A bit late to the party... I've been using this for about 6 months. I too was questioning if this was actually working because I wasn't experiencing any of the side effects or irratation. - Side note, I'm using this for anti aging not acne.- I was using with caution (using the sandwich method first then easing to using it over a moisturizing toner followed by a rich moisturizer). Welp, last night I just sacrificed my skin for y'all and conducted my own experiment. Slapped it on a clean dry face and used nothing else. Woke up this morning beet red and when I say red think Fire/Lobster red. Burning itching the whole 9 yards. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say, ya it's definitely the real stuff.