I’ve used a lot of acne and skin care products (and oral and topical prescriptions as well) and can say with total confidence that I know what I’m talking about when it comes to acne creams, potions, lotions, pills, and skin care in general!

Without a doubt acne.org is the place to go if you’re looking for a supportive community, honest reviews, and straightforward advice regarding acne. There you will also find Daniel Kern’s line of products, all of which are excellent in quality and priced fairly. Let me also say that I am in no way affiliated with acne.org or Daniel Kern, nor do I receive any kickbacks or compensation from their site. I just simply love the products. In addition, people without acne may also be interested in some of their non-medicated products, such as the moisturizer.

In a nutshell, here’s what makes acne.org different than truly anyone else:

1. Acne.org was originally established as a non-commercial, not for profit website for people struggling with acne at any age. Kern was interested in fostering a community where people could share their experiences and discuss in a fair and unbiased manner what works and what doesn’t. The line of acne.org products came much, much later. He’s not out to make a quick buck.
2. The website encourages open discussion of acne.org products, featuring both critical and complimentary reviews, and Kern is engaged actively with the community with the sole intent of making the best quality and most effective products possible. Also, you will find literally thousands of reviews of all sorts of skin care products, from moisturizers to prescription drugs.
3. All of the products use clinically proven ingredients. There are no crazy pseudo-science claims or general mumbo-jumbo. Acne.org is transparent, responsible, and ethical. What more could you possibly want in a company?
4. All the products are priced extremely low.
5. Most importantly, acne.org is centered not around products, but around a method – Daniel Kern’s “method” – of treating acne. Kern stresses that it’s not his products that do the work, but the way in which products are used.

I use five different products from acne.org so I will keep the review of each short and sweet.

The core of Daniel’s system is Benzoyl Peroxide, an acne treatment that has been around for decades and is proven effective. Many people think that all Benzoyl is created the same, and I’ll be the first to tell you this couldn’t be further from the truth. There is a huge difference in pharmaceutical grade BP and your average crap on the shelf. This is certainly the former. This 16oz tub is priced at $32.03 ($2/oz). This may seem pricey, but compared to a comparable product such as Neutrogena’s On-The-Spot treatment, priced on Amazon.com at $6.39 ($8.52/oz) for a tiny .75oz tube, this is a bargain of a lifetime. Again, 16oz of the Neutrogena product would cost $136.32! Plus, it seems to last forever. 5 of 5 stars.

Cleansers are a dime a dozen, and in truth most are unnecessarily harsh. Kern’s product is a simple, straightforward cleanser that doesn’t over-dry and does what it says: cleanses your skin. It’s unscented and lathers nicely and can also be used for shaving. A comparable product might be Cetaphil ($21.44 for two 16oz bottles, $.67/oz) or Purpose ($18.98 for two 12oz bottles, $.79/oz). The acne.org 16oz product is only $9.50, $.59/oz, and just as effective without the marketing hype. 4 1/2 of 5 stars.

This moisturizer is gentle and effective, without any special fancy ingredients, perfumes, dyes, or packaging. It absorbs into the skin without leaving it greasy or looking like an oil slick, and is lightweight in feel. Also, it contains no SPF, a plus for people like me that are often sensitive to sunscreens or don’t need to use one on a daily basis. A similar moisturizer would be Cetaphil Lotion 16oz for $11.37 ($.71/oz). Kern’s moisturizer costs $19.40 for 16oz ($1.21/oz). This is one instance where acne.org loses on price. In addition, some people on the acne.org forums have complained that this moisturizer causes a burning or stinging sensation, something which I myself have experienced. However, I’ve also experienced burning with every other moisturizer I’ve ever tried. My solution is to put the lotion on immediately after showering, BEFORE applying any medicated products. Somehow this avoids the burn for me. I continue to use this product because it works well, even if it costs a bit more.  3 of 5 stars

Alpha Hydroxy Acid with Licochalcone, or AHA+, combines the benefits of AHA (something you should know about if you do any shopping in the hygiene and beauty section) and Licochalcone, a licorice extract that reduces facial redness and is often found in rosacea treatments. This product is absolutely fantastic. It’s great for everyone, even those without acne, because it’s designed simply as an intense moisturizer and chemical exfoliant. This isn’t an “acne treatment” per se, it’s simply a beauty product, and it’s awesome for sun-damaged or aging skin (and the fine wrinkles that come with it). It comes in a large 6oz tube for $16.11 ($2.69/oz). Comparable products include Alpha Hydrox at $10.25 for 6oz ($1.71/oz). Again, Kern’s product loses on the price comparison. However, the addition of Licochalcone is very important to note, as the Alpha Hydrox product (nor any comparable product I can find) contain this ingredient. Also, the feel of the product is less sticky and absorbs more quickly than other AHA treatments I’ve tried. It just works. 4 and a half stars.

Jojoba oil is a miracle of nature, seriously, and its uses and benefits had long been discussed on the acne.org forums before Dan finally introduced this product. What sets jojoba apart is its chemical similarity to the human body’s natural oil, sebum, and thus it is absolutely non-comedogenic (non pore-clogging). If you’re not familiar with jojoba or why on earth you’d need it, you could use it as a: moisturizer, make-up remover, shave prep, hair conditioner, lip balm, and massage oil. For people with oily skin, using this product actually helps reduce facial oiliness because it “tricks” your pores into producing less oil. For people with dry skin, it absorbs nicely and is extremely moisturizing. You really could go on and on about jojoba, but I’ll leave it to you to do your own research. By the way, Dan’s product is also organic. At $14.75 for 8oz, it’s half the price of the organic jojoba sold at my local health food store (roughly $15 for 4oz). Five stars.

Dan also offers “kits” of his products at an even deeper discount.

In conclusion, regardless of whether you’re going to acne.org for the price or for the quality, I must again stress how remarkable it is to find a company that is honest in their marketing and presentation, as well as being actively engaged with their customer base. The fact that Dan runs his shop in such an ethical way, without crazy packaging and advertising, is enough to win me over.

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