Differin Gel (45g)

tl;dr: 10/10 recommend, leaves my skin smooth, no breakouts since I started. Def wash your hands after applying, as small traces will transfer on other parts of your skin if you touch - I got a reaction this way on my arm and knee. Once I started washing my hands after use, no problem. I also find myself using a bigger scoop of face lotion as it does dry me out a bit. A quick backstory about my skincare. I had horrible acne as a kid. After high school, thinking it would always just get better, my mom took me to a dermatologist to get treatment. For reference, my acne was so bad the first recommendation was Accutane. Thankfully, my mom said no, and I went on antibiotics that helped clear me up. Additionally, I’m a night shower girly, so I apply this at night with all my skincare, not in the morning. I’d say I’m normal skin but slightly oily in the t-zone. Now, 27, I’m trying to just get nicer looking skin. I’ll get a break out during my period of 1-3 pimples, all hormonal and really what can you do lol, but sometimes I just get that nasty cyst and want to cry. Years of horrible cystic acne has just left me with poor skin texture as I was a picker, so I’m looking to improve it. I also just have large pores on my nose and a bit on my chin. 7/23 - Got the Differin gel. This is my timeline of use. 7/28, about a week in, and I felt the side effects of the tingling/burning. This only was prominent when I put my skincare on, lasted less than 20 seconds. In the morning when I put on spray sunscreen it also burned. The burning feeling is very minimal, 5-10 seconds. I overall have sensitive skin everywhere, not just my face. This was a prime side effect when I read up on use. One thing I did notice is I was a bit more dry than usual, developing dry patches (pretty small, flaked right off and not itchy) and the unevenness in my skin seemed to be more prominent - I looked more red and splotchy. My skin just got really irritated more since using. Online reviews recommend 2-4 weeks of these symptoms and needing to get through the month, so that’s the goal! 8/1, almost two weeks, redness flair has died down and burning is noticeable less when makeup or skincare/lotion is applied. Dry skin and the patchyness is about the same. 8/8 - Burning feeling is gone. One thing is that I apply this at night after I shower (night showers) and then I apply my body lotion. That small residue that is going on my body has caused parts to get really dry and small pimples. Make sure if you are applying this that you are washing your hands afterwards before you apply anything else on another part of your body. The dryness on my arms killed! 8/25 - Overall, my skin always feels smooth! I would wake up in the morning and where I have larger pores it would feel bumpy, but not anymore! Will continue to use!

Differin changed my life. I suffer from severe cystic acne on my cheeks, surface acne on my forehead and temples, large pores, rosacea, and hormonal acne around my jaw. I’ve tried every non-prescription product on the market with no resolution. Literally... EVERY PRODUCT. I started breaking out when I was about 12, and it’s been a battle ever since. I’ve been using differin for roughly five and a half months. I initially found it at a drug store, and figured “why not?” I had tried everything else, and was on the verge of consulting a dermatologist. The “purging” phase around weeks 4-6 was anything but awesome, but I stuck through it knowing that it was temporary, and that the acne that arose during that time was going to “pop up” regardless. Differin just made it happen all at once Instead of having random break out back to back. I suffered from really sever redness, sensitivity, and peeling skin around my nose and mouth. By week 10, most of my acne had greatly reduced, my pores seemed smaller, and the dry skin around my mouth and nose had resolved (I bought the night moisturizer, and it helped a ton!). Now, five and a half months later, my pores are barely noticeable, my redness is all but gone, and I have ZERO breakouts for the first time in the last 20 years. Before you buy differin, don’t expect instant gratification. Be aware that it’s a process, but if you stick through it, the results are worth it. Things WILL get worse before they get better (so I guess it’s a good thing we’re all wearing masks to cover our faces during the purging phase, right?). Be sure to use a really good night time moisturizer. I bought the differin night moisturizer, and it worked great (not too thick, and doesn’t smell). I also applied a light SPF moisturizer during the day. You will develop dry skin if you don’t moisturize, and there are times during the purging phase when your face will be sensitive to touch (but not overtly painful). Picture collage for progress: Upper left -Day Zero Upper middle- Week 7 Upper right - Week 14 Bottom - Week 22 (Top row is immediately after washing my face or using the product. Lower photo is the morning after using the product. This is without makeup!) No airbrushing/photo editing/or makeup have been used on any of these photos. My pores are TINY now and my redness is almost resolved. I initially went in hoping that it would clear up acne, but was pleasantly surprised that it also helped with pores and redness! I feel incredibly confident now, and never dreamed my skin would look this good.

