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Benzoyl Peroxide Question
  • vananners
    I usually use Stridex Power Pads, which I love. They are a wipe containing 2.5% BP and very gentle - they even contain some glycerine for hydrating purposes. This is usually all I use at night. However, the box only comes with a 2 week supply (if using 2x a day, which I do). I ran out and can't buy more until Friday (payday) so I used some Acne.org BP that I had lying around. I never got into using this BP gel because it kills my skin! I used it last night and my face today feels dry, raw and irritated. It's a shame because I just ordered and received this larger size of this Acne.org BP.

    My question is this - why would the Acne.org BP hurt my skin so badly and the Stridex I don't have any reactions to? Could it be some inactives in the Acne.org BP? The second ingredient if Propolene Glycol, I know I've heard some negative things about this.

    Also, has anyone ever heard of a toner containing BP? That would be a great way to cut down on my skin care steps. Or another, cheaper BP wipe?
  • K
    Do the Acne.org BP wipes have a higher concentration of BP than the Stridex? Many BP products contain 10% concentration, which can be very irritating. (It is not proven that 10% BP is any more effective than 2.5%.) Alcohol can also sting and dry the skin. Perhaps Stridex doesn't contain alcohol, or uses a different alcohol than the Acne.org ones.

    I have not heard of a toner containing BP, but their are cleansers that contain it. I also don't know of a cheaper wipe. Just DON'T use the wipes in place of a washing your face!!!
  • JamiSingsJamiSings
    Sometimes stores like Big Lots will have Stridex or Oxy wipes for $2.50 or cheaper. Not online, but in their stores. As for anything else I don't know. I usually just use rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball myself.
  • vananners
    Both of the BP products are 2.5%. And neither of them contain alcohol, so I'm stumped! I'm thinking that since the Stridex has so few ingredients, it is more gentle on my skin. I guess I will just have to keep buying them! Just wish I could find something cheaper. Oh, and I NEVER skip washing my face!! I would feel like a dirt ball all day, my skin is TOO oily for that!
  • JeffB31JeffB31
    My guess is that it is the carrier (all the other ingredients) which makes the difference. Can you list them?
  • vananners
    The Stridex Power Pads ingredients are:

    Active Ingredient: 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide
    Inactive Ingredients: Carbomer, dimethicone, disodium EDTA, disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate, glycerin, hydrated silica, methylparaben, poloxamer 182, purified water, sodium hydroxide.

    Acne.org BP:

    Active ingredient: Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%.
    Inactive ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Sodium Hydroxide.

    So I'm thinking that the Stridex Pads just buffer the skin more because they contain Dimethicone and Glycerine?
  • vananners
    Anyone have any thoughts on this? I'm stumped!
  • JeffB31JeffB31
    From looking at the list of ingredients, the Acne org is more water based and will allow the BP to be more active. The other is more oil based. You can get the Acne org to be even more active by adding a little alcohol. Even though it only contains 2.5%, I would compare it to a 5% of a product similar to the stridex base.

    Basically, even though both contain 2.5%, an alcohol based product would be stronger than a water-based or oil-based one. Years ago alcohol-based were found in prescription BPs. A Water-based would be less than an alcohol-based but stronger than an oil.


    Stridex Pads buffer the skin more because they contain Dimethicone (Silicone) and a higher concentration of Carbomer.

    Try applying it less or leaving it on less (no more than 1 hour and rinsing it off) Then slowly start increasing the time until you reach an unacceptable irritation level.
  • vananners
    Thanks, Jeff! That makes total sense now. It even seemed to me that the acne.org BP is actually more effective, I notice that it works better but just makes my face more irritated. I've found that if I moisturize after the BP dries, I do get less irritation. Moisturizing just scares me because I'm SO acne prone. Right now I'm using CeraVe lotion and it seems to be doing okay.

    You are a wealth of information, thanks for sharing your insight!
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