Finding the right product to eliminate acne can be a challenge. There are thousands of acne products out there from cleansers to pills to even prescription treatments all claiming the exact same thing, to rid your face of unsightly acne. Unfortunately only a small percentage of acne treatments actually work, the rest of the products are just a waste of money. The key to finding the effective products is looking for clinically proven ingredients at optimum dosages. Do your research (the fact that you are on this website is a good sign).

Does Zeno Hot Spot work? We have to give the makers of Zeno Hot Spot props for thinking outside the box, but it is an idea that is too far in left field to consider it as a viable solution to help acne. It is not a pill, soap, or lotion, but a heat-emitting device. The heat emitted from the device purportedly works by killing acne-causing bacteria in the skin. Although Zen Hot Spot claims to be backed by science, there is little in their disclosed studies that impress us as being 100 percent credible.  Zeno Hot Spot’s effectiveness is a big question mark. Customer reviews for the product have been mixed. Let’s take a closer look at Zeno Hot Spot.

Customer Service for Zeno Hot Spot

Customer service for Zeno Hot Spot was above average. We called 3 different times each with a different question and the representatives were helpful and knowledgeable in answering our questions.

Is there a money back guarantee?

When determining whether a product is worth purchasing, we always look for a money back guarantee. Guarantees help give a glimpse of the confidence levels of the manufacturers. We are not saying that Zeno Hot Spot won’t work at all just because it does not have a money back guarantee, but it is puzzling considering the company touts its product as the best thing since sliced bread. If the product is so good why won’t the manufacturers back their product with $$$?

Does Zeno Hot Spot have a warranty?

From the Zeno Hot Spot website:

“Your Zeno® is warranted to be free from defect in material and workmanship for a period of one year under normal use after its original purchase date. This warranty extends only to the original retail purchaser and only when purchased from an authorized Zeno retailer.”

Although we would like to see a guarantee, a warranty is the next best thing.

Is Zeno Hot Spot safe?

There are no side effects associated with Zeno Hot Spot. In customer reviews there is the occasional complaint of dryness or redness.

Price of Zeno Hot Spot

Zeno Hot Spot can be purchased directly off of its website for $40.  Each machine only lasts 80 applications (after the machine automatically turns off).

Is Zeno Hot Spot worth purchasing?

Zeno Hot Spot is not the most expensive product out there but mixed customer reviews and numerous questions surrounding the effectiveness of the product make it a risky purchase. There are much better acne products out there for cheaper or equivalent prices.

If you have tried Zeno Hot Spot, please tell us about your experience in the comment section.

In the acne industry all-natural products are becoming all the rage. It is easy to see why. Harsh chemicals such as benzoyl peroxide often times do more harm than good and are mildly effective at best. An effective natural acne products can make your acne problems a thing of the past (emphasis on effective). The trouble is that 90 percent of the all-natural products are either a. not potent enough or b. are extremely expensive. How does Vita B5 stand?

Vita B5 is a top 10 acne product that is reasonably priced (especially if bought in bulk). It combines the acne fighting super ingredient Vita B5 with a few other great ingredients to form an amazing product. Well done Vita B5 (anyone who regularly reads our website know that we don’t say that much). Let’s take a closer look at Vita B5.

How is Vita B5 Customer Service?

Customer service for Vita B5 has both a phone number and email. We called four different times during the day (9 am, 1 pm,  5 pm, 9 pm). Each time with the exception of the 9 pm they were prompt to answer our calls and answer any questions. Their email service was also very good. We wrote 4 different emails that varied from questions about the product to our placed orders. They responded within 24 hours to each of our inquiries minus the email we sent on Friday. Overall-9/10

Ingredients in Vita B5

Ingredients in Vita B5:

• vitamin B5
• vitamin C
• vitamin E
• biotin
• chromium picolinate
• lactobacillus acidophillus
• acai
• mangosteen
• DMAE
• alpha lipoic acid

Obviously the main ingredient is Vitamin B5. Vitamin B5 (along with tea tree oil, hyaluronic acid, and alove vera) is one of the better all-natural ingredients on the market. The underlying cause of the majority of acne is excess sebum. Numerous clinical studies have shown that Vitamin B5 significantly decreases the body’s production of sebum.  The other ingredients are great side kicks (although none of them compare to the effectiveness of Vitamin B5).

Side Effects of Vita B5

As you can see above, Vita B5 contains only all-natural ingredients and will not cause any side effects.

