Proactiv+

Far from being merely a problem for adolescents, an estimated 50 million American adults deal with breakouts every year, making acne treatment a $1.2 billion industry.

Proactiv+ is a daily treatment for mild to moderate acne designed to fight the signs of breakouts with prescription-strength ingredients that go directly into your pores for deeper cleansing powers.

Since the company’s start in 1995, Proactiv claims to have helped more than 20 million people with their skin problems and has become the #1 acne brand in America.

The Proactiv+ line consists of three products—an exfoliator, a pore targeting treatment, and a hydrator—that work together to clear up hormonal breakouts and adult acne for men and women.

This product line is not recommended for anyone with severe cystic or nodular acne.

How does Proactiv+ compare to other acne treatments? Should you commit to using it long-term? Learn from our analysis what your best path forward should be.

How to Use Proactiv+

With the Proactiv+ product line, Proactiv claims to have combined the principles of Combination Therapy with “Smart Target” technology to send acne-fighting medication to your pores for healthier skin and fewer blemishes.

This technology purportedly delivers active ingredients directly into your pores to reduce the potential for dryness and irritation.

Proactiv+ is a three-step system designed to be used twice per day in the morning and evening. For each session, you will complete the following steps:

1. Apply a coin-sized dollop of the Skin Smoothing Exfoliator to dampened skin, massaging it with a circular motion for two minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat until dry.

2. Apply at least two pumps of Pore Targeting Treatment to your clean, dry skin and gently smooth it over your face, allowing it to absorb fully. Don’t wash it off!

3. Apply at least a coin-sized amount of the Complexion Perfecting Hydrator to your dry skin, gently smoothing it over your face until it fully absorbs. You can apply more over the day as needed.

Proactiv+ is designed for long-term use. You might experience a two to four-week adjustment period as your skin gets used to the products’ active ingredients, during which you may find that your skin is dry, red, or irritated.

Note that Proactiv+ doesn’t claim to cure acne and that the company states your blemishes may return when you stop using the product line.

Analysis of Ingredients

Proactiv+’s three products include dozens of ingredients each, but the company only lists two active ingredients between the two of them: Benzoyl peroxide (2.5%) and salicylic acid (0.5%).

Benzoyl peroxide is a standard treatment option for mild to moderate acne. It works to kill bacteria and remove dead skin cells from your pores so that your skin stops getting inflamed and overproducing oil.

Though it’s considered safe for most people, benzoyl peroxide can produce side effects like skin irritation, excessive dryness, and itchiness or flakiness. Those with sunburns or naturally sensitive skin are most likely to react negatively.

Regarding concentration, a study from 1986 found that a 2.5% concentration of benzoyl peroxide was as effective as a 5% or 10% concentration and was less likely to cause harmful side effects than those concentrations. Another study from 2013 verifies these findings.

Salicylic acid is another common acne treatment. Like benzoyl peroxide, it works to unplug blocked pores so that dirt and oil are dislodged and your pimples shrink. It tends to work best for whiteheads and blackheads, rather than the pus-filled pimples that benzoyl peroxide targets.

As salicylic acid is milder than benzoyl peroxide, concentrations vary in prescription products from between 0.5 and 5%. Both salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide target different types of acne, so Proactiv+ combines them for a full spectrum treatment.

Are there any Proactiv+ ingredients to worry about? Below are some compounds that have potential risk factors, as reported by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) database.

• Ceteareth-20: This synthetic compound acts as an emulsifier and a surfactant in personal care products. Though considered safe for topical use, it shouldn’t be used with on damaged skin because you risk absorbing it into your bloodstream and possibly triggering organ damage or general irritation.

• Sodium polyacrylate: This chemical polymer is often added to products for its absorbency powers. It’s considered toxic if swallowed and can irritate the eyes on contact. Some people also experience skin irritation when using it topically.

• Potassium hydroxide: Also known as lye, this inorganic material is highly caustic and is used both in soapmaking and as a thickening agent. Too much exposure can lead to skin and eye irritation, and it may be fatal if swallowed in pure form.

• Sodium hydroxide: Like potassium hydroxide, this compound has strong corrosive qualities and can cause skin and eye irritation if you are overexposed to it.

