Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAdapalene vs. Retinol: How Are They Different?How Do They Work?Which Works Better?Side EffectsWho Should Not Use ThemChoosing Between Adapalene and RetinolOther Similar Skin Care Treatments
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Adapalene vs. Retinol: How Are They Different?
How Do They Work?
Which Works Better?
Side Effects
Who Should Not Use Them
Choosing Between Adapalene and Retinol
Other Similar Skin Care Treatments
Adapalene and retinol are sometimes confused with one another. Adapalene (brand name: Differin) is a type ofretinoid. While retinol is naturally available, it can also be a type of retinoid when human-made in the lab. Both are used for skin-related purposes.
Retinoids arevitamin A-based medications. In other words, retinoids come from vitamin A and work like vitamin A. They are typically used to help skin conditions.
This article will examine adapalene and retinol in depth, including their differences, how well they work, and how to choose the right one.
Getty Images /Vuk Saric
Adapalene is a retinoid (vitamin A-based medication) used to treat acne. Adapalene on its own is for use in people 12 years and older.
When available naturally, retinol is a source of vitamin A in the human diet. When retinol is human-made in the lab, it’s also a type of retinoid.Retinol is also used for skin care but is typically used for more cosmetic purposes, such as treating hyperpigmentation or signs of aging.
There is no specific age limit for using retinol products, but when you use them may depend on your reasons. You might decide to start using retinol in adulthood to prevent or treat signs of aging.
There are four generations of retinoids, depending on the retinoid’s structure and how selectively it attaches to certain binding sites to work. Adapalene is a third-generation retinoid, and retinol is a first-generation retinoid.
Understanding Vitamin A, Retinol, and RetinoidsVitamin Ais an essential ingredient. There are two sources of vitamin A: preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids.Retinol is preformed vitamin A. In its natural form, retinol is found in animal-based foods, such as dairy (milk) products, fish, and eggs. Plant-based products contain carotenoids that your body changes to vitamin A.Lab-made retinol is an ingredient added to many skin products. When made in the lab, retinol is a type of retinoid. Retinoids are vitamin A-based medications.
Understanding Vitamin A, Retinol, and Retinoids
Vitamin Ais an essential ingredient. There are two sources of vitamin A: preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids.Retinol is preformed vitamin A. In its natural form, retinol is found in animal-based foods, such as dairy (milk) products, fish, and eggs. Plant-based products contain carotenoids that your body changes to vitamin A.Lab-made retinol is an ingredient added to many skin products. When made in the lab, retinol is a type of retinoid. Retinoids are vitamin A-based medications.
Vitamin Ais an essential ingredient. There are two sources of vitamin A: preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids.
Retinol is preformed vitamin A. In its natural form, retinol is found in animal-based foods, such as dairy (milk) products, fish, and eggs. Plant-based products contain carotenoids that your body changes to vitamin A.
Lab-made retinol is an ingredient added to many skin products. When made in the lab, retinol is a type of retinoid. Retinoids are vitamin A-based medications.
Uses of Each
Adapalene is typically used on the skin to treat acne. It’s also sometimes used off-label forrosaceato lower inflammation (swelling).
Adapalene also has off-label uses for:
Retinolis generally used for cosmetic purposes, such as:
Can Retinol Help Treat Acne?
Dosage Forms
Both adapalene and retinol are available as topical products that you apply to your skin. Both retinoids may come in various dosage forms.
Combination Products
Both retinoids also come as combination products with other ingredients.
For example, adapalene is available withbenzoyl peroxidein the prescription Epiduo and Epiduo Fortecombinationgels for acne.There is also the Cabtreo prescription, which is another anti-acne combination gel that contains adapalene and benzoyl peroxide—in addition to theclindamycinantibiotic.
A dizzying amount of retinol products are available over-the-counter (OTC).These retinol products also contain other ingredients.
Stability
However, the stability of any retinoid product may vary depending on its specific formulation (product formula).
Adapalene tends to attach to the RAR-β and RAR-γ retinoic acid binding sites.Studies have shown that adapalene affects cell differentiation (specialization), keratinization (skin thickening), and inflammation. However, it’s unknown how these effects apply to acne treatment.
