By Dr. Allison Dinh, PharmD, Curist Pharmacy Advisor

Curist delivers FDA-approved medicines to your door at a fraction of the price of traditional brands. We hope everyone stays safe and healthy during this time.

Generic adapalene versus brand-name Differin…what’s the differ-ence? 

What is Adapalene? 

Adapalene is a topical retinoid that is used to treat acne and improve the texture of your skin. Adapalene prevents clogged pores from forming, thereby preventing blackheads and whiteheads. According to dermatologists, adapalene is considered as a skincare holy grail product for its anti-aging properties. Adapalene is available both over-the-counter and by prescription.  

What is Differin? 

Differin is one brand name product that includes adapalene as the active ingredient. Specifically, Differin is an adapalene gel with a 0.1% concentration, which is the only dose available over-the-counter. You can find Differin in a 15-gram (30-day supply) or 45-gram tube (90-day supply). 

Is Adapalene the Same as Differin? 

Yes, adapalene is the same as Differin in that Differin is one of the brand name products that includes adapalene 0.1% as the active ingredient. Curist Acne Relief is another product that also includes adapalene 0.1%, but at a fraction of the cost of Differin. Curist Acne Relief and Differin both include the same active ingredient at the same strength, adapalene 0.1%, and as a result have the same therapeutic benefits.

While all products contain adapalene 0.1%, there may be a slight difference in the inactive ingredients.. Let’s compare Curist Acne Relief (adapalene 0.1% gel) versus Differin, shall we?

• Curist Acne Relief Inactive Ingredients: carbomer homopolymer, edetate disodium, methylparaben, poloxamer 182, propylene glycol, purified water, sodium hydroxide
• Differin Inactive Ingredients: carbomer 940, edetate disodium, methylparaben, poloxamer 182, propylene glycol, purified water and sodium hydroxide, may contain hydrochloric acid to adjust pH

As you can see, Curist Acne Relief and Differin contain the same inactive ingredients. The only slight difference is that some Differin products also have hydrochloric acid for pH adjustment. At the end of the day, Curist Acne Relief and Differin are both adapalene 0.1% products and have an essentially identical ingredient list. Differences lie in price and prior experiences with these products. The choice is yours on what works best for you! 

Are There Other Adapalene Products? 

Yes, there are many over-the-counter adapalene products available! A quick search online would show you a slew of gels from different brands, including Curist, RochePosay, and AcneFree. However, all these products would be the 0.1% formulation of adapalene. Higher strengths will require a doctor’s prescription. 

What is the Difference Between Differin and La RochePosay Adapalene? 

Both Differin and La RochePosay contain the same active ingredient, adapalene 0.1% gel. Note that the La RochePosay version is called “Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1%”. As the active ingredient is the same in Differin and LaRoche Posay, let’s compare Differin and La RochePosay in terms of their inactive ingredient list. 

The active ingredients of La RochePosay® Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% (16 oz) are: carbomer homopolymer, edetate disodium, methylparaben, poloxamer 182, propylene glycol, purified water, sodium hydroxide. The active ingredients of Differin® Adapalene Gel 0.1% (16 oz) are: carbomer 940, edetate disodium, methylparaben, poloxamer 182, propylene glycol, purified water, sodium hydroxide, may contain hydrochloric acid to adjust pH. 

From an inactive ingredient standpoint, both Differin and RochePosay have a nearly identical list. The only differences are that RochePosay contains carbomer homopolymer instead of carbomer 940 and that some Differin gels may contain hydrochloric acid in order to adjust the pH levels. Carbomers are a common ingredient in skincare products and are safe to use. They are polymers made from acrylic acid that are used either as a thickening agent or to prevent oil and water from separating. The difference between carbomer homopolymer and carbomer 940 lies in whether benzene has been used in the manufacturing process. The term carbomer homopolymer alone refers to a polymer with a high molecular weight. If benzene is involved, there will be a more specific name for the carbomer followed by a number. 

With almost the same ingredients, La RochePosay® Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% and Differin® Adapalene Gel 0.1% are very comparable to each other. Since they both have adapalene 0.1% as the active ingredient, you can be confident that the efficacy between the two is also similar.

Feel free to use whichever brand you prefer (we recommend Curist Acne Relief as it is available at much lower prices versus both La RochePosay® and Differin®) to fulfill your acne needs.