• Phenoxyethanol: This common cosmetic preservative is linked to skin irritation ranging from eczema and hives to life-threatening allergic reactions.

• Kojic acid: Made from multiple types of fungi, kojic acid is often used topically and is considered safe at concentrations under 1%. Some people experience skin redness and irritation even at this concentration.

There’s also evidence that its longterm use can make you more susceptible to sunburns, which is part of the reason why Proactiv recommends that you always apply sunscreen when using its products.

Key Takeaways

Because of how potent these compounds are, especially when combined, many people experience dryness and irritation for the first few weeks of use. You might want to start with smaller amounts and gradually work up to the recommended doses if your skin reacts badly.

Pricing and Kits

On the company website, Proactiv+’s pricing ranges depending on which kit you purchase:

You can also choose one bonus gift to be included in your order:

• Gel Head Brush Set: cushioned skin polisher that exfoliates while removing makeup, dirt, oil, and other impurities.

• Oil Control Kit: T-zone oil absorber that makes your pores smaller and provides up to eight hours of shine-free skin. It also includes an Amazonian clay mask.

• Deluxe Brush Kit: Cleansing brush with three different brush heads to remove dirt, makeup, oil, bacteria, and other impurities.

You can then decide whether you will receive standard-sized 30-day-supply products or larger-sized 90-day supply bottles for three times the price.

Each purchase automatically signs you up for a subscription. Approximately every twelve weeks, you will receive a new 90-day supply of Proactiv+ products (the larger-sized products) for the same purchase price as your first order, plus $2.99-$3.99 for shipping. This 90-day payment is broken down into three monthly payments.

You can adjust how often you receive new Proactiv+ kits through your online account from every four weeks to every 20 weeks. This is also where you can pause or cancel your subscription at any time.

All Proactiv+ orders qualify for a 60-day money-back guarantee. Even empty bottles qualify for this return. To initiate a return, you can place the merchandise back in a box with an original invoice and send it to Proactiv, 6390 Commerce Court, Groveport, OH 43125.

Your money will be refunded, minus shipping costs. If you need further help, contact Proactiv+ customer care at (800) 309-4796.

Analysis of Customer Reviews

More than 30 HighYa readers have left reviews for Proactiv+, and they average 2.7 stars overall. Here are some of the most common comments.

Common Compliments:

• Effective for long-term acne reduction
• Clears up acne problems quickly
• Led to smoother, clearer skin
• Worked better for many than traditional Proactiv products

Common Complaints:

• Bad customer service experiences (difficulties canceling subscription accounts)
• Many customers didn’t realize they were signing up for a subscription
• Too harsh for long term use
• Some users developed cystic acne after using Proactiv+

Proactiv+ vs. Popular Alternatives

For those shopping around for a multi-step acne treatment kit, it pays to look at other options, including the original Proactiv line as well as two bestselling brands on Amazon.

What’s interesting about this comparison is that it shows that each of these product lines contains the same primary active ingredient—benzoyl peroxide at 2.5% concentration.

This makes sense, as we stated earlier that this compound is commonly used in acne medications and that a 2.5% concentration is considered the right ratio for skin benefits without causing excessive irritation.

Seeing this similar ingredients list, it becomes less clear why Proactiv+ costs more. In fact, you will pay almost five times more for a 60-day supply of Proactiv+ (without a subscription) than if you purchased the Clear Zit Acne Treatment Kit from Amazon, which contains the same ratio of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.

Maybe the brand recognition and the extra ingredients in Proactiv make this higher pricing worth it, but there’s a good chance you might achieve similar results from a far cheaper product.

The Bottom Line

The Proactiv product line has been an acne-fighting leader for decades, and Proactiv+ builds on that legacy with powerful ingredients that are clinically proven to combat mild to moderate acne.

This kit works both to prevent and clear up existing acne, and it’s formulated to be mild enough for daily use. However, this means you might need to commit to using it long term if you want to maintain any results you achieve.

Proactiv+ is a premium brand, and it has pricing to match. You can find far cheaper alternatives available, many of which should work almost identically since they contain the same active ingredients.

Overall, we think that Proactiv+ is one viable option out of many for addressing your skin outbreaks. Just keep in mind that you might need to invest in prescription-strength products if you deal with cystic acne or other severe cases.