Pro Activ • 3-Step System • Skincare - Face

Kelllyjayne on 1/25/2013 10:42:00 PM more reviews by Kelllyjayne

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Tan, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight   Eyes: Black    

I started on this product exactly 1 year ago. I had moderate acne and it would come in all different forms, normally on all portions of my nose, my forehead and occasionally on the cheeks (right beside my nose). Essentially, I was T-zone prone. I started with proactive because my Biore wasn't really working as well anymore. Naturally as a teenager, i was lazy and didn't use the other 2 steps after a while. When my skin started to clear (I only had the occasional breakout as my skin got used to the product) I began to think that it was just a coming-of-age process. I stopped using the cleanser (and the whole system since i stopped using the toner and moisturizer long ago) and realized that my skin was acting up again. I have become heavily reliant on the cleanser which kind of stinks because it is expensive to purchase just the cleanser ($30). while it lasts a long time, I wish that it was less expensive. my skin has started to get used to proactive again so as i get older, it has less and less of an effect. unfortunately i havent found a product that works better, so I unfortunately will have to repurchase.

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Sinclair1880 on 1/25/2013 9:27:00 PM more reviews by Sinclair1880

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Very Oily, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I am surprised by all the negative reviews. I found that my skin did get really dry and flaky, but it was all due to my moisturizer!!! I was using an oil free moisturizer and i only used it in the mornings. I used the cleanser and toner in the morning before makeup, and then my own moisturizer (nivia), and then at night i used all 3 products (cleanse, tone, repair). The mistake I did, and assume by other peoples comments is that they used the repair as a replacement for a moisturizer. HOWEVER, the repair lotion is NOT a moisturizer!! So your skin is not getting re-hydrated after sucking out all the oils and toxins from you skin leaving it dry and flaky. After reading the packaging it explained this and said a HYDRATING moisturizer needs to be applied after the repair had soaked into the skin. I invested in a Estee Lauder hydration creme and this was able to sort out the dryness. My skin is naturally very oily, but this is a very necessary step and if you use it before bed, then you wash off all the oil in the morning and start fresh. Pro Activ has helped by struggle with acne considerably, and if you follow my advice, it should hopefully do the same for you :)

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Nessa on 1/17/2013 2:00:00 PM more reviews by Nessa

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

Great for teenagers...maybe but it turns out I am allergic to benzoyl peroxide so it just gives me a rash.

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iheartowls55 on 1/16/2013 11:23:00 AM more reviews by iheartowls55

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I like this system. I'm not sure it deserved all the hype it got a few years back, but it basically does what it says it will do. I don't have terrible acne, but I do get breakouts from time to time, and I get pretty oily in the T-zone area. I bought this about two years ago, and I still have the first and third step products, because I like to mix it up with some of my other skincare products. The toner worked well, too; it's just easier to go through that product more quickly. This also worked very, very well for my brother when he was a teenager and had troublesome acne spells. I don't think this formula is magical, and I think it's a little bit of a bait-and-switch that they suck you in with the low price and then charge you a ton of money for your second order, but it's worth then introductory cost. You can also buy these indiviudally at some mall kiosks (my mall has a vending machine-type kiosk), for a reasonable price.

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luverchick on 1/16/2013 12:15:00 AM more reviews by luverchick

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

i tried this when my mother used to use this and all i can say is that it made me super dry and i didnt see much improvement at all...i would suggest Acne.org...way better....

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emma1girl5899 on 1/15/2013 8:04:00 PM more reviews by emma1girl5899

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I had been seeing so many commercials on TV about proactive. I have some acne so i though i'd give it a shot. I bought it at the mall, for a pretty insane price. I used it for about 2 months. There was no diffrence in my acne and i didnt even feel like it washed off all my makeup. ill never recommend this product to anyone. Honestly, its so over advertised, so i was dissappointed to not see any improvement.
Ive had friends try Proactive and they saw no diffrence either.
I really dont recommend this product.

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LaurenManchester on 1/15/2013 11:18:00 AM more reviews by LaurenManchester

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

Firstly let me explain my skin. It was awful when i was a teenager and i was given the lovely Dianette for 10 years and i had beautiful flawless skin, then visiting my doctor 18 months ago he noted that i shouldnt have been taking Dianette for so long and now i am like a teenager again. I have acne mostly around the jaw line, checks and nose. Its many under my skin and can be very painful. I dont actually get that many new spots but when i have a spot it stays for months and never seems to quite disappear.

I tried Proactiv last year for the first time. I always stop using it and then go back to it. It is the only thing that completely clears my face up.

I buy it off their website and get the night cream with it (and always a freebie of the refining mask)

Within a few days it makes a noticible difference. Within a month a can go without any make up at all. It smoothes my skin out as well as making my spots become the odd one rather than patches of them. Within a week the spots are reduced and no longer painful.

I also have very oily skin so i buy the daily oil control with it and use that in the mornings. I have no need at all to blot and dont feel the slightest bit greasy throughout the day.

