Or not. Lol. My mother got me Proactiv when I was a teenager and I got a nice case of hives on top of my existing acne. Proactiv is almost notorious for it: it either hooks you on the product, causing you an outbreak as soon as you stop using the product, or it gives you an allergic reaction. Benzoyl peroxide treatments are touchy like that. It's better to stick to mild salicylic acid treatments like Clearasil. PS: the people in those commercials get paid for their "testimonials". I've taken a few business classes...most of what you see and hear in advertisements is complete bullshit..a combination of paid actors, a biased group sample, and false advertising that skirts the edge of legality.

Question: why is it that if something works, people think you're "hooked" on it? It works if you use it. The problem comes back when you stop using it. It goes away if you use it again. What did you expect? But I agree about the testimonial thing. Apparently the spokespeople can just put a bit of the product on their ankle or something and say "I put it on my skin, and look, my face is clear!".

Well, that's the "hook" people keep talking about. Your problem reappears once you stop using the product. And in the case of benzoyl peroxide treatments, switching to a different treatment method (for whatever reason...bad reaction, cost, etc) can make the returning condition worse until your body adjusts. I know a LOT of people out there who don't realize that they have to keep using the face treatments...well, basically forever. They're all shocked that the acne returns when they stop using the product because "it never said that in the commercial!". People are sheep. They buy what the media tells them to buy without questioning it.

Right, but it's just like saying if you don't brush your teeth, you get cavities, so you must be hooked on toothpaste.

Quite frankly, I think a good percentage of people don't realize that either. Like I said....people are sheep. Very. Stupid. Sheep.

Haha

Bull. OP isn't blind, she can see for herself if she has acne. It's like when people point out someone is "fat" or "skinny" and such, it's stupid, they already know. Maybe the OP already tried the product and reacted badly to it, or maybe she has a case that she is working through with a dermatologist. Maybe she just doesn't give a crap. Either way, giving someone a bottle of acne treatment for their birthday and telling them it's so you can be included in photos or so you can be "as beautiful as you are" is rude and dumb.

Maybe the mother was just trying to be helpful, and maybe the OP doesn't like being called out on the fact they have a nasty ******* face. (: