If you’re wondering if you can use Differin gel with salicylic acid in your skincare, you’re in the right place. I’ve been using Differin gel for about 6 months now and have been really getting on with it, since I stopped using Tretinoin 6 months ago.
The short answer is that I personally don’t think it’s a good idea to use Differin gel with salicylic acid, especially not on the same days in your skincare routine. BUT many people will say otherwise, especially if it’s a salicylic acid cleanser, so let’s get into it.
How does Differin gel work as an acne treatment?
Differin gel is a third generation topical retinoid. A retinoid is a class of drug that increases skin cell turnover. This means that your skin renews itself faster, and makes it difficult for new acne to form.
Acne-prone skin can massively benefit from Differin, as it can target acne of all different kinds. From clogged pores to hormonal acne breakouts, most people will see an improvement – it can even improve the appearance of acne marks.
However, it’s important to remember that the treatment of acne with a topical acne medication rarely means you’ll *never* see a new pimple again. I get a lot of comments where people are confused about still getting pimples, despite using a retinoid like Differin. This is normal, nothing can 100% rid you the occasional pimple from acne long-term.
How does salicylic acid help acne prevention?
Salicylic acid treats acne by penetrating deep into the pore and dissolving blockages of sebum and dead skin cells. It has the power to wash away pore-clogging gunk, essentially!
Salicylic acid, also known as BHA, behaves differently to other acids like glycolic acid, for example. Lactic acid and glycolic acid are both alpha-hydroxy acids, which work more on the surface of your skin.
They can help with mild acne, too, but because they don’t penetrate as deeply they are less effective for clogged pores and moderate acne.
The main drawback of salicylic acid is that it can be quite drying. As someone with dry-ish skin, I’ve never really been a fan. Salicylic acid always leaves my skin flaky and irritated.
Differin vs salicylic acid
Both retinoids (Differin is a retinoid) and salicylic acid are effective for acne and fading the appearance of marks, but I have a strong favourite – Differin gel.
To begin with, Differin can be just as irritating as salicylic acid, but I personally found my skin quickly got use to it compared to salicylic acid. I also feel that Differin is just far more powerful for fighting clogged pores.
Differin vs Tretinoin
I’ve used both and I really like both. The only reason I moved away from tretinoin is because I wondered if my perioral dermatitis (a rash, basically) would get better if I used Differin.
Differin is known to cause less skin irritation side effects, and I agree it is a little less irritating for me in practice. This is because it binds to less receptors compared to tretinoin.
I really like this article from LabMuffin about comparing the two, but I’ll summarise it for you if you don’t have time to read the full article:
- Tretinoin is much older and binds to more receptors. People used to think this made it superior, but essentially it just means it’s a bit sloppy – a bit ‘spray and pray’. This also makes it more irritating.
- Differin is more selective with which receptors it binds to, and in practice we’ve seen comparable results for both Tret and Differin when treating acne and premature ageing.
- Basically, they both work really well AND Differin is less irritating on the whole.
So, can you use Differin gel with salicylic acid for acne?
It’s generally agreed upon that you shouldn’t use a leave-on salicylic acid product with Differin. For example, you should not use both Differin gel and a salicylic acid serum in the same night time routine. Even if you use a thin layer of Differin, you may well end up with irritated skin. In fact, it’s very likely!
Severe irritation of the skin occurs when you mix two exfoliating or skin stimulating products, whether you have sensitive skin or not.
Wash off vs leave on products
But what about salicylic acid products that get washed off? A lot of people wish to continue using their beloved Cerave salicylic acid cleanser when they start using Differin. Personally I think this is a recipe for disaster.
When you first start using Differin, your skin will be extra sensitive. Long term, you’ll want a routine that both fights acne AND keeps your skin barrier intact. Using a salicylic acid cleanser 1-2x per day and Differin 3-4x a week is likely to damage your skin barrier in the long run.
I therefore recommend using a gentle cleanser without exfoliants – check out my water based cleanser recommendations for acne prone skin.
What about using Differin and salicylic acid at different times of the day?
What if you want to use an adapalene product (another name for Differin) in the evening and salicylic acid in the morning? All skin types are unique, but I still feel this is a risky idea.
Differin is a lot more powerful than what you might think. I would therefore recommend cutting out the salicylic acid to begin with, then adding it in later and seeing how you go.
Differin gel also works on both current and future breakouts, so it’s a real multitasker. In the long term it can make oily skin less oily, even out skin tone, fade marks and reduce signs of premature ageing. You might find it’s all you need!
Signs of irritation to watch out for
Here are some signs of irritation you can watch out for, no matter which type of retinoid you choose.
Also remember that the irritation may not necessarily be from the Differin, but from the combination of Differin and your existing routine. It may take some trial and error.
- Your skin starts stinging after applying products it normally loves.
- You notice lots of small, red spots around your mouth. This can look a bit like a rash.
- You appear overall more red, but this can happen when using a retinoid to begin with.
If any of these happen, consider cutting out salicylic acid and/or taking a few days off the retinoid.
Tips for best results when using Differin gel
Here are my top tips as a pro retinoid user of >4 years.
- Discontinue actives like benzoyl peroxide, vitamin C, alpha hydroxy acids and salicylic acid when you start.
- Use a barrier serum every day to help keep your barrier healthy and reduce the risk of irritation. Check out my barrier products for acne prone skin.
- Ditch your spot treatment – the retinoid is a great spot treatment, anyway.
- Use warm water instead of hot water to wash your face. Hot water can be very irritating.
- Avoid irritants like essential oils, fragrance, witch hazel and tea tree.