How much is Vita B5?

A bottle of Vita B5 can be purchased directly from their website for $50.

Considering their bulk discounts and guarantee we recommend purchasing it in bulk. If you buy 2  Vita B5 kits, you get one free. If you purchase 3 kits, you will get 2 additional kits for free (this will save $20 per kit). Each Vita B5 purchase comes with a tube of Anti-Acne Serum.

One of the best features about Vita B5 is their money back guarantee. There is no fine print or mysterious charges just an old-fashioned guarantee (if you don’t like their product, they’ll refund your money with no questions asked).

Is Vita B5 worth purchasing?

Absolutely. Vita B5 is a top 10 acne product that is reasonably priced (especially if bought in bulk). It combines the acne fighting super ingredient Vita B5 with a few other great ingredients to form an amazing product. Well done Vita B5 (anyone who regularly reads our website know that we don’t say that much).

If you have taken Vita B5 in the past, please tell us about your experience.

The Skin Medica Acne System is the latest 3 step acne product (ala Proactiv) to hit the market. Our take-The Skin Medica Acne System is an above average collection of acne products but not nearly worth the $100 asking price. Let’s take a closer look at the Skin Medica Acne System.

What’s in the Skin Medica Acne System?

There are 3 products in the Skin Medica System: A Purifying Toner, Purifying Foam Wash, and Acne Treatment Lotion.

Ingredients in the Acne Treatment Lotion:

• benzoyl peroxide 2.5%
• Allantoin
• Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer
• Bisabolol
• Butylene Glycol
• Butylparaben
• C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
• Ethylparaben
• Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
• Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
• Isobutylparaben
• Methylparaben
• Pentylene Glycol
• Phenoxyethanol
• Polyacrylate-13
• Polyisobutene
• Polysorbate 20
• Propylparaben
• Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract
• Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract
• Tetrasodium EDTA
• Water/Aqua/Eau
• Xanthan Gum

Synopsis of Acne Treatment Lotion-A mediocre benzoyl-peroxide based acne product. Don’t expect much but dry skin. 6/10.

Ingredients in the Purifying Foam Wash:

• Salicylic Acid 2.0%
• Allantoin
• Butylene Glycol
• Cinnamomum Camphora (Camphor) Bark Oil
• Cocamidopropylamine Oxide
• Disodium EDTA
• Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Bark/Leaf/Twig Extract
• Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil
• Menthol
• Methylisothiazolinone
• Panthenol
• Polysorbate 20
• Salix Nigra (Willow) Bark Extract
• Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract
• Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
• Sodium Citrate
• Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate
• Water/Aqua/Eau

Cleanser Synopsis-Above average. The Cleanser contains a good mix of bacteria fighting acne-eliminating ingredients. Overall Grade-8/10

Ingredients in the Purifying Toner:

• Salicylic Acid 2.0%
• Tea Tree Leaf Extract
• Salix Nigra Willow Bark Extract
• Achohol Denat.
• Aminomethyl Propanol
• Blue 1
• Butylene Glycol
• Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
• Isoceteth-20
• Limonene
• Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract
• Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
• Menthonol
• Panthenol
• Willow Bark Extract
• Water
• Yellow 10

Toner Synopsis- By far the best product in the Skin Medica Acne Sytem. Salicylic Acid and Tea Tree Oil are a great 1-2 punch to help rid the skin. Overall grade-8.5/10

Is the Skin Medica Acne System safe?

The Skin Medica Acne System contains benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is a harsh chemical that can help in the fight against acne but will also lead to numerous side effects such as redness, burning, sensitivity to the sun, itching, swelling, dryness of the skin. Be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen while on benzoyl peroxide because you will get burned.

How much is the Skin Medica Acne System?

The Skin Medica Acne System can be purchased directly from the Skin Medica website (the website is secure) for $100. The Skin Medica Acne System are above average products but $100 is a ton of money. There are similar or better products out there for half the money.The Skin Medica Acne System (individual product pricing in parenthesis) consists of a Purifying Foam Wash ($40), Purifying Toner ($34), and Acne Treatment Lotion ($50).

Shipping for the Skin Medica Acne System

There is free shipping on orders over $50. Whoopee!

Is there a money back guarantee?

Skin Medica offers a 30 day guarantee for orders placed on their website. From their website:

“If you are dissatisfied with your purchase for any reason, please feel free to return the product for a refund (excluding shipping and handling charges) within 30 days of the order date on the packing slip.”

