Differin Acne Retinoid Treatment Gel, 0.1% Adapalene, 15g Tube

Background on my skin: I have combination oily skin. I am pretty sensitive to things, especially due to eczema. I also have hormonal problems (which I am taking pills for) to add to that. So, I typically would get the big, hurtful, annoying, last for like ever cyst acne more so than the other kinds of acne. Because of my hormones, they most often were located on my chin. I use Clinique for my facial skin needs but more recently I had been having problems controlling the cystic acne, especially on the chin region. My friend started Differin a few weeks prior and said that I should try it/look into it. I read up on it and decided to give it a try. Here are my findings: 1. I was not allergic to Differin. That's a big plus. Sometimes my skin can be weird and it takes a few weeks before my skin decides that this is a bad thing and rebels. I am about 3.5 months into Differin and I have not had a reaction. (An allergic reaction for me is like getting a really itchy sunburn. It also takes forever to get back to normal.) 2. This is not a quick fix. Consider it a lifestyle change. You will need to be consistent and I would suggest using it for at least 3 months before moving on. From what I read, this is because your skin is relearning and this takes time. 3. You will most likely have a purging period and it really sucks. My purging period happened around week 4. You will get more acne than before. Yes, it really sucked and hurt because they were still cystic acne. However, you might begin to notice cystic acne does not last as long. 4. This is not a cure for acne. You are not going to magically never get a pimple again in your life with this. It will, however, help make them smaller and heal a lot faster. 5. This may be very drying for some people and you may have to change your routine up a bit. Some people found it better to apply their moisturizer (to clean skin) prior to using Differin - like my friend. I have oily skin so I did not. Find a routine that works. If you are using moisturizer and are still drying out, try cutting back the Differin at first. Then slowly add it in until you can use every day or every other. 6. This should go without saying but...if you go outside, use a sunscreen. Differin can make you more sensitive to the sun. My other skin products already had the warning so I didn't need to worry about changing this to my routine. 7. Use only once per day. I do so at night. 8. One tube should last between 2-3 months, depending on the size of your face. You really only need a pea-size portion. Do not overuse and do not spot treatment. So, about 3.5 months in, I have definitely noticed a major change for the good. I have cut all other acne products (minus the little bit in my foundation which I plan on stopping when I finish my supply. Wish me luck on that!) I still get random pimples but they don't last long and thankfully, my chin does not look like bubblewrap hidden under makeup anymore. In summary: I would definitely recommend this product but suggest to be careful. Watch what you are using with it. You might have to change your skin regime. Use moisturizer and sunscreen. Take a breath and get through the purging phase. Obviously, do not continue to use the product if you are allergic. Have patience! It might really be worth it. Good luck to everyone out there. You're not alone!

I have been using Differin for over a year now (around 14 months giver or take) and did not publish a review until now. If you want an in-depth review, read on. For the tl;dr version: it works, just stick with it. Btw, I was not paid for this nor was I sent this product (although they should be sending it, given how many tubes I've bought). I had the MOST TERRIBLE acne. No, I'm not talking about a small tiny excuse of a blemish that your friend with great skin complains about when she has her "bad skin" days. My face was RED and PAINFUL. My cheeks were COVERED all the time, and I had no area on my face where acne wouldn't pop up. Nose, brows, chin, jaw, underneath the jaw, you name it. I had tried Curology and while my skin got amazing for the first 6 months, my acne returned with a VENGEANCE. I had tried so many things, clay masks, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, other AHAs and BHAs, sulfur, rosehip oil, and even