Differin Gel Adapalene Acne Treatment Review With Photos

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Acne treatments aren’t the sexiest thing in the world to talk about — most people would rather check out a new mascara or fancy serum — but when one works as well as the Differin Gel Adapalene Acne Treatment ($12, originally $15), I can’t help but sing its praises from the rooftops. It’s affordable (even more so now that it’s on sale for Amazon’s October Prime Day), fast-acting, accessible, and, most importantly, actually works. My recommendation? Get it while you can, because the sale won’t last forever. Keep reading for my full review of the Differin Gel Adapalene Acne Treatment.

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What I Like About Differin Gel Adapalene Acne Treatment

Before I get into the review, a little background info: I started experiencing hormonal acne shortly after my 21st birthday. When I finally went to a dermatologist for help, I was prescribed spironolactone (my savior) and prescription-grade retinol. The oral medication worked like a charm; the prescription-grade retinol, while it cleared up my acne, wrecked my face in other ways. I stuck with it for about a year before throwing out the tube and swearing off retinol entirely. Then, I discovered the Differin Gel Adapalene Acne Treatment. I kept seeing articles about it everywhere, and industry friends couldn’t stop talking about its efficacy. Considering it was available for free two-day shipping with my Prime account on Amazon, I figured it was worth a try. That was a little over a year ago, and I haven’t stopped using it since.

I know you’ve probably heard beauty editors say it a million times, but: I rarely buy beauty products. However, there are a few rare occasions where I do whip out my credit card for a skin, body, hair, or makeup product. I gladly buy myself a refill of this Differin Gel every time I’m running low, which happens about every month and a half.

The Differin Adapalene Gel is very different from the prescription topical I was given. It’s much gentler, for starters. While I still went through an adjustment period as my skin got used to the powerful vitamin A derivative — which usually causes some purging, dryness, flakiness, or slight redness — it was much more tolerable for me. The gel texture is very lightweight, and a little bit (about a pea size) is easily blended onto my entire face.

What to Consider Before Trying Differin Gel Adapalene Acne Treatment

If have dry or combination skin (my skin type is a combination of dry and oily but leans toward the drier side), sandwich the gel between two hydrating products. After cleansing and toning, I like to apply a hyaluronic-acid serum, then I apply a thin layer of the adapalene gel. After the gel dries down, which occurs in a matter of seconds, I layer on a moisturizer to keep my skin nourished.

Final Thoughts on the Differin Gel Adapalene Acne Treatment

It only took about a month for my skin to get used to, and now, I use it every night with zero irritation. I’m not going to sit here and tell you the Differin Acne Treatment and Differin Acne Treatment alone cleared up my acne, because that’s not the case — the spironolactone prescription had a large hand in that — but I can tell you the gel has helped brighten and even out my complexion to the point that you can hardly tell I ever experienced those hormonal breakouts to begin with.

My Skin After Using the Differin Adapalene Acne Gel For Over a Year

Where Is the Differin Gel Adapalene Acne Treatment Available?

The Differin Gel Adapalene acne treatment is available on Amazon and Target.

Rating:
★★★★★

Jessica Harrington is the Section Lead of Beauty at Popsugar, where she oversees all vertical coverage across the website, social media, and newsletter. With over nine years of industry experience, she has interviewed numerous celebrities, reported on hundreds of beauty trends, and swatched more lipsticks than she can count. Prior to PS, Jessica worked for publications such as Makeup.com, Skincare.com, and The Zoe Report. She’s based in New York City and has a degree in journalism from Hofstra University. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, traveling with her husband, thrifting, and cooking.