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updated January 07, 2009

Proactiv Review

Proactiv

Proactiv® Solution is a popular 3-step acne treatment not available in stores, but only through informercials, special Proactiv kiosks, or online.  Proactiv is supposed to cure acne and prevent future blemishes.   The three processes are the Renewal Cleanser, the Revitalizing Toner, and the Repairing Lotion. 

The unfortunate thing the three solutions have in common is the smell.  It has a strong smell of medication and didn’t feel good when applied to my skin.  I would always have to mask it with perfume or wait a long time for the solution to dry and the smell to wear off. 

Proactiv is also one of those products that seem to work at first for a little bit, and quickly wane.  I bought a month’s supply of Proactiv and finally saw minimal results near the end of the month.  Also, even with the toner and lotion, my skin would dry out, which is inconvenient and sometimes embarrassing when I’m out of the house all day. Check our list below for the 5 Best Acne Treatments!

Have you tried Proactiv? Write a review!

User Reviews

"It stains towels, dries out your skin, still have break outs occasionally."

- Allison

"When I first used Proactive it worked, the bumps on my forehead disappeared. Then after a while, it didn't work as well as it used to. Over time it made my face swell up so much i would have to skip school."

- Natalie

"This did not work at all. It left my face dry and hard, I hated it after using it for only 5 days and the lotion burned my skin more than the toner did. I cancelled my order for the next shipment after only 2 weeks, I was not going to waste any more money on Proactiv. I would never advise anyone to get this product. The Proactiv people need to give me my money back and then some because my face is actually worse. Never again!!!!!!!!!!"

- Keysha

"The product Proactiv wasn't always reliable for my acne problems. I've been using Proactiv for over a year now and it tends to not work all the time like I need it to. It stains my towels, gives off a strong odor, dries out my skin and makes it oily, and prevents only certain types of acne. I am in sports, so I tend to sweat a lot and my face ends up irritated, red, and not clear!"

- Paige

"About four year ago I saw this ad on tv about Proactiv .. and I thought this would be it this is going to get me clear skin. So one day I found it in a mall and bought it.. which costs a lot of money I have used it for four years and still I have acne. Yes I know that its not going to work with everyone.. but still gosh! I wished it worked for me.. I still have acne and I am waiting to find out what will work for me...."

- Kristina H.

"My son and I both have been using proactiv for about 2/3 months. It seemed to work at first, but then the acne came back and looks worse now than before. It will start to go away for a couple of days and then it just comes right back."

- Brit

"Proactiv is a waste of time and money. It worked for about a month and than my face dried out worse than it ever has been. I tried to call and cancel and it took me THREE CALLS and they still kept sending me stuff. Their green T moisturizer doesn't moisturize. I do not recommend this product. I also do not recommend Sheer Cover make-up. I do however recommend Bare Essentials."

- Anonymous User

"I bought Proactiv (full price) and tried it for 2 weeks. After 1 week my skin started drying out in a weird way. I did not have severe acne but breakouts and very oily skin and they recommended the Moisturizing Kit, after 2 weeks I had to send it back (double of what I paid in shipping to have them send it to me). My skin became like dry, cracked leather and was extremely uncomfortable to even smile. The product began to sting, deep wrinkles started to form around the edges of my eyes and it DOES bleach your towels and clothes. I was very unhappy with the results, and had to get a Oily skin cleansing routine trio from Neutrogena, have been using it for 2 weeks to bring my skin somewhat back to normal at HALF the cost and no club to join. I am satisfied with my skin now and would like to warn people of how strong proactiv is. Just wasn’t for me. Thank you for letting me vent!"

- Diane

"I have been using Proactiv for about 2 weeks now. At 1st it worked really well then it was like the whole left side of my face was burned. That has gone now but I still have pimples and sores from where it was it looks like it is slowly going, I’m still using it just hoping that it will work maybe it just takes a bit of time. I just really want clear skin I hate my skin."

- Kirsty

"I have been using Proactiv for about 10 years. It works great. Everyone who says it's a waste of time and money should realize everyone has different skin. I have a very fair complexion. I don't use all three steps every time I wash my face, so it doesn't dry out at all. Yes, it stains towels and that is annoying. Acne is more annoying. So while everyone bags on Proactiv, my review is...it works great for me."

- Ann

"I've just recently bought this Proctiv Solution acne care. I've been seeing it on televison adds for about 3 months before actually buying it. But of course, you can never really be sure about televison adds really working. So I decided to finally buy a monthy supply of the product, and it says on the paper they give with it, “You may break out at first, but it will eventually fade”... But I'm still breaking out! I'm reading these other reviews and I totally agree with the smell of this product. It is disgusting! They also say in the booklet, smell is spontaneous... Well think again!.. I still have about 2 weeks supply left, but I don't think I'll be buying this product EVER AGAIN!!!"

- Petuna Smiles

"For all the people that dis this product should first think that everone is different and reacts diferently to everything. Proactiv does indeed work and ive tryed it , but you cant stop using it , as long as you continue to use it on a regular basis it will continue to give great results. and have healthy habits foods and lifestlye it works perfect."

- Hannah

"I guess I'm just listening to the hype so I bought a 3 month supply. I have only been using it a couple of weeks and my skin is just dry. It is actually flaking. I hope to see improvements in the next couple of weeks or its going back!"

- Danielle Alexander

"I have used Pro Active Soloutions for three months. I have found it to be of no benefit at all really. It reduces a little redness on the spots themselves but I still have that really pesky clustering of whiteheads! It is terribly drying too which makes my skin over compensate in the sebum department causing even more spots! Not really a product I will recommend."

