Mind you, I've only been using this for a week and a day. I've been warned on the skincare board that irritation could crop up at any time. However, I know my skin... I feel it would have happened immediately. Anything beats the way it was feeling before Finacea! We'll see, though; I'll regularly update this review with any changes.

YES, this stuff is fantastic! I think it would work well for acne sufferers, as well. It's expensive, but the 50 gram tube will last me a very long time, as you need just a bit to get an appropriate application. I find that a pea-sized amount is too much! The typical Rx metal tube is annoying. Not the end of the world, though.

I'll gladly pay the $136 when this one runs out. I have 11 refills :-)

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*TOP REVIEWER* MissHiss on 12/9/2008 11:39:00 AM more reviews by MissHiss

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I have one word to describe this, AMAZING. I never use topical acne products as I find them a let down.


I use this light gel every other night. It is pleasant to use and does't cause redness or irritation. I also find that it dissolves scars.


I highly recommend this product.

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