30 days isn’t a ton of time to evaluate a product but it is better than nothing. We like guarantees. They show that a company believes in their product and getting your money back for a crappy product is always a plus.

Skin Medica Conclusion

The Skin Medica Acne System is an extremely overpriced system that will help some but is not worth the money.

If you have taken the Skin Medica Acne System, tell us about your experience in the comment section.

Pronexin promises to “make your acne disappear in 72 hours or your money back.” Typical of most acne products, Pronexin is not lacking in confidence. Can it actually deliver or is it just another dud? Let’s take a closer look.

What’s in Pronexin?

We like Pronexin’s formula for three reasons. First, it contains many clinically proven acne fighting all-natural ingredients. Ingredients such as aloe vera, MSM, tea tree oil, and green tea can make a substantial difference in your fight against acne without any of the dreaded side effects. Secondly, Pronexin is water-based. The majority of acne products are either cream or oil-based. Cream and oils sometimes do more harm than good by clogging pores and indirectly causing more acne. Lastly, the ingredients in Pronexin are great for the overall health of your skin. It will not be dry or irritated after application. Overall we give Pronexin’s ingredient formula a 9/10.

• Purified Water
• Organic Aloe Vera (20%)
• Herbal Extract containing White Willow
• Licorice Root
• Calendula
• Comfrey
• Rosemary
• Walnut Shell (exfoliant)
• MSM (Bio Available Sulfur)
• Redmond Clay
• Vegetable Glycerin
• Oat Flour
• Jojoba Oil
• Tea
• Xanthan
• Avocado Oil
• Carbomer
• Tea Tree Oil
• GermAll Plus preservative
• essential oils of Lavender and Bergamot
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Grapefruit seed extract
• Idebenone
• DMAE
• Green Tea Extract
• Grape Seed Extract
• Silk Peptides
• Glucosamine HCL
• Vitamin C (Ascorbyl Palmitate)
• Camelia Oil
• Rose Hip Seed Oil
• Amaranth Oil
• Rosemary Extract
• Vitamin A Retinol Palmitate

Is Pronexin safe?

Like we stated earlier, Pronexin contains all-natural ingredients and is not associated with any side effects.

How much is Pronexin?

The best place to purchase Pronexin is directly from their website (they have a killer guarantee and their site is secure). One 4-month supply of Pronexin can be purchased for $29.99.

They don’t offer any bulk discounts but they do give freebies. For a two bottle purchase, they throw in a 12 Hour Miracle Acne Treatment. A 3 bottle purchase gets you 2 12 Hour Miracle Acne Treatments. 4 bottles earns you 3 freebies. The 12 Hour Miracle Acne Treatment is not really a miracle treatment, but it can be a quick fix for existing acne.

Is there a money back guarantee?

Pronexin comes with a money back guarantee. From their website:

“Curious if Pronexin Works For Everyone? It doesn’t. And the reason why EVERYONE Must Try Pronexin TODAY is because it Works for 98%+ of users and for the other 2% — We Give them 100% of their Money Back INSTANTLY! INCLUDING their Shipping and Handling! — How’s That For Confidence!”

Corny as their marketing is we have to hand it to them, they have confidence in their product. A money back guarantee that refunds even shipping and handling is unheard of. We like it when companies back their belief that their product works financially (we also like getting our money back when a product stinks). Well done Pronexin.

Is Pronexin worth purchasing?

Pronexin is one of the top 10 acne products on the market. The fact that it has such a stellar guarantee and only costs $10 a month makes Pronexin a great pick.

If you have tried Pronexin in the past, please tell us about your experience in the comment section.

Proactiv is by far the most commercialized acne product on the market. Proactiv’s game plan in a nutshell: Create a slightly above average acne product and buy as many celebrity endorsements as possible and advertise the hell out of it. Proactiv’s game plan has worked. It is one of the highest selling acne products on the market. Like we stated earlier, Proactiv does have an above average ingredient profile but there are far superior products out there (that don’t have side effects). The biggest flaw of Proactiv is that it relies to heavily on benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is a harsh chemical that can help with acne but will create side effects and is not healthy for your skin. For more information on Proactiv keep reading.

What’s in Proactiv?