A first-generation retinoid like retinol is not as selective when it comes to attaching to binding sites.
This attachment may affect what parts of yourDNAare used and what proteins are made; tretinoin’s interaction with these binding sites may also affect skin cell growth and specialization. However, it’s unclear how this relates to the clinical effectiveness you see on your skin.
Adapalene vs. Retinol: Which Works Better?
How well adapalene’s effectiveness compares with retinol depends on certain factors, such as your tolerability to these retinoid options. For example, a healthcare provider may recommend stopping the product if your skin isn’t tolerating the retinoid treatment at low strength.
In addition to tolerability, how well these products will work for you depends on your skin health goals.
For acne, clinical studies have shown improvements with adapalene after 12 weeks.If you don’t have noticeable results after 12 weeks, talk with a healthcare provider about the next steps in your treatment plan.
A six-month and nine-month clinical trial concluded that adapalene also improved sun-damaged skin.Still, more high-quality clinical trials on adapalene for cosmetic purposes—like sun-damaged skin—are necessary.
Studies have also been comparing the different strengths of retinol and tretinoin (another vitamin-A-based medication).
In these studies, the results showed that both retinol and tretinoin improved the following:
Numerous other clinical trials tested varying strengths of retinol for anti-aging effects, but study results were conflicting. There were several limitations, such as strength inconsistency and conflicts of interest.
This may explain why it’s still unknown what the “best” retinol strength is that balances optimal effectiveness with limited side effects.Additional high-quality clinical trials on retinol for cosmetic purposes—like anti-aging effects—are also warranted.
Both retinoids are currently available in multiple strengths. Refer to the following table for a summary.
Can I Use Adapalene and Retinol Together?
For acne, experts recommend combining treatments that work differently. What’s more, guidelines mention that higher amounts of retinoids have a higher risk of side effects, such as skin irritation.
Differin’s package insert also mentions caution when applying other irritating products to the skin.Therefore, retinoids—like adapalene and retinol—aren’t typically used together.
What Are the Side Effects of Adapalene and Retinol?
It’s not fully understood how retinoid side effects happen. Skin irritation is a common side effect, which may include:
This irritation can sometimes contribute to hyperpigmentation in darker skin (despite being effective for addressing pigmentation). For this reason, it’s recommended to start slow and use moisturizer.
If used close to your eyes, you may also experience dry eyes and eye discomfort. Side effects are more likely with first-generation retinoids, such as retinol.Compared to other topical retinoids applied to the skin, adapalene has a lower risk of skin irritation.
A severe side effect of any medication includes the potential for aserious allergic reaction. Symptoms may include breathing problems, itchiness, and swelling.
Get medical help immediately if you develop a severe allergic reaction or serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening.
Who Should Not Use Adapalene or Retinol?
You should talk with a healthcare provider before using adapalene or retinol if any of the following applies to you:
Choosing between adapalene and retinol depends on several factors. This may include:
Skin Health Goals
Adapalene is generally the better option for acne treatment.
If your goal is to address sun-damaged skin and achieve anti-aging effects, there is data for adapalene and retinol for these cosmetic uses. However, more well-designed clinical trials are necessary to assess these retinoids' cosmetic effects.
Minimal Results With the Use of One
Discuss your choices with a healthcare provider if you have applied a topical retinoid for over 12 weeks with minimal results. They might recommend a different product, formulation, or strength.
The effectiveness of a topical retinoid may differ based on the particular strength and formulation (product formula).
If your skin isn’t tolerating the retinoid treatment at low strength, a healthcare provider may recommend stopping the product.In general, the tolerability of a topical retinoid may vary depending on the specific strength and product formula.
However, as a third-generation retinoid, adapalene tends to be less irritating.As a first-generation retinoid, retinol tends to have a higher risk of side effects.
Convenience and Cost
Adapalene 0.1% and retinol are available as over-the-counter (OTC) items, which technically don’t require a provider visit or a written prescription.However, insurance is unlikely to cover these products compared to topical retinoid prescriptions, such as higher strengths of adapalene or adapalene combos.
