Amazon.com: Customer reviews: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment | Retinoid Acne Cream | Acne Medication | Acne Gel For Blackheads & Whiteheads | Oil Free | Helps Clear And Prevent Acne & Clogged Pores

Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2023

First of all, people who rated this product low--- this product was doing exactly what it was supposed to do. People just don't bother to research how to exactly use it. If you've never used a retinoid (adapalene, tretinoin, retinol, retinal), you have to start slow. Like maybe 1-2x a week, then every other day, then maybe daily. Yes, your skin might purge and will get worse before it gets better. Doesn't mean that the product doesn't work because it's doing exactly what it's supposed to be doing. If your skin is getting really dry, take a break and moisturize. If you're going outside (even if you're only going to be driving), **wear sunscreen** (and no, your makeup that has SPF in it is not enough. You don't apply enough of it to actually get adequate sun protection. And use at least an SPF 30. ). If you're applying adapalene at night, then apply other actives (vitamin C, AHA/BHA's, etc) either during the day or take a night off from adapalene and apply. Otherwise applying both at the same time is just asking to ruin your skin barrier....making your skin raw, flaky, sensitive, etc. Adapalene is used for acne, but it's also a strong retinoid also used for anti aging (I use for anti aging the nights I take a break from tretinoin... and it's working beautifully). Another thing is this may take time to see results. But steady, consistent use will provide results. Just takes some patience. If you experience purging (retinization... happens to most when starting a retinoid), it's OK. It usually gets worse before it gets better. It happened to me with tretinoin (I got break outs when I usually don't experience any) and that's why I started this product because my skin takes to adapalene much better than tretinoin. Anyway, if you're on the fence about this, don't be. Just research the best way for you to use this. I just can't stand when people give a product a low rating for "not working" or "it broke me out", "it dried out my skin", "I used for a week and nothing happened", etc when it's doing **exactly** what it's supposed to. I really like the formulation of La Roche Posay's adapalene the best. My skin absorbs the gel way better than most adapalene creams and gels out there. And I've been using the 1.6oz tube for about 5-6 months. I use this a few times a week (4-5x) and just ordered a new tube. So it'll last you awhile. If you're experiencing a lot of irritation, try applying moisturizer first, then adapalene 15-30min later, then moisturizer again 10-15 min after that. Make sure you have a really good moisturizer (I love Elf Holy Hydration sleep mask only I don't wash it off, or CeraVe moisturizer), use a gentle cleanser (I use one from Cetaphil). And if you go outside at all, use a sunscreen (use the 2 finger rule for measuring how much you need...and SPF 30 at least. I have one from Apostrophe that wears beautifully under makeup. Others are Bondi Sands SPF 50, and I love the Sun Bum spray mist SPF 45 for reapplying over makeup. Works really, really well). And remember to be patient.
It's one of the best adapalene gels I've ever tried.

380 people found this helpful

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r.jericho

YES, the rumors are true! This works against those nasty sebaceous filaments!!

Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2021

Verified Purchase

So back in January of 2021, I started using a 2% BHA not knowing, in my own admitted ignorance, that you cannot combine BHA w/ a retinol without disastrous results (bonus skincare facts for those of you following along at home, it over-exfoliates your skin and basically causes excess clogging). I had been using Tretinoin for almost three years for cystic acne with no adverse affects other than the general peeling and redness. My skin looked great! But I just had to add in a BHA, b/c I am never satisfied and wanted perfect skin tone. Well BOY did I learn my lesson. The BHA destroyed my chin and my pores around my nose... tiny little clogged pores all over the place. If you are reading this, it's those gross oily clogged sebaceous filaments that look black in certain lighting, are hard to see, but feel bumpy when you run over it w/ your finger. Cue panic. I tried everything to get rid of it, not even the Tretinoin worked. Then I found this!!
My skin, just in a month of using it, has gone from a constant nightmare, to a clear road to recovery. It says it takes 3 months, but I have already seen great results in 6 weeks. My chin went from red, enflamed, clogged, with some larger spots, to clear, even, and those pesky bumps are almost gone. Can't imagine what it's going to look like in another 6 weeks! Highly, highly recommend.
P.S. If you are used to retinol products, your skin will most likely NOT burn and peel, if you haven't used any before, it may cause burning and peeling, BUT it's worth it. Your skin will get used to it.

33 people found this helpful

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Holly

Great OTC alternative

Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2024

Verified Purchase

Great OTC alternative to the creams I've used from dermatologist. It's effective and I've bought at least 5 tube's at this point. Unfortunately for the business it works so well I don't have to purchase it as frequently anymore.

5 people found this helpful

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Miranda Lynch

Magic

Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024

Verified Purchase

This product is magic to my skin. It's gentle but effective. I've tried curology, this is better for cheaper

8 people found this helpful

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Mother Of Cats

Stick with it! Don’t give up!

Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2020

Verified Purchase

Every women or teen need to have this product in their arsenal. It’s a literal godsend. Don’t get me wrong, you MUST Stick with this product for the long run. It’s meant to be used once a day for long periods of time for it to start working. You won’t miraculously wake up one day after using it and find beautiful movie star skin. In fact, it will most likely make you breakout for the first week to a month after using it while your skin clears and gets use to it. But once your skin starts to heal after 2 to 3 months in, the difference is going to be astounding. Now, My skin never felt so good Even my friends at work notice the difference!!

I’m not going to a sugarcoat it... I almost gave up... ALMOST. But I stuck with it because honestly my acne has never been truly gone no matter how much money I throw at a product so I just stuck with it. The first month was HELL - I not only broke out but I also got a cold sore which I haven’t had in literal YEARS. Almost got rid of the product after that thinking it was cursed because really???? A freaking cold sore???? Nobody wants those nasty things. BUT I was already seeing slight improvements in the look and feel of my skin so I thought what the hell nothing more to lose anyways! Glad I stuck with it! My skin looks younger and my pores are smaller and tighter than I’ve ever seen them in all my 34 years on this earth!

I’m really excited to find a product like this. I’ve been using Curology for 5+ years and it never truly got rid of my acne. The first year or so my acne was almost gone only getting a few breakouts before my period but lately I think they changed the product because it was pretty much in affective and a waste of $30 every two weeks (because they put barely enough product in it to last a month unless you buy their “2 month” supply for $45/month that only lasted a month tops). I cancelled it after finding this product! I’m excited to try other skin care products from LaRochey. :)

139 people found this helpful

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Kimberlly Castro

Worth the money

Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2024

Verified Purchase

Fantastic product. Was feeling hopeless about my aging skin as I was noticing very deep, large sis and deep large sun whiteheads that I could not get out on my own. I have used the product for a week almost and my skin is noticeably different. My pores seems smaller and old blemishes seem to have started to disappear.
Thrilled to be using this product would recommend to anyone who is having more than the occasional blemish.

2 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Best topical for hyperpigmentation & clogged pores

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2023

Verified Purchase

Context: I bought this product after hearing that it helps not just with acne but for hyperpigmentation. For reference, I’ve had acne since my teens, I’m now in my early 30s and still struggle with hormonal cystic acne and pore clogging. I started taking birth control pills a year ago and that was what truly saved my acne, but I was still getting a spot or two every month or so, and would get clogged pores pretty regularly in my t-zone (though the pore clogging on my jaw area completely went away with birth control). I wanted to use a retinol that would supplement my birth control pill for the clogging and occasional breakouts, but also because I wasn’t seeing my scarring fade as fast I wanted.

Method & Progress: I started using this adapelene gel about a month ago. I had already been using retinol for about 2 years so my skin is used to it, but I still am only using this every other day without any other acids and always on top of a toner/serum so the adapalene doesn’t go on without some sort of barrier first. And always follow with a thick moisturizer. A few days in, my eyelids and neck were getting pretty sensitive, so I had to put extra moisturizer (I prefer oat-based cream that’s good for eczema or straight up vaseline) on those sensitive areas, and that helped to calm down the dryness and discomfort. The key is also to ALWAYS use sunscreen during the day when using adapalene or you will get rashes or irritation.

Results: I can now say that this stuff has basically gotten rid of the rest of my acne that didn’t go away with the birth control pill. The biggest difference I see is in the clogging rate of my pores - I have no blackheads or texture now. Secondly the hyperpigmentation goes away so much faster than with anything I’ve used so far - even my old retinol or any acids I was using. For ex. if I had a dark spot from acne that I had picked, normally it would take at least 1.5-2 months to fade away entirely, but now it takes about 3 weeks-1 month. I really don’t have to wear any make up now.

Verdict: Amazing buy if you struggle with acne, clogged pores, and/or hyperpigmentation. Use it right!!

72 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

EXTREME dryness

Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2022

Verified Purchase

I received this product and started using it on May 10th for peri-oral dermatitis I’ve had since late January/early February of 2022. I have a health lung condition that means I have to avoid antibiotic use if at all possible so my condition doesn’t become antibiotic resistant. Also, the number of antibiotics I’m allergic to has gone from 0 to 4 in the past 3 years. I haven’t had acne or skin irritation around my nose and mouth since I was 14-19 years old. I found a face wash at that time that got rid of it. Now it’s back with a vengeance. This product was recommended to me to try. In the past 5 days my skin has gotten better for the first 2 days and then WAY worse with it drying and flaking to the point I can’t wear any makeup without looking like a snake shedding it’s skin. My trouble spots are cracking and peeling to the point if I absentmindedly brush my chin I get huge flakes on my desk at work. It stings when I use the product after washing my face at night and despite copious amounts of water to hydrate, my skin continues to be red, itchy, burning and flaking. Sorry to say, I’m 5 days into this and about to quit. I will say, the product does not smell bad and it spreads easily. I’m treating my dry skin tonight with a moist warm compress and vitamin A&D ointment to get it to quit flaking and shedding. I can’t imagine looking like this for the next 2 months like some people are saying. Maybe I will try every other night for the coming week and see how it goes.

8 people found this helpful

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