Differin Acne Treatment Gel, 180 Day Supply, Retinoid Treatment for Face with 0.1% Adapalene, Gentle Skin Care for Acne Prone Sensitive Skin, 45g Tube, Pack of 2 (Packaging May Vary)

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!

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This is based on my personal experience. I’ve been using this product for two years, and I’ve noticed that many first-time users don’t fully understand what it’s meant to do. Yes, this product is supposed to dry your skin out. Dryness and flaking are normal and part of the process. It works by helping shed the acne-prone, irritated layer of skin and increasing cell turnover, which is why moisturizing is so important. Use only a pea-sized amount and apply it every other night. I strongly recommend wearing a MINERAL SUNSCREEN during the day. If you’re having an allergic reaction to another product, avoid adding sunscreen or new products and stay out of the sun until your skin calms down. Around the seven-day mark, I usually start seeing great improvement. This is one of the few retinoids that has truly worked for me. The dryness isn’t a bad reaction, it’s part of how the product works. When used correctly, the results are absolutely worth it. I give this product 100 out of 100. One of the best skincare products I’ve ever used.

Overall I was surprised by the results and effectiveness of this product. Im writing this review a month after using this adapalene gel because I wasn’t sure how well it was going to work. A month ago I had been dealing with a bad breakout on my forehead, temples, and jawline. I had been using either salicylic acid treatment or benzoyl peroxide on my face. Neither of those products made my situation any better. This product has been on my saved for later list for a while so I was curious to try something different for once. The first week and a half I didn’t see much change. But by week two and three, my goodness my acne nearly vanished. And I’m not exaggerating. It’s been a month now of wearing this every night after my nighttime routine. My face is smooth, acne and bumps are almost completely gone. Even the dark scars from some acne have gone away. It works really well and the 30-day supply really does last for 30-days. The skin around my eyes do dry out with this product, so I’ve been applying Vaseline to help with the excessive dryness. Otherwise this product really helped in just one month use. I spot treated acne on my chest and shoulders every now and then and this works for body acne too. I’m very impressed with the results. 95% of my acne is gone, with some trouble areas like my temples. But it’s helped a lot. I wish I took comparison photos to show the difference.

This really works better than any other otc product I've used before. If you're struggling with acne, I'd recommend at least trying it. I'm really happy with the results. Helps lighten dark spots and draw up those hard knots and inflamed bumps go down within couple days. I'd get those itchy random bumps that show up out of nowhere around my jawline. It would go down and come back in same spot all the time. This really works to get rid of those and my skin texture has improved. I have extremely sensitive thin skin. I saw some of the other reviews with some having little results or adverse reactions and was a little nervous about using this product. However, there were many with very good results so I tested on small area for the first week. I used small amount and within 4 days I could see it was working well. Moved on to spot treating all over face and no severe side affects so far. No redness, swelling or skin peeling. Very happy with results so far, but the box is huge compared to size of product inside. It's tiny, about the size of my finger.

As a nurse, I’m very cautious with retinoids—and Differin is one of the few I consistently recommend. Differin (adapalene 0.1%) is a prescription-strength retinoid that’s now over-the-counter. It’s backed by years of clinical use for acne, and it also delivers real anti-aging benefits when used correctly. 🧪 What it does • Increases cell turnover • Prevents clogged pores • Improves texture and tone • Softens fine lines over time This is not a cosmetic “trend” product—this is evidence-based skincare. Real experience • Texture: lightweight gel, spreads easily • No fragrance • Absorbs quickly • Minimal irritation when started slowly I started using it 2–3 nights per week, pea-sized amount for the entire face. After about 4–6 weeks, my skin was noticeably smoother with fewer breakouts and more even texture. Important nurse tips (this matters) • Start slow (do not use nightly at first) • Use a pea-sized amount only • Moisturize before or after if sensitive • Expect mild dryness or purging initially • SPF every morning is non-negotiable Used incorrectly, people think this product “doesn’t work.” Used correctly, it’s a game changer. Who this is best for ✔️ Adult acne ✔️ Acne-prone skin ✔️ Early anti-aging ✔️ People who want prescription-level results without a prescription 🚫 Who should be cautious • Very sensitive skin • Broken skin or active dermatitis • Pregnant or trying to conceive (avoid retinoids) 💰 Value For the price, this is one of the best ROI skincare products on the market. You do not need luxury retinoids if you’re using Differin correctly.

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.

This is a steady, slow-burn option if you want to add a retinoid to an acne routine. The 0.1% adapalene formula did help keep new clogged pores down and softened a few small bumps, but changes took a while—closer to the 8–12 week mark than a quick turnaround. The first couple of weeks came with the usual dryness and a mild purge; nothing dramatic, but I definitely needed moisturizer and SPF dialed in to keep the flakes at bay. Once my skin adjusted, it felt reasonably gentle, though it’s not a magic fix for deep cysts or stubborn hyperpigmentation by itself. The “two 15g tubes” format is convenient for tossing one in the gym bag, but they run out faster than expected if you’re tempted to overuse. A true pea-sized amount is key—any more just increases irritation without speeding results. Texture is a straightforward gel that layers cleanly under a bland moisturizer, and it didn’t pill with my sunscreen. Where it lands for me: a solid baseline treatment that reduces small breakouts over time, but it needs support from a simple routine (hydrator, non-comedogenic moisturizer, daily SPF) and patience to feel worthwhile. If you’re hoping for rapid fade on marks or big nodules, you’ll likely want to pair it with other targeted steps.

It helps a lot to calm acne breakouts. You just need to be careful not to apply too much it works like a peeling treatment. Your skin can dry out in the area where you apply it, and you should use sunscreen because it may cause dark spots.