wow lots of wonderful food for thought. So the bleaching of the peroxide is not necessarily a bad thing then for my skin...... hmmm..... still not crazy about it- like a few of you mentioned I really want to use the "less is more" approach. I used to LOVE the Body Shop's teatree oil face wash but they changed their formula and now it bothers my skin. I do use pure tea tree oil for breakouts and it is quite effective....

perhaps I'll try a natural health store.... I just HATE paying an arm and a leg for something that might not agree with my skin or might not work..'

i have no idea where this all leaves me... lol....

oh i did not know they had various skin types- well it only makes sense- i have just never looked i suppose. I am also HUGE on smell- if i don't like the way it smells i won't use it and i really like the way clinique smells... good to know

When I complained to my dermatologist, he told me not to use anything except mild soap and water on my face and everything else was a waste of money. Well, I do use the Clinique Acne Soap instead of the ivory he suggested, but I never use a toner. In the winter I have to use a very light moisturizer because my skin gets so dry, but in the summer I don't use anything but the soap and water. After 25 years this method is all that works for me and I still have occasional problems.

Have you tried the shopping channel in Canada? They have a 60 day money back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.

Hi highly recommend Jennifer Flavin Stallones Serious Skin Care line. Her acne line called Continuous Clear is amazing.
Serious Skin Care Continuously Clear for Acne Beauty Products at HSN.com

I use the Glycolic cleanser on a regular basis and if I have breakouts I will use the acne line for a few days.

That is where I got the Proactive from. I'm not going to send the proactive back- i'm still not completely sure how I feel about it. However, with the other products they have- I know zero about them- not even the names- i have no idea where i'd start. I think i'm going to give Clinique a go- see if i can get a sample size of it.

I've always wanted to try the Clinique line. Let me know how it goes.

Sign up at Makeupalley - Street Smart Beauty - Homepage and check out the product review section, there are thousands of reviews on just about every product, before I buy something I usually check it out first on that site first.
Also, all BP products well bleach your clothing, Proactiv is milder then most because it contains only 2% BP, rather then the 5% you see in a lot of other products. Also, if you want to stay away from BP, I recommend a 1% or 2% salicylic acid ( BHA ) Exfoliants: Paula's Choice Skin Care & Cosmetics Paula's Choice has one of the best, it has tons of positive reviews as well. I've been using the 2% BHA for quite some time a few times a week and it's one of the best out there IMHO. Good luck!!:)

i think its definitely worth a try if your not happy with what your currently using. You can talk to the ladies at the counter and they can help you figure out what exactly you need. I use the acne soap but not the acne toner. I've used the toner (cleansing lotion 3 for oily skin) for years now along with the soap. I've also used the acne spot treatment with success. I don't like their moisturizers though. I've tried the yellow one that always comes in the gift sets and the one that comes in a green bottle. they are too oily for my skin.

My dermatologist told me to always use a moisturizer with SPF of at least 30. I've used Oil of Olay Complete All Day UV Moisturizer for combination/oily skin and the one for sensitive skin for years with out issue. never made my skin more oily then usual or made me break out. I just bought Neutrogena Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer SPF 50 with Helioplex. I like this one a lot. very light, much lighter then the Oil of Olay. no breakouts from this either.

my sister uses the same Clinique products too with great success. And we both use Bare Minerals make-up. This make up is the best! doesn't cause breakouts, very light, great cover-up, foundation has SPF 15, and lasts a long time.

I'm using the Murad system. I have mixed results. I am a middle aged grease pit, or at least that's how I feel. I've tried Proactiv and wasn't crazy about it. I noticed it was bleaching my eyebrows when using the entire system. The murad is good, but I still have break throughs with it. You can get it online or at Sephora.

I highly recommend the Paula's Choice link that someone above mentioned. She is the one who reviews all of the cosmetics lines and their ingredients; she carries her own products.

They are very detailed as to which line of hers would benefit mostly normal skin with mild breakouts.

Good Luck.

Hey!
I went to a dermo and got a 2 creams, one is clindomycin and the other is differin. My dermo told me to wash and use moisturizer everyday with SPF made by Olay. Not oil of Olay, but their oil free line called Olay. I use the deep cleansing clothes 2x a day and the moisturizer 2x a day. Plus I use the Clindomycin cream from the dermo 2x a day and the differin cream once at night. My skin looks decent, not awesome, but it sounds like I had a bigger problem than you have. Just the differin might work for you. It is a prescription though. At a minimum, use the Olay products, my dermo highly recommends them!

Again, my daughter has seen awesome results from the Neutrogena ID program.... Personalized Acne Treatment Solutions ? Neutrogena Skin iD

It also has benzoyl peroxide in it so can stain your pillowcase but I think it's way better than Proactive. There's an introductory offer plus you can google for a $10 off coupon. If it doesn't give you the results you want, it can be returned. I know some people aren't viligent about returning stuff if they don't like it but we were determined to do just that if it didn't work. She is SO much happier with her complexion now.

Whatever you decide.... good luck!

:thumbup::thumbup:

I use Burts Bees Orange Essence face cleaner - Orange & Olive oil combo

I occasionally use a scrub - either Burts Citus Facial Scrub, or St Ives Apricot

Never a toner

Once a month Dr. Hauschka clay mask to remove impurities...

I used to be an Estherderm FREAK, facials, etc. trying to get my skin in good shape. I don't recall where... but I read somethere that super cleansing removes too much oil, therefore your glands over produce oil to recover, exaserbating (sp?) the problem and creating all kinds of breakouts. If you cleanse with oil you don't deplete the oils in your skin so your glands don't feel the need to produce more oil... then you achieve balance...... oooooooommmmmm ....LOL.... at least it worked for me :D

If it's an acne treatment, I've probably used it at some point in time. I know you're not crazy about using Proactiv, but seriously, it's the only thing that has worked for me. I used Clinique for years with okay results (and I still believe in their products), but in the winter my very oily skin would get so dry it would crack! This was the first winter I used Proactiv, and my skin was beautiful. No blemishes, and it felt hydrated without being oily. I ran out of the Proactiv and haven't ordered my next supply, so I bought Acne Free in the store (they claim they are better than Proactiv). I really regret buying it. The cleanser is giving me more breakouts than I've had in years (since I was a teen) and my skin feels greasy enough to cook fries with. I'm going to the kiosk in the mall tonight to get Proactiv because I can't take it anymore and don't want to wait for shipping time.

I think I have to try Bare Minerals makeup!