My experience with Benzoyl Peroxide is that it normally IS powerful yet non-irritating. I use it on the skin around my eyes when plucking my eyebrows so the area I plucked won’t get red and irritated. I also use it for cuts and scrapes, and especially if I bite my tongue or get a canker sore on or in my mouth – there’s nothing more relieving than Peroxide for that.

But the question is, does it work for acne?

The answer is, yes, it does work for most people if you follow the directions and stick to the regimen every day until your acne clears out. For some, it’s a bit too harsh and drying on the skin.

The way to know is to test it on a small spot on your leg first. If the skin swells or turns red, your skin reacts to it and you should not use it, especially on your face. If your leg is fine, it will probably be fine on your face.

Here’s one user’s experience:

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

  TRIED EVERYTHING BEFORE – Saw results in 2 days, September 6, 2006
By Tough Cookie “Megster”

When I was in my teens I had minimal acne. My life has been pretty stressful for someone in her mid 20’s and a few years back I noticed that my blemishes were getting considerably worse.

I have been to Dermatologists, have pills, have retin A, and have tried numerous organic methods, and even cut dairy, spicy food, and excessive sugars from my diet. Short lived results that didn’t last. Even Proactive didn’t work!! (never went on Accutane, afraid of the side effects)

I have only been using this system for a short while and would assume that, like any other acne product if it works then it will clear up your face initially and you will see more blemishes come (as your skin clears out all of the gunk) before you see the light at the end of the tunnel.

(Before using Acne Free) My skin was honestly in pain. I had a terrible (pre that time of the month break out) and had used some random harsh whatever to exfoliate the top layer. I think I fried it and my entire face was falling off. I wanted to hide in the house for the entire week and didn’t want anyone to see me.

I can say that despite the sensitivity of my skin at the time when I purchased the product (peel city) this product was a GODSEND!! Three days later I was almost out of their “7 day sample” Yea… I used more than I should have I guess. And found myself back buying the full sized version. I also bought their scar healer, and their Acne/Blackhead Terminator. (But would strongly suggest just sticking to the basics until you know whether or not the product works for you).

I had about 30 blemishes that were all annoyingly painful 30% cystic 70% annoying, after a week they had all reduced in size by about 80-100%, and I went from having about 33 blemishes on my face to 15 with slight red dots where the other 50% of the original blemishes were. Would probably have less than that but I was BAAAD and picked ( Someone slap me please!!

The previous week (when I had the horrible skin week) I had only gone to visit one friend. He was SHOCKED to see me three days later and asked “what the heck did you use on your skin@$!?”

NOTE: I have been using “HUGGIES” NON SCENTED BABY WIPES TO REMOVE MAKEUP PRIOR TO USING THE ACNE FREE 3 STEP CLEANSING SYSTEM. WHEN I STOPPED USING THESE TO REMOVE MAKEUP FOR A FEW DAYS MY “FRIENDS” CAME BACK A LITTLE BIT.

ALSO FELL ASLEEP WITH MAKEUP ON ONE NIGHT… NOT A GOOD IDEA!! STICK TO USING THIS MORNING AND NIGHT. IF YOU CAN GO WITHOUT MAKEUP FOR A WHILE TRY THAT TOO. (Editor’s Note: That’s why we recommend organic Mineral Makeup – it won’t clog your pores or hurt your skin in any way, even if you sleep in it!)

**Honestly it seems to be hit or miss from the reviews I read. I will update this review in a month or so to let you all know of the progress.

I did have several cystic and normal blemishes pop up in places where they had not been before but zapped them with the Acne & Blackhead Terminator and the Repair lotion and they went away in 2-3 days. One – I was bad and squeezed and it will probably take longer to heal but what’s a week for one when I had 33 last week??? I will take 50% improvement any day. Hopefully soon it will be 90-100% improvement!!

So the big “friend” and the other little guys are still healing (normally it would take weeks and then new friends just keep appearing so relief can be few and far between).

Overall skin tone (and I’m a picker so it was pretty red to start) has improved 200% from what it was before. Still doesn’t look amazing but I could see how over time it will get better. The first few days of use I noticed that my entire face was a bit red, but I was in less pain and really didn’t care. This week it is less red than last and also less painful.

I ordered the Zeno ($225), a hand held medical (non prescription) device, to zap the little buggers that pop up from time to time. Apparently there are statistics that support this device and it gets plenty or raving reviews. I can feel a blemish coming on and a friend of mine said that worked really well if you caught it at an early stage so we will see what happens!!

I also am considering picking up the Clarisonic ($195) brush that you can use with your cleanser. The one that comes with it isn’t very good (from what people say) and the nice thing about using “Acne Free” instead of proactive (other than cost, and the fact that proactive didn’t work for me) is that the cleanser doesn’t have granules. So… if you want to use a brush like the Clarisonic then you’re not smudging around granules and moving dirt from one pore to another.

I am planning on letting what is on my face clear up over the next few weeks before I used the Clarisonic brush. But am excited to be able to try something like it.

If you’re not sure if you’re allergic to benzol peroxide test the product on the back of your arm or leg before you use it. If you swell up that’s a good sign that your body isn’t crazy about it.

“the clear skin” suggestions I have seen on the net call for a mild cleanser, a 2.5% benzol peroxide cream, and a mild non clogging moisturizer. Funny that Acne Free has 2.25% benzo in the face wash, 3.7% in the toner, and 2.25% in their “time released” moisturizer. Seems to not be too far off from what some other people claim to work. If your face is too red work up to using the toner two times per day. Start out just at night.

Personally I didn’t care about the red, but if you’re using something like this — use common sense and don’t go lay in the sun (or a tanning bed) for hours, and don’t mix in too many other products or prescriptions. It says not to on the labels!!

Good luck to you all!! I only gave this product a 4 out of 5 stars because I haven’t been using it long enough to give it the full 5 that I think it could deserve. My dermatologis would consider my case “adult/young adult acne” probably caused by stress. I will update this review to let you know how things work out.

Initial post: Oct 27, 2006 3:02 PM PDT

Suzy-K says:

Thanks for such a personal testimony….it was really fun to read—hope you soon have no “friends” at all!:)