Acne Treatment Reviews of Popular Products

The following are my acne treatment reviews of popular products that work for many and contain FDA approved ingredients proven to work.

With so many acne skin care products advertised today, it can be hard to know which ones to try and what to believe. All of these products have impressive before and after pictures and each claim to be the best. On this page I wanted to help you determine the facts from the hype.

In my acne treatment reviews I have included some basic information and personal information on the acne treatment products I have personal experience. I will add more acne product reviews as I learn about them so check back periodically.

Max Clarity™ - This is one of the latest acne products on the market today. It is similar to other popular acne fighting programs and uses a low dose of benzoyl peroxide in its cleanser and repair formula. One thing that is different with the Max Clarity formula is that it incorporates salicylic acid into the toner. This ingredient helps unclogg pores and is great for oily skin.

Advantages: The combination of salicyclic acid and benzoyl peroxide can be much more effective than using either of these ingredients alone. The foam does seem to sink into the skin and is extremely effective. I had cystic acne on my chin for months which cleared completely in 2 weeks with this foam.

Drawbacks: The foam can be difficult to handle and make take a little getting used to. Use a very small amount of the foam and rub it in thoroughly. Avoid getting the foam in your hair to avoid bleaching from the benzoyl peroxide. It can also leave your skin a little dry and you may want to follow your morning routine with an oil-free moisturizer with sunscreen before applying makeup.

Proactive® – Many people are wary of the product because of the enormous media hype, but I can assure you this is a quality product. I have used it for years with much success. I have also used some competitors products sold in drug stores and there are some differences.

The repairing lotion is the key to this product. It contains 2.5% benzoyl peroxide which is just enough to do the job but not enough to cause the redness, irritation and peeling that most benzoyl peroxide products cause. Read the labels on most drug store products and you probably won’t find any with less than 5%. I also loved their toner which is soothing but not drying or irritating. Their mask is great for a spot treatment that can make pimples disappear overnight and they have a convenient travel size for the 3 step program which is great, especially for airline travel.

There are a few copycat products in drugstores but the ones that can actually compete are usually just as expensive. Proactive’s prices have come down in recent years and they usually offer free shipping and other bonus products. You are not locked into the auto ship program either. You can always put your account on hold when you have enough product, customize shipment timing, order individual products only or cancel altogether. I have dealt with this company for years and never had a problem.

Advantages: Low percentage of benzoyl peroxide allows you to use it morning and night with little to no irritation. Continual, everyday use for long periods of time is key to keeping acne under control. Works extremely well and leaves your skin in good enough condition to use makeup. Great for non-inflammatory acne and mild to moderate acne.

Drawbacks: Despite the impressive before and after picture, it is not likely to be enough for severe cystic or nodular acne. I have used it with this type of acne and found I still needed prescription medications as well. You can get great results with a combination approach, but if you acne is severe, see a dermatologist before permanent scarring results.

Zenmed® – This company is popular on the Internet and has a large product line of excellent products. They have a nice website, excellent customer support and I have not had any troubles dealing with this company. Their product line deals with acne, rosacea, acne scars and anti-aging. I have used many of their products for all of these skin conditions and found the products to be excellent. I love the Renewing Serum which is excellent for the price and the rosacea products are soothing and have a wonderful smell.

Here’s what I found with the Zenmed acne product line:

Herbs: They have included herbal capsules with herbs thought to have anti-inflammatory properties, assist the liver in detoxifying the body and boost the immune system to promote healthier skin. One of the main ingredients is Chaste Tree (Vitex) which is an herb that has a long history of use balancing female hormones.

This herb is commonly used for women with acne, particularly premenstrual acne and many women have had great success. I have used Chaste Tree for acne and found it very helpful but herbs work slowly and it takes about 4 months before you see the full effect, so don't give up.

Derma Cleanse acne gel: This contains 2% Salicylic Acid which is a very common ingredient in acne medications. I liked using this gel at night because it left my skin very soft in the morning, but I found the gel a little too thick to use during the day under makeup.

Overall their products are very good. They do not contain benzoyl peroxide so if you are avoiding that product, you don’t have to worry. This is worth a try for mild to moderate acne but not likely strong enough for severe acne, although their products can be used in conjunction with many traditional acne medications.

Clear Pores®This acne system is similar to Zenmed’s in that they include herbal and topical products to address the underlying causes of acne. They have two basic products: one for facial acne and one for body acne. Both are based on 2% Salicylic Acid and not benzoyl peroxide. That is nice for back acne because you don’t have to worry about bleaching your favorite clothes. Their product line only focuses on acne and they have a good track record of success. If your acne is not too severe, you may want to give this a try since they have an excellent 6 month money back guarantee.

Murad Acne Complex®: This system is based on the research by Dr Howard Murad who is a well known dermatologist that has created many skin care products. His system’s key ingredient is Salicylic Acid and the system is based on soothing the skin and preventing further inflammation and does not contain any benzoyl peroxide.

Along with a low concentration of salicylic acid, his acne products include sulfur, retinol, glycolic acid and other hydrating agents, anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants. His system works for many types of skin conditions including Rosacea, Eczema and Folliculitis, as well as acne.

He has a starter kit you can try that has a 60 day guarantee. This is a reputable company with a phone support and this system is particularly good for mild acne and stubborn adult acne.

Exposed Skincare® came into the acne scene in 2002 and was created by dermatologist, chemists and skincare specialists looking for a better acne fighting product. While I haven’t tried this yet, I did research their products and ingredients and it is impressive. Like Murad, this is another excellent product that fights acne, inflammation and aging in one system. They do use Benzoyl peroxide in the daytime formula but include botanicals that fight free radicals and premature aging while soothing the skin to prevent redness and irritation.

This is a great product for those with inflammatory acne or sensitive skin. The hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, moisturizers and anti-inflammatory ingredients makes this an excellent choice for adults with acne, particularly older people who are starting to show signs of aging and women who get acne during menopause.

There are many products for acne today and I will add acne treatment reviews as I learn more about them and have a chance to give them a try.

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