The reason i havent rated it a 5 is because of the proportions and the price.

The wash and day and night cream last ages but the toner doesnt at all. Within 3-4 weeks the toner is gone. BUT i just replace this with a a toner from the supermarket. Normally clearsil and it tends to still work for me.

I also think its a little expensive and can be a bit of a palarva doing the whole regime every day but its so worth it.

Only bad thing about buying online is that you automatically get set up on a 60 day renewal but its a simple phone call to cancel this.

I love Proactiv. I cant thank it enough for giving me confidence again. Its so nice to be able to go out of the house without make up and not feel conscious of your skin.

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

Morgan40ish on 1/13/2013 2:20:00 PM more reviews by Morgan40ish

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

My skin was too sensitive for this line. Too strong. I don't understand how people can use this on the long-term. My skin was stripped and in pain after.

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Mom2Free on 1/11/2013 11:37:00 AM more reviews by Mom2Free

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Tan   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

My skin was finally staying relatively clear and then all of a sudden, while I was in my late twenties - BAM! It got BAD. I have no idea what happened. I hadn't changed anything in my skin care or makeup routine. So then I tried Proactiv.
My skin is pretty oily and not prone to sensitivity. Products that may burn/sting others generally don't cause that sort of reaction on my skin.
Well, this stuff worked for me. My face cleared up considerably. Not completely, but it did clear up a lot.
What I did not like about these products is how dull my complexion looked. And I felt like these products could not be good for your skin long term. I slowly weened myself off.
The active ingredient in the cleanser and the treatment cream is benzoyal peroxide. I used bp products before Proactiv (and obviousily during), but since I stopped using Proactiv, I can't use bp products anymore. Weird.
I would not repurchase. And I would not recommend it to others, especially those with dry and/or sensitive skin. I think it would be way to harsh. And for those with oily skin like me, I think there are other products on the market that are healthier and more effective.

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khaledmansoor on 1/10/2013 9:38:00 PM more reviews by khaledmansoor

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Other   Eyes: Hazel    

As soon as I started using this stuff, my skin got much worse and really really dry and even flaky in parts.

From what I'm told, if you keep using it, your skin does get better but then you have to keep using it forever or your skin will get even worse than it was before you started using it. They put something in it that makes your skin need it.

In my opinion, this stuff is a scam.

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Gen12 on 1/1/2013 9:57:00 PM more reviews by Gen12

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I hated this product after having my baby I started breaking out like crazy and purchased this from my local malls vending machine! worst mistake ever! it broke me out even more after a while I started getting dry patches all over my face! it just turned my face into a disgusting mess not to mention the price I could of had boughten something much cheaper and that worked way better at target

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Leaahh107 on 12/30/2012 8:37:00 PM more reviews by Leaahh107

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

ProActive.That's a nightmare I never want to think about.
When I hit puberty years ago my skin paid for it, and I had tried washes and creams all over the map. I never listened to any infomercial products because its all a bunch of paid actors telling everyone how great it is. But, my cousin had used it and her skin now looks amazing. So I decided to give it a try, thinking "Wow. it might actually work!" Long story short, it didn't. My face hurt like hellfire and was as dry as lizard skin, without clearing a single zit. And I used it exactly how the lable said, reading each bottle and making sure i did it perfectly every time. I used it for a few months, too! I thought all that drying was just my skin getting used to it. I finally couldn't take it anymore, it felt like acid on my skin every time I cleaned it. So I stopped. THEN, my skin went crazy after I stopped proactive, and caused my skin to get so oily, and huge clusters of acne appeared all over my face.

After that,I finally went to a dermatologist. She explained to me that proactive is made for a very specific type of acne, and for people with thicker skin. She perscribed me a face wash that works perfectly for me, and I am so thrilled to say my face is clearer than ever before.

So here's my tip, if you're suffering from acne, don't trust the commercials. It's much better just to go to a doctor or dermatologist. They'll give you exactly what you need to have clear skin.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

MissYumi on 12/29/2012 8:59:00 PM more reviews by MissYumi

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is the only product that helped clear my acne when I was in high school and going through puberty. I still use the cleanser since it's refreshing and doesn't dry my face out but I stopped using the toner and benzoyl peroxide (stopped working).

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JerseyRoja on 12/29/2012 8:48:00 PM more reviews by JerseyRoja

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Black    

I do not have severe acne but I wouldve liked to have perfectly clear skin... so in trying to get rid of my few pimples i tried proactive and it dried my skin up and caused huge pimples all over. Ended up using neutragena face wash to clear them up.

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JuneIcassiano on 12/29/2012 8:27:00 PM more reviews by JuneIcassiano

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

No..It was okay the first time I had it. It did clear my skin. But when I bought the system again a few years later, it didn't work and made my skin WORSE. I think it's cus they changed the formula or something? Idk. But I definitely wouldn't recommend this, especially to people with sensitive skin. This made my skin SO DRY too. Stay clear from this product, guys.

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Adi0915 on 12/29/2012 7:42:00 PM more reviews by Adi0915

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

Last year around this time I got an allergic reaction from something and it caused me to break out horribly.My family members would always be on my skin because it looked so horrible. My cousin have actually tried this and their skin looks marvelous since they've used it. Anyway, so I've always seen ads for this and finally, after much convincing I went ahead and tried it out. The cleanser is real gentle. The toner is what it is; a toner. And the mosturizer is kind of goey if that's even a way to describe it. The first week my skin was really looking better. I was really excited, but then the following week it stopped. As days turned into weeks and then months, not only wasn't this working out but it was drying me out like mad. Even after using a mosturizer I was dry as ever. Still, I kept trying it because I really wanted to convince myself it worked. By the fourth month I actually started seeing results. My skin was less bumpy, and more clearer. I had less blotches and more vibrant skin. Since then I have not only been using the system but also their green tea mosturizer and Oil-Control cream. I get a pimple, zit here and there when I get my mestrual cycle but nothing like before. If you use it twice a day and do all three steps it will work. Remember though, this is my experience. Everyone can differ results considering we are all different.

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

jasmina1993 on 12/28/2012 10:22:00 PM more reviews by jasmina1993

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

-Before starting Proactive I used products form the drug store (Clean and Clear, Neutrogena, and a few others) and those didn't work. I would break out on the sides of my face and a few on my chin and forehead (rarely). Right before my period was the worst.
-I heard from many that this product did not work for them or that it only worked for the first few months and then their acne come back. That wasn't the case for me. I follow the directions to the dot and it took three months before I began seeing any results. Progress was slow but it has been a little more than two years since I began using the product and my skin is clear. I still do get the a zit or two on the months when my period is really bad, but for most of my periods I don't break out.
-Everyone's skin is different and I would recommend using the product for at least three to six months before deciding if the product works or not. The first two weeks my skin got dry, but that went away.
- if the regular product is too strong there is a lighter version for sensitive skin or a stronger version if the regular one isn't working for you
-I use the regular one

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sanana on 12/28/2012 4:08:00 PM more reviews by sanana

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

Honestly, I don't understand why everyone is so upset with this product. If you have any issues with this product, it is probably because you are not carefully following the directions or because you are allergic to the Benzoyl Peroxide ingredient.
I have been using Proactiv for only about 2 weeks and I've seen a dramatic change in my skin's appearance. I barely break out anymore. Also, my skin has become softer and clearer. This is pretty amazing considering I have struggled with acne for nearly 5 years. I am using the original system which contains the renewing cleanser, the revitalizing toner and the repairing treatment. First of all let me start off by saying that even though I have combination skin, I find that generally my skin is more dry than oily. I started using the three step system twice daily and my skin did initially dry up, however, I invested some extra bucks and bought the green tea moisturizer. This moisturizer truly works miracles. I use it after every treatment application, so twice daily. You only need a nickel-size amount for your entire face. It leaves my skin SO soft but feeling non-greasy!! It is a must-have. A cheaper and effective alternative would be the Cetaphil moisturizing lotion for all skin types, although this product WILL leave your skin feeling greasy. If you are STILL having issues with dryness, then I suggest you switch out the renewing cleanser with Cetaphil's gentle skin cleanser for all skin types. Of course, the better alternative might be Proactiv's "Gentle Formula" which uses 2% Salicylic Acid instead of 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide. The Gentle Formula is available only as a "Travel Kit". It sells for $20 regularly but is $14.95 if you are a member with Proactiv. Of course, every product is a lot cheaper if you become a member.

All in all, I think the key to success with Proactiv is making sure you follow the 3-step system exactly "by the book." DO NOT apply more of the product than is directed on the card that comes with the system. You will IRRITATE your skin if you use more of the product, which will result in drier skin and possibly, worse acne. Everything should be used in moderation. Less is more with this system. Good luck!

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laurakaye on 12/23/2012 3:09:00 PM more reviews by laurakaye

Age: 44-55   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I tried this about 4 years ago, during a phase in my life where I was working late, not getting enough sleep, raising kids - and my skin paid the price. Finally tried ProActive after months of wondering if the stuff really worked.. The lotion felt greasy on my skin and didn't change a thing - actually made it a bit worse. I stuck with it for about two months, saw no improvements, then called the company to stop the automatic shipments. The person who took my call tried several times to talk me out of canceling, then finally said, "I guess you don't want clear skin, huh?" I've never forgotten her rudeness and more importantly, the fact that this product didn't work for me at all.

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

PeanutAngel on 12/22/2012 5:19:00 PM more reviews by PeanutAngel

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I bought this because I suddenly started to get zits when I was 20, without having much in my teenage years. It did nothing for my skin, and made my normal/sensitive skin very red and dry. I then gave it to my boyfriend to try, and even tough it didn't make his skin reactive and red, it did nothing for his oily/acneprone skin. I would not repurchase this.

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