I never had acne until I was in my late 20s and early 30s. I couldn't believe how bad my skin was getting so I was willing to try anything. Enter actually calling an infomercial about proactive and ordering the product. I was excited to see that they weren't kidding. I saw my skin clearing up in less then a week. Even my huge problem areas were clearing up and my skin was smoother then it had been in years! I was so excited I was telling everyone about how awesome Proactiv was. Then my skin started to really dry out. To the point of almost being flaky even when I used their green tea lotion. I learned that this does really work well, but it works best when used in moderation. Now I use my regular facewash for the most part and reserve proactiv for the once a month or so that I get acne flare ups or when I feel I need a really deep clean. Side Effects At first I thought this was the greatest product ever. My skin felt cleaner, it almost glowed and my acne was going away. But then I realized it was really stripping my skin. If you use all the steps and are washing your face more then once a day, your skin will likely become too dry for continuous use of these products, even with the lotions. Immediacy I saw improved skin within a week of using this product.

Jenjlg

USA

I originally purchased Proactiv Renewing Cleanser for my teenager at her request. It was definitely more money than I had ever spent on skin care for her but she was starting to get breakouts and I thought that if it worked well for her it was worth it. I am in my 30's and still occasionally get a zit or two so I figured we could both benefit from it. I found that it was definitely to harsh for my sensitive and mature skin. It may have been something that my skin would adjust to but it wasn't so amazing that I felt it was worth trying to find out. As for the teenager I think it would have probably been more effective if she had actually used it twice a day every day but for my 13 year old at least that wasn't happening. As a result I think that the Proactiv was good on her skin, but possibly not much better than what I had been buying for her at the drugstore previously. To be fair she also didn't have really bad acne. If she had maybe we have noticed a bigger difference and maybe she would have been motivated to use it more consistently. She did tell me that her skin tingled a bit after using it but she never experienced dry, red patches like I did. I also never felt like it really increased her sun sensitivity, although we are always VERY careful about using sunscreen so maybe that is why.

mariecarey

USA

Proactiv Renewing Cleanser was apart of the first over the counter acne treatments I ever used. I used this product for months without any results. My skin even got worse during this time period. My skin got bright red and shiny. My face would look fresh after rubbing the cleanser on my face, but within 15 minutes my face would be completely dry. As the day went on my face would get extremely oily to the point people would ask me if I was hot. People thought I was actually sweating because of the amount of oil on my face. I was using the SPF lotion that came with it and my skin was still oily. I stuck with this system for 4 months and never achieved clear skin. What I come to realize years later after trial and error is that my skin was too sensitive for the micro-beads in the cleanser. Any type of cleanser with beads aggravates my sensitive skin. I definitely wouldn't recommend the Proactiv Renewing Cleanser to any one with sensitive skin.

kingoftheink

Westchester, IL

Dealing with this company first of all was more frustration than worth. I had purchased their line for a trial and decided to pay for an extra month to see if it improved. I did end up having to call to end my subscription however l was charged for two additional months worth of product which l never recieved. The product itself appeared to do nothing. Their instant spot treatment was the only part of the product line which did anything. This cleaner only made my skin dry and broke out more. I was better off without ever having used it to begin with. It also left my face with a potent and unappealing smell. They tell you that it takes a full month to notice a change, however after two months of using this, I can tell you, their statement is false. I had absolutly no improvement. I never had horrible acne but would get an occasional breakout once a month or if l was stressed. I will be finding a better face wash and less false promises. I would recommend anyone else avoid this product and save your money.

Sunshinesoldier

USA

I have always had an issue with acne breakouts. I like to call myself a connoisseur of facial washes and treatments because I've tried so many in order to help with my flare ups. My aunt actually showed me the proactive solution and I said why not. Upon first application of Proactive renewing cleanser I noticed it had a gritty texture to it and smelled kind of chemical like. After about three weeks of using it I was noticing a slight decrease in my acne breakouts however I was still having the occasional flare up. My skin was also becoming very dry itchy and flaky. I was even using the lotion that it came with but it seemed to not work at all. My skin was becoming less red from that acne but it was becoming more shiny and tight looking from being so dry. I eventually stopped using the proactive renewing cleanser because I was just not happy with the results I was getting.

