How to Stop Using Proactive
Proactiv advertises itself as the "miracle cure" for acne, but many people have tried it without satisfaction. As is the case with many medical ailments, one acne treatment isn't going to work for everyone. The active chemical in Proactiv is benzyl peroxide, and there is as much as 2.5 percent in Proactiv products. Benzyl peroxide can dry out skin, especially when used in combination with other washes, and as often as the Proactiv literature suggests. Skin that's too dry encourages more acne. If Proactiv has let you down, you need to stop using it. Think about turning to a more natural, nourishing system.
Instructions
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Cleanse
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1
Use a natural soap to cleanse your face. The main ingredient in this type of soap is usually a vegetable oil, like olive or carrot. Popular examples are Burt's Bees complexion soap or awildsoapbar.com's olive oil soap. You can buy natural soaps in almost any drugstore and online.
Don't rub or scrub, just clean with your fingers or a soft washcloth in a circular motion for 1 or 2 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with water. Do this morning and night. -
2
Make a paste using 1/8 tsp of baking soda and a couple drops of water, until the baking soda is moistened but not runny. This is your new exfoliation system. Apply to face in a circular motion, but don't be harsh. The baking soda will do all the work. Do this morning and night.
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3
Once a day only, apply the Proactiv repairing lotion to pimples only. This is just for the short period. Once pimples clear, the baking soda solution and clay mask should keep them under control.
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4
At night, apply a clay mask to pimples only. This will dry them out, and get rid of them.
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Tips & Warnings
This is a natural solution for people with mild acne. If you have moderate to severe acne, see a dermatologist. If you need to use prescribed topical or oral acne treatments, you can probably still use this natural cleansing system before you apply prescribed medications. Talk with your dermatologist. The baking soda's main purpose is to eliminate candida bacteria in the skin. For many people, candida bacteria is the root cause of acne. Check the labels on everything you use and buy. If you're looking for a natural soap and it has ingredients you can't pronounce, don't buy it.
Do a test on a small patch of skin before cleansing your entire face to make sure that nothing in this natural cleansing system will irritate your skin. Remember that prescriptions usually treat your blemishes, not the root cause of acne. They are usually not long-term solutions. Learn everything you can about possible side effects before using prescribed acne treatments and discuss them with your doctor.
