I have struggled with rosacea/acne since I was 11 yo. I finally decided a few months ago to try proactiv. It was great for the first 10 days, and then after that the breakouts started again. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it

As with most people, I was convinced by the infomercials. I decided to try it out, at the time I was breaking out from stress and I needed a solution. This only seemed to make my acne worse! However, I have very sensitive skin- perhaps the product was too strong for me. It made my skin drier and I actually had more pimples than before I gave it a try. I regret paying what I paid for it, and actually found an acne solution that was much cheaper and more effective.

I can only speak for myself, but this product broke me out even more. I went from having acne every once in awhile to a bad break out at least once to twice a month. I tried it for a year and followed all of the instructions. I called and inquired and they suggested I use the maximum strength. I said no thank you and please stop my future orders.

I really wanted this to work, but was very disappointed.

It worked great for my friend and older sister, who both had terrible acne. My acne was never that bad, but the proactiv didn't help at all. It actually seemed to make it worse! My skin was oily in the morning and dry at night. Not recommended unless you have terrible acne.

I purchased this about three years ago after seeing a friend get good results from using it. It works, I hadn't been following an acne skin care regime at the time. I've tried many other products since and Proactiv doesn't work any better/worse than a lot of other less expensive generic brands. After using two full kits of Proactiv, I switch to other products. I currently use just a salicylic acid cleanser, an oil-free moisturiser day and night, and a 5% benzoyl peroxide solution on my face at night.

Pros: easy-to-use 3 step system, smells pleasant (except for the mask), lasts longer than the two month supply it's supposed to be

Cons: Relatively pricey, refining mask smells awful!!!, benzoyl peroxide will bleach certain clothes/bedsheets.

I found this commentary from the Derm Blog to be particularly enlightening about Proactiv and why it works:

"Do you use Proactiv®? [...] Proactiv was developed by two dermatologists; its success lies not in the actual product but in the way they have you use it.

It is an absolute truth that almost any acne treatment works and almost every acne treatment fails. It depends on one thing: Do you actually use it?

The active ingredients in Proactiv are the antibacterial benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid, a mild acid that helps skin exfoliate. These ingredients are available in generic forms at drugstores and supermarkets throughout America.

“You can get the same amount of benzoyl peroxide at a drugstore at a fraction of the cost and it will work as well, provided that you use it,” said Dr. Hilary E. Baldwin, the vice chairwoman of the dermatology department at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn.

So why do people buy Proactiv for $40 when they can do the same thing for $4? [...]

Proactiv encourages you to be, well, proactive about your acne. By dividing the treatment into a three step process, it helps teens (and adults) stay on the program. The creators of Proactiv understand that the key to treating acne is you must treat the acne; if you don’t use your products everyday, then they won’t work. This is surprisingly hard to do."

Bottom line? If you don't care about cost and you've got moderate acne; sure, go for it. Otherwise, go for the less expensive generic drugstore brands that contain benzoyl peroxide. They work just as well, you just need to make sure you're using it consistently.

I agree with the others that have posted - it works differently for different people. I know a few people who love it.

I personally bought the 3-piece starter kit which came with a free sample of the face mask. Initially it did clear up my skin but after about a month my acne actually started to get worse. I eventually stopped using the product because it was too rough on my skin. My skin became really dry and my acne became worse. This product was not for me. Unfortunately by the time I figured out that it didn't work it was past the 60-day money back policy, maybe into the 3rd or 4th month. I would've liked my money back but I also didn't push it.

I would suggest trying it if you're going through cleansers because I know it does work for some people. Getting a cleanser, toner and lotion for that price isn't too bad. I think you just have to give it a try and see if it works for you.

I gave this a try hoping it would work, it works at first then it stops.
Depending on your skin it might work for you, it worked for my friend fine and her face was gorgeous though she only used it a couple of times!

This is a funny product. I find it works differently for everyone. If you have sensitive skin, stay away! The cleanser has these exfoliating beads, which can be too harsh for sensitive skin and everyday use. My sister uses it, and it works wonders for her. For me, I found it too irritating and it made my skin red and itchy. I really think this is one of those products that only works well for some people, and for others it is too harsh. It is also quite expensive. I don't think it is worth it.

Like any acne treatment, this one is hit or miss depending on your skin type. I used it religiously in college (along with the rest of my friends), and it worked great. Once I went on birth control, I didn't need it anymore and went off of it. When I went off birth control, I started with it again, and it broke my face out into a terrible rash. Just little itchy bumps all over my face. As soon as I quit using ProActiv, the rash went away. So it's definitely worth a try, but always be careful when it comes to your skin. I sent it back (I ordered it off the website), and they gave me a full refund within a few weeks. The money back guarantee is great.