Differin Adapalene Prescription Strength Retinoid Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment (Up to 90 Day Supply), 45 Gram

tl;dr: 10/10 recommend, leaves my skin smooth, no breakouts since I started. Def wash your hands after applying, as small traces will transfer on other parts of your skin if you touch - I got a reaction this way on my arm and knee. Once I started washing my hands after use, no problem. I also find myself using a bigger scoop of face lotion as it does dry me out a bit. A quick backstory about my skincare. I had horrible acne as a kid. After high school, thinking it would always just get better, my mom took me to a dermatologist to get treatment. For reference, my acne was so bad the first recommendation was Accutane. Thankfully, my mom said no, and I went on antibiotics that helped clear me up. Additionally, I’m a night shower girly, so I apply this at night with all my skincare, not in the morning. I’d say I’m normal skin but slightly oily in the t-zone. Now, 27, I’m trying to just get nicer looking skin. I’ll get a break out during my period of 1-3 pimples, all hormonal and really what can you do lol, but sometimes I just get that nasty cyst and want to cry. Years of horrible cystic acne has just left me with poor skin texture as I was a picker, so I’m looking to improve it. I also just have large pores on my nose and a bit on my chin. 7/23 - Got the Differin gel. This is my timeline of use. 7/28, about a week in, and I felt the side effects of the tingling/burning. This only was prominent when I put my skincare on, lasted less than 20 seconds. In the morning when I put on spray sunscreen it also burned. The burning feeling is very minimal, 5-10 seconds. I overall have sensitive skin everywhere, not just my face. This was a prime side effect when I read up on use. One thing I did notice is I was a bit more dry than usual, developing dry patches (pretty small, flaked right off and not itchy) and the unevenness in my skin seemed to be more prominent - I looked more red and splotchy. My skin just got really irritated more since using. Online reviews recommend 2-4 weeks of these symptoms and needing to get through the month, so that’s the goal! 8/1, almost two weeks, redness flair has died down and burning is noticeable less when makeup or skincare/lotion is applied. Dry skin and the patchyness is about the same. 8/8 - Burning feeling is gone. One thing is that I apply this at night after I shower (night showers) and then I apply my body lotion. That small residue that is going on my body has caused parts to get really dry and small pimples. Make sure if you are applying this that you are washing your hands afterwards before you apply anything else on another part of your body. The dryness on my arms killed! 8/25 - Overall, my skin always feels smooth! I would wake up in the morning and where I have larger pores it would feel bumpy, but not anymore! Will continue to use!

Ok, to begin, give this stuff about 2-3 weeks of use before judging it. Secondly, I use this for rosacea, not acne, so if you are looking to use it for that, keep reading. I was diagnosed with rosacea about a year and a half ago. I get rough red bumps on my cheeks and forehead. They aren't super noticeable, but they make my skin not look as smooth and sometimes get worse depending on what I eat/drink. My dermatologist wrote me a prescription for Finacea foam, but the cost of it keeps going up. I was paying $240 a month for it. Rosacea is considered a cosmetic condition, not something detrimental to your health, so insurance doesn't help out a lot for the meds. Anyway, after getting sick of paying so much for a prescription, I started looking at other options. On a rosacea forum I saw a dermatologist recommend Differin and decided to try it. Here's my experience. The first two weeks were hell. I put on Differin every night before bed and it would burn the heck out of my face. My cheeks would get redder, my skin would feel overly tight and almost like I had a sunburn, and the dryness was unstoppable. No matter how much lotion I put on my skin was constantly flaking.Then on top of that, from the constant lotion use I started to get pimples. I never get pimples. Ugh!! I honestly only "hung in there" out of desperation. After about roughly 2 weeks of use, my face stopped drying out, and the rosacea is just as minimized as when I was using the prescription foam. I am so thankful I stuck with this! I do not have to constantly slather on lotion, and my skin looks great. If I may suggest a tip though...use a good facial cleanser in the shower that smooths your skin. I started using Cetaphil in the shower on my face and it has done wonders in combination with the Differin. The Cetaphil was cheap (roughly $6 at Target) and it makes my skin soft and clean while the differin keeps the rosacea away. I've attached a picture from this morning, after about 3 weeks of Differin use. It is a super close up so you can see how smooth my skin looks. Yes, I have a lot of pinkness in my cheeks still due to the rosacea, but I don't mind that...I only mind the gross bumps I get that make me look like Freddy Krueger. I hope this review is helpful if you are suffering like I was. Best of luck to you on your journey to fight rosacea.