supplements like zinc and milk thistle, you name it. Nothing worked at all. I was so so embarrassed of my skin, but I couldn't wear makeup either since makeup made my acne SO MUCH worse. I heard about Differin and I figured "well, might as well give this a try cause it can't get any worse". Boy, I was wrong. It did get worse. Much worse. Suddenly I had SO much more acne and I felt like crap. I couldn't believe my skin could get worse, but it did. Differin was the only thing I was using so I knew this was it. I was depressed but I stuck with it, cause I wanted to test it for at least 4 months. I thought I might as well test the claim, since my skin is so bad already. The first month was really really bad. It brought all underlying acne to the surface i.e. the purge phase. It did the purging for 3-4 months, but the first month was THE WORST. Not gonna lie to you, that first month will probably be the worst skin you've had in your life. Your skin will become SO SENSITIVE! Anticipate that! My skin has never been sensitive to products but while using this, my regular moisturizers and masks would sting like crazy (get stuff with no fragrance/alcohol or acids!). It didn't affect my skin in any other way, it just stung a lot. Oh, and I used to get my upper lip and brows waxed. Not with this you can't, the wax will tear off your skin since it gets much more sensitive. I learned the hard way. ONLY do threading! However, after I waited out the terrible, terrible first month, I slowly began to see improvements. Marginal, though. I had acne, but I probably had just a tad less. And it continued that way, it kept improving. Eventually, my skin was so much clearer than before! I still had acne, mind you, it's not a miracle drug, but it was few and far in between. There would be times when I had no active acne, which was HUGE for me!! My face usually looked like a connect the dots game. However, I did hit a plateau. This worked phenomenally at reducing my ugly acne all over my face to a few zits here and there, however, my issue was deeper than that. Eventually, I went to a doctor and got on spironolactone. Now, I am both on my Spiro and this. The combo of these two have made my skin so clear! I could have never imagined this day! I still need to use this, I have noticed my Spiro is not enough to keep zits at bay and if I skip a couple of nights putting on differin, new zits come up. I am so much happier now that I don't have zillions of gross zits on my face. I still get zits if I eat sugar or near my period but man, I am a long way from before! I have a few blemishes left over from before but I honestly don't care, my skin looks wayyy better. I can hide my blemishes with a sheer foundation of spot concealing if I want. So if you've read till the end, the lesson is: be PATIENT and be realistic! Your acne did not appear overnight and will not disappear overnight. If you stick with this, it WILL work. However, your mileage may vary. My acne was extremely bad, so after I hit my "acne plateau" I went to the doctor. If your acne is not as bad, it's likely differin is all you need for clear skin! If you're on the fence, confused, depressed, frustrated and/or can't afford a doctor, it's worth a shot! Just be patient and gentle with your skin!

We purchased Differin for my teenage daughter’s acne after hearing so many dermatologists recommend adapalene, and it has absolutely earned a permanent place in her skincare routine. It’s important to know that this isn’t an overnight treatment. She experienced the typical “purging” phase during the first several weeks, but once we stayed consistent, we started seeing a noticeable improvement in both active breakouts and the overall texture of her skin. New blemishes became less frequent, and existing acne healed more quickly. A little goes a long way—a pea-sized amount is enough for the entire face. We use it only at night and make sure she wears moisturizer because it can be drying at first. Daily sunscreen is also a must since retinoids can make skin more sensitive to the sun. If you’re just starting Differin, my biggest advice is to introduce it slowly (a few nights a week at first) and be patient. The results are worth the wait. For anyone looking for an effective over-the-counter acne treatment backed by years of research, I would definitely recommend giving Differin a try.

