I've never seen anywhere that you shouldn't use benzoyl peroxide and antioxidants together (in fact, Paula's reps say that it's ok to put antioxidant concentrate on top of BP gel), but it just seems so logical that you shouldn't. Am I not understanding something right?

BP works by releasing an oxygen molecule and killing the bacteria that cause acne because it cannot live in the presence of oxygen. Antioxidants work by inactivating free radicals. And oxygen molecules are free radicals. So in theory you should not put products with lots of antioxidants on top of benzoyl peroxide.

Paula used to recommend using hydrogen peroxide for killing acne-causing bacteria, but now she says it's bad because it releases free radicals, and that you should use benzoyl peroxide instead. Does it work differently (she doesn't say)?

I've also noticed that amost no benzoyl peroxide products, except maybe Clinique's, contain antioxidants. Paula's don't, prescription types don't, persa gel, oxy & co don't...