Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% On your shelf ✓
Our read, in one look
Adapalene is the reason to consider this serum.
The case for it
- Adapalene, moderate evidence for oil and breakouts
- No fragrance, alcohol or silicones
Mind this
- Avoid in pregnancy: Adapalene
- Evenings only, sunscreen the next morning
- Add it on its own for a week or two, so you know what your skin is answering to
Maya's readDifferin Adapalene Gel 0.1% is a serum built around Adapalene. It leans strongest on oil-control & blemishes, anti-aging. Best suited to acne prone and oily skin. One caveat: it's best skipped during pregnancy.
Skip it if you're pregnant or breastfeeding: it contains adapalene, best paused until after.
What it delivers
How it feels A light, fast-absorbing texture that layers cleanly under the rest of your routine, with no greasy film. (estimated from the formula)
What's in it that matters
Synthetic retinoid optimized for acne with strong comedolytic and anti-inflammatory activity and generally better tolerability than tretinoin.
How to use it
Night only. Start 2–3 nights a week and build up as your skin adjusts, and always wear sunscreen the next morning, because retinoids make skin more sun-sensitive.
Keep it away from
- Exfoliating acids (AHA / BHA)
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Strong vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)
Against the average serum
It scores higher than the median serum on oil control.
It gives up ground on barrier repair, hydration and brightening.
A median, not an average: one unusual formula should not move the middle. The numbers are the same 0 to 10 reads the comparison pages use.
The full ingredients list, decoded
Every ingredient on the label, in the order it appears (highest amount first). We link the 5 our library knows, name what each one does, and flag anything that can irritate or clog. The rest we leave plain, nothing is hidden.
All 8 ingredients, decoded
- AdapaleneDrug activepregnancy: avoidmild irritant
- Carbomer 940Thickener
- Edetate Disodium
- MethylparabenPreservative
- Poloxamer 182
- Propylene GlycolHumectantmild irritant
- WaterSolvent (base)
- Sodium HydroxidePh adjustermild irritant
Copy the raw INCI list
Adapalene, Carbomer 940, Edetate Disodium, Methylparaben, Poloxamer 182, Propylene Glycol, Water, Sodium Hydroxide
Worried about clogged pores specifically? The pore-clogging checker reads this same list against the published comedogenic ratings.
Read enough? Find it on amazon.com →
We don't make or sell skincare of our own. So there's nothing here we're trying to push, just an honest read of whether this formula suits your skin.
Against your shelf
Read from your own shelf, in your browser. We never see it.
Compare it with…
All 25 comparisons
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides)
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Suractivated Serum
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Serum
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs Medik8 Liquid Peptides
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs iUNIK Beta Glucan Power Moisture Serum
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs The Ordinary GF 15% Solution
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Booster
- Adapalene Gel 0.1% vs CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum
Common questions
Is Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% good for acne prone skin?
By our read of the formula, it suits acne prone, oily skin. Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% is a serum built around Adapalene. It leans strongest on oil-control & blemishes, anti-aging. Best suited to acne prone and oily skin. One caveat: it's best skipped during pregnancy.
How do you use Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1%?
Night only. Start 2–3 nights a week and build up as your skin adjusts, and always wear sunscreen the next morning, because retinoids make skin more sun-sensitive.
What are the key ingredients in Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1%?
The actives that do the work are Adapalene. The rest of the list is texture, preservatives and emulsifiers that hold the formula together.
Is Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% safe during pregnancy?
Avoid in pregnancy: Adapalene. When in doubt, check with your doctor before using it.
