Product Review: Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Acne Therapeutic System
With an estimated seventeen million Americans suffering from acne, it’s no wonder that there is a plethora of acne medications and treatments. One of the latest is the Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Acne Therapeutic System, which contains 5% benzoyl peroxide in the second step. It claims to “clear, soothe, and protect your skin” in one convenient system. But is the system worth $105.00 (SkincareRx.com), with each of the three steps sold for $64.95 separately?
Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Daily Care Cream Cleanser (Step 1)
Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Daily Care Cream Cleanser claims to “removes dirt, oil, makeup and all other impurities while moisturizing and soothing the skin,” and based on the ingredients, it does just that, as a simple cleanser with soothing lavender extract. Unfortunately, there are two foreseeable problems with the cleanser. One is that, for $31.95, there are much cheaper gentle cleansers (although most do not have the lavender, but still). One highly dermatologist-recommended cleanser is Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, available for $10.75 from Amazon.com. The second problem with Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Daily Care Cream Cleanser is that it does not contain salicyclic acid like many other anti-acne cleansers, which can unclog the pores. One source with salicyclic acid is Aveeno Clear Complexion Cleansing Bar ($6.75, Amazon.com).
As such, if you are looking for gentle cleansers, there are cheaper cleansers available, and if you are looking for anti-acne cleansers, there are certainly much more effective ones out there.
Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Arginine Cocoate, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ammonium Cocoyl Isethionate, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Mentha Citrata (Bergamot) Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Extract, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben
Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Therapeutic Lotion (Step 2)
At $64.95 per bottle when sold separately, one would hope that Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Therapeutic Lotion provided much more acne fighting potential than drugstore varieties and cheaper products. Unfortunately, products like Neutrogena On the Spot Vanishing Formula contain just as much benzoyl peroxide for much less money, and MD Formulations Benzoyl Peroxide 10 contains twice as much benzoyl peroxide for (you guessed it) less money too. Furthermore, benzoyl peroxide may not always be the answer for acne. Although benzoyl peroxide is often applied topically to the skin to kill P. acnes, according to Dr. Leslie Baumann, as many as 60 percent of acne patients exhibit antibiotic-resistant strains of P.acnes, so antibacterial agents may not always be the answer.
In addition, you may not want to apply the benzoyl peroxide in Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Therapeutic Lotion all over your face. Benzoyl peroxide is more appropriate as a spot treatment, as benzoyl peroxide has been found by Nacht et. al. to kill bacteria by generating reactive oxygen species in the sebaceous follicle, and hence generates oxidative free radicals that contribute to prematurely aged skin.
Ingredients: Benzyl Benzoate, BHT, Dicaprylyl Ether, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 60, Propylene Glycol, Squalane, Water (Aqua).
Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Therapeutic Moisturizer (Step 3)
Also at $64.95 a tube, Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Therapeutic Moisturizer claims to “hydrates and protects the skin, without clogging your pores.” The product contains 20% glycerin and 1% dimethicone, which calls to mind the $8.00 Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion (for six times as much product)! The product does not contain any anti-aging antioxidants, AHAs or retinoids, or even sunscreen. For $64.95, or even for a third of the $105 for the Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Therapeutic Set, I would not recommend this product.
Ingredients: Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Butylparaben, Cetyl Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Propylparaben, Triethanolamine, Water
Overall opinions?
There are certainly better over-the-counter treatments for acne; for some recommendations, please visit this post. This product line is an unfortunate example of cases where drugstore products can be found that are superior, despite their much lower price tag. In all, I would say, don’t spend your money on the Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Acne Therapeutic System. Product rating: 2/10 (only active ingredient is 5% benzoyl peroxide in step 2; no other acne treatments; no anti-aging ingredients; no sunscreen)
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Interesting information
I can’t tell you enough how great this system is. I have been fighting acne since I was in middle school and I am 35 now.
I began using this in August and went from constant breakouts to an ocassional zit within weeks.
My skin has not been dry or flaky at all like it was with other acne products. I highly recommend that you give this skin care system a try if you have acne. It’s well worth the price!
I think Obagi products for acne treatment are more on taking care of the physical part. I don’t think on a long term basis, it can prevent acne from recurring.
I just want to say: “Thank-freakin-Goodness for this product”
I admit, for the first couple of weeks, i was peeling a bit. But not only did my old flaky skin shed, my horrible pimples went away slowly. I feel like i should be on a commercial or something, i’m dead serious. I had those awful, painful red bumps AND the under the skin comedones (skin colored— hard to get rid of pimples) and now they are almost completely gone within a month of using this product.
(for those of you that understand where i’m coming from when i say i used to not be able to completely count all the pimples on my face because there were so many, now i can just say “ONE”— which is my monthly pre-menstrual pimple) haha. no but seriously, I love this product. However, it might be a little “harsh” for people with sensitive skin.
I have a question about this product. My dad is getting it for me and I have heard nothing but good things about it! I am so excited!! But is it ok for me to use a moisturizer with this? I usually use Cetaphil.. does anyone know??
I had a friend tell me about Obagi… whew… I’m glad I found your site. This product is loaded with parabens. I’m sure you are familiar with parabens??? also known as environmental estrogens. Parabens and other hazardous ingredients are absorbed through thbe skin and have been found in cancer tissue, urinary excreation and implicated in fertility issues like sprem count in men.
Stay away from parabens.
All I have to say is this is a wonderful product. (normal to oily skin) I purchased it yesterday and today the zits I had, have gotten way smaller and no new ones have formed. It is definatly harsh on the skin, but Im 26 and will deal with it for the clean skin. I thought my last resort was Accutane, and if it was, I was just going to deal with the breaks outs because the side effects associated with that pill are not worth it to me.
Great product!
This stuff is awesome! The review doesnt tell the whole story. What makes this product different is the benzoyl peroxide is liquified. All other acne medications come in crystals, but this is totally unique. You can read about it in the sales brochure or on the Obagi website. It does sting the first few days, but thats because it gets into the skin. I gladly took the inital sting over having acne which ProActive or Neutrogena products couldnt get rid of. And yes, you can use the moisturizer which I agree is a bit expensive, but rocks as well if your skin is dry. Overall, the kit is cheaper than ProActive and it totally works!
Your complaint about the Obagi Clenziderm cleanser is that it doesn’t contain salicylic acid, however it does. Willow Bark extract is Salicylic Acid.