Differin Acne Treatment Gel, 30 Day Supply, Retinoid Treatment for Face with 0.1% Adapalene, Gentle Skin Care for Acne Prone Sensitive Skin, 15g Tube (Packaging May Vary)

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.

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.

If you don't read any further in my review, please know this: IT GETS A LOT WORSE before it GETS MUCH BETTER. HANG IN THERE. I'm posting this in hopes this helps someone. First, some history: I've struggled with moderate acne from my teenage to adult years. In my early and mid 30s, my acne has turned into painful cysts that predominantly cover my cheeks, jawline and neck. I also have breakouts on my shoulders, back and chest, though they aren't anything like my face. The areas I break out in would lead me to believe it's hormonal. Since I've also had hair loss and have had cysts on my ovaries, there was a thought it was PCOS, but dozens of blood tests and expensive doctor visits later, that was ruled out. I spend COUNTLESS, and I mean COUNTLESS hours researching about acne. It's ruined my self-esteem and confidence, I never feel attractive, and I even have trouble looking at people sometimes. My skin is PAINFUL due to the deep cysts and inflammation. So much so, some days I just wanted to cut my skin off. It's been hard not to pick, but of course even if I don't, my skin is left with red marks that are just has hard to cover up as the inflamed bumps. I've tried EVERYTHING over the years. You name it, I've tried it, and that includes Acutane (but I wouldn't stay on it due to concerns over liver damage). The only thing I haven't tried that I heard could work is Spirnolactane. I was actually prescribed it but decided not to take it, again, over concerns about what it would due to my health. I don't even know how many dermatologist, primary care and OB/GYN appts I've had to discuss the matter. One derm went so far as to tell me, "If you still have acne at this age, you'll always have acne." In other words, I'm hopeless. I hated that guy. That was told to me when I was around 22 and I've never forgotten it 13 years later. Recently, I moved to a new town and got a facial. The woman that was treating me suggested Differin Gel. She mentioned she'd seen some success with it and that it was a fairly new OTC product. I figured, what in the heck do I have to lose. Desperate, I ordered it from Amazon. And after using it for the first time, I BROKE OUT EVERYWHERE, particularly my forehead. It was AWFUL. My only patch of clear skin was now what seemed to be infinite whiteheads. Every pore was a whitehead. It was awwwwwful!!! I immediately quit the product, and was so angry that another thing failed me. It took WEEKS for the whitehead breakout to clear up. While I waited, I kept researching it. I don't know why. And I read how people talked about it "purging" the skin so people get a bad initial breakout. Ok. Well, I don't know if it was out of frustration or a little nagging gut feeling, I decided to try it again. AND MY SKIN GOT SO RED AND DRY AND BURNED SO BADLY. I mean, excruciatingly painful. And it turns out that's just because I was coating on a thick layer of it all over my skin. How embarrassing showing up for work and my whole face is just red and massive FLAKES. But after all that flaking and peeling, and using non-stop aloe on it (also borrowed my husband's thick Aveeno Eczema lotion... it seems to really work!), I had.... clear skin. I can't believe I'm typing this. It's been weeks, and my skin has cleared up 98% (I did have a couple neck and jawling cysts this period cycle, though - but they're not as hidden under the surface as they used to be). My skin doesn't get nearly as oily (overcompensating for the dryness of Differin) or as flaky (because I'm using a little bit for the whole face with a little more added onto my problem areas). It seems to have finally balanced out. I really just can't believe it, and I am so unbelievably happy and feeling so much more confident than I have in a long time. I truly hope this helps someone. Shoot me a question on here if you have one and I'll be happy to answer. For the record, after a ton of my own research, I believe I have a sensitivity to DHT. My blood test DHT levels are normal, but as I understand it, sensitivity to DHT cannot be measured, and I believe that may explain my female hair loss and cystic acne. I recently purchased Saw Palmetto Extract to see if that can help -- though it made me feel very faint so I stopped after a third day.

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!

I've been using this for 2 weeks and I see a noticeable difference. My skin is softer and my milia has reduced slightly. Dark spot not so much yet but takes 8-12 weeks

This is the BEST for acne flare ups!! It's amazing how fast it works! I would highly recommend for teens with acne and it is a good price.

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 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.