Proactiv was the first well-known acne product to go the 3 product system. There are some benefits to a 3 product system (especially when 2 of the products contain benzoyl peroxide like Proactiv-the third product helps reduces peeling and dryness), but a bunch of companies use 3 product systems as a way of getting more of your money. The 3 products in the Proactiv system are a renewing cleanser, a toner, and a repairing treatment.

Renewing Cleanser

• benzoyl peroxide 2.5%
• water
• magnesium aluminum silicate
• glyceryl stearate
• PEG-100 stearate
• disodium dimethicone copolyol sulfosuccinate
• sorbitol
• dimethyl isosorbide
• polyethylene
• tridecyl stearate
• neopentyl glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate
• tridecyl trimellitate
• cetyl esters
• anthemis nobilis flower extract
• sodium hyaluronate
• sodium PCA
• propylene glycol
• xanthan gum
• imidazolidinyl urea
• methylparaben
• propylparaben
• fragrance (parfum)

Revitalizing Toner

• water
• glycolic acid
• hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) extract
• anthemis nobilis flower extract
• rosa canina fruit extract
• aloe barbadensis leaf juice
• sodium PCA, panthenol
• glycerin
• propylene glycol
• allantoin
• polysorbate-20
• hydroxyethylcellulose
• sodium hydroxide
• benzophenone-4
• tetrasodium EDTA
• methylparaben
• propylparaben
• imidazolidinyl urea
• fragrance (parfum)

Repairing Treatment

• benzoyl peroxide 2.5%
• water
• cyclomethicone
• ethoxydiglycol
• propylene glycol
• glyceryl stearate
• PEG-100 stearate
• cetearyl alcohol
• dimethicone
• panthenol
• allantoin
• carbomer
• ceteareth-20
• xanthan gum
• triethanolamine
• diazolidinyl urea
• methylparaben
• propylparaben
• fragrance (parfum)

Despite relying too heavily on benzoyl-peroxide, Proactiv has some decent products. Overall-7.5/10. Not the best but better than average.

Proactiv Side Effects

Proactiv contains a healthy dose of benzoyl peroxide, a harsh chemical that will cause side effects such as dryness, redness, swelling of the skin, itchiness, and sensitivity to the sun. Be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen while taking Proactiv because you will get burned.

Cost of Proactiv

The best place to purchase Proactiv is directly from their website.The basic Proactiv system can be purchased for $20. They also offer different packages for oil skins and teens that cost $30. When you purchase one of the Proactiv systems you are automatically enrolled in an auto-ship program. It is just the typical autoship program, your credit card gets billed every month for a shipment of products.

Is there a money back guarantee?

The Proactiv products come with a 60 day money back guarantee.

Is Proactiv worth purchasing?

Proactiv’s main ingredient is benzoyl peroxide, which is an outdated harsh ingredient that almost does more harm than good. Considering the many effective all-natural ingredients on the market, buying a benzoyl peroxide-based product does not make much sense. Proactiv is above average but not worth purchasing.

If you have taken Proactiv in the past, tell us about your experience in the comment section.

The Murad Acne Kit promises to “get you clear in 4 weeks. Guaranteed.” Although the Murad website is full of big promises and claims, the Murad Acne Kit is just your average acne product. Take the labels off their products and you would confuse them with the generic brand at your local grocery store. For further analysis of the Murad Acne Kit, keep reading.

Products in the Murad Acne Kit:

The Murad Acne Kit consists of  a Cleanser, Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel, and Skin Perfecting Lotion

What’s in the Murad Acne Kit?

There are three products in the Murad Acne Kit:

• Cleanser
• Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel
• Skin Perfecting Lotion

Ingredients in the Cleanser:

• Water (Aqua)
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine
• Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
• Methyl Gluceth-20
• PPG-26-Buteth-26
• PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
• Butylene Glycol
• Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
• Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
• Triclosan
• Menthol
• PEG-150 Distearate
• Tetrasodium EDTA
• Methylparaben
• Limonene
• Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Leaf Oil
• Cymbopogon Nardus (Citronella) Oil
• Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil
• Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil
• Lavandula Hybrida Oil
• Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil
• Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil

Don’t be blown away by all the scientific-sounding ingredients. The Cleanser is decent but it is no different than your generic cleanser you could purchase for $15 at the local grocery store.  Overall, we would give the Cleanser a 6.5/10.

