ERNO LASZLO Acne Treatment System

ERNO LASZLO is a trusted name in skin care products.  The now deceased Hungarian-born, American dermatologist, Dr. Erno Laszlo,  developed a line of high-end make-ups and skin care creams that have been sold around the world since 1966 in stores like Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.  But Dr. Laszlo didn’t stop there.  He also created four separate products for the treatment of acne that constitute the ERNO LASZLO Acne Treatment System.  It isn’t sold as a kit, so what are the four individual products you need to get the full effect? 

Beta Wash

A 6.8 oz bottle of ERNO LASZLO’s Beta Wash sells for $40.   You only need a very small amount though which you dilute with water, so it should last a while.  It’s oil free and contains algae extracts to detoxify the skin, chamomile to calm, and rosemary, sage, and myrrh which are all botanical healers. 

Total Blemish Treatment

The ERNO LASZLO Total Blemish Treatment is a 2 oz bottle of liquid that sells for $90 and is applied to clean skin 1-3 times a day.  It contains some plant extracts, but the number one ingredient is salicylic acid, and it can cause dryness and/or irritation. 

Targeted Blemish Treatment

This .5 oz tube sells for $35 (that works out to be $70 an ounce, ouch!) and is reserved for those “special emergencies”.  It’s applied to existing blemishes (be sure your skin is clean) 1-3 times a day.  It contains rosemary, sage, eucalyptus, and peppermint, but it also contains salicylic acid so you might run into the same dryness and irritation that can be caused by the Total Blemish Treatment. 

Beta Mask

ERNO LASZLO’s Beta Mask comes in a 3.3 oz size and will cost you $50.  Unlike most masks it is only applied to the affected areas (again, make sure your skin is clean).  Wash off after 10-15 minutes.  The Beta Mask contains 1% Salicylic Acid.

The total cost for all four products, if purchased from the official ERNO LASZLO website, is $215, and some of the bottles are pretty small.  So, is it worth it?

The ERNO LASZLO Acne Treatment System is recommended for teenagers and adults.  It’s approved for sensitive skin, but contains Salicylic Acid in three of the four products, hence the drying and irritation.  Salicylic Acid comes from the bark of the willow tree, so it’s a plant derivative but it’s still a pretty harsh chemical.  Just because the ERNO LASZLO products cost more than the products sold at your local drugstore doesn’t mean they’re more effective.  You can find rows of Salicylic Acid containing washes, creams, and lotions at the nearest Walmart and you’ll save yourself a little time as well as a lot of coin, but if you do decide to try the ERNO LASZLO line and you aren’t satisfied you can return products for a refund if returned within 90 days in the original packaging.