Ok, to begin, give this stuff about 2-3 weeks of use before judging it. Secondly, I use this for rosacea, not acne, so if you are looking to use it for that, keep reading. I was diagnosed with rosacea about a year and a half ago. I get rough red bumps on my cheeks and forehead. They aren't super noticeable, but they make my skin not look as smooth and sometimes get worse depending on what I eat/drink. My dermatologist wrote me a prescription for Finacea foam, but the cost of it keeps going up. I was paying $240 a month for it. Rosacea is considered a cosmetic condition, not something detrimental to your health, so insurance doesn't help out a lot for the meds. Anyway, after getting sick of paying so much for a prescription, I started looking at other options. On a rosacea forum I saw a dermatologist recommend Differin and decided to try it. Here's my experience. The first two weeks were hell. I put on Differin every night before bed and it would burn the heck out of my face. My cheeks would get redder, my skin would feel overly tight and almost like I had a sunburn, and the dryness was unstoppable. No matter how much lotion I put on my skin was constantly flaking.Then on top of that, from the constant lotion use I started to get pimples. I never get pimples. Ugh!! I honestly only "hung in there" out of desperation. After about roughly 2 weeks of use, my face stopped drying out, and the rosacea is just as minimized as when I was using the prescription foam. I am so thankful I stuck with this! I do not have to constantly slather on lotion, and my skin looks great. If I may suggest a tip though...use a good facial cleanser in the shower that smooths your skin. I started using Cetaphil in the shower on my face and it has done wonders in combination with the Differin. The Cetaphil was cheap (roughly $6 at Target) and it makes my skin soft and clean while the differin keeps the rosacea away. I've attached a picture from this morning, after about 3 weeks of Differin use. It is a super close up so you can see how smooth my skin looks. Yes, I have a lot of pinkness in my cheeks still due to the rosacea, but I don't mind that...I only mind the gross bumps I get that make me look like Freddy Krueger. I hope this review is helpful if you are suffering like I was. Best of luck to you on your journey to fight rosacea.

I purchased this for keratosis pilaris on my arms. I've struggled with that as long as I can remember. Also referred to as "chicken skin" it's unsightly red bumps that sometimes itch and they form little white heads at the surface. It's a build up of the protein called keratin that plugs the hair follicles which then become inflamed and form like a small pimple. Some people have it on their arms and legs and face sometimes. There is no "cure" and for most people it goes away as you get older but not me. About three years ago my dermatologist prescribed me Differin lotion which at the time was only available by prescription. It worked GREAT! But it was over $100 a bottle. So I started doing research online and found that the Differin lotion ingredient "adapalene" would soon be available over the counter which is what led me here. So far this has worked great for me. I no longer scrub my arms to exfoliate these bumps as I've heard that can make it worse instead I mix coconut oil with apple cider vinegar in the shower and let it sit while I shampoo, condition, shave etc and then use a dry brush to clean off my arms. After the shower I apply this lotion. The bumps are almost completely gone meaning my arms are smooth they don't feel like I have goosebumps anymore. The only thing left is the redness which I've got fingers crossed that'll go away after 6 weeks of use. I've been using for about four weeks now. Make sure to use sunscreen when using this product it makes your skin very sensitive. The reason I'm giving the product 4 stars is because I wish they had a bigger size. I've already used almost the whole thing and it's only been a month. I understand it's not meant for my arms which is a bigger surface area than my face but people have acne other places than their face and the cost adds up.

I don't remember how exactly I found out about differin but it was probably through my hours of research on the internet I did on acne. Male in my 20's that recently broke out on my cheeks and my temple area. I used to have clear skin but I believe my acne was caused by stress/lack of sleep. Anyways I was trying every product out there... proactiv, retinols, face washes from Target (Neutrogena, Clean and Clear, etc). One of the workers at target informed me that her dermatologist told her that over-the-counter face washes are designed for "white people skin" and that I should try getting rid of all those products. (I'm Asian American) My routine right now is: Morning - Wash face with bar of Clinique soap then apply Radha Rosehip Oil. Night - Wash face with bar of Clinique soap then apply Differin all over. I only write long and glowing reviews if I believe in the product which is why I'm doing this. So glad I stumbled upon Differin because I am three weeks in and the results are definitely noticeable. Although I did not experience a "purging" stage where you break out more than usual, I got a few pimples the first few days but I think that was just by chance. Every day after that I noticed a small improvement. They say you should stick with Differin for atleast 3 months and I can see why because the improvements are gradual but really there. Needless to say, my overall acne + hyperpigmentation has improved in three weeks and I can't wait to see how it'll be in 3 months time. Honestly I look forward going to applying Differin at night and going to sleep because I know in the morning there will be a small improvement.

This is a good acne product good price. Good for stubborn acne.

I’ve been using Differing for over a year now. I am 38 and suffered from large deep pimples on my chin line and comedones for years. I would pick at my face causing embarrassing sores and scarring, never fixing the problem, only making it worse. I used to rely on Benzoyl Peroxide treatments for help, and things would improve temporarily but never long term. When I decided to try Differin I was VERY hesitant, having read lots of mixed reviews, but in the end I decided to give it a try. I definitely experienced the first 4 months or so of hell, my skin seeming to get worse, new pimples, plus drying and irritation, but I stuck it out. Around 6 months I finally started seeing improvements. My skin seemed brighter, it was definitely clearer, and all those annoying comedones started disappearing. It helped my acne scars fade, too. After over a year of use, I am totally committed to Differin. It really has cleared up my acne and improved my skin! I still might get a small pimple here and there in the usual places, maybe one a month, but they are not the deep, painful pimples I used to get, and they are gone in a day or two. This product has truly worked great for me but you do have to be diligent and patient.

HOLY GRAIL. Best over night skin care product ever. Have been using this gel for the past 10 years and I have never strayed from it. will always repurchase. Large tube lasts forever and a little goes a long way. I put it on affected areas as needed before going to bed and can see significant differences in my skin by morning on acne and blemishes