Ingredients in Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel:

• Water (Aqua)
• Alcohol Denat.
• Glycolic Acid
• Butylene Glycol
• Methyl Gluceth-10
• PPG-5-Ceteth-20
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Rice Amino Acids
• Lysine Lauroyl Methionate
• Zinc Aspartate
• Chitosan Ascorbate
• Retinol
• Polysorbate 20
• Arnica Montana Flower Extract
• Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
• Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract
• Triclosan
• Lecithin
• Tocopherol
• Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
• Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
• Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin/Glycerin Crosspolymer
• Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract
• Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
• Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water
• Zinc Acetate
• Linoleic Acid
• Sodium Hydroxide
• Hydroxyethylcellulose
• Tetrasodium EDTA

The Glycolic and Salicylic acids are a nice touch and should help decrease breakouts. The gel is above average but nothing to write home about. Overall we would give it an 8.5/10.

Ingredients in the Skin Perfecting Lotion:

• Water (Aqua)
• Dicaprylyl Maleate
• C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
• Butylene Glycol
• Glycerin
• Sorbitan Stearate
• Squalane
• Stearic Acid
• Retinol
• Caprylic
• Arnica Montana Flower Extract
• Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
• Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin
• Grape Seed Extract
• Camellia Sinensis Leaf
• Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Protein
• Hydrolyzed Soy Flour
• Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract
• Honey Extract (Mel)
• Cetearyl Alcohol
• Ceteareth-20
• Talc
• C9-15 Fluoroalcohol Phosphate
• Glycolipids

The lotion gets some points for being oil-free. Other than that it differs little from the competition. Overall grade-7/10.

Price of Murad Acne Kit

The best place to purchase the kit is directly from the Murad website. A one month supply will set you back $30.  No bulk discounts are available. There is free shipping on orders over $50.

Is there a money back guarantee?

Each kit comes with a 60 day money back guarantee. We like guarantees, it shows that a company believes in their products.

Is the Murad Acne Kit worth purchasing?

Overall we give the Murad Acne Kit a 7.5/10. The acne gel is slightly above average, but the lotion and cleanser are generic at best. The Murad Acne Kit may be able to decrease acne to a limited extent but don’t

If you have tried the Murad Acne Kit in the past, please tell us about experience in the comment section.

Finding the right product to eliminate acne can be a challenge. There are thousands of acne products out there from cleansers to pills to even prescription treatments all claiming the exact same thing, to rid your face of unsightly acne. Unfortunately only a small percentage of acne treatments actually work, the rest of the products are just a waste of money. The key to finding the effective products is looking for clinically proven ingredients at optimum dosages. Do your research (the fact that you are on this website is a good sign).

The MutiVitamin Acne Gel is an example of a company that has obviously done their research. It contains a great ingredient profile and to top it off, the Multivitamin Acne Gel is reasonably priced with a solid money back guarantee.Let’s take a closer look at the Multivitamin Acne Gel.

What’s in the Multivitamin Acne Gel?

• Tea Tree Oil
• Vitamin B5
• Aloe Vera
• Resveratol
• Vitamin B3
• Vitamin C
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B7
• Zinc

Overall, the Multi Vitamin Acne Gel has an above average ingredient profile. The Multivitamin Acne Gel contains a potent combination of clinically proven ingredients such as tea tree oil, aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B5. Clinical studies have proven that tea tree oil is just as effective as benzoyl peroxide without the side effects. Aloe vera and hyaluronic acid are great at healing and invigorating the skin. Vitamin B5 has been shown to eliminate excess oil from the skin.

Multivitamin Acne Gel Side Effects

Typical of most all-natural acne products, there are no side effects associated with the Multivitamin Acne Gel.

Cost of the Multivitamin Acne Gel

The best place to purchase the Multivitamin Acne Gel is directly from their website (their website is secure). A two month bottle of Multivitamin Acne Gel will set you back $29.99. $15 per month for an above average acne product is a bargain.

For bulk orders, the Multivitamin Acne Gel throws in freebies. For two bottles purchase, you get a free tube of an “On the Spot Acne Treatment”. For a three bottle purchase,  you get two “On the Spot Acne Treatments.”

Is there a money back guarantee?

Guarantees show that a company believes in their product. Every acne company is full of claims and promises but only a few will back that up financially. The Multivitamin Acne Gel comes with a solid 90 day money back guarantee.  There are no terms and conditions.

Is the Multivitamin Acne Gel worth purchasing?

