The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% Versus Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment
Updated on May 16, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe . They have a total of 0 ingredients in common
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, reducing pores, scar healing and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, silicones or sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% 3 ingredients
Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment 8 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% 3 ingredients
Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment 8 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% 3 ingredients
Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment 8 ingredients


Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% 3 ingredients
I'm orange...
When I first started using this I was like, “great, a vitamin C that doesn’t burn”. So I began using it frequently. Slowly, I noticed my skin was turning orange, but just on my face. Turns out this product was oxidizing ON MY SKIN. The serum itself was still pretty clear, so I wasn’t applying an old or bad product, but when exposed to oxygen while on my face it began to STAIN it as Show more
Reaction
My face has never been redder and hurt more in my life...
Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment 8 ingredients
Honestly I was skeptical because it took my skin the FULL 12+ weeks to adjust to this. It was my first time using a retinoid and the purging was rough, but genuinely I’ve never seen my skin look so good after the purging ended. It absorbs well and a little goes a long way. I had to stop using it because I got too crazy with actives and I messed up my skin barrier super bad, but I’m hoping I can go Show more
I've been using this on and off for around 2 years. I thought this was going to help my acne, but looking back at pictures I actually think it's made my acne worse! It's made my acne areas really inflamed and red with angry spots. Think it's time to cut it out of my routine... Given it 2 stars as it soaks in pretty fast and is hydrating.