Overview
Proactiv has become one of the most successful acne products available, mainly due to its aggressive infomercial advertising campaigns, which feature such popular celebrities as Jessica Simpson, Vanessa Williams, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Sean Puffy Combs. While these endorsements are impressed, they don’t necessarily translate into the most effective product for acne. So putting our personal fascination with stars aside, the scientific team at ClearSkinReviews.com decided to look further to see if Proactiv is a good product for those with acne.

Featured Ingredients
Proactiv features a simple three-step system that consists of three formulas that consumers will use every day. We like this simple approach, since we tend to be skeptical of companies that offer dozens of products, many of which contain the same ingredients and can seriously confuse a potential customer. So Proactiv gets marks for their simple approach. But we were left wanting more, especially after viewing a full listing of the ingredients contained in the Proactiv Renewing Cleanser, Revitalizing Toner and Repairing Lotion. 

Unfortunately, the only active anti-ingredient found in Proactiv is Benzoyl Peroxide, which is usually found in retail products like Oxy and Clearasil. These products sell for about $6 a tube in the stores, while Proactiv is priced at $59 and above. Given the fact that two of the formulas rely solely on Benzoyl Peroxide, we are skeptical whether paying that much money is worth it.

Benzoyl Peroxide was first used in the 1920s as a peeling agent. Doctors found it to be effective for acne because it seemed to remove dead cells from the skin’s surface. Unfortunately, this stripping effect also tended to dry out the skin. Some studies estimate that as many as 76% of people may develop adverse itching and drying reactions to Benzoyl Peroxide, which has led to the development of more recent ingredients (such as Salicylic Acid, Silicol Dioxide and Inflacin), which offer the same kind of acne clearing effectiveness without as many side effects. 

Web Site at a Glance
The Proactiv web site continues to be one of the best we have reviewed. The system is explained in detail and a full listing of the product ingredients is included. There are plenty of testimonials from pleased customers, and Proactiv does offer a free trial so that customers can use the product before deciding to pay full price.

Pros
- Free trial available

- Customer testimonials are included on the web site

- Full ingredient list is posted

Cons
- Relies on Benzoyl Peroxide as only active anti-acne ingredient

- Price is high considering lack of advanced compounds

- No scientific studies on its effectiveness

Summary
Even though the Proactiv site contains a lot of useful features and information, and the celebrity endorsements are impressive, we are not convinced that this product is worth its relatively high price. Considering that the main ingredient is Benzoyl Peroxide, we feel there are better choices.

Overview
Oxy, like Stridex and Clearasil, has been one of the leading acne treatments in retail stores for several decades. Recently, the company changed the focus of its marketing campaigns. Most of Oxy’s efforts seem to be geared towards male teenagers with acne, as reflected in its hip new packaging and interactive web site. But it takes more than bells and whistles to impress us at ClearSkinReviews.com. We look for the best results and whether a product clears acne effectively. That’s why we decided to look further into this top-selling formula.

Featured Ingredients
Like other products in the market, Oxy offers a wide range of cleansers, spot treatments and other types of acne treatment formulas. While we prefer companies that offer one simple three-step system for most consumers, we understand that companies like to maximize profits by offering a number of different choices.  Essentially, Oxy products will contain either Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic Acid. While we remain convinced about Salicylic Acid’s established effectiveness for acne, we have our doubts about Benzoyl Peroxide. This anti-acne drug was developed in the 1920s as a peeling agent. It was found to be effective for acne because studies showed that it removed dead cells from the skin’s surface. Because of this, it also clears pores and helps treat acne. Unfortunately, Benzoyl Peroxide also dries out the skin and researchers estimate that as many as 76% of people may develop adverse itching and drying reactions to this chemical.

Fortunately, a few Oxy products contain Salicylic Acid, which is one of the best acne-treating ingredients available. It clears pores and eliminates many types of blemishes. It also encourages the natural skin cell replacement process. Scientists have found that the best treatments contain Salicylic Acid at its maximum strength concentration of 2.0%, which will treat even the most stubborn forms of acne. 

Web Site at a Glance
As mentioned earlier, Oxy now has a new web site featuring video clips and young actors depicting male teenagers with acne. It has a separate web site for mothers, which actually contains more information about the Oxy product itself than the interactive site. Even though the web sites are entertaining, they lack some of the essential components we look for in an effective product, including testimonials, a free trial offer and scientific research on the ingredients.

Pros
- Some products do contain Salicylic Acid

- Entertaining web site

Cons
- Does not fully disclose all ingredients

- No free trial offered; no customer testimonials

- Lack of scientific research on ingredients

Summary
Even though some Oxy products claim to control oil products, we are not sure if any Oxy product contains Silicol Dioxide, one of the best ingredients for this purpose. In fact, it was difficult to find out any other ingredients besides Benzoyl Peroxide or Salicylic Acid. While Salicylic Acid is a beneficial ingredient, we have found that the best acne products also contain Silicol Dioxide, Inflacin and QuSomes for maximum effect.

