The Ingredient: Adapalene
The Product: Differin Acne Treatment Gel ($29)
A derivative of vitamin A, adapalene is a third-generation retinoid. Or, as Dr. Friedman calls it, "The iPhone X of retinoids." Differin, which up until recently was only available via prescription, features those same declogging and skin-smoothing powers as the retinoids that came before it, but it has been synthetically designed to be less irritating than its predecessors. Key word there is "less."
Dr. Friedman notes that no matter your skin type, everyone will have some degree of what he calls reutilization (the irritation and dryness that occur when you first start using retinols). "[Retinoids] are thinning the very top layer of the skin, which is good for acne," he said, "but not good for keeping water in the skin, which [is what] causes the drying."
Dr. Friedman advises using only a pea-sized amount on the face ("retinoids both treat and prevent new acne, so you want it EVERYWHERE") every other night for the first two to three weeks. After that, ease your way into it on a daily basis and — we're sure we don't have to tell you this, but we'll say it for posterity — wear some damn sunscreen.
