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About the reviews
There are many things to take into account when you choose an acne treatment, and sometimes, the choice can seem overwhelming. That's why we have broken the choice into nine different factors that we take into account when we rate the products.
It is important to note that no single acne treatment works for everyone. For some, product A may work, while product B is ineffective. Another person may find that product A is only somewhat effective, but causes side effects, while product B is very effective. A third person may find that products A and B don't work as well as product C, and so on. However, we have based the reviews on the experiences of many people for every product, so a product that gets a high rating for effectiveness wil work well for the vast majority of those who try it.
The ratings
The ratings we give to each product are in the range from one to five stars, where five stars is the best rating, four stars the second best, and so on. The products we have reviewed on this site do not receive a one-star rating for any category. We have reviewed many products, and those that receive only one star in any category is, in our opinion, not worth considering.
Please note that none of the ratings or opinions we present are based on clinical trials. The ratings reflect the opinions of the staff at Acne Cures Guide.
We give ratings based on a number of factors. These are:
- Effectiveness. The most important question to ask about any treatment is this: Does it work? A five-star rating here means that the product is very effective against light to moderate acne, and has at least some effect against severe acne. One star means that the treatment has no discernible effect on even light acne.
- Side effects. A product that works is not worth using if it has severe side effects. Some acne treatments can often cause redness, greasy skin, a burning sensation, discoloration of clothes it comes into contact with, or it may worsen the acne problem. Here, a rating of five stars means that the product has no discernible side effects, while one star means that the side effects are so severe that we advise against using the product.
- Lasting effect. How long does the effect last? Typically, acne treatments require repeated and constant application if the effect is to last. Since these are not cures, but treatments (there is currently no known cure for acne), a five-star rating means that the effects are permanent if the product is used as recommended by the manufacturer. One star means that the effect quickly subsides, even when used regularly.
- Natural ingredients. Natural ingredients that have an effect against acne typically have fewer side effects than artificial, synthetic chemicals. We value the research and effort that goes into effectively incorporating natural substances in acne treatments. A rating of five stars means that the manufacturer uses natural ingredients to good effect in the product, while one star means that the product contains no natural ingredients.
- Fragrance. A skin product that smells bad may cause you to use it less, even if it is effective, and it may be noticed by others. A rating of five stars means that the product has no or only a weak, pleasant fragrance, while one star means that it has a strong, unpleasant smell.
- Noticeability. How noticeable and visible is the product on the skin? When we use acne treatments, we don't want the world to know. Five stars signify that the product is completely invisible on the skin, while one star means that it is easily noticeable and unattractive.
- Use of FDA-approved agents. The US Food and Drugs Administration has approved certain substances for use against acne. A five-star rating means that one or more of these are used to good effect in the product, while one star means that the product contains none of them, or that they are not used to good effect.
- Completeness. Acne is typically a problem that has many factors and causes. How many of these are taken into account in the individual product? For instance, cleansing the skin correctly before applying a liniment can be crucial for success, and the manufacturer should have a suitable product as part of a complete package. A five-star rating means that every facet is taken into account, with a product package that contains several products for different uses. One star means that the product appears incomplete, with several additional purchases necessary.
- Price. Our reviewers found that price is not a good indication for the effectiveness of a product, but the more affordable it is, the more likely we are to use it consistently. A five-star rating means that the product is extremely reasonably priced, while one star means that the product appears unreasonably expensive.
After we assign a rating for every category, we give the product an overall rating. This is a weighted rating, which means that we assign a greater significance to the category Effectiveness than to, say, Fragrance, when we calculate the overall rating.
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