In contrast to retinol, adapalene also doesn’t degrade as easily from light exposure. So, you don’t have to apply adapalene at night. Since topical retinoids can generally make your skin sensitive to the sun, sunscreen is still necessary to lower the risk of sunburn.
There are other skin care treatments similar to adapalene and retinol.
Othertopical retinoidsfor acne treatment include:
A 2022 review article also cited cosmetic-related studies with the following topical retinoids:
Summary
Adapalene and human-made retinol are retinoids, which are vitamin A-based medications. Adapalene is a third-generation retinoid, and retinol is a first-generation retinoid, but both retinoids have skin care uses.
The FDA approved adapalene to treat acne. Depending on the product, kids as young as 9 may use adapalene for acne treatment. Adapalene also has several off-label uses, including cosmetic reasons. Adapalene is available as a prescription and OTC option.
While adapalene and retinol are often confused with one another, each retinoid has some important differences. As for the better retinoid to choose, this decision will likely depend on multiple factors, such as your skin health goals, use history with each retinoid, side effects, cost, and other preferences.
22 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Motamedi M, Chehade A, Sanghera R, et al.A clinician’s guide to topical retinoids.J Cutan Med Surg. 2022;26(1):71-78. doi:10.1177/12034754211035091.National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Differin adapalene gel.Milosheska D, Roškar R.Use of retinoids in topical antiaging treatments: a focused review of clinical evidence for conventional and nanoformulations.Adv Ther. 2022;39(12):5351-5375. doi:10.1007/s12325-022-02319-7National Institutes of Health.Vitamin A and carotenoids - fact sheet for health professionals.Clanner-Engelshofen BM, Bernhard D, Dargatz S, et al.S2k guideline: rosacea.JDDG. 2022;20(8):1147-1165. doi:10.1111/ddg.14849Zasada M, Budzisz E, Erkiert-Polguj A.A clinical anti-ageing comparative study of 0.3 and 0.5% retinol serums: a clinically controlled trial.Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2020;33(2):102-116. doi:10.1159/000508168National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: retinol serum liquid.National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label Epiduo adapalene and benzoyl peroxide gel.National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Epiduo Forte adapalene and benzoyl peroxide gel.National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label Cabtreo clindamycin phosphate/benzoyl peroxide/adapalene gel.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Retinoid or retinol.National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Retin-A Micro tretinoin gel.Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.JAAD. 2024;90(5):P1006.E1-1006.E30. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017Kang S, Goldfarb MT, Weiss JS, et al.Assessment of adapalene gel for the treatment of actinic keratoses and lentigines: a randomized trial.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003;49(1):83-90. doi:10.1067/mjd.2003.451Herane MI, Orlandi C, Zegpi E, et al.Clinical efficacy of adapalene (differin(®)) 0.3% gel in Chilean women with cutaneous photoaging.J Dermatolog Treat. 2012;23(1):57-64. doi:10.3109/09546634.2011.631981Babcock M, Mehta RC, Makino ET.A randomized, double-blind, split-face study comparing the efficacy and tolerability of three retinol-based products vs. three tretinoin-based products in subjects with moderate to severe facial photodamage.J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14(1):24-30.Draelos ZD, Peterson RS.A double-blind, comparative clinical study of newly formulated retinol serums vs tretinoin cream in escalating doses: a method for rapid retinization with minimized irritation.J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(6):625-631. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.10.36849/JDD.2020.5085Zasada M, Budzisz E.Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2019;36(4):392-397. doi:10.5114/ada.2019.87443National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: adapalene cream.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Retinoid or retinol?Callender VD, Baldwin H, Cook-Bolden FE, et al.Effects of topical retinoids on acne and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in patients with skin of color: a clinical review and implications for practice.Am J Clin Dermatol.2022;23(1):69-81. doi:10.1007/s40257-021-00643-2National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Aklief trifarotene cream.
