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In partnership with Geologie. Editor’s Note: We only select and work with partners that meet our quality standards, so you can rest assured we only endorse products we believe in.
Years. YEARS, I’ve been running around cosmopolitan cities and the worldwide web looking for anything and everything that would get rid of the hormonal acne that showed up on my face in my early 20s. Fun fact: at one point, I even became a self-designated “acne specialist” at my digital media job in New York, where I would send customized PDFs to coworkers with instructions on how to clear their skin.
The irony: I still had acne.
Now, tenderly in my 30s (and I say tenderly so I don’t have to say “in my mid-30s"), my hormonal acne remains at the top of my Challenge list (to which my “team” can attest). I’ve done everything possible to heal my acne from the inside out and the outside in, but no matter what I do, inflamed mounds threaten my chin and cheeks during different parts of my cycle or after an enjoyable meal away from my usual diet. “But we were doing so well!!” I scream at the mirror when a random pimple shows up out of nowhere.
Therefore, when Geologie's Clear System came into my life (and onto my doorstep), I was ready to try something new, something different… even though the concept of a three-step skin-clearing system wasn’t really that new or that different.
I quickly discovered that—while Geologie’s approach was iconically simple—it nixed one ingredient that almost every conventional acne brand has coveted since I was a high school skin novice: benzoyl peroxide.
COO and Co-Founder Dave Skaff shared that benzoyl peroxide is like the “bad broccoli of skincare,” where people use it because they feel they have to or don’t have another option. However, “the #1 reason people fail to beat acne is because products with harsh ingredients like benzoyl peroxide—which are noxious, staining, and irritating—discourage further use.
So, rather than tolerate overly aggressive, intensely harsh, over-the-counter acne solutions any longer, Skaff, Co-Founder Nick Allen, and Dermatologist Dr. Steve Xu decided to shake up the dormant and outdated acne space and come out with a “Level-Up” system that 1) gets stronger as you use it over time and 2) supports your skin’s natural process with barrier-loving ingredients—all without benzoyl peroxide.
Here’s my skin story.
We like
- Clinically proven and benzoyl peroxide-free formula
- Rebuilds the skin’s barrier over a 3-month program
- Includes non-irritating, effective ingredients like salicylic acid, azelaic acid, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and three gentle retinol formulations
- Super simple 3-step routine that is easy to follow
We don't like
- Requires consistency (which is a flag to all my routine-averse friends, who hate routine, but want results!)
It’s Time to Face the Music
When I first started investigating Geologie's Clear System, I was super confused why benzoyl peroxide was such a problem. Granted, the only memories I had of benzoyl peroxide were from my high school days, where I didn’t even have acne, but thought that’s just “what you did” for your skin.
Since then, I’ve learned that it can burn and irritate the skin and bleach your clothes. But that’s not even the worst of it! Come to find out that benzoyl peroxide is anything but just a nuisance. In fact, CNN came out with an article back in March of this year, speaking out against 99 tested benzoyl peroxide acne solutions that were found to have unacceptably high levels of benzene, which is a known carcinogen.
You see, benzoyl peroxide—at high temperatures—can degrade into benzene, and since the manufacturing and distribution of OTC acne products containing benzoyl peroxide are not regulated, the risk of degradation before consumers even buy it off the shelf is super high.
Just a reminder that your skin is your body’s largest organ, which means a carcinogen on your skin goes straight into the bloodstream. Seems like a strange way to fight acne, right?
Geologie refuses to use benzoyl peroxide in any of its formulas, committed to safer, more effective skincare that never irritates the skin. If anything, all of Geologie's formulas rely on nourishing ingredients that support the skin’s natural barrier (aka your ultimate shield to everyday stressors and irritants), so your anti-acne life can be lived long-term.
The Geologie Journey: Patient, Not Pay-It-Away
The Clear System is all about creating a simple-to-follow routine that allows the acne-ridden to “get with the program,” and stick with it. In just three steps—cleanse, moisturize, and protect—the patent-pending Clear System is more than just a clinically proven, dermatologist-designed acne solution, it’s real skincare that addresses your total skin health. “It’s a solution you’ll enjoy using long after your acne is gone,” Skaff said.
