Email from a site visitor today: “I just saw an ad for MaxClarity Foam. Does it work? Is it a scam?”
I don’t know! I haven’t tried every acne product in existence. They are all just a little different. This is a foam for God’s sake! A foam! Maybe someone finally bottled the magic acne cure. But I highly doubt it. Here is my review based on information from the MaxClarity Customer Service department and some other online research:
MaxClarity Foam BBB Grade: F
When the BBB reports a grade of C or lower, it’s a strong clue to be careful. The Better Business Bureau gives MaxClarity Foam System an F (the worst possible grade on the BBB scale). Acne treatments are based mostly on trust; the FDA doesn’t carefully review acne products, and there is no one out there testing that they even have the required ingredients. When you are basing a purchase on trust, and the BBB rating is an F, the trust pretty much goes out the window.
It’s just another mediocre acne treatment kit that uses the ingredients Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid in a foaming wash and a cream. The idea is that Salicylic Acid opens up your pores and the Benzoyl Peroxide kills the bacteria.
I’ve written ad-naseum about why I don’t think Benzoyl Peroxide is a good acne treatment: acne sufferers have the same bacteria on their skin as non-acne sufferers. This method kills off bacteria that produce azelaic acid (your skin needs this) in addition to the other bacteria it’s really supposed to be targeting so when you quit using the product acne comes back twice as bad. Additionally, this product is a bleach and an acid. Do you really want to put bleach and acid on your face, just to fight acne? The same goes for Salicylic Acid. And of course, I can say all I want about both of these chemicals. The bottom line is that I find they don’t work well enough to justify the bleach dried skin that burns the second you go into the sun.
Just check out this wonderful list of side effects from the MaxClarity website and ask yourself if this is really the way you want to treat your skin:
- keep away from eyes, lips, and mouth.
- avoid contact with hair or dyed fabrics, including carpet and clothing which may be bleached by this product.
- with other topical acne medications, may have an increase in dryness or irritation of the skin. If this occurs, only one medication should continue to be used, unless directed by a doctor.
- skin irritation may occur, characterized by redness, burning, itching, peeling, or possibly swelling.
If I had to recommend a choice between a BP+GA system (Proactiv) and a BP+SA system (Maxclarity), I would recommend BP+GA, because I find glycolid acid to be gentler on the skin and less irritating. Additionally, the product ingredient list includes two alcohols which I prefer to keep off my skin: benzyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol. Still, if you are absolutely intent on using a BP and SA system to treat your acne, MaxClarity Foam seems reasonable. It’s half the price of Proactiv.
If you really want to get rid of acne, check out the basic lifestyle changes recommended to reduce acne symptoms. They are mostly free, and they really work. And they don’t require indefinitely bleaching your skin twice/day
Note: MaxClarity is one of those companies that tries to keep you hooked once they sell to you by autobilling your credit card. Their standard plan is to charge your card $26.95 every 30 days (instead of the advertised $19.95) and keep shipping your the product until you ask them to stop. Proactiv uses the same billing/shipping system. I guess that is just par for the course in this industry.
Do not use or buy this product! It may work for others but did not work for me. That’s not why I am telling you not to use it! Their customer service sucks! I bought the trial sample and it not work so I return the next shipment and called to tell them to cancel my account. They have charged my credit card 3 times and told me that they will not refund my money until they receive the product back. I sent the product back to them over a month ago. The guy then told me it could take months to get my money back and they will not refund all of the monies due to me. 30 day free trial…my big toe. So basically I am out $50.00+ on a product that did not work! Do not use this product.!!!!!!!!!
I, on the other hand, have found that MaxClarity works like a charm. I have an Uncle that is a Doctor that has tried to help me with my acne problem in the past. He had me buy the Clean and Clear Acne Treatment with Benzoyl Peroxide. He explained to me that Benzoyl Peroxides a great Acne fighting agent, but too much of it is a bad thing. This I have found to be true, MaxClarity has a large amount of Benzoyl Peroxide. It has made my appearance look as if I have a sunburn, and to be honest a slight burning sensation is there too. But who says beauty isn’t supposed to be painful? Maybe if I back down the prescribed treatment down to a minimum it will subside. But, I can say that through it all my skin is soft and acne free!
I do not even understand how I finished up here, however I thought this post used to be good. I do not recognize who you might be however certainly you’re going to a famous blogger if you happen to aren’t already. Cheers!