Sorry to bust your Proactiv bubble (This review was written in reality)
Written: Jul 06 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: "Clean scent", smooth texture, relatively easy process. Hmmm....I ran out
Cons: Inconvenient packaging, not enough product, and let's not forget the price!
The Bottom Line: This product simply did not give me enough bang for my buck. Media hype has definitely played a role in its "success".
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| realitychick's Full Review: Proactive Solution Repairing Lotion |
If you're looking for a quick rundown here were my main problems with this product (a more extensive one will follow):
- Even though it's a "combination therapy", the product was not distributed evenly. In other words I ran out of two of the products in the system before the third.
- The bottles are small and hard to squeeze as the products starts to run out. For all of that money (I paid $47.20 with tax and without shipping/handling) they should offer more.
-My skin virtually stayed the same (except the times when it got worse) throughout the entire process, spanning 2 months.
- Sometimes my skin felt very dry and tight. Therefore I had to cut back on the dosage--which may or may not have altered the total performance.
Now here is the long version..........
I begged my mother for weeks to send in the order form for Proactiv. Looking at those magical before and after photos stirred a fire within me that I was sure could only be extinguished once I was staring at a clear face through my own mirror. Finally she broke down and bought a kit from a kiosk in the mall--with the warning that if it didn't work I would be buying the next box. Unfortunately, I never got to that next step.
I spent two months following the directions diligently, measuring out each pea sized drop to perfection. I only strayed from the recommended dosage a few times when my mother said my face was getting too dry and I needed to cut back on the Repairing Lotion. But alas, as the bite sized bottles ran dry, my face still looked nothing like the clear skin fantasy I had imagined. Initially I blamed myself for the product not working. Maybe I should have used more of the Repairing Lotion, even if my skin was getting dried to a crisp? Perhaps I should have used the Refining Mask twice a week instead of only once. Do cotton pads really work better than cotton balls?
Then I finally realized that I was only fooling myself. Despite all the glowing praise Proactiv has accumulated among ecstatic fans, it has not made me a believer. It simply did not work on my skin. There was no positive change in the appearance or texture of my skin--in fact at times it looked worse (which can happen when you first try a product, but this symptom continued). I admit I did enjoy the scent and my skin tingled in such a way that I was convinced that in a few seconds my blemishes would vanish into thin air.
However, I have yet to find a product that delivers the promises that Proactiv claims, including Proactiv itself. If you are a realistic consumer (as I have become as a result of this ordeal and many more similar to it) you would be wise to take your own skin into consideration instead of automatically jumping on the Proactiv bandwagon. If trial and error will not work for your budget (like mine) I suggest having an extensive conversation with you dermatologist. Ask specific questions like "What exactly do I need to even out my skin tone, clear up blemishes and/or acne scars?", "How do I know if my skin is sensitive?", "What over-the-counter products can mimic this $300 prescription?" And please find a good dermatologist, because mine was more into the merchandising business than he was advising from a medical viewpoint.
I do realize that everyone's skin is different and perhaps this product could work for you. Just be aware that there is no 100% guarantee and that you will be paying at least 50 bucks for this baby--at least!!
Still willing to try? Well, I can't force you not to.
The Proactiv system goes as follows:
Step:1 Renewing Cleanser
This cleanser (essentially a face wash) is supposed to "gently exfoliate" the skin. It contains Benzoyl Peroxide (commonly used in over-the-counter products and some prescriptions). I did like the scent--it's light and almost floral in nature but by no means "girly". I'll put it this way: if the before and after photos aren't convincing, the smell definitely is. It did not dry out my face and the tiny beads felt good when I massaged them onto my skin. Be careful not to rub or scrub the product onto your skin as this will cause adverse affects. Gently message the product onto your skin.
Step 2: Revitalizing Toner
It's supposed to be alcohol free but I found that the toner did sting a few times when I applied it--which can be expected the first few times, but after that it could mean your skin is getting irritated. For instance, at first it was a tingle, but towards the end it was more like an irritating burn. Perhaps it was the Witch Hazel extract. The main problem with the toner is that it runs out really fast if you use more than two drops and cotton balls soak up all the product--so definitely buy the pads as suggested.
Step 3: Repairing Lotion
Another Benzoyl Peroxide concoction but this one is more potent. I feel that this part of the system dried out my skin the most. I only used it at night and then went to using it every other day. I do not know if this had an affect on the overall performance of the system but since it was only one part it shouldn't have caused the whole thing to fail. My skin felt dry and tight right after using it and white residue (maybe my dry skin) was visible at times. The bottle is only 2 oz. so if your skin can handle the pressure don't use more than a pea size and even then be very cautious with it.
Refining Mask
This actually isn't apart of the system and was included "free" along with the handy dandy beauty guide. I think it should come with it anyway. Surprisingly, I used the face mask even after I stopped using the complete system (since I ran out of the other products besides the Repairing Lotion). The directions are to use twice a week as a mask, but I used it mainly for spot treatments. It did an okay job of reducing pimple size but it still took about 2-3 days to completely heal. The mask has a sticky feeling and is hard to get off the face and your fingers. You have to rub it off--which the beauty guide claims isn't good for your skin. So maybe they need to loosen up the formula a bit. The smell is a cross between Play-Doh and clay (clay is used in the formula), but I could handle it.
When it all came down to it, Proactiv was just another half empty kit sitting in my bedroom. I was very disappointed mainly because I was so sure that this was going to work on my face. It worked on other people WHY NOT ME? But I guess I'm just one of the unlucky ones with stubborn skin. If anyone has found anything better without paying a mortgage for it, please let me know asap!!!
Recommended:
No
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realitychick
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