Differin changed my life. I suffer from severe cystic acne on my cheeks, surface acne on my forehead and temples, large pores, rosacea, and hormonal acne around my jaw. I’ve tried every non-prescription product on the market with no resolution. Literally... EVERY PRODUCT. I started breaking out when I was about 12, and it’s been a battle ever since. I’ve been using differin for roughly five and a half months. I initially found it at a drug store, and figured “why not?” I had tried everything else, and was on the verge of consulting a dermatologist. The “purging” phase around weeks 4-6 was anything but awesome, but I stuck through it knowing that it was temporary, and that the acne that arose during that time was going to “pop up” regardless. Differin just made it happen all at once Instead of having random break out back to back. I suffered from really sever redness, sensitivity, and peeling skin around my nose and mouth. By week 10, most of my acne had greatly reduced, my pores seemed smaller, and the dry skin around my mouth and nose had resolved (I bought the night moisturizer, and it helped a ton!). Now, five and a half months later, my pores are barely noticeable, my redness is all but gone, and I have ZERO breakouts for the first time in the last 20 years. Before you buy differin, don’t expect instant gratification. Be aware that it’s a process, but if you stick through it, the results are worth it. Things WILL get worse before they get better (so I guess it’s a good thing we’re all wearing masks to cover our faces during the purging phase, right?). Be sure to use a really good night time moisturizer. I bought the differin night moisturizer, and it worked great (not too thick, and doesn’t smell). I also applied a light SPF moisturizer during the day. You will develop dry skin if you don’t moisturize, and there are times during the purging phase when your face will be sensitive to touch (but not overtly painful). Picture collage for progress: Upper left -Day Zero Upper middle- Week 7 Upper right - Week 14 Bottom - Week 22 (Top row is immediately after washing my face or using the product. Lower photo is the morning after using the product. This is without makeup!) No airbrushing/photo editing/or makeup have been used on any of these photos. My pores are TINY now and my redness is almost resolved. I initially went in hoping that it would clear up acne, but was pleasantly surprised that it also helped with pores and redness! I feel incredibly confident now, and never dreamed my skin would look this good.

I purchased this for keratosis pilaris on my arms. I've struggled with that as long as I can remember. Also referred to as "chicken skin" it's unsightly red bumps that sometimes itch and they form little white heads at the surface. It's a build up of the protein called keratin that plugs the hair follicles which then become inflamed and form like a small pimple. Some people have it on their arms and legs and face sometimes. There is no "cure" and for most people it goes away as you get older but not me. About three years ago my dermatologist prescribed me Differin lotion which at the time was only available by prescription. It worked GREAT! But it was over $100 a bottle. So I started doing research online and found that the Differin lotion ingredient "adapalene" would soon be available over the counter which is what led me here. So far this has worked great for me. I no longer scrub my arms to exfoliate these bumps as I've heard that can make it worse instead I mix coconut oil with apple cider vinegar in the shower and let it sit while I shampoo, condition, shave etc and then use a dry brush to clean off my arms. After the shower I apply this lotion. The bumps are almost completely gone meaning my arms are smooth they don't feel like I have goosebumps anymore. The only thing left is the redness which I've got fingers crossed that'll go away after 6 weeks of use. I've been using for about four weeks now. Make sure to use sunscreen when using this product it makes your skin very sensitive. The reason I'm giving the product 4 stars is because I wish they had a bigger size. I've already used almost the whole thing and it's only been a month. I understand it's not meant for my arms which is a bigger surface area than my face but people have acne other places than their face and the cost adds up.

I've been using Adapalene.1% (the active ingredient in Differin) since 2017ish. I struggled with acne scars causing hyperpigmentation spots. I was first given a topical cream by my primary care physician that helped calm major acne, but I was left with almost PURPLE scarring. Over the course of 5 years, I used Differin just about daily and it calmed down the frequency/TENACITY of my breakouts, evened my skin texture, and helped a bit with the scaring. I was so embarrassed to take pictures until my skin began to clear. I pair this with benzoyl peroxide 4-5% wash and 1-4% for spot treatments when I feel acne coming up/treat breakouts. Benzoyl Peroxide and Adapalene are a dream team! In the morning, I apply an occlusive moisturizer to protect my eye area that is prone to eczema, and then apply Differin to a wet face followed by a basic moisturizer and sunscreen. My skin at age 24 looks better than it did when I was 19! I experienced dryness and slow improvements the first 4ish months, and it wasn't until a full year later when my sister gasped when she noticed the absense of my spots. Staying consistent, using a pea sized amount, and wearing sunscreen is key. You only need a very tiny amount all over your face for it to be skin AND cost effective. I've had periods of time in which I stopped using Adapalene in lieu of trying other trendy ingredients and noticed that my acne popped back up, not to the severity of how it once was, but enough to make me go BACK to Differin. In the past month or so, I've been supporting Differin's anti-hyperpigmentation efforts by pairing it with Vitamin C in the morning, and not using it at night to use Faded by Topicals. I think I'll need another year to see the full results of that experiment, but I can always rely on Adapalene.1% to be there for me.