Overview
AcneFree has become a popular acne treatment formula. Like many acne products, AcneFree consists of three formulas used as a system: Purifying Cleanser, Renewing Toner and Repairing Lotion. The company has taken efforts to claim how it is superior to Proactiv and other leading products. Specifically, the company that produces AcneFree claims that the formula can clear acne in three days or less. They also emphasize the formula’s supposed 24-hour release technology. Based on these strong claims, the team at ClearSkinReviews.com decided to give this product a closer look.

Featured Ingredients
Unfortunately, AcneFree does not reveal all of the active ingredients contained within the three formulas that are included in its system. Most consumers will not be sure what the Cleanser, Toner or Lotion contain until they purchase the product, which could be problematic. Our team was able to determine that AcneFree does contain at least one active compound, Benzoyl Peroxide. This anti-acne drug was developed in the 1920s as a peeling agent. It was found to be effective for acne by helping remove dead skin cells from the surface. Because of its harsh effects, it also clears pores. Unfortunately, Benzoyl Peroxide is slowly becoming phased out, due to the fact that some researchers estimate that as many as 76% of people may develop adverse itching and drying reactions to Benzoyl Peroxide.

Unfortunately, no further information about the ingredients are included. Even though AcneFree is supposed to contain a unique 24 hour release system, no information is given about this system, what it contains or scientific research about its effectiveness. 

Web Site at a Glance
The AcneFree web site does contain some important features. There are plenty of testimonials from customers, even though we would like to also see pictures to verify that these testimonials come from actual people. In addition, AcneFree contains a published study that compares this formula to ProActiv, which is a convincing piece of scientific research. Even though AcneFree does offer a one-week free trial of the system, we discovered that this free trial contains small samples sizes of the product, not a full size version.

Pros
- One-week free trial offer (sample size)

- Plenty of customer testimonials

Cons
- Contains Benzoyl Peroxide, which has a high rate of drying and irritation effects

- No details given about its 24 hour release technology

- Does not contain Salicylic Acid, Silicol Dioxide or other known anti-acne ingredients

- Free trial products are smaller than normal size

Summary
Even though we are intrigued by AcneFree’s 24 hour release technology, the staff at ClearSkinReviews.com cannot verify its effectiveness. Plus, given the fact that no other details about ingredients are included on the web site, we can only be sure that AcneFree contains Benzoyl Peroxide, which means that this product probably only works for a few people, and may cause dryness. We simply think there are better choices available.

Overview
Neutrogena first gained famed for its extensive line of acne treatment products. Today, Neutrogena offers more than 35 such formulas, including spot treatments, cleansers, facial masks, soaps and more. In fact, at first glance many consumers may feel overwhelmed by the number of product choices and not be able to find the one that is right for them. Although we prefer companies that present a handful of products, and thus spend their time making sure that their acne formulas perform as promised, we did not want to judge Neutrogena until we looked closer at its formulas.

Featured Ingredients
Fortunately, Neutrogena products avoid using Benzoyl Peroxide, which is quickly becoming replaced as an acne treatment medication. The company does a good job of presenting some of the problems with using Benzoyl Peroxide, including excessive drying and possible oxidation (which can lead to long-term damage of the skin). In addition, many (but not all) Neutrogena products include Salicylic Acid, which is one of the most effective acne treatment ingredients available. Even though we would prefer to see it in more of its products, and although some Neutrogena products contain less than the optimum 2.0% concentration, at least the company had the wisdom to include this effective ingredient in some of its formulas.

The focus of many Neutrogena’s products is on its patented MicroClear technology, which is supposed to far outperform Benzoyl Peroxide and other typical acne treatment ingredients. The company does make a convincing case, using clinical data to back up the claims that MicroClear does seem to have a profound effect on acne. Even though the research is impressive, Neutrogena does not reveal the actual ingredients included within the MicroClear combination, making us wonder what they are trying to hide. In addition, this prevents us from conducting independent research on the individual ingredients to verify their effects. 

In addition, Neutrogena does not include other known acne fighting ingredients, such as QuSomes, Silicol Dioxide or Inflacin. For a full description of these powerful ingredients, as well as a listing of what products include them, use the search feature on this site.

Web Site at a Glance
The web site for Neutrogena is extensive, almost to the point that the average consumer may have difficulty finding the correct information necessary to select the right acne product among the more than 35 offered. The company does have an online questionnaire, which will help guide most visitors to select the correct products, but it may not be easy to find and may take some time to fill out and get an answer back.

Pros
- Some products do include Salicylic Acid

- MicroClear technology does seem to have scientific support

Cons
- Does not include Silicol Dioxide, Inflacin or QuSomes

- No free trial is offered

- Lack of customer testimonials

Summary
In the crowded world of acne fighting treatments, Neutrogena does seem like one of the more effective treatments available. But due to the large number of products available, and the lack of some other known anti-acne ingredients, we cannot yet fully endorse these formulas.