Disclaimer: The products featured were provided for review.
Probably best known as the creators of Proactiv, dermatologist Dr. Rodan and Dr. Fields launched Rodan + Fields in 2002 in the hopes of offering a premium skincare brand with clinical results. The brand recently launched in Canada and I took the opportunity to test out their Unblemish Regimen since I still struggle with mild acne on a daily basis. There has been ongoing criticism of the brand's multi-level marketing strategy but as all the products are currently available directly through Rodan + Fields' website, I feel no moral quandary in talking about the products as I'm all about efficacy and quality at the end of the day. So if you are curious to read my review of the Unblemish Regimen ($207 CAD per set or each sold separately), click.......
Rodan + Fields | Unblemish Acne Treatment Sulfur Wash ($49 CAD for 125 ml):
Designed to get deep into the pores and clear existing acne and reduce redness, the Unblemish Acne Treatment Sulfur Wash is a facial cleanser made with 3% sulfur. With a light purple tint, the formulation is creamy and easy to spread. However, because it doesn't foam, you don't get that "squeaky clean" feeling. As it goes without saying, the cleanser doesn't smell great. The sulfur gives the formulation that distinct rotten egg odor which lingers behind even after rinsing. I've used a few sulfur-based acne products in the past and have not had much success. The story is no different here. This is undoubtedly a very nice and gentle cleanser that may be sufficient if you struggle with very mild acne. However, I just don't think it's very effective in treating and preventing more serious acne. The cleanser may work well in combination with the other two products as a part of the Unblemish regimen, but I doubt replacing it with another cleanser would make a difference.
Active Ingredient: 3% Sulfur
Inactive Ingredients: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, Distearyl Phthalic Acid Amide, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Diisopropyl Adipate, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyacrylamide, Bisabolol, Laureth-7, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Titanium Dioxide, Fragrance, Violet 2 (CI 60725), Blue 1 (CI42090), Red 33 (CI17200)
Rodan + Fields | Unblemish Clarifying Toner ($48 CAD for 125 ml):
Housed in a rather small bottle with only 125 ml of product (most toners come with 200 or 250 ml), the Unblemish Clarifying Toner is an alcohol-free toner formulated with glycolic acid (an AHA/alpha hydroxy acid) designed to gently remove dead cells. Also formulated with sodium hyaluronate, green tea extract, and aloe juice, the toner is lightly hydrating without feeling greasy or heavy. The second ingredient on the list is witch hazel water, which is an antioxidant-rich plant derivative with a constricting effect designed to reduce shine and minimize the look of acne. However, this ingredient can be sensitizing to some so there is definitely controversy around it. Personally, I experience no adverse reactions with the ingredient but it is something worth noting if you have sensitive skin. Another thing of note is that the product contains menthyl (peppermint). This ingredient provides the skin with a very pleasant and cooling sensation but it can also be quite sensitizing. Overall, this is not a bad toner and I've personally enjoyed using it. However, given the high number of sensitizing ingredients and the low volume to cost ratio, I think it's not worth the price. For an alternative AHA toner that's one of my personal favorites, I recommend the Pixi Glow Tonic (check out my review of the To-Go version here).
Ingredients: Water, Witch Hazel Water, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Panthenol, Azelaic Acid, Lecithin, Arginine, Soluble Fish Collagen, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Rosemary Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Menthyl Lactate, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Zinc Phenolsulfonate, Sodium Glycolate, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Benzophenone-9, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Red 33, Blue 1.
Rodan + Fields | Unblemish Dual Intensive Acne Treatment ($117 CAD for 2 x 22.5 ml):
Packaged in a unique dual-chamber bottle equipped with two pump dispensers that separate the lotion and gel formulation, the Unblemish Dual Intensive Acne Treatment is a potent acne-targeting treatment containing 2.5 % benzoyl peroxide. By directly destroying acne-causing bacteria, benzoyl peroxide is the gold-standard when it comes to acne treatment and it's the one ingredient that I've been able to rely on for all these years. So without a doubt, this product works. The formulation helps significantly reduce their size and duration of preexisting acne and prevents the occurrence of new ones. It also noticeably improves skin texture, resulting in a smoother, more healthy complexion. I couldn't find detailed information on the formulation and why the two chambers are kept separate. However, it seems that the lotion side consists of various botanical extracts and emollients designed to hydrate and nourish while the gel side contains solvents designed to make the product more spreadable. There are some minor issues with the pumps as they don't always provide a full squirt (the bottle even includes the suggestion to firmly tap the base against a hard surface before each use) but it's not a deal breaker.
Dr. Rodan and Fields are the co-creators of Proactiv so it's obligatory to compare the Rodan + Fields Unblelmish Dual Intensive Acne Treatment to the Proactiv Pore Targeting Treatment. It appears that other than the 2.5% benzoyl peroxide, everything else is pretty different although the texture of the lotion side feels very similar to that of the Proactive treatment. At the end of the day, the Rodan + Fields formulation definitely feels superior in that the product applies better and feels more hydrating but I'm not sure the price difference is justifiable as the active ingredient remains unchanged (the Proactiv treatment on its own for ~$65 CAD). Perhaps the Unblemish formulation contains more skin-loving ingredients that combat the potential side effects of benzoyl peroxide (ex. dryness, sensitivity) but for someone like me who has been using Proactiv for years and have developed tolerance, the difference is negligible. With that said, if you have a bigger budget, this is definitely the better of the two and the most effective part of the Unblemish regimen that's worth purchasing alone.