However the first step towards achieving results is changing the mindset that there is such a thing as a “quick fix” when it comes to resolving acne. Geologie wants customers to first be patient through a three-month process, where they slowly increase the potency of active ingredients to sustainably treat, hydrate, and strengthen the skin barrier.
Step 1 | The Prep Step
During the first month (or Level 1), the System focuses on nourishing and priming the skin with healthy ingredients like salicylic acid, azelaic acid, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and a gentle retinol formulation to kickstart your skin’s transformative journey.
Step 2 | Break Free
In the second month (or Level 2), you’ll start to notice fewer breakouts, less redness, and smoother, softer skin for a visibly clearer and more controlled complexion.
Step 3 | Hello, Clear Skin
At this point—12 weeks later—your skin is clear, acne is on the outs, and you’ve reached the most potent balance of ingredients that allows you to maintain your new routine and keep on glowing on.
Say My Skin Looks Beautiful One More Time
When I was prompted to try Geologie’s Clear System for two months, I immediately said “yes,” but then immediately felt a wave of intense fear. If you’re a fellow acne amigo, then you know that the idea of trying something new is always intriguing, terrifying, and typically disappointing. “Maybe this’ll be the thing!” Meanwhile, within a week, you end up finding out that the thing that was supposed to fix you just made things worse.
I was pretty shocked at how gentle and effective the Clear System was.
Initially, it was quite a mental adjustment to go from my usual very multi-step routine that included toners, serums, eye creams, and bells and whistles galore to three products with no muss or fuss. My concern was “how will I optimize my anti-aging protocol if I’m not using a million things?” But to my surprise, in simplifying, I actually maximized (and saved so much time getting ready for the day and night, omg).
Most inspiringly, the ingredients (ie salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, retinol, niacinamide) weren’t all that different from what I was using in my skincare routine prior, but I knew that—with Geologie’s formulations, I was getting a more balanced formulation that wouldn’t overwork my sensitive skin barrier (that I have definitely put through its paces and faces in the past).
My skin didn’t require too much adjusting during Month 1, although there was just some slight purging (so don’t be alarmed if that happens!). Geologie recommends using the Retinol Cream every other day, or every third day) if you’re experiencing purging. Luckily, I leaned on the Blemish Buster Kit (as can be seen in the photos above), that has fast-acting, hydrocolloid Zit Zappers and a color-correcting spot treatment, Blemish Buster, with a 5% concentration of God’s acne gift, sulfur.
Foundationally, I didn’t walk into my acne-experiment with “horrible” acne-ridden skin, but I don’t want you to think that this means I didn’t get any results from the Clear System. I noticed that, over the two months that I tried Geologie’s protocol, my skin health really did improve overall.
My neighbors kept saying, “You look so healthy!” when talking about my skin, which was a wonderful feeling, considering I’ve been feeling a bit haggard over the past few months. My skin’s complexion and integrity felt more balanced and even, and most importantly, glow-level hydrated.
Consistency Is Key
I hate to bring up age again, but now that I’m (again) tenderly in my 30s, I have a great appreciation for “process over product.” I used to be an “immediate results” kind-of-girl, and it got me absolutely nowhere, but usually in physical therapy of some kind with another form of imbalance somewhere or another.
I genuinely appreciated Geologie’s approach to patience and perspective. The brand acknowledges the act of faith you need to commit to a new routine or system of any kind, but knowing that the expectation for results relies on your own participation and allowance provides for a more forgiving journey along the way.
I asked Skaff for any recommendations to support healthy, acne-free skin from the inside out, and he stayed true to his laurels. “Commit to a great skincare regimen and a healthy lifestyle. And also be both patient and determined. Acne comes and goes, and can be very frustrating. Be kind to yourself by eating well, sleeping well, managing stress and staying active. But also understand that acne can arise from many different factors and that the best thing you can do is to stay consistent with your treatment plan and stay patient. And if you haven’t visited a dermatologist recently, make sure you do!”
Clear Your Skin (And Your Energy) And Use Code QUALITYEDIT20 for 20% Off Your Next Geologie Clear Skin System Order
