Proactiv
What is Proactiv?
If you’ve turned on a TV more than once in the past 5 years, chances are you’ve seen a commercial for Proactiv. Proactiv is one of the leading acne medications with arguably the most publicity of any skin care treatment on the market. With countless real life customer reviews and numerous celebrity endorsements, Proactiv has produced quite a buzz in the acne treatment world. Proactiv is a 3 step process used twice daily to obtain clearer skin for those with mild to moderate acne. Celebrity endorsements and an overload on infomercials often lead people to question a product’s integrity and effectiveness, which is why we’re here to give you the skinny on Proactiv.
What’s in it?
- Renewing Cleanser: This cleanser is oil-free and is used to exfoliate and refine skin. It contains benzoyl peroxide, one of the more potent ingredients used in acne treatments. Benzoyl peroxide rids hair follicles of P. acnes, one of the leading causes of breakouts. It allows oxygen to enter the pores, which eliminates unwanted bacterias that cannot survive in oxygen-rich environments. This treatment is to be used morning and night by gently massaging into dampened skin, rinsing, and patting dry.
- Revitalizing Toner: This alcohol-free toner balances skin tone and rids the pores of dead skin cells for more radiant-looking skin. Includes witch hazel which is a strong astringent and provides antioxidants. This gentle and non-drying ingredient reduces the size of pores while cleansing the skin. Aloe and chamomille reduce swelling and soften irritated skin. Finally, allantoin is included to calm irritated and red skin by healing local wounds and infections. Allantoin is great for those with sensitive skin.
- Repairing Treatment: This oil-free moisturizer also contains benzoyl peroxide to prevent future breakouts. This treatment is to be used morning and night by applying a thin layer on to face and left on for the whole day.
Are there any side effects?
Unfortunately, yes. With the use of so much benzoyl peroxide the chances of a user experiencing side effects is high. Some of the more common side effects include dryness, flaking, redness, sensitivity, and slight inflammation, with the majority of users encountering one or more of these adverse effects.
Pros
- Contains a refreshing variety of ingredients instead of one or two that will fight acne
- The majority of users experience positive results
- Potent acne-fighting formula
Cons
- Expensive
- Causes a slew of side effects
- Causes skin to get worse before it gets better
Conclusion
If you have the money and are in need of a strong acne treatment, Proactiv is the product for you. Its 3 step process contains a number of powerful acne-fighting ingredients and numerous customer reviews claim the effectiveness of this product. Keep in mind that what works for one person won’t work for everyone, and there are a number of users who were disappointed with this product, which you will see with almost any skin care treatment out there. Don’t get discouraged, though, as dealing with acne takes time and you will likely not be happy in the first week or so with what you see. If this product turns out to not be the product for you, luckily it comes with a 60 day money back guarantee to where you can get a full refund, even on used products.