Active Ingredient: Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%
Lotion Inactive Ingredients: : Purified Water, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Corn Starch Modified, Punica Granatum Extract, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Disodium Oleamido MEA-Sulfosuccinate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Yucca Glauca Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine.
Gel Inactive Ingredients: Purified Water, Ethoxydiglycol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Corn Starch Modified, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylgly
Have you tried Rodan + Fields before? What's your acne treatment? Share with me in the comments below!
Availability:
Rodan + Fields is available online at www.rodaandfields.com/ca or through an R+F Independent Consultant.
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| Rodan + Fields | Unblemish Acne Treatment Sulfur Wash |
Designed to get deep into the pores and clear existing acne and reduce redness, the Unblemish Acne Treatment Sulfur Wash is a facial cleanser made with 3% sulfur. With a light purple tint, the formulation is creamy and easy to spread. However, because it doesn't foam, you don't get that "squeaky clean" feeling. As it goes without saying, the cleanser doesn't smell great. The sulfur gives the formulation that distinct rotten egg odor which lingers behind even after rinsing. I've used a few sulfur-based acne products in the past and have not had much success. The story is no different here. This is undoubtedly a very nice and gentle cleanser that may be sufficient if you struggle with very mild acne. However, I just don't think it's very effective in treating and preventing more serious acne. The cleanser may work well in combination with the other two products as a part of the Unblemish regimen, but I doubt replacing it with another cleanser would make a difference.
Active Ingredient: 3% Sulfur
Inactive Ingredients: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Lauryl Glucoside, Distearyl Phthalic Acid Amide, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Diisopropyl Adipate, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Polyacrylamide, Bisabolol, Laureth-7, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Titanium Dioxide, Fragrance, Violet 2 (CI 60725), Blue 1 (CI42090), Red 33 (CI17200)
 |
| Rodan + Fields | Unblemish Clarifying Toner |
Housed in a rather small bottle with only 125 ml of product (most toners come with 200 or 250 ml), the Unblemish Clarifying Toner is an alcohol-free toner formulated with glycolic acid (an AHA/alpha hydroxy acid) designed to gently remove dead cells. Also formulated with sodium hyaluronate, green tea extract, and aloe juice, the toner is lightly hydrating without feeling greasy or heavy. The second ingredient on the list is witch hazel water, which is an antioxidant-rich plant derivative with a constricting effect designed to reduce shine and minimize the look of acne. However, this ingredient can be sensitizing to some so there is definitely controversy around it. Personally, I experience no adverse reactions with the ingredient but it is something worth noting if you have sensitive skin. Another thing of note is that the product contains menthyl (peppermint). This ingredient provides the skin with a very pleasant and cooling sensation but it can also be quite sensitizing. Overall, this is not a bad toner and I've personally enjoyed using it. However, given the high number of sensitizing ingredients and the low volume to cost ratio, I think it's not worth the price. For an alternative AHA toner that's one of my personal favorites, I recommend the Pixi Glow Tonic (check out my review of the To-Go version here).
Ingredients: Water, Witch Hazel Water, Ethoxydiglycol, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Panthenol, Azelaic Acid, Lecithin, Arginine, Soluble Fish Collagen, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, Rosemary Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Menthyl Lactate, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Zinc Phenolsulfonate, Sodium Glycolate, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Benzophenone-9, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Red 33, Blue 1.
Rodan + Fields | Unblemish Dual Intensive Acne Treatment ($117 CAD for 2 x 22.5 ml):
Packaged in a unique dual-chamber bottle equipped with two pump dispensers that separate the lotion and gel formulation, the Unblemish Dual Intensive Acne Treatment is a potent acne-targeting treatment containing 2.5 % benzoyl peroxide. By directly destroying acne-causing bacteria, benzoyl peroxide is the gold-standard when it comes to acne treatment and it's the one ingredient that I've been able to rely on for all these years. So without a doubt, this product works. The formulation helps significantly reduce their size and duration of preexisting acne and prevents the occurrence of new ones. It also noticeably improves skin texture, resulting in a smoother, more healthy complexion. I couldn't find detailed information on the formulation and why the two chambers are kept separate. However, it seems that the lotion side consists of various botanical extracts and emollients designed to hydrate and nourish while the gel side contains solvents designed to make the product more spreadable. There are some minor issues with the pumps as they don't always provide a full squirt (the bottle even includes the suggestion to firmly tap the base against a hard surface before each use) but it's not a deal breaker.
 |
| Rodan + Fields | Unblemish Dual Intensive Acne Treatment |
Active Ingredient: Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%
Lotion Inactive Ingredients: : Purified Water, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Corn Starch Modified, Punica Granatum Extract, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Disodium Oleamido MEA-Sulfosuccinate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Yucca Glauca Root Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Disodium EDTA, Triethanolamine.
Gel Inactive Ingredients: Purified Water, Ethoxydiglycol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Corn Starch Modified, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, BHT, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylgly
Have you tried Rodan + Fields before? What's your acne treatment? Share with me in the comments below!
Availability:
Rodan + Fields is available online at www.rodaandfields.com/ca or through an R+F Independent Consultant.
