4 tips to keep your skin healthy with Differin® Gel

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A few months ago, I talked about a new acne product medication, called Differin® Gel, that I was going to start using. Differin® Gel is the first and only prescription-strength retinoid now available over-the-counter for clearing and preventing acne. It's the newest advancement and ingredient in the OTC acne category in over 30 years, and it is meant to clear breakouts where they start (deep in the pores). It also prevents breakouts before they begin, and as a result, restores skin’s texture and tone. In the past eight weeks, Differin® Gel has worked wonders on my acne! I am not kidding you!

Today I want to share a few before and after pictures (be warned- I am not wearing ANY makeup) and give you 4 tips to keep your skin healthy with Differin® Gel, if you decide to try it, which I recommend.

My acne story

If you didn't read my original "acne story" post, here are the details: In a nutshell, I NEVER had acne in my teens, and usually my face is generally clear. When I hit 30, that's when the issues started. You know how it is, back problems, feet hurting, and for me, acne. The catch was, I would only experience a breakout around my time of the month (AND the breakout would hurt)!

I really didn't like the feel and/or usage of spot treatments, so I was looking to find something that could actually be integrated into my skincare routine. When I found out about Differin® Gel, I was excited to try it. Differin® Gel contains the only multi-benefit dermatologist recommended retinoid, Adapalene, which is now available without a prescription to clear and prevent acne (meaning I didn't have to make a trip or spend a bunch of money at the dermatologist).

Before Differin® Gel
In the pictures below, I only washed my face and put on a moisturizer. You can see the acne in the second picture, on the left, below my mouth. You can also see the redness on the right lower side of my face and into my chin.

After Differin® Gel
The pictures below are my eight-week difference. Again, I am not wearing any makeup, I only washed and moisturized my face. As you can see in the second picture, the acne is fading and my chin or lower side of my face is not as red.

*The only editing done to the pictures was to add brightness

Phew, that was hard to share, being a beauty blogger and all.

Anyway, my experience with Differin® Gel was pretty good, and after using it for eight weeks, I am going to continue to use it. I really like how it is meant to be added to my skincare routine, which makes it easy to remember to use. For best results, applying a thin layer, once a day, every day, helps prevent future breakouts.

During my eight weeks, I did experience some dryness and irritation, but according to the company, it's normal to experience both. Both issues cleared up within a week, and I think that they arose because my skin, itself, was changing. It was trying to get rid of all of the bad stuff to reveal healthy, radiant skin.

4 tips to keep your skin healthy with Differin® Gel

1 // Apply Differin® Gel as directed
Differin® Gel has a long-standing heritage as a proven acne treatment, but it is now in the OTC acne section in the beauty aisle at Target. Anyone who is suffering from mild to moderate acne should use it. Differin® Gel clears breakouts where they start (deep in the pores), prevents breakouts before they begin, and as a result, restores skin’s texture and tone. To do all that, Differin® Gel is not used in the same way as a spot treatment. In order to get the best results, you should apply a thin layer all over the face, once a day, every day. I am the type of person that does the major cleansing of my face at night, so I apply the Differin® Gel at night- BEFORE I moisturize.

You should also continue to cleanse and moisturize your face when using the product, and I recommend incorporating Cetaphil® Gentle Skin Cleanser and Cetaphil® Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 into your skincare routine to maintain healthy skin.

Note: Please use caution when using Differin® Gel with more than one acne treatment or glycolic acid product because this could lead to irritation.

2 // Wash your face with a gentle cleanser
Since Differin® Gel is focused on clearing breakouts where they start (deep in the pores), preventing breakouts before they begin, and as a result, restoring skin’s texture and tone, you want to stay away from skincare products that contain harsh chemicals that can quickly dry out your skin. Instead, you will want to use a soap-free, non-irritating cleanser so your pores don't get clogged with icky stuff or something that could possibly strip your skin of its natural protective oils.

I really like Cetaphil® Gentle Skin Cleanser. It is gentle for my sensitive skin, but tough enough to remove the day. The cleanser soothes and cleanses, and it leaves my skin smooth and soft.

3 // Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize & wear SPF
The one thing that I learned while using the Differin® Gel is that moisturizing AFTER application is a key component; you want the medication to "sink" into your skin before you apply a moisturizer. Also, since Differin® Gel is about restoring the skin's texture and tone, you can assume that your face may lose its natural moisture. To combat the moisture loss, it is good to moisturize day and night and to use a hydrating mask twice a week to help put some of it back.

I really love the Cetaphil® Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15 for during the day. At night, due to the my enormous skincare stash, my moisturizer is switched up nightly. I can't really recommend a certain product, but I can suggest finding a mask that has aloe in it.

4 // Understand that it will get worse before it gets better
Like all acne medications, you may notice that your acne will get worse before it gets better, and using Differin® Gel is the same way. I promise you that you will love the results though! It is totally normal for your face to breakout even more, become sensitive, and dry out. It's the process of cell-turnover and detoxing. This is another reason that you need to use a gentle cleanser and moisturize A LOT.

Since I have rather sensitive skin, my face did become irritated, but it wasn’t an overly sensitive irritation. My face wasn't itchy or red, it was just dry and sensitive to the touch. After about a week, the irritation and dryness calmed down and the acne cleared up.


That was my experience and advice for keeping your skin healthy with Differin® Gel. If you are interested in trying out Differin® Gel, you can find it in the skincare aisle at Target (next to the Cetaphil®). Go to Differin.com to get $2 off Differin® Gel and use it on your next shopping trip to Target!

Have you ever tried Differin® Gel? Would you ever ditch your current acne medication to give it a go?

Note: This product is dermatologist developed and tested. Please call 1-866-735-4137 for any questions you may have concerning the product. However, should you experience any problems while using the product, please discontinue use and consult your healthcare provider.