Ingredient glossary
Adapalene
On your shelf ✓What Adapalene does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Adapalene
In short: Adapalene delivers anti acne and texture, suits oily skin best, and the evidence behind it is moderate. One thing to know: not for pregnancy or breastfeeding; introduce it gently.
- What it does
- Anti acne, texture
- Best for
- Oily skin
- Watch out
- Not for pregnancy or breastfeeding; introduce it gently
- Evidence
- Moderate
- How long
- 8–12 weeks
The molecule
The Glow take
One of the ingredients I trust most.
When your goal is calming breakouts and congestion, Adapalene delivers, with a solid amount of evidence behind it. Skip it while you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and the rest of the time bring it in slowly.
— Maya
What it does
- anti acne
- texture
Adapalene scores -1 on barrier support. It is one of only 8 ingredients in our glossary that go below zero there. A negative score means it asks something of the barrier rather than giving something back, which is why it needs introducing slowly and pairing with ingredients that do support the barrier. It is not a reason to avoid it: the same evidence that shows the irritation also shows the long-term gains. See where it sits against all 291 of them →
moderate evidenceFive randomized trials pooled by the manufacturer (900 patients) found adapalene 0.1% gel matched tretinoin 0.025% gel on total lesion count, cleared inflammatory lesions faster in week 1, and irritated less. One independent 171-patient trial found adapalene 0.1% weaker than the stronger tretinoin 0.05%, with adapalene 0.3% matching it but irritating about twice as often as 0.1%. The honest read is better tolerated, not more effective.
On a label: works best above 0.1%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- acne prone
- oily
Approach with care
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
- very sensitive
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskModerate
How it fits each skin type
- DryNeutral
- CombinationNeutral
- OilySuits
- SensitiveTake care
Often chosen for acne prone. Take extra care if any of these apply to you: pregnancy, breastfeeding.
Worried about purging? Here is what the trials actually measured →
Where it fits in your routine
Increases sun sensitivity while you are using it, so sunscreen matters more than usual.
Retinoid: the approved labelling directs minimising exposure to sunlight and sunlamps and using sunscreen and protective clothing on treated areas. Confidence is medium rather than high because adapalene is not established as a phototoxin or photoallergen, so the label direction, not a demonstrated fall in minimal erythema dose, is what supports the yes.
FDA-approved adapalene (Differin) labelling, sun exposure warning
Give it eight to twelve weeks, and possibly less: that is simply when it was measured.
What was measured, and in whom
Measured on: inflammatory lesion count, investigator-counted.
The vehicle-controlled evidence is a 653-subject 12-week trial with adapalene 0.3%, adapalene 0.1% and vehicle arms, in which the 0.1% arm cut inflammatory lesions 49.7% against 40.7% on vehicle and total lesions 41.8% against 33.7% - all reported at week 12. The trial had earlier visits but no published timepoint is identified as the first to separate from vehicle, so 12 weeks is a ceiling and true onset is probably earlier. The 'faster' result usually quoted for adapalene is the manufacturer's pooled analysis of five trials in about 900 patients, where 0.1% gel cleared inflammatory lesions faster than tretinoin 0.025% from week 1; that dates when it beats another retinoid, not when it beats nothing. Both labels point the same way: the prescription label says to re-evaluate therapy if results are not noticed after 12 weeks, and the over-the-counter 0.1% gel says it may take up to 3 months. One independent 171-patient trial found 0.1% weaker than tretinoin 0.05%, with 0.3% matching it.
DIFFERIN (adapalene) gel prescribing information, Clinical Studies section - the 12-week vehicle-controlled trial in 653 subjects containing the adapalene 0.1% arm - together with the OTC Differin 0.1% gel Drug Facts ('may take up to 3 months of once daily use to see results'). Comparative-speed clause: pooled meta-analysis of five randomised adapalene 0.1% versus tretinoin 0.025% trials, Br J Dermatol 1998, PMID:9990421 (title verified). Independent comparison: PMID:23725303 (J Cosmet Dermatol 2013, 171 Mexican patients).
Plays well with
Adapalene, answered
Is Adapalene safe during pregnancy?
No. Adapalene is best avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or trying, leave this one out and ask your doctor about a safe alternative.
Who should avoid Adapalene?
Approach Adapalene with care if any of these apply to you: pregnancy, breastfeeding, and very sensitive. Its irritation risk is moderate, so introduce it slowly and patch test first.
What concentration of Adapalene actually works?
Research tends to show Adapalene starts pulling its weight above 0.1%. If a brand prints the percentage, that is the number to look for.
During pregnancy
Leave Adapalene out while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It sits on the list of ingredients usually held back during this time.
When in doubt, check with your doctor or midwife. They outrank any website, including this one.When it is worth booking →
Commonly confused with
- RetinolAdapalene is a prescription-grade retinoid built to be more stable and less irritating than the older ones.
Where Adapalene sits
Compare Adapalene with
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Sources & how we reviewed this
- PMID 9990421abstract only, the full text is paywalled
- PMID 23725303abstract only, the full text is paywalled
- PMID 30674002abstract only, the full text is paywalled
- PMID 9990419abstract only, the full text is paywalled