As an acne-prone girlie, pimple patches and Differin are nonnegotiable restocks during Amazon Prime Day. This year, the powerful retinoid is at the lowest price I’ve seen yet, just under $10! You better believe I’m adding multiple tubes to my cart.
I’ve relied on Differin for years—from my teens, when it was prescription-only, to now as a 31-year-old still navigating the occasional hormonal breakout. It’s not just me; several Cosmo editors swear by the affordable gel treatment and use Prime Day to grab a fresh tube (or three).
Differin is an adapalene-based treatment, “which is a prescription-strength drugstore retinoid specifically formulated to treat acne,” dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, previously told Cosmopolitan. It works by promoting cell turnover, or speeding up and regulating the shedding within your oil glands, “so bacteria don’t have anything to feed off of to create inflammation,” according to Dr. Gohara.
Whenever I have a bad acne flare-up, Differin clears it all up within just a few uses. Whether it’s a painful, under-the-skin zit or a cluster of irritation bumps along my cheeks, this stuff noticeably calms the redness and smooths my texture within days. What always impresses me most is how quickly it works—often fast enough that the breakout fades without leaving behind dark spots or post-acne marks I’m usually stuck dealing with for weeks.
How to use Differin?
The Cosmo Acne Award winner should be used as a nightly treatment. It has a lightweight gel texture that quickly absorbs into the skin. Compared to other prescription retinoids, this is gentler and less drying, according to dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD, making it ideal for sensitive skin or mild comedonal acne. However, if you’re new to retinoids, consider applying it every other night at first, or using the sandwich method—layering moisturizer before and after application—to help minimize irritation. I notice dryness and even minor skin shedding when I use Differin, so I always follow up with a thick moisturizer, especially one that prioritizes barrier repair.
Beyond treating and preventing acne, Differin can also help smooth rough texture, fade post-breakout marks, and improve skin clarity over time. And because retinoids support collagen production, you’ll also score some anti-aging benefits, including softer-looking fine lines and wrinkles. Beauty editor Beth Gillette also uses Differin on her stretch marks, and “noticed a huge difference in the texture of my raised marks,” she said. “My massage therapist even noticed that they looked less visible the last time I was in.”
While you’re at it, you might as well add a few more of our acne-care essentials to your carts below, so you’ll be all stocked up when a flare-up inevitably happens.
Shop more acne-prone skincare on sale:
Clean Skin Club Clean Towels XL
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original
Medicube Zero Pore Pads 2.0
Anua Azelaic Acid 10 Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVAir Sunscreen Serum SPF 50
Dr. Althea 345 Relief Cream
Anvita Reddy is a shopping editor at Hearst Magazines with more than five years of editorial experience. She covers beauty, fashion, home, and lifestyle content for brands including Cosmopolitan, ELLE, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, and Harper’s BAZAAR. Previously, she was an assistant editor at PS Shopping, where she reported on beauty, home and kitchen, fashion, tech, travel, wellness, and lifestyle trends. When she’s not testing the latest skincare and makeup launches or hunting for under-the-radar deals, Anvita can be found binge-watching reality TV, renovating her first home, or honing her cooking skills.
