Proactiv Dishonest Marketing Strategy

Here are two pictures of Katy Perry.  One from the latest Proactiv Marketing Campaign, and one taken on the street.  Proactiv doesn’t work for me, and it doesn’t look like it works for Katy Perry, either.  That doesn’t seem to prevent her from accepting millions to promote the product to uninformed teenagers.  Proactiv isn’t a scam, but they dangerously flirt with the thin line between honest and dishonest marketing.

Their latest campaign involving Katy Perry seems to have stepped into the realm of just plain dishonest marketing.

Katy Pery Proactiv Advertising Campaign

Katy Perry without makeup

Proactiv FAQ:

Is Proactiv sold in stores?

Proactiv is mostly sold in mall kiosks.  I’ve seen copycat products in the skin care sections of most pharmacies and big box stores.  If you are looking for a proactiv-like product, make sure you buy one with Benzoyl Peroxide and Glycolid Acid.  Benzoyl Peroxide combined with Salicylid Acid is a common combination in acne products, but it is not what Proactiv uses.  GA is generally less harsh than SA, and although it is a less effective acne treatment on its own, it is also less irritating to the skin, making it a better match with Benzoyl Peroxide.

Is Proactiv Safe for Pregnant Women?

There is little research available about the effects of Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylid Acid on pregnant women.  In general, pregnant women should avoid putting unnecessary chemicals on or in their body.  Acne is simply not as important as your baby’s health.

Is Proactiv Worth It?

In my experience, Proactiv is not nearly as effective as the basic lifestyle choices outlined on this site.  Combined with the high price and constant skin irritation, I strongly recommended against it.  If you are set on a Benzoyl Peroxide and Glycolid Acid treatment, Proactiv offers a reasonable and simple system.  Another Proactiv alternative is the regimen outlined at www.acne.org

Where can I find the Proactiv Ingredients List:

The active ingredients in Proactiv are Benzoyl Peroxide and Glycolid Acid.  Other ingredients which might concern some users include fragrance, artificial colors, blue 1, yellow 5, and cetearyl alcohol.  The complete ingredients list is available on their website.

5 Responses to “Proactiv Dishonest Marketing Strategy”

  1. anonymous 06. Mar, 2011 at 11:16 pm #

    If you really wanted us to believe this the second picture would have been her full face. Hoe do we know that is her and not just a picture of your neighbor. Methinks this is a little deceptive; no different than the point you are trying to make.

    • alex 11. May, 2011 at 8:09 pm #

      It is her you can look for it in google :) .

  2. Underground Hypnosis 05. May, 2011 at 12:08 pm #

    I appreciate, cause I found just what I was looking for. You have ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye

  3. Michelle 16. Oct, 2011 at 8:07 pm #

    Um… How do you know Katy Perry uses the product as recommended? She could endorse the product and not use it. Did that ever occur to you? She is a celebrity and the heavy use of makeup could also affect her skin in a way that no acne treatment could help. When people are constantly putting makeup on you and you have it on more hours of the day than not there is not much an acne treatment can do for ya.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Proactiv Reviews for Adults (2011) | AcneResearch.org - 10. Feb, 2011

    [...] have written ad nauseum about Proactiv and the pros/cons of using Benzyol Peroxide as an acne treatment.  Regardless, the most common [...]

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How to clear your skin (based on clinical studies, our visitors experiences, and our own research):



Vitamins / Supplements

With a meal, 3-4 times per day: 3 mgs of boron, Vitamin B Complex 50, 25-50 mgs of Zinc. Once per day, with a meal: Multi vitamin, Fish Oil (Not Cod Liver Oil), 2000 IUs of Vitamin D. This alone may end acne.

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Get outside during the day!

You need daylight to suppress melatonin so you can really crank it out at night. Stay in the shade, but you must see sky. 12+ hours is optimal, an hour in the am and at noon may work. No sunburns, sunglasses or hats!

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Fix your sleep cycle

Go to sleep at the same time every night. Ten o'clock is optimal. Sleep in complete darkness, and wake up without an alarm. 8.5+ hours is best. Try to keep your evening activities calm and in relative darkness. It is nearly impossible to improve acne without sleeping properly.

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Get your exercise

Workout for 30-60 minutes, 4-5 hours before bedtime, every day. Eat meat beforehand (within an hour). You are moving Tryptophan into the brain. Additional exercise is great, but never close to bedtime. Outdoor exercise is best. Make sure you work up a good sweat.

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Eat the right things

Eliminate gluten, dairy and processed foods altogether. Cut back on soy and sugars including fruit. Use unlimited extra virgin olive oil, but no soy / vegetable / other oils. Eat tomatoes cooked in olive oil (or tomato juice), carrots, and broccoli every day. Eat sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds before bedtime.

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Other Stuff

Wash only twice/day. Shave daily (men). Don't use topical products. Use jojoba oil or moisturizer only as necessary to avoid dry skin. Avoid drugs and alcohol. Relax. Life is good!

Don’t Do This!

Avoid kelp, too much iodine (iodized salt, sea salt is ok), alcohol, drugs, harsh topical medicines like benzoyl peroxide, over-washing, antibiotics, stimulants (ritalin,caffeine) within 10 hours of bedtime, sleep deprivation, sleeping with the light on, going to the bathroom in the middle of the night (drink less water at night!).

Do Your Best

If you have acne, chances are you are violating a lot of these rules. No one expects you to fix everything at once. Make changes as you can, experiment, and see what happens. Once your skin is great, you can add back in certain foods and lifestyles that are important to you. If something turns out to be a trigger, you'll figure it out pretty quick.