Our Product Review - Acne Treatments

Brand Name: The Green Beaver Company
Product Name: Facial Cleanser - with Aloe and purifying grapefruit
Cost: $14.99 for 120 ml
Where did we get it? Where have we seen it?: Health Food Store
Tester: Patti's teenaged son
Rating (out of 5): 3.5
Comments: This product states that its natural antibacterial citrus extract makes it ideal for acne-prone skin. My son used this often (he is a teenage boy after all and not so great on consistency). He reported that it was OK and came out smoothly and provided a gentle cleansing. This cleanser was used in combination with 2 other products. It has a pleasing price point for a product with such "clean" ingredients and it is notable to mention that it does not contain - parabens, fragrances, petrolatum propylene glycol, alcohol or mineral oil.

Brand Name: The Green Beaver Company
Product Name: Grapefruit Bamboo Facial Scrub
Cost: $16.99 for 60 ml
Where did we get it? Where have we seen it?: Health Food Store
Tester: Patti's teenaged son
Rating (out of 5): 3.5
Comments: This product compliments the facial cleanser - it provides the "scrub factor" that is necessary for exfoliating the dead skin away so it does not get clogged with the oil in the pores. It is gentle enough but remember not to scrub too hard as it can irritate skin. My son has sensitive skin and while treating the pimples with some tough love the sensitive skin around gets irritated. He needed a gentler approach.

Brand Name: The Green Beaver Company
Product Name: Blemish Mousse
Cost: $11.99 for 50 ml
Where did we get it? Where have we seen it?: Health Food Store
Tester: Patti's teenaged son
Rating (out of 5): 4.0
Comments: The aim of this product is that after cleansing you apply this mousse to sit on the skin throughout the day to provide some antibacterial protection and nourishment for acne prone skin. It does vanish on application - but my son reported his skin felt a bit tight after applying. For a teenage boy not use to using any products in their daily routine, this was a bit much to ask for him to use consistently. This product is a companion product to the 2 above Green Beaver cleaners. A good line with clean products and a reasonable price.

Brand Name: Spectro Jel
Product Name: Skin Cleanser - Combination Skin
Cost: $13.99 for 500 ml
Where did we get it? Where have we seen it?: Drug store, large grocery store
Tester: Patti's teenaged son
Rating (out of 5): 2.0
Comments: The label says this product is soap and fragrance free, does not contain parabens, SLS's or lanolin - which are good ingredients NOT to have in your products. It is also recommended by dermatologists and our family doctor suggested my son try this as it is a low irritatant formula. But our research suggested we look for cleansers with few ingredients and ones that do not contain skin irritating ingredients and Spectro has a few that are of concern - like butylene glycol, diazolidinyl urea, DEA, and TEA. Since my son's skin is already sensitive, cleansing with potentially skin irritating products is not common sense.

Brand Name: Neutrogena
Product Name: Blackhead Eliminating Astringent
Cost: $12.99 for 250 ml
Where did we get it? Where have we seen it?: Drug store, large grocery store
Tester: Patti's teenaged son
Rating (out of 5): 2.0
Comments: The name sure entices someone who wants to get rid of their pimples but this astringent has a lot of alcohol in it. It seems like a good idea to dry out oily skin but our research noted that dry skin produces more oil. So it's a vicious circle. Again, we look for more soothing and moisturizing toner-type product.

Brand Name: Eminence Organic Skin Care
Product Name: Mineral Cleansing Concentrate
Cost: $45.00 for 125 ml
Where did we get it? Where have we seen it?: Oresta Organic Skin Care Confectionary
Tester: Patti's teenaged son
Rating (out of 5): 4.0
Comments: This product is "pulling out the big guns". After a consultation with Oresta, an aesthetician who works only with chemical free and organic skin care products, she recommended this gentle cleanser that uses minerals to pull out the clogged pores. My son uses this regularly to wash face and applies Eminence Herbal Spot Serum to sooth and calm existing pimples. Is it working? Well, the acne is not worse than before this product usage and I think his skin is not as "angry" looking (as in less red and irritated). The trick is to work on the consistency of using good quality products.

Brand Name: Eminence Organic Skin Care
Product Name: Herbal Spot Serum
Cost: $40.00 / 30ml
Where did we get it? Where have we seen it?: Oresta Organic Skin Care Confectionary
Tester: Patti's teenaged son
Rating (out of 5): 4.0
Comments: This serum is applied directly to pimples to soothe them. It is gel consistency and is easily applied. My son does put this on each day after using the cleanser.

Brand Name: Essencia
Product Name: Aknessence Skin Care (Acne)
Cost: $14.99 50 g
Where did we get it? Where have we seen it?: Nutri-Chem Natural Pharmacy
Tester: Patti's teenaged son
Rating (out of 5): 4.0
Comments: This is a cream made from 100% pure essential oils. It moisturizes the skin without making it oily and the essential oils are anti-septic property and help reduce the bacteria. My son says he can't use it every night as it irritates his sensitive skin, but some other teens we know "can't live without" this cream. The price is reasonable but may be hard to find, as we purchased at the natural pharmacy.