Here is what I did to avoid the fate of purging and negative skin rashes..... Don't: 1) Don't use on raw EXFOLIATED skin. Wait a couple days after exfoliating. 2) Don't use a SUDSING cleansing soap prior. Use a mild hydrating Cleanser. 3) Don't use after getting your skin waxed or shaved. 4) Avoid hot water and steam before use. 5) Do NOT go stand in the sun after applying (retin works by thinning the top layer of your skin which is usually used for protection against the sun). Don't take your chances! 6) do not apply to eyelids or neck or other thin skin areas including the inside of your wrists. You can apply Vaseline to these areas if needed to protect them. 7) don't freak out if your face flakes and don't scrub the flakes off. Moisturizer is your friend. 8) don't scratch at your skin if itches or burns, stay calm, rinse it off with cool water. Apply a gentle cream and then apply a cool wash cloth. Consider diluting before using again. 9) don't assume because your neighbor next door can use twice a day on fresh scrubbed skin with no adverse effects, that the same will be true for you. Adverse skin reactions can take weeks or months to heal from. 10) do NOT apply generously all over your skin. Pea size only on face. Do: 1) plan on using once or twice a week at first for the first month. Remember "sparingly" is your motto. 2) Have a natural moisture barrier on your face first. Be sure you have not scrubbed your skin raw or clean prior and make sure face is danp prior to applying. 3) if you have ultra sensitive skin, apply a gentle moisturizer FIRST before applying differin. Allow to dry before applying differin. 4) do apply a creamy moisturizer after if needed. Wait five minutes before you do. 5) do also apply sunscreen RELIGIOUSLY if you will be outdoors. So important!!!! 6) do research "purging" and what you can do to minimize or avoid it. 7) do remember that this product is a MEDICATION and not your typical OTC cream. Use sparingly and with caution. 8) do remember that moisture is your friend. After cleansing, avoid drying your skin with towels. Avoid air drying as well. 9) do remember that with this product "less is more". It is potent stuff! Once or twice a week treatments alone will make a difference. 10) keep a good repair Cream on hand in possible event of harsh reaction or irritated skin. I recommend "first aid beauty ultra repair cream". This stuff is amazing. Hydrocortisone cream can also be used. MOST IMPORTANTLY: it takes 6-12 weeks of patient and measured use before seeing positive long term results for acne. It can take up to a year before seeing positive results for aged and wrinkled skin. MY RESULTS: I started out at a twice a week and had no reaction except for mild redness, itching and tingling the following two days afterwards. When I tried to increase to three days a week, I started having issues. The solution to this was to revamp my skin care routine (listed below). After that, I was able to switch pretty rapidly to nightly use. The GAME CHANGER was adding First Aid Ultra Hydrating Cream. I've included my before and six week after photos. My acne is gone and my pores most definitely shrunk. I used the same room and lighting and I notice that my skin has become much brighter and lighter. My guess is in removing the thing top layer of skin, we no longer see the old tanned skin I had. So far, I am happy with the results. I am 38 years old. My long term goal is to prevent deep wrinkles and shrink my pores and hopefully reduce white Milia bumps under my eyes as well as all random acne and age spots. I know from researching this can take months and years so I'm feeling patient. MY CURRENT DIFFERIN APPLICATION: My morning routine: - CereVe Hydrating Cleanser - After rinsing, I apply Timewise Vitamin C Serum with the added F acid. - Then, I apply a thin layer of Sunscreen: La Roche-Posay Anthelios with Mexoryl SX OR CeraVe SPF 30. *note: I believe the Vitamin C Serum helped with quicker skin cell turnover rate to prevent purging. In the evenings: - I double cleanse: first I use Yes To Coconuts Uktra Hydrating Creme Cleanser. After I rinse that off, I cleanse with CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser. - I allow skin to stay damp. - I then apply a pea size amount of differin to my face (never on neck or eyelids). - after about minutes, I follow that with First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream. - I apply CeraVe Skin renewing Serum to my eyes and neck and chest. - note: I only use retin A products at night to decrease sun sensitivity. In the mornings, I use all my other acids and Vitamin C. Be aware that most of the negative reviews on here are mostly due to user error and lack of knowledge in the product. There is no reason to have terrible breakouts or harm your skin. I'm horrified people are using this on their NECK right away. Poor skin! This is a potent product. Good luck!

