Hey you guys. I’m sold out of Acne.org Treatment (Benzoyl Peroxide – 2.5%) right now (I’m expecting to have more in stock in a couple/few months), but you can still successfully perform The Regimen with alternative 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide products. 

(I am not associated with any of the companies, brands, or products listed below and receive no affiliate payments. They are simply the best alternative options I have found.)

When Choosing a 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide

Avoid:

• Alcohols: While still not scientifically proven, alcohol is known to dry and strip the skin, so avoid any product that contains Ethyl Alcohol, Denatured Alcohol (Alcohol Denat.), Isopropyl Alcohol, Methyl Alcohol, or Methanol. Some other alcohols are not the same type of chemical and should be okay as long as they are not listed in the first seven (7) ingredients. These include benzyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, and lanolin alcohol.
• Cream-based Products: You can get away with a cream-based benzoyl peroxide, but they tend to turn white when you perspire and a creamy product is more likely to contain pore-clogging (comedogenic) ingredients. They are also harder to apply evenly when compared to gel-based products.
• Pore-clogging Ingredients: Researchers have tested many ingredients one at a time on either rabbit ears or human skin, and a list of ingredients to avoid has started coming into focus. But to be safe, avoid the biggest offenders. See below for a complete list of ingredients to avoid or to consider avoiding.
• Scents: Some fragrances irritate some people, and some do not. If you are sensitive, try your best to avoid scented products. But this is usually not a huge deal, so no need to overthink it.

Look for:

• Gel-based benzoyl peroxide. Gel-based benzoyl peroxide gives you more time to apply and also does not turn white when you perspire.
• A micronized benzoyl peroxide. It will usually state “micronized” or something similar on the label. You want a small particle size so the benzoyl peroxide can do its thing in your skin.

Prescription benzoyl peroxide:

• Benzoyl peroxide is also available as a prescription in the same 2.5% up to 10% as is available over-the-counter. There is basically no difference. If you can buy a 2.5% prescription benzoyl peroxide for a low price, this may be an option for you. Just follow the above suggestions when looking through ingredients since even some prescriptions include pore-clogging (comedogenic) ingredients.
• Benzoyl peroxide may also be available over-the-counter at your HMO pharmacy. I used to be a member of Kaiser Permanente and they sold a micronized 2.5% benzoyl peroxide at their pharmacy.