Adapylene

Adapylene 0.1% Gel.

Moisturizers

About this product

A gel formulation containing 0.1% adapalene, a retinoid available over the counter designed to address signs of aging and textural concerns.

Guru Score

76%

Yay

Early verdict · Few reviews so far

What they liked

Retinoid available over the counter
Gentler alternative to stronger retinoids

What they flagged

Effectiveness not well studied at this strength
May take months of regular use to see results

What the gurus are saying

Adapalene is a retinoid that shows promise for fine lines and texture, though the over-the-counter 0.1% strength remains largely unproven for specific concerns like sebaceous keratosis. Dermatologists note it may help, but results are not guaranteed and typically require consistent long-term use to see a visible difference. Anyone considering it may want to patch-test first and give it several months before expecting change.

Synthesized from 2 expert reviews · most recent take July 2025

Best for

Acne-prone skin Mature skin

Type

MoisturizersGel

Where to buy

Amazon → Google →

Opens a store search. We may earn from these links.

Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Dr. Aleksandra Brown

151k subs

✓Yay

"Adapene is a type of retinoid. Retinoids work by increasing the cell turnover. When the cells are not shedding fast enough, such as during teen years or if you're undergoing hormonal imbalance and perimenopause like myself, the top layer of the cells doesn't quite shed like it should. The retinoid will help exfoliate those cells. It will help accelerate the cell turnover and therefore it will help open up the blackheads and the whiteheads. I love using [adapalene] 0.1%."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

✓Mixed

"[Adapalene] different gel or you know any of the other brands that sell [Adapalene] 0.1% over the counter without a prescription, is this going to work? We don't know. No one's really looked. But [Adapalene] is a retinoid similar to the others so it might help shrink them. No promises, no guarantees, and you likely have to use it for a long time to make a dent in the seborrheic keratosis."

Frequently asked.

What is Adapylene 0.1% Gel?

A gel formulation containing 0.1% adapalene, a retinoid available over the counter designed to address signs of aging and textural concerns.

Is Adapylene 0.1% Gel worth it?

Mostly yes. 1 of the 2 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 76%.

What is Adapylene 0.1% Gel's Guru Score?

Adapylene 0.1% Gel holds a Guru Score of 76%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 2 expert reviewers we have collected.