Using Differin has been the best “first step” in eliminating acne breakouts and improving the skin tone of my adult acne-prone skin. I was scared to use this product at first, especially after reading all about this so-called “purge” period. Sincerely worried to pieces that I would wake up looking like the guy in Hitch (not Will Smith) after he had the allergic reaction!! Lol But it actually wasn’t that bad for me. I ended up buying Dermalogica’s Super Rich Repair cream to use on top of the Differin at night.... (sometimes under the Differin depending on how dry my skin was at that moment). And that stuff turned out to be absolute magic in and of itself. The purge for me was mainly severely dry skin, and flaking that wasn’t cute under makeup. Mostly around my nose and mouth. After a couple of weeks, the dryness subsided and my skin started to become smooth and clear. I also began using the Differin Spot serum on top of the acne gel at night, and my skin improved even more. (Apparently using them together facilitates how well both products work) I am not a very patient person but I am glad I waited it out with this brand. Plus I kept reading about the benefits of Differin ingredients on adult skin (wrinkles and lines, etc). Be advised though, this is definitely not a moisturizer. You will absolutely need a moisturizer with this, regardless of skin type (mine is combo). I use Cetaphil Gentle Face cleanser too since Differin is potent. At this price point, I would recommend Differin to anybody wanting to see a huge improvement in hyperpigmentation (dark spots from acne past), acne breakouts, and uneven skin tone/texture. It improved all of the above for me! I ended up adding a few serums from The Ordinary after several months of Differin and I promise I can’t remember the last time my skin was this amazingly clear, smooth, bright, and glowy (not greasy). Blemishes be gone.... Good luck y’all!!

I'm a guy who has had moderate facial, back and arm acne from my late teens that has persisted into my early thirties. Like many acne sufferers I have tried every combination of over-the-counter commercial products and every "regimen" from online acne forums, from the "caveman regimen", to vitamin overloading, epsom salt baths, apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, numerous diet changes. and so on. I have spent many summers in long sleeve tee shirts, avoiding the beach, skipping social events, and nearly always wearing a hat set low over my forehead. I was always reluctant to see an actual dermatologist, and the only thing that's kept me from becoming too depressed about it was knowing there were people with acne 100 times worse than mine. I started using Differin about 8 months ago, and this is the closest thing to a miracle I have ever seen. Right now I'd say my acne has been reduced to about 80% of what it was a year ago. For the first time I have been wearing short sleeves consistently in public, and less conscious of grabbing a ball cap when heading outside. I never had the "purge" that some people describe. As I said my acne has been moderate for years, always with 5-10 minor spots and 1-2 major spots which would take 2 weeks to heal, all complicated by the fact that I'm a perpetual picker and poker. I did experience 3-4 weeks of bad flaking/scaling which I tried to relieve with acne compatible lotion. Sometimes I would take a few days to give my skin a break if it started to get too sensitive or flake excessively. Right now I probably have about 5 minor spots across my face, and it has been months since I've had a "major" spot that takes forever to heal. Overall the biggest improvement has been to decrease the spots that I pick and poke at, especially on my upper arm acne. I've been inconsistent about using it on my back, but when I do, the acne is definitely less visible. Reading through various comments here, I'd say Differin is most helpful for people like me with moderate adult acne. Although Differing has had the biggest impact, I also endorse a significant amount of the change to altering eating habits to be more healthy (no sugary drinks, and higher amount of vegetables and lean meats, less carbs and fats). I'm hoping to give this through next summer and finally be rid of acne for good!

HOLY GRAIL. Best over night skin care product ever. Have been using this gel for the past 10 years and I have never strayed from it. will always repurchase. Large tube lasts forever and a little goes a long way. I put it on affected areas as needed before going to bed and can see significant differences in my skin by morning on acne and blemishes