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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment versus CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum .

Last updated on September 19, 2023. Published on October 05, 2020

Overview

What they are

These products are both serums. They have a total of 2 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain retinoid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne and anti aging

Free From

They both do not contain any common allergens, fragrances or oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Serum American Brand United States
Serum Canadian Brand Canada

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment

Starts at $14.97
Shop

Buy Resurfacing Retinol Serum

Starts at $15.45

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid

Benefits

Anti-Aging
Acne Fighting

Concerns

Irritating
Rosacea
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid
Niacinamide
Ceramides (3)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Good For Oily Skin (2)
Redness Reducing (6)
Reduces Irritation (4)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging (4)
Dark Spots (3)
Scar Healing
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating (2)
Rosacea
Eczema (2)
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming
Community Rating: Disliked

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.

Carbomer is commonly found in many types of cosmetics products. It is found to be safe in concentrations up to 15%. However, a high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Most products contain 1% of less of carbomer.

Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment contains this as ingredient number 2.

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

2
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment contains this as ingredient number 7.

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

25% are loved or liked
13% have mixed ratings
50% are disliked or very disliked
13% have no rating yet
52% are loved or liked
9% have mixed ratings
39% are disliked or very disliked
0% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment 8 ingredients

4.8 /5
from 16 ratings
Absorbs Well (4) Works Well (3) Light (3) Irritating (2) No Scent (2) Great Value (1)
BrittBrine's avatar

BrittBrine

5 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

This has probably been the product that has made the most difference in my skin. It's clearing up breakouts and acne that I've had for the longest...

This has probably been the product that has made the most difference in my skin. It's clearing up breakouts and acne that I've had for the longest time. My skin looks and feels so much better and I've only been using it for about 2-3 months now.

jojoswrld_'s avatar

jojoswrld_

4 months ago · Dry Skin
Review

Works! Doesn’t irritate my skin when used on a dry surface. I hate how my skin looks when it sends all the clogged sebum to the surface of my skin,...

Works! Doesn’t irritate my skin when used on a dry surface. I hate how my skin looks when it sends all the clogged sebum to the surface of my skin, but it clears over time and leaves the skin incredibly firm and smooth. It’s the only not cruelty-free product I use just because it’s benefitted me so greatly and, in my opinion, is indisputably the best prescription-grade retinoid especially for sensitive skin.

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum 33 ingredients

4.3 /5
from 18 ratings
Great Value (3) Light (3) Absorbs Well (2) Hydrating (2) Works Well (2) No Scent (1)
SkincareSimba's avatar

SkincareSimba

1 month ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

The only retinol my partner's skin can tolerate.
Their skin is extremely reactive and sensitive but this retinol has worked great.

I also use...

The only retinol my partner's skin can tolerate.
Their skin is extremely reactive and sensitive but this retinol has worked great.

I also use it every other day because I alternate between this retinol and A313.
It works great and is gentle enough to allow me to build tolerance without purging effects (at least on my skin and my partner's)

CentellaAddict's avatar

CentellaAddict

4 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

No more acne, very slow at reducing pigmentation tho

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 9 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment.

See 9 alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 42 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum.

See 42 alternatives
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