Differin gel: the prescription retinoid you can now buy off the shelf, and how to get through the first month
Differin was the first prescription retinoid sold over the counter. How it works, how to start it, and why the first month is the hard part.
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Researched. We have not used this one long enough to give you a verdict, and we would rather say so than invent one. What follows is how it works, who it suits, and what it will not do. When we have used it properly, this page carries the verdict and the date.
Differin Gel is adapalene 0.1%. Until 2016 it was prescription only; that year it moved to over-the-counter sale, and it became the first retinoid of its kind you could buy without seeing a doctor.
It is a drug
That matters. Most skincare is a cosmetic, which by law can only claim to change how skin looks. Differin is an approved acne medicine, with a Drug Facts panel on the box like any medicine. That panel is worth reading.
What adapalene does
Adapalene is a retinoid. It works in the pore, changing how cells are shed there so they are less likely to clump into the plug that becomes a blackhead or a spot. Because it works on what is forming rather than on what is already there, it is slow.
Compared with tretinoin, the classic prescription retinoid, adapalene is generally considered gentler on the skin. We explain the family in retinoids, and why frequency beats strength.
How to start
- A pea-sized amount for the whole face, after cleansing, on dry skin.
- Once a day, in the evening. If you are worried about irritation, use it every second or third night for the first couple of weeks.
- Moisturizer on top.
- Sunscreen every morning, without exception. Retinoids make skin more sensitive to the sun; see what SPF measures.
The first month
This is where most people give up. In the early weeks skin can turn dry, pink, tight or flaky, and some people see a few extra spots before things improve. The label warns about irritation in the early weeks.
It usually settles. If it becomes severe, the label says to stop and ask a doctor. Otherwise, plan on about three months before you judge the results.
Combining it
Go carefully with other strong actives at the same time, such as acids, benzoyl peroxide or scrubs, especially at the start. Our guide to salicylic acid covers one common pairing.
Read the label
Not for cuts, sunburn or broken skin; keep it away from eyes and lips. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the label says to ask a health professional before using it.
Who it suits
Anyone with breakouts, blackheads or clogged pores who wants a proven active and can be patient for a few months.
What it will not do
It will not clear things overnight. It will not suit someone who skips sunscreen. And it will not be gentle in the first few weeks for everyone.
Differin Gel, adapalene 0.1%: the original over-the-counter retinoid for acne.
The product
The one people are searching for is the Differin Adapalene Gel.
We do not print prices here, because a price we typed last month is a price that is wrong today.
Written by JamieG in Garner Town, Tennessee.
JamieG
Skincare and fragrance. Garner Town, Tennessee — population 125, two of whom are us.
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