
Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment Ingredients Explained
Last updated on August 14, 2023. Published on July 13, 2020.
Overview
What it is
Serum with 8 ingredients that contains retinoid
Cool Features
It is fungal acne (malassezia) safe
Suited For
It has ingredients that are good for fighting acne and anti aging
Free From
It doesn't contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, silicones or sulfates
Fun facts
Differin is from United States. This product is used in 1163 routines created by our community.
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot an error? Let us know.
Ingredient List (8)
Adapalene 0.1%, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Poloxamer 182, Propylene Glycol, Water, Sodium Hydroxide
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Notable Ingredients

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Benefits

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Concerns

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Ingredient Info

Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉

Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉

Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉

Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉

Contains Parabens
Ingredients in this product that are types of parabens:

Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉

Malassezia Safe
This product is free of malassezia feeding ingredients 🎉

Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:

Eu Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉

Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥

Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Ingredients Overview










Ingredients Explained





Adapalene is a type of retinoid and common acne treatment.
It has been found to be as effective as other retinoids while causing less irritation. Adapalene helps with anti-aging and acne treatment.
You can buy adapalene over the counter, or in-store, in concentrations of 0.1% in gel form. 0.1% lotion or cream and 0.3% gel are only available with a prescription.
Learn more about AdapaleneCarbomer 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.
Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTA



Methylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about Methylparaben
Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may deliver a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolWater. 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 WaterSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideBeautiful widgets for your website
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When to use
We've created a guide with info on when you should use Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment. We've also included some recommended products to use it with, as well as some routine inspiration!
Read our guide on when to use Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment ->Alternatives
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