Proactiv

Kaley Cuoco has been in the acting business for over 20 years, and readily admits to some struggles along the way. "I had acne as a teen and it made me so insecure to be on camera — not a good thing when you are on a television series," she says. After her mom suggested Kaley try Proactiv, though, the actress's skin care concerns faded into the background. "I was at the point where I would have tried anything. Ten years later I'm still using it!"

And now at 26, Kaley is Proactiv's latest spokesperson. She counts the brand's Daily Protection Plus Sunscreen SPF 30 as a favorite, along with Sachajuan Volume Powder, Josie Maran Argan Balm, and Hourglass Powder as her makeup-bag staples. A good attitude does wonders too. "I learned early on in this business that for every person who loves you, there are 10 who don't. I have many passions outside my work, and I think that's why I have maintained such a balanced life," Kaley explains.

As for season six of The Big Bang Theory, the CBS comedy in which she stars, expect the unexpected. She does reveal that Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and her character, Penny, will work on their relationship. But when it comes to the similarities between the actress and the role she portrays, that's where a big line gets drawn into the sand. "The only thing I have in common with my character is that we both live next to other people," she quips.

You might remember her as Michelle Tanner's feisty friend Denise on Full House or as hard-working high school student Jess Merriweather in Friday Night Lights, and now actress, singer, and activist Jurnee Smollett has landed a new role: Proactiv's newest spokesperson. Jurnee, who has battled acne since she was 10 years old, admits she tried just about everything, from facial treatments to doctors appointments to peels, before she had the consistent success she has found with Proactiv.

"It goes back to a few months before I was getting married," she explains. "I was shooting Friday Night Lights in Austin, [and with] the humidity, the great Texas food, the hormones, and the stress of me planning the wedding, my skin was freaking out." Although frustrated, Jurnee felt her complexion issues added a realistic element to her character. "I kept telling myself, "'I'm playing a 16-year-old high student. It's OK; high school students break out,'" she reveals. "But no one wants to break out, whether you're a teenager or not!" See the rest of Jurnee's story now.

Most of us know Proactiv from infomercials touting its three-step skin care system. But did you know there's an entire Proactiv product line? Yep. It's just extremely hard to find, but you can order by phone (888-819-2019) if you're so inclined. One item in particular is worth tracking down. I recently had a facial that used Proactiv's Pore Refining Peel ($20), and my complexion looked practically poreless afterward. It's due to the formula's glycolic acid, which exfoliates all the dead, dull skin. Whether you have acne or not, glycolic acid is one of those ingredients that — when used judiciously — gives skin that glowy, fresh look. You'll feel mild stinging when applying the peel, but the results are well worth it. And at $20 for 15 treatments, your wallet won't feel too much of a sting, either.

Cue the squeals of thousands of teenagers, because OMG you guys, Justin Bieber is the new face of Proactiv! The 16-year-old singer and Usher protegé has signed on as a spokesperson for the best-selling acne treatment, saying:

This is kind of a way I can give back to my fans, by letting them know I use Proactiv and that it’s really easy — one, two, three and you're done. My fans already know I'm just a regular kid, except the stuff about my life that's not regular . . . like performing to thousands of kids and always being in the spotlight. But, I know that for a teenager, it doesn’t matter how many people are looking at you, you don’t want acne on your face."

Along with appearing in infomercials, Justin will also be using the partnership to promote nonprofit Pencils of Promise, which aims to expand education in developing nations. Judging by the devotion of Biebermaniacs everywhere, we're guessing Proactiv is about to see a huge upswing in sales — not a bad way to celebrate the brand's 15th anniversary.

Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are both excellent acne fighters, and definitely the most affordable treatments on the market. Almost any drugstore acne treatment is going to have one or the other. But it's impossible to tell from the bottle which product is going to help clear up your specific acne. If you end up with the wrong one, it can actually make things worse. To help you determine which product you actually need, I've put together a quick comparison. Ready to know which one you need once and for all? Then just keep reading.