The Multivitamin Acne Gel is a great pick especially for fifteen bucks a month. Its combination of high quality ingredients such as tea tree oil, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B5 make Multivitamin Acne Gel one of the top 10 acne products on the market. Their money back guarantee does not hurt either.

If you have taken the Multivitamin Acne Gel in the past, please tell us about your experience in the comment section.

Exposed Skin Care is the latest acne system to hit the market. Does it work?

Let’s take a closer look.

What’s in Exposed Skin Care?

The Exposed Skin Care system contains a bevy of acne ingredients. Some are good, some are bad. The list includes:

• benzoyl peroxide-can mildly help acne but it will cause side effects and drying of the skin
• hyaluronic acid-can help the healing process
• tea tree oil-best ingredient in the sytem, can make a difference
• azelaic acid-meh. Not going to do much for you.

The overall synopsis of the different Exposed Skin Care products is that they are decent but nothing special. They all are lacking key ingredients.

Is Exposed Skin Care safe?

The Exposed Skin Care System contains benzoyl peroxide. It is a harsh chemical that will lead to side effects such as redness, swelling, dryness and irritation of the skin, peeling, and sensitivity to the sun. Be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen with Exposed Skin Care because you will get burned.

How much is Exposed Skin Care?

Exposed Skin Care can be purchased directly from their website (their website is secure).  There are three Exposed Skin Care purchasing options:

• 60 Day 6 Piece Expanded Kit-$70 (or $60 if you sign up for a membership). The kit includes a facial cleanser, a clearing tonic, acne treatment serum, clear pore serum, and moisture complex plus a cloth and a small clarifying mask.
• 60 Day 5 Piece Basic Kit-$60 ($50 if you sign up for a membership). Includes a facial cleanser, clearing tonic, acne treatment serum, and clear pore serum, along with a derm cloth. The only difference between the two systems is the moisture complex (probably not worth the extra $10)
• 30 Day 4 Piece Exposed Trial Kit-$25 (you must enroll for membership). Includes the facial cleanser, clearing tonic, acne treatment serum, and clear pore serum.

For what you get, Exposed Skin Care is on the expensive side of things.

Should you become an Exposed Skin Care member? What is positive about becoming a member is that you get $10 off of the purchase, what’s bad is that you get stuck in their auto-ship program with your credit card getting billed every two months for another delivery of goods.

Is there a money back guarantee?

From the Exposed Skin Care website:

“Exposed comes with the best guarantee in the industry. Simply use every drop of our revolutionary system. If you do not achieve a reduction of your acne and smoother skin, you may return your first kit to us WITHIN 1 YEAR OF YOUR PURCHASE for a full refund (minus shipping costs). How can we make this incredible guarantee? We know our product works!”

Pretty solid guarantee. We like the simplicity of the guarantee and the lengthy time they let you try the product. Money back guarantees are great because they can help discern whether a company believes in their product or not and we like to get our money back if a product does not work.

Is Exposed Skin Care worth purchasing?

Average and expensive. Not a great combination. We do not recommend the Exposed Skin Care System.

If you have taken the Exposed Skin Care system in the past, please tell us about your experience in the comment section.

Finding the right product to eliminate acne can be a challenge. There are thousands of acne products out there from cleansers to pills to even prescription treatments all claiming the exact same thing, to rid your face of unsightly acne. Unfortunately only a small percentage of acne treatments actually work, the rest of the products are just a waste of money. The key to finding the effective products is looking for clinically proven ingredients at optimum dosages. Do your research (the fact that you are on this website is a good sign).

Epiduo is a prescription acne treatment. It is the first acne product to combine adapalene and benzoyl peroxide (we are not in love with either ingredient). Let’s take a closer look at Epiduo.

What’s in Epiduo?

Epiduo contains 2 ingredients:

Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5 percent-Benzoyl peroxide has been around for years. There have been several clinical studies conducted on benzoyl peroxide. It can help kill some of the acne-causing bacteria on the face by causing the skin to peel and dry. The verdict-Benzoyl peroxide can be mildly effective with acne but it is a harsh chemical that can cause side effects and is detrimental to the health of your skin.

Whenever we see benzoyl-peroxide based products it reminds us of someone that is still listing to music with audio-cassettes. With all of the advances in acne ingredient technology, benzoyl peroxide is outdated. An all-natural ingredient such as tea tree oil can deliver all of the benefits of benzoyl peroxide but without the side effects.

