Patience is definitely required. This is not a spot treatment. It works by changing how skin behaves.
Never had acne—not even as a teen. But when I hit a certain age, hormonal breakouts landed terribly. It got so bad I felt like I couldn't leave my house! When I reached the point where I'd gone more than a year, I was willing to try A N Y T H I N G ! !
This product appeared on my radar so I thought, 'What have I got to lose?!'
I thank GOD for this stuff!! I started noticing improvement after a week of consistent use (once daily as recommended), and saw considerably more after 2 weeks. I'm just starting my 3rd week with this and am finally remembering what hope feels like!
It goes on easy, but does sting a bit where broken blemishes are. I do use it on my whole face, which is kind of funny because I found something new developing under my chin—NOT thinking I needed to cover MORE than just my face! I'll start spreading this love there too now.
I read a review that said this stuff is "sticky"?? It's a fast-drying gel (and it really DOES dry fast) so I don't get how it would be sticky—unless they were applying it like a mask and just hoping it would dry??! A little bit goes pretty far, so 'use sparingly' isn't merely a suggestion: it's how the product behaves. Apply it, spread it out, and keep going till all is covered. By time I'm half done, the first areas of application are already dry.
What I also love about adapalene is what another reviewer posted: it does NOT stain clothing, pillowcases, etc. I HAVE found that with benzoil peroxide—practically destroying some favorite t-shirts and don't even get me started on the silk pillowcases I had to replace 😑
This IS the first actual "retinoid" I've been able to use. Retinol obliterates my sensitive skin, but adapalene—though drying—does not.
If you've tried everything short of Accutane (or isotretinoin¹ as it is now called), you may have landed in the right place!
¹Isotretinoin is quite literally the only thing I haven't tried. For me, the risks did not outweigh <potential> benefits.
