home :: pro activ solutions; pro active solution

Pro Activ Solutions: The Three-Piece Cure to Acne?

The Pro Activ Solutions system for acne is comprised of three products: Renewing Cleanser, Revitalizing Toner and Repairing Lotion. Pro Active solutions are touted as revolutionary products formulated based on the manufacturer's three-step proprietary Combination Therapy. The system works by helping keep the skin clear and prevent acne breakouts.

According to the makers of ProActiv, the skin products achieve their goals by unclogging the pores of the skin and attacking the bacteria that causes acne. The manufacturer of these skin solution products recommends the use of the formulas every morning and every night for best results.

Comments from users

"...I thought I would give Proactive a try, and that's the best thing I did to my face. I noticed the change very shortly after I started using it. The bumps in my forehead disappeared and I only get a pimple once in a while."
Excerpt from a customer review on amazon.com

"I'm 14 and have been using proactiv for about 2 years. It keeps my skin under control, but my face and back still break out...To get the maximum results you have to use all three steps, twice a day, every day, and sometimes that can be hard to maintain."
Excerpt from a customer review on ultimate-cosmetics.com

"Too inconsistent, too expensive and won't keep your face clean."
Excerpt from a consumer review on acne.org

"Pros: Saw results immediately. Cons: Stopped working after a couple of months. It is also expensive after a while."
Excerpt from a consumer review on acne.org

Our opinion

We gathered from user feedback that ProActiv does not work for everybody. A few have claimed that the solution does work on acne, but a lot more complaints have been thrown at Pro Activ. Let's break down the most common complaints:

1) works at first, but eventually, effectiveness diminishes or disappears altogether

2) too expensive

3) must follow the instructions to a T, which means all three products twice a day without miss; this could take a lot of your time and can be rather expensive

Our verdict

A bit overrated. For its price, you would expect a better product. Although it does work for some, its effects, according to most users, do not last. Definitely not a maintenance product. There are a lot of acne formulas out there with similar functions that can also act as maintenance formula and are also much cheaper.

Our rating

(one star)

Click here for the Proactiv® 30–Day Trial System

Company information

ProActiv is from Guthy-Renker, a Palm Desert, California-based direct response television company.

Product ingredients

Renewing Cleanser

• Active ingredient: Benzoyl peroxide - 2.5%
• Inactive ingredients:Water, Magnesium aluminum silicate, Glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, Disodium PEG-12 dimethicone sulfosuccinate, Sorbitol, Dimethyl isosorbide, Tridecyl stearate, Neopentyl glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, Polyethylene, Cetyl esters, Anthemis nobilis flower extract, Sodium hyaluronate, Sodium PCA, Xanthan gum, Tridecyl trimellitate, Propylene glycol, Imidazolidinyl urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Fragrance

Revitalizing Toner

• Water, Glycolic acid, Hamamelis virginiana extract, Anthemis nobilis flower extract, Rosa canina fruit extract, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Glycerin, Propylene glycol, Allanton, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium hydroxide, Benzophenone-4, Tetrasodium EDTA, Imidazolidinyl urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Fragrance, Blue 1, Yellow 5

Repairing Lotion

• Active ingredient: Benzoyl peroxide - 2.5%
• Inactive ingredients:Water, Ethoxydiglycol, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Propylene glycol, Cetearyl alcohol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Panthenol, Allantoin, Xanthan gum, Ceteareth-20, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Diazolidinyl urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Fragrance

Directions for use

Step 1: Apply the cleanser to dampened skin and gently massage for two minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Step 2: After washing the face and other affected areas with the cleanser, apply toner using a cotton ball. Allow the liquid to dry.

Step 3: After the toner has dried, apply a thin layer of the lotion to affected areas. Do not rinse off. All three products should be used every morning and every night.

Price

$69.95 (available at $39.95 as part of the Clear Skin Club price)

Return Policy

60 day money back guarantee (less shipping and handling)

Other acne solution products that you might want to try

• Acnezine - Acnezine is one of our top recommendations Click here for more info
• AcneFree - AcneFree is also a three-step acne treatment and also uses benzoyl peroxide as its active ingredient. Much cheaper than ProActiv and based on reviews, much more effective. ($24.95)
• ClearPores Facial System - ClearPores has received more positive feedback and has been deemed to be one of the top three-step acne solutions available in the market. This brand is usually on top of the list of almost all acne products rated by reviewers and users. Paying a bit more than what you would normally pay for other three-step formulas is worth it, particularly if you care more about the efficacy of the formula. ($64.95)