This is not for mild acne. I don't think people with moderate acne should use this as a first resort, either. This is a retinoid if I remember correctly. It speeds up cell turnover, and increases photosensitivity. If you're using this, you MUST use a sunscreen, or acne scars will be more pronounced, your skin will get sun damage easily, and overall not look as great as this product can make you look. Do some research on sunscreens without comodegenic ingredients. I've been using the one month tube for about two months now, and I've used about 1/3-1/2 of the tube. You really don't need much. You want to apply as little as possible, and start out using it only once a week. Otherwise, your skin, starting to speed up it's cell turnover process, will start to peel, flake, among other unpleasant, dry and crackley negative effects. This can and will destroy your moisture barrier, making it 50 times easier for anything and everything to break you out. DON'T DO IT. How and when to use this: When you're getting INFLAMMATORY acne. If you're just getting blackheads and whiteheads, you can try a BHA or AHA, and start using 1-2 times a week. These are much less harsh and have a good chance of working exactly as intended. If you frequently get pustules, papules, cysts and nodules, this may be a good option for you. If you get a lot of cysts/nodules, go see a dermatologist. They can give you something stronger that will work better for you. This can also be used for texture issues, hyperpigmentation, and the like, but I recommend starting with a lower dose of an AHA product, because they are much less harsh and typically do a better job (faster, too) at fixing those issues. My issue: since 4th grade, I've had acne. I started to get cystic acne in 7th grade, and now as a college freshman, it was getting kind of annoying. I was rotating a BHA/AHA around before using this. Those worked okay, but I still had what would be considered moderate acne- not good. I DO have seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp, so it's possible I also suffer from pittysporum folliculitis (spelling may be wrong,) aka fungal acne, on the face. That BHA/AHA combo, along with a mostly Asian, hydration intensive routine, didn't do enough. My moisture barrier was incredible, though. I've used it two months now. You're supposed to wait THREE months to start seeing any true effect. This is not for the impatient. DO NOT use this with any other acne product. You need a gentle cleanser, a hydrating toner/essence/serum/Ampoule, a moisturizer, and a good sunscreen to use in the morning. An oil cleanser is also a good idea to make sure you remove all sunscreen at the end of the day. What I've noticed: The only times I get deep, painful acne, are the days where I miss that spot. I'm getting blackheads less and less. I'm getting whiteheads, but much less frequently. Nodular acne? Nope, not since before I started. Cystic acne? A few, but I'm getting them less and less. Papule/pustule/other? Still getting some, but nothing like I used to. Mostly in under eye area which is too sensitive for differin. I have not paid attention to my scarring/redness, because I use other products for those. I do think my texture is a bit worse, but I intend to work on that more once my acne is maintained. I started at once a week. Skin handled it, no problem. Went up to twice. Doing fine. Decided to go up to four times because I'm a rebel (translation: impatient.) Then, did every other day. Now I'm using it daily. My skin is a tad overexfoliated, so I've cut back to 6 times a week for now, but it's working very well. Please note: my skin can handle using 5 different high percentages of BHA products at once. Most people's skin cannot tolerate that. Slowly work your way up. Do not expect immediate effects. Use sunscreen and an oil cleanser to remove it. HYDRATE- no one is too oily for a moisturizer. I have very oily skin and the right moisturizer/toner only help, and can make you less oily. Don't overdo it. And lastly, BE PATIENT. I'm trying to work my way to being able to tolerate differin and my BHA. Not everyone can do this. This will not work for everyone, because everyone's skin is different.

I’ve been using this product consistently for over a year, and it’s wonderful! I have hormonal acne, and it has made a huge difference in reducing my breakouts. At first, it may cause some redness or even a few extra pimples, but don’t give up, it’s part of the process. Stick with it, and it’s worth the results!

Differin also known as adapaline, is always the standard that dermatologists recommend when you start. It's a retinoid, but it also stronger on the skin... for most people, this is enough and really helps the skin, it is popular and recommended for a reason... My dermatologist told me to use it on my face and body. She said to expect a skin purge, some irritation, and a bit of peeling at first, but I would adjust to it... I'm stubborn, and at first it kind of hurt on my face and neck, but I expected that. Then it started getting worse instead of better. I should have listened to my body and stopped when it wasn't getting better. But I didn't, and I ended up with a chemical burn and she had to write an rx for Triamcinalone cream to deal with it, mostly on my neck it had a hard time healing and it stung... a lot. And took a long time to fully heal, now it is fully healed and you can't tell it happened. On my body, it was fine and remained fine (though, my body has developed a resistance to it and it no longer works so I'm only using it every so often if the acne on my back is particularly bad. Like I said, it is recommended for a reason and most people it is successful in helping. But absolutely do a spot test, and even then, if it starts feeling worse more than better, stop using it rather than trying to push through. Also note, if you are using it. Don't forget sunscreen. It makes you more sensitive to the sun. And also if you are using it on your face and body, a 90 day supply is a good option because it lasted me about 30 days.