22 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Motamedi M, Chehade A, Sanghera R, et al.A clinician’s guide to topical retinoids.J Cutan Med Surg. 2022;26(1):71-78. doi:10.1177/12034754211035091.National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Differin adapalene gel.Milosheska D, Roškar R.Use of retinoids in topical antiaging treatments: a focused review of clinical evidence for conventional and nanoformulations.Adv Ther. 2022;39(12):5351-5375. doi:10.1007/s12325-022-02319-7National Institutes of Health.Vitamin A and carotenoids - fact sheet for health professionals.Clanner-Engelshofen BM, Bernhard D, Dargatz S, et al.S2k guideline: rosacea.JDDG. 2022;20(8):1147-1165. doi:10.1111/ddg.14849Zasada M, Budzisz E, Erkiert-Polguj A.A clinical anti-ageing comparative study of 0.3 and 0.5% retinol serums: a clinically controlled trial.Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2020;33(2):102-116. doi:10.1159/000508168National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: retinol serum liquid.National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label Epiduo adapalene and benzoyl peroxide gel.National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Epiduo Forte adapalene and benzoyl peroxide gel.National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label Cabtreo clindamycin phosphate/benzoyl peroxide/adapalene gel.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Retinoid or retinol.National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Retin-A Micro tretinoin gel.Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.JAAD. 2024;90(5):P1006.E1-1006.E30. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017Kang S, Goldfarb MT, Weiss JS, et al.Assessment of adapalene gel for the treatment of actinic keratoses and lentigines: a randomized trial.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003;49(1):83-90. doi:10.1067/mjd.2003.451Herane MI, Orlandi C, Zegpi E, et al.Clinical efficacy of adapalene (differin(®)) 0.3% gel in Chilean women with cutaneous photoaging.J Dermatolog Treat. 2012;23(1):57-64. doi:10.3109/09546634.2011.631981Babcock M, Mehta RC, Makino ET.A randomized, double-blind, split-face study comparing the efficacy and tolerability of three retinol-based products vs. three tretinoin-based products in subjects with moderate to severe facial photodamage.J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14(1):24-30.Draelos ZD, Peterson RS.A double-blind, comparative clinical study of newly formulated retinol serums vs tretinoin cream in escalating doses: a method for rapid retinization with minimized irritation.J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(6):625-631. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.10.36849/JDD.2020.5085Zasada M, Budzisz E.Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2019;36(4):392-397. doi:10.5114/ada.2019.87443National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: adapalene cream.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Retinoid or retinol?Callender VD, Baldwin H, Cook-Bolden FE, et al.Effects of topical retinoids on acne and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in patients with skin of color: a clinical review and implications for practice.Am J Clin Dermatol.2022;23(1):69-81. doi:10.1007/s40257-021-00643-2National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Aklief trifarotene cream.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Motamedi M, Chehade A, Sanghera R, et al.A clinician’s guide to topical retinoids.J Cutan Med Surg. 2022;26(1):71-78. doi:10.1177/12034754211035091.National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Differin adapalene gel.Milosheska D, Roškar R.Use of retinoids in topical antiaging treatments: a focused review of clinical evidence for conventional and nanoformulations.Adv Ther. 2022;39(12):5351-5375. doi:10.1007/s12325-022-02319-7National Institutes of Health.Vitamin A and carotenoids - fact sheet for health professionals.Clanner-Engelshofen BM, Bernhard D, Dargatz S, et al.S2k guideline: rosacea.JDDG. 2022;20(8):1147-1165. doi:10.1111/ddg.14849Zasada M, Budzisz E, Erkiert-Polguj A.A clinical anti-ageing comparative study of 0.3 and 0.5% retinol serums: a clinically controlled trial.Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2020;33(2):102-116. doi:10.1159/000508168National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: retinol serum liquid.National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label Epiduo adapalene and benzoyl peroxide gel.National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Epiduo Forte adapalene and benzoyl peroxide gel.National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label Cabtreo clindamycin phosphate/benzoyl peroxide/adapalene gel.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Retinoid or retinol.National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Retin-A Micro tretinoin gel.Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.JAAD. 2024;90(5):P1006.E1-1006.E30. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017Kang S, Goldfarb MT, Weiss JS, et al.Assessment of adapalene gel for the treatment of actinic keratoses and lentigines: a randomized trial.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003;49(1):83-90. doi:10.1067/mjd.2003.451Herane MI, Orlandi C, Zegpi E, et al.Clinical efficacy of adapalene (differin(®)) 0.3% gel in Chilean women with cutaneous photoaging.J Dermatolog Treat. 2012;23(1):57-64. doi:10.3109/09546634.2011.631981Babcock M, Mehta RC, Makino ET.A randomized, double-blind, split-face study comparing the efficacy and tolerability of three retinol-based products vs. three tretinoin-based products in subjects with moderate to severe facial photodamage.J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14(1):24-30.Draelos ZD, Peterson RS.A double-blind, comparative clinical study of newly formulated retinol serums vs tretinoin cream in escalating doses: a method for rapid retinization with minimized irritation.J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(6):625-631. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.10.36849/JDD.2020.5085Zasada M, Budzisz E.Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2019;36(4):392-397. doi:10.5114/ada.2019.87443National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: adapalene cream.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Retinoid or retinol?Callender VD, Baldwin H, Cook-Bolden FE, et al.Effects of topical retinoids on acne and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in patients with skin of color: a clinical review and implications for practice.Am J Clin Dermatol.2022;23(1):69-81. doi:10.1007/s40257-021-00643-2National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Aklief trifarotene cream.