-Vicky

"After struggling with acne for a grand total of seven years I figured Proactiv would finally get rid of the problem. I suffered through two weeks of dry skin, painful peeling and horrible itching before tossing the bottles away and going on a search for something new. It didn't work, hardly made a dent by the end of the first month. I found it disappointing."

- Catalina

"Thank You for your time. I am a full time student and caretaker of my house hold. Between ridding the bus, cleaning my house, helping my sick mother, helping my brother and sister with homework and dealing with everyones stress, my face gets dirty so damn fast. I don't smoke, I stay away from chocolate and wash my face twice a day. I've spent money on Proactiv in the past and that only made my face worse. I have scars and I just want to be a happy 21 year old. My acne is so bad people think I'm only 16. I buy non fragrance soaps for the face, but nothing is working. I'm not sure how you can help me, but it would mean the world. Thanks again for your time."

- Darlene Vercilo

"I am a 43 year old woman with blackheads on my face with black spot and acn. I have tried every product. Every otc product nothing seems to help. I even tried Proactiv, it just burns my face. My skin type is oily to dry in some places. The most thing that bothers me is the black spot, and my skin feels rough when you run you palm over it. My skin never used to be like this, until two years ago. Please help!"

- Ingrid

"I bought Proactiv after my boyfriend and I struggled with acne for about a year. After the first few applications I thought it was really working. But those results soon faded, and left me with stinging, sore, and peeling skin. The skin around my eyes and mouth were like crocodile skin - even though I did not apply the cleanser or toner there. I still have 3 months worth of product, but will not be using it. I live a healthy life with a good diet and plenty of exercise, so there is no reason for it to not work! Its a horrible product and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone!"

- Bernie

"If your face has an over excess of oil it will take out that over excess and make your skin more balanced. If your skin is too dry or balanced correctly then don't use it, other wise it works perfectly. I have used Proactiv for not very long but its made my skin clearer and more balanced. I feel that Proactiv is a very well used face wash if done right."

- Naomi

"Proactiv lumps all acne sufferers in the same basket. You can't treat an oily skinned 14 year old boy with the same product as a 38 year old woman who has hormonal problems. It bleaches your clothes, drys out your skin and will make it 10 times worse in the long run. It burns and inflames the skin. Find the root cause of your breakouts first, hormones, oil, hereditry, and treat that problem not try to bleach away the pimples!!!!!!"

- Julie

"I've used Proactiv for years with great results, although being a more 'mature’ client (40+) I've noticed if I run out and don't use it for a few days I get breakout. Also my big negative is I've gone through SO MANY towels as this product bleaches them!! Yes whether I've rinsed or washed my face and/or hands afterwards, when I dry them I have big bleach marks on my towels. The trick, stick to white towels."

- Trish

"I am now 25 yrs and have been struggling the acne fight for years, I tried the much talked about 'Proactiv' and got zero results I continued for 2 months just to give it a decent work out and absolutly nothing. The only thing you can really notice is all my bleached towels, face washers and hand towels, and some wrinkles appeared under my eyes. What a Joke..."

- Susan

"I love it. It works great. My face is now clear first time in years. I reccomend it to all."

-D Howrd

"We have used the product for 4 years now. My daughter uses it every day and my son just started. It controls our acne and we all think it is a great product. It does work. Everyone has different skin, so for some it may not be great. We have had no problems and I always order online. Awesome product..."

- Dawn Reid

"I have used Proactiv for two years now this December,and yes it works good for a little while but there are effects I don't like. I don't like that my skin is really really red and that at first my acne was gone from underneath the skin now its back. I do agree that it has a very weird odor after a week or two that you have the bottles I don't like it. But I do like the mask(refining mask. I put it on before I go to sleep at night and when I wake up in the morning its gone(the pimples). I am looking for another acne product so if you could give me some addvice let me know. Thanks."

- Johne M. Brown

"I ordered Proactiv about 2 months ago. I really thought it would improve my acne problem seeing all those adds on tv and stuff. At first, it did start to work, but as I kept on using it, my acne problem got worst. Before I would get like 1 or 2 pimples. After using Proactiv I would have like 5 pimples at a time. It was just really disgusting, and it would dry my skin too much. So I decided to switch to something better, and hey it worked. But one thing's for sure, I'm never using Proactiv again."

- Arlet

"I have had horrible acne since I first started having children. Hormones...oh sigh...I bought Proactiv on the strong advice of Jessica Simpson. That alone should have been a warning that it would only be worth my time for a few days. I used it and used it. I followed all of the instructions to the letter. Like many other reviews that I have read about the product, it dried me out. Flaky patches on my chin and nose were the worst. Needless to say, I returned it and took advantage of the six week money back guarantee. I now use Murad Acne care products(part of the Ulta line) and they are perfect."

- Karis

"Well I had Proactiv for a few months and the break out and black heads never goes away. I would never give or recommend this product to anyone."

- Dee

"When I first started using Proactiv it was great. I thought that I had finally found something that would clear up my acne. But, after a while I slowly started getting breakouts again."

- Tranell

"I've been using Proactiv for about three months now and I think that it's the greatest thing in the world. I've tried everything and Proactiv is the only thing that has ever worked for me! It does make my skin a little dry but applying a good moisturizer after all of the Proactiv solutions are on and dried completely solves that problem."

Tiffany Canada

"Believe me Proactiv ain't that good! I am 15 and have had acne since I was 9. I started getting it bad when I was 13. All Proactiv does is make it disapear for a while like maybe 2-3 days ... makes your skin really red and VERY dry! All those ads for Proactiv are all lies don't believe everything you hear about on television, or else you will go bankrupt."

- Alicia