Proactiv is an acne treatment that fails to live up to the celebrity fueled hype. It’s a miracle for some people, but most acne victims find it too harsh and end up with worse acne as a result. Consumers also complain about deceptive billing practices. This review looks at Proactiv objectively and without hype, and aims to give you the info you need to make an informed choice.
What Is Proactiv?
Proactiv Solution is a 3-step system. The steps are Renewing Cleanser, Revitalizing Toner and Repairing Lotion.
Proactiv claims to not only treat acne but also to prevent future breakouts. As with all topical solutions, it only works as long as you keep using it.
How it works?
- The cleanser unclogs and opens your skin pores. It also contains benzoyl peroxide that starts the treatment process.
- The Revitalizing Toner strips impurities, dirt and excess oil from your skin.
- The Repairing Lotion contains another dosage of benzoyl peroxide and other anti-bacterial agents that control the acne-causing bacteria on your skin.
Proactiv uses BP (benzoyl peroxide) that has been ground to very fine particles. This makes BP more effective and helps it to penetrate deeper and faster into the skin pores.
Side-Effects
Many people say that Proactiv is too harsh on their skin, they complain about skin irritation, redness. In many cases this leads to worsening of the skin.
The Renewing Cleanser contains exfoliating beads. If you have sensitive skin rubbing these beads on your skin can cause excessive skin damage and irritation. That’s why some users complain that Proactiv ‘tears their face off’.
What consumers say about it?
Based on over 5000 votes at acne.org Proactiv is rated at 2.8 out of 5, which is very average for brand name acne treatments. About 40% of users would recommend it to others.
In another forum Proactiv is rated at having 50% success rate.
The product divides people. Those who can take it, say it’s a miracle. On the other hand it often makes acne worse for those for whom it’s too harsh. And for some people it does absolutely nothing.
In addition to skin irritation and redness consumers complain about bleaching of clothes and bed sheets. BP is known to do this, and the company warns about it on their website.
Deceptive billing practices
Guthy Renker, the company that markets Proactiv, has landed into hot water with their billing practices. They sign you up for an auto-billing program when you order. This is mentioned in the small print, but for many consumers the recurring charges on their credit card come as a surprise.
Furthermore, the company makes it extremely difficult to cancel your subscription. Customer service representatives are rude and dismissive.
For these reasons The Better Business Bureau has registered almost 600 complaints against Proactiv in the last 36 months. Rip-Off Report similarly has several complaints about the company.
How much does it cost?
Proactiv prices range from $19.95 to $29.95 for the first order. The subsequent charges are said to be higher, most people say they are charged $37 every month.
These supplies are said to last for a month, but many people complain that the small bottles run out sooner.
Conclusions and recommendations
At this point it’s hard to recommend Proactiv. Its reputation is build more on celebrity endorsements than the merits of the product. For many people it’s simply way too harsh.
If you have a tough skin and haven’t had success with cheaper brands you could give Proactiv a try. Just beware of their auto-billing and auto-shipping program. Buy your initial order from a store. If it really works for you then go for the auto-shipping program.
I think proactiv is great. Read the small print though. My best advice, is order it on ebay. You get a one time shipment, no billing suprises. The mask is a lifesaver. I’ve never heard of proactiv making someones acne worse, only drying out their skin. in which case they say to switch to once a day or every other day. The new kits come w/a green tea mosturizer which is the only moisturizer i would use on my skin because most will cause me to breakout even worse, but to get back on subject, i’d absolutely recommend proactiv…but buy it on ebay.
proactive is the best…i’ve seen so many ppl use it..and their faces look amazing now…you should use it
Don’t waste your money on things like Proactiv. Did you see the interview of the woman they used in their before/after commercials? Sure she looked good, but before they shot the commercial they did make up for her for 2 hours. 2 hours to make sure her skin looked perfect. If Proactiv works, why did they need 2 hours to make her skin look good?
I have struggled with horrible acne for years and years. Proactiv is the only thing that has worked for me. Nothing else even comes close. It’s not cheap but worth the price for me. But I don’t use the whole kit. I just only the cleanser. Otherwise it’s too much for my skin.
I get an allergies reaction with this products. And they charged my credit card 3 times without my concern. They still send my kits, and my account with them is canceled. Costumer services doesn’t listen, never canceled your membership. I hate them, they only want your credit card number.
Totally agree with the deceptive “installment” payments. I ordered what I thought was a one time kit for 29.95. I was surprised to see my bank account a month later with another debit to Proactiv! I immediately called Proactiv and a snotty representative kept saying, “you signed up for it”. Proactiv needs to state that you’re signing up for installments in LARGE PRINT. How about a box that you must check stating, “I agree to monthly payments?”. That would be better! So after the surprise charge, I told them to cancel my account and that I want a confirmation email. They said, “it’ll take a few days”. A week later, I called them again stating that I never received confirmation that my account was closed. That rep told me my account was still open!!! Finally, she did close my account and I refused the 2nd shipment. Took me filing a BBB complaint before they refunded the money they took from me. Never again will I buy their product on principle.
Avoid Proactiv at all costs.
Seriously harsh chemicals.
I used twice as directed and developed a horrible rash for 10 day on my face, neck and chest. Burning, raised tiny bumps, and my face felt like sand paper. It was awful. It got progressively worse and I had to be treated by a doctor for allergic contact dermatitis. There are hundreds of reports of skin reaction with Proactiv and I urge you to read through them before using this product.
Also, the billing is sketchy. Once you order online you are sent the product and charged every 6 weeks!!! A total ripoff, scam.
Save you face, your money and your time and avoid this nasty product!
Proaktiv is an awful product and a worse company that is a nightmare to deal with. I had exact experience of M above. Had to cancel a credit card account to get them to stop charging us for product that was no longer being shipped. These people are thieves who will actually not cancel your account no matter how hard you try or how entitled you are to do so. The product will bleach your towels, clothes, and bedding if you do not use it impeccably.
i love proactiv so much!!!
i hate this prouduct it suks the sack!
Well, I have not used teh proactiv 3 step kit, but i have used the body
wash on my face and arms because i have embarresing acne all over my arms i have used it 3 times so far and i have already seen a little bit of a difference. so Im hoping that if i keep using it all of my arm acne will disappear by summer so i can wear bikinis again without crossing and hiding my arms.