Motamedi M, Chehade A, Sanghera R, et al.A clinician’s guide to topical retinoids.J Cutan Med Surg. 2022;26(1):71-78. doi:10.1177/12034754211035091.
National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Differin adapalene gel.
Milosheska D, Roškar R.Use of retinoids in topical antiaging treatments: a focused review of clinical evidence for conventional and nanoformulations.Adv Ther. 2022;39(12):5351-5375. doi:10.1007/s12325-022-02319-7
National Institutes of Health.Vitamin A and carotenoids - fact sheet for health professionals.
Clanner-Engelshofen BM, Bernhard D, Dargatz S, et al.S2k guideline: rosacea.JDDG. 2022;20(8):1147-1165. doi:10.1111/ddg.14849
Zasada M, Budzisz E, Erkiert-Polguj A.A clinical anti-ageing comparative study of 0.3 and 0.5% retinol serums: a clinically controlled trial.Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2020;33(2):102-116. doi:10.1159/000508168
National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: retinol serum liquid.
National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label Epiduo adapalene and benzoyl peroxide gel.
National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Epiduo Forte adapalene and benzoyl peroxide gel.
National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label Cabtreo clindamycin phosphate/benzoyl peroxide/adapalene gel.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Retinoid or retinol.
National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Retin-A Micro tretinoin gel.
Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al.Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris.JAAD. 2024;90(5):P1006.E1-1006.E30. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.017
Kang S, Goldfarb MT, Weiss JS, et al.Assessment of adapalene gel for the treatment of actinic keratoses and lentigines: a randomized trial.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003;49(1):83-90. doi:10.1067/mjd.2003.451
Herane MI, Orlandi C, Zegpi E, et al.Clinical efficacy of adapalene (differin(®)) 0.3% gel in Chilean women with cutaneous photoaging.J Dermatolog Treat. 2012;23(1):57-64. doi:10.3109/09546634.2011.631981
Babcock M, Mehta RC, Makino ET.A randomized, double-blind, split-face study comparing the efficacy and tolerability of three retinol-based products vs. three tretinoin-based products in subjects with moderate to severe facial photodamage.J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14(1):24-30.
Draelos ZD, Peterson RS.A double-blind, comparative clinical study of newly formulated retinol serums vs tretinoin cream in escalating doses: a method for rapid retinization with minimized irritation.J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(6):625-631. doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.10.36849/JDD.2020.5085
Zasada M, Budzisz E.Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments.Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2019;36(4):392-397. doi:10.5114/ada.2019.87443
National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: adapalene cream.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Retinoid or retinol?
Callender VD, Baldwin H, Cook-Bolden FE, et al.Effects of topical retinoids on acne and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in patients with skin of color: a clinical review and implications for practice.Am J Clin Dermatol.2022;23(1):69-81. doi:10.1007/s40257-021-00643-2
National Institutes of Health. DailyMed.Label: Aklief trifarotene cream.
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