This is a great product! But there is a side effect you should make sure you're ready for. I'm almost 26yrs old & I've been struggling with acne since I was a teen. I had been using Aveeno Clear Complection face wash for years & it usually kept it under control. The past few months my skin just kept getting worse & worse (no change to my diet, skin products, etc.) & no idea what caused my skin to have such horrible breakouts. I decided to look into Proactiv to help. I know a few people who have been on it & half loved it & half hated it. But all of them hated the price & how difficult it was to unsubscribe. That made me not want to get Proactiv. I did more research & found this product, Differin. It has the exact same amount of Adapalene Gel .1% as the ProactivMD Acne Treatment gel. It's basically the same product, they just charge you 2x or 3x the cost for it, depending on the size you order. With that in mind, I order the Differin gel & Differin Gentle Cleanser. Now I did read the reviews on the Differin gel. I knew it would cause dry skin. But I didn't worry about it because I knew I had a pretty good moisturizer (Bio Oil is not meant to be used as a moisturizer but I accidently discovered it makes an awesome one) that I've been using for at least a year. However, when I started using the Differin products, my beloved moisturizer did Not stand a chance. I switched to an Aveeno face moisturizer & Nope, that didn't work either. My skin felt Raw. It was so dry, it started to peel which then made my skin feel raw, itchy & so red. I started shopping around buying different face moisturizers & every one I used made my skin feel like it was set on fire. It burned. I guess because it was raw, I'm not sure. I didn't want to stop using the Differin product because I had read in other reviews that the dryness & peeling was normal & a good sign that the product is working (hard to believe, I know), all I had to do was use a good moisturizer. So I did some more research for what I could use for very dry & itchy skin. A few websites suggested a number of things that I already wasted money on except petroleum jelly (aka Vaseline). I know... Vaseline? On my face? It's really thick, won't it clog my pores? I had given just about everything else a try & my skin was screaming for relief. A website said the thickness of it helps prevent waterloss in the skin. So I decided to give it a try. Oh my goodness.... It worked!! After a couple of days the dryness, peeling, & itchiness was almost completely gone. After a little over a week, no more redness, no more rawness & no more anything. Well I still had acne, lol. The greasy texture takes some getting use to. I apply small dabs & rub it in, leaving a thin layer to soak in. Okay, I found an excellent moisturizer to combat the drying side effect of the Differin products. Since I've been using all three; Differin gel, Differin Gentle Cleanser, & Vaseline. My skin is looking Amazing. I started using the gel daily but it was/is too much for my skin. So instead I use it every other day but I use the cleanser & moisturize daily & nightly. You will go through a "purge" phase. This is normal for most acne products, even Proactiv. So don't be scared away when this happens. Think of it like it's digging out all of the built up junk that's been lying under your skin, waiting to pop up at the most inconvenient time like a date or job interview. For me, it's been about a month. I battled the dry skin side effect & patiently waited out the purge phase & now my skin is truly looking amazing & so much better. I still have acne but only about 50% of what I had when I started. Your skin might take longer or less time to purge before clearing up. Just be consistent. Be patient. Don't chicken out. And be realistic, this is not a one week or one month cure. It'll take time & you'll have to continue using it even when you're acne is gone. Or else it'll come back. So you might as well buy the 2 large bottles. I've already order again & plan on using these products long term. My advice.... Buy this product!! You won't regret it. Just make sure you have a really good moisturizer. I would add a photo of my skin now but it wouldn't mean much because there's no before photo so you would have no idea of how bad my acne was when I started. Just know, I'm very impressed after one month.