OliviaShap

USA

This expensive face wash hardly did anything for my skin. If it were nit so expensive I wouldn't feel the way I do. I advise anyone thinking about purchasing this product to go anywhere else and find a better option. This product got rid of some acne but didn't work well. Effectiveness Got rid of some acne after a few days. Whiteheads were reduced but blackheads were not touched. Unlike what the advertisements make you believe, you will not have a clear face overnight. Ease of Application If you follow the directions the product is easy to put on. Convenience This product doesn't work and is hard to find unless you are at the mall, online, or a commercial for proactiv happens to air. Side Effects I didn't have any side wffects, although, I don't have sensitive skin and rarely have allergic reactions. Immediacy The immediacy was horrible because the results that I was looking for never really came. It took a few days to get rid of whiteheads but other blemishes stayed until they healed by themselves.

Twylight22

USA

I like this stuff and still use it but I certainly cannot use this everyday. I switch between this cleaner and another brand every couple of days because my face can't handle this daily. I notice an improvement while using it, but a miracle, it is not. My husband on the hand (who does not have sensitive skin) uses this every day and his face has cleared up sooo much. I suppose this product may work well for you, just be careful if you have dry or sensitive skin. Effectiveness I don't have horrible acne but I certainly don't have clear skin (I am 37). I have very dry and sensitive skin and this stuff is just too harsh for my face to be used on a daily basis. I noticed a change for the better (not as much as I had hoped) but I can't use it regularly enough to maintain. Ease of Application Easy to use. My only complaint is the "grittiness" of the product, which has a nice exfoliating effect, makes it hard to use around your eye area, I wash my face with this in the shower and have to avoid my eyes when using this product. Side Effects This is harsh when used on a daily basis for my dry and sensitive skin.

ella1mom

USA

I got horrible acne at around age 13. My mom suffers from adult acne and she used ProActiv so she bought me some. This cleanser smelled TERRIBLE and I didn't like it's consistency. That was 6 or 7 years ago, before they reformulated their system. I tried it again at about 16 years old and I didn't really see much difference. It didn't make my face feel clean, and it really irritated my skin. Both trials with Proactiv went about the same, it improved my skin at a small degree for about a week, then it totally plateaued. Proactiv is a very strenuous, expensive product for basically no results. It wasn't very much product at all either, and it didn't spread very well so a lot was necessary. I would use two bottles of the cleanser for one of everything else. The only Proactiv product worth using is their green tea moisturizer! Not to mention how horrible Proactiv's customer service is and how hard it is to cancel a subscription!

ShilaGraham

USA

I have suffered from acne since I was 13 years old. I am now 39 and sad to say, I still have problems with acne and breakouts. I have tried literally every over the counter face wash and acne solution out there. They either flat out did not work, or they dried out my skin or irritated it. A few years ago, while watching tv one night, I saw a proactive commercial and decided why not? Maybe this will be the one to work for me. And if not, what do I have to lose? So the next day, I called and placed an order for their small three piece kit which came with the cleanser, toner, and repair lotion as well as the refining mask. I dutifully used it morning and night, following the process precisely. And using the refining mask three nights a week. Miracle of miracles, within the first few days I began noticing and improvement. My skin for the first time in my life began to look normal. Within a month my skin looked clear and healthy with no blemishes to be seen. Although it did dry my skin out some, as I have sensitive skin, that was easily remedied by using a thick night moisturizer at night, and a lighter one during the day. I could not be happier since I made the decision to purchase this product and I consistently purchase it every month. I do not know what I would do without my Proactiv. This was a life saver. Especially at my age, when it is quite embarrassing to be still struggling with acne. Thank you to the makers of this wonderful product!

selenep

USA

I used this product all through high school and really loved it. I never had a lot of acne but this product did a great job at cleansing my skin and keeping my pores clear. I used it every day after I removed my makeup and it was not too harsh on my skin like other products I had used. It did not dry out my skin and leave it flakey which was great. I would recommend this product for daily use to keep you skin clear and clean. Effectiveness This product did a great job at removing all the grime and dirt from my skin after a long day at school. It made my skin feel refreshed and clean and left it feeling silky smooth. I never had bad acne but this product did a great job at keeping my skin feeling and looking great. Ease of Application This product is so easy to use. Just apply, scrub and rinse. Convenience This product is just as convenient as any other scrub or cleanser. You cannot use it anywhere because you obviously need a sink to rinse your face off but it is still a great product. Side Effects I had no side effects with this product. Immediacy Worked great and fast.

lmitch224

USA