Full Review: Mary Kay Clear Proof® Acne System
Not one person has ever looked at me and said, "Wow Miranda, you have such perfect skin". No matter what I did, I always had acne. Granted, it wasn't as bad as many peoples. I never had the full cheek covered acne that follows people as scars into adulthood. And for that, I am grateful.
I'm 25 and still get break outs. And when I get breakouts, they come in evil, red clusters, or I get 2 giant planets that have their own gravitational pull.
I was really excited when I got the survey and prayed that I would have the opportunity to try this product. I've never heard of it before, but I was never in the market for a new face wash so it doesn't surprise me. I used the St. Ives Apricot Scrub for years and never really thought about trying anything new.
I used Proactiv in high school but sadly had to stop when my mother could no longer afford the $60 a month it cost.
Once I received this brown box in the mail containing what I hoped would be the Miracle Cure-All of all my problems, I opened it and just stared at it with stars in my eyes.
Day 1: It stinks. I wasn't expecting an explosion of flowers in my bathroom, but I wasn't expecting this. It smells like what you would expect acne medicine full of chemicals to smell like.
Day 4: The redness of my preexisting pimples went down a lot and they tiny little pimples I got where already starting to find a new home somewhere far away from my face so I was getting really excited. I did all the steps twice a day. Once before work, and then again at night before bed. The lotion takes some getting used to. I am used to thick face cream (Ponds) and this was like thick milk. It goes on liquidy and makes you extremely shiny so I only recommend wearing it in the home.
Day 10: My face is clear! Hallelujah! No red bumps or anything. I looked in the mirror one day and just smiled at how clear my face was! Only downside, was it made my face so dry I was ashy on my chin area. I was so dry, my face looked like I had baby powder on. The sides of my nostrils so so itchy, I had actual gone meth-head and started rubbing/itching/scratching until I was raw. To combat this, I went down to using the system once a day, but applied my normal Ponds cream in the morning, and then used the Clear Proof moisturizer overnight. In a few days, I was no longer itchy.
Day 20: One little change. I had one planet sized pimple and a few orbiting moons. I was desperate to get it gone. I over did it with the small tube of the spot treatment gel. I applied it excessively and within 3 days, it was no longer a planet :)
Day 25: I'm dry again. The cold weather is't helping. So I changed it up. I used the gel cleanser daily and the toner every other day while moisturizing daily. All is well again.
Day 30: Working in a new position for a major .com website during the upcoming Black Friday and other holidays certainly brought on stress zits, which are never friendly. Being partnered with my period breakouts caused a full on battle but ONLY on my left cheek with one little straggler on my forehead. Bring it on hormones! I'm going full force to make sure I clear up.
Final review: I really wish it was within my budget to purchase this monthly. $45 is just too hard right now. How does it compare to my St. Ives Apricot Scrub? The Clear Proof system definitely has it's perks but I noticed I went through the same patterns of clear face, break out, clear skin, break out as I did with other products. Only perk was this system made my face clearer for longer and my skin was MUCH softer. I actually don't think I ever had skin this soft in a very long time.
I would totally buy it again if it was cheaper. I have a Mary Kay girl at work so I might see what she can do. Overall great product. I don't see it working for extreme cases but I will definitely keep it on hand for those pesky cluster breakouts. The little spot treatment gel is AMAZING.
*** I got this product for free for testing and review purposes***