Adapalene. Adapalene works similarly to Vitamin A. It purportedly helps prevent pores from clogging. Clogged pores create blackheads and pimples. Adapalene’s effectiveness is mild. It may be able to a certain extent, but expecting anything substantial is probably unrealistic.

Is Epiduo safe?

From the Epiduo website:

“The most common adverse events associated with use of Epiduo^® Gel are redness, scaling, dryness, stinging and burning. In addition, you may also experience contact dermatitis and/or skin irritation. These side effects typically resolve during the first four weeks of treatment, but speak to your doctor if they persist. You should avoid excessive exposure to sunlight and sunlamps while using Epiduo^® Gel, and using sunscreen products and protective clothing is recommended. Do not use irritating topical products that contain resorcinol, salicylic acid or sulfur when using Epiduo^® Gel.”

Benzoyl peroxide and adapalene are both harsh chemicals that are detrimental to the health of the skin.

How much is Epiduo?

Typical of all prescription acne treatments, Epiduo is expensive.  Not only is the actual product expensive but Epiduo requires regular trips to the doctor, which can help. Some insurance plans can help deflect some of the costs.

Beware of Epiduo on the internet. The counterfeit business is alive and well.

Is Epiduo worth purchasing?

Epiduo may be able to help with acne but it has a high price tag and comes with side effects. Considering the more effective/just as effective cheaper all-natural alternatives, we’ll take a pass on Epiduo.

If you have taken Epiduo in the past, please tell us about your experience in the comment section.

We know that we are natural skeptics but we believe in giving every company a fair shake. The following review of Dermology Acne Solution may sound extremely negative for acne treatments but that is what our thorough examination and research revealed. Dermology is an example of a company that is more concerned with getting your credit card numbers than helping you eliminate acne. It is like an apple that when you take the first bite you notice that worms have infested the whole fruit. Its website appears professional but the rest is downhill from there. Case in point-Everything from the lack of disclosure to the purported coupon (see below) to the deceivingly advertised “guarantee.”

Let’s take a closer look at Dermology Solution.

Ingredients in Dermology Acne Solution-A Complete Mystery

#1 Rule of Acne Product Shopping-Never buy an acne product unless it contains optimal dosages of clinically proven ingredients. All acne products make big claims. Unfortunately most acne products don’t work. The key in separating the good products from the bad is looking for scientific backing such as clinical trials or studies.

Does Dermology Acne Solution have clinically proven ingredients? There is no way of knowing. Dermology does not disclose one ingredient on its website. We can’t be sure why Dermology would do such a thing. One thing is clear when acne companies have great ingredient profiles backed by science they tend to disclose that to the public so people will buy their product. The fact that Dermology leaves their ingredient profile a mystery is not a good sign.

How much is Dermology Acne Cream?

Dermology Acne Solution can be purchased directly from their website (their website is secure). A two month supply of the cream will set you back $89. Although this is very expensive, they hope to bait customers with a mail-in coupon that covers the entire $89.  Unless you read the fine print associated with an asterisk for their great deal it appears like you will only be responsible for the five bucks of shipping, but that is not the case. Here is the fine print:

“*Terms: If you are not completely satisfied for any reason when you receive your product, you can return it for a refund. Starting 60 days from your order date, you can request unlimited refills (no auto ship) every 30-days and pay only $14.97 s/p. For coupon eligibility, simply collect four refills & complete coupon form. You’re that much closer to health & beauty.”

If we are reading this correctly to be eligible for the coupon, you must collect four refills (purchase 4 additional shipments) to be eligible for the $90 coupon.

Is there a money back guarantee?

It is one thing to not have a money back guarantee. It is another to advertise a guarantee that you don’t have. Dermology boasts of a guarantee but read the following excerpt from the terms and conditions and see if this shows any confidence.

• You should return the item to us within 90 days of your purchase date.
• There is a $10.00 restocking fee for each unopened item ($5 if item was less than $20).
• We do not accept items back that have been opened or used. Opened Items are Non Refundable.
• Shipping and Handling Fees are Non Refundable.

The biggest issue is that there is no returns on opened products (there also is a $10 restocking fee). What good is a guarantee if you can’t return opened products?

Dermology Acne Solution Conclusion

Dermology Acne Solution may be the worst acne product we have ever reviewed. We would not get near it with a ten foot pole. Full of shady terms and promises, the Dermology Acne Solution is not worth purchasing.

If you have tried Dermology Acne Solution in the past, please tell us about your experience.