Differin Users--- What's your routine?
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free skin care · Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:27 pm

Well, I've been fighting the good fight against my hormonal acne since I've gone off of BC, but I went in to the dermatologist today to get a cortisone shot for a cyst on my chin, and my derm suggested I start using Differin. The instructions it comes with are so strict--- wash face with mild soap, wait 20 min to let face dry completely, then put on Differin... So, I know some ladies on the board use this stuff. Can you please tell me what kind of results you see with it, and also let me know your current routine, what other products you use with it, etc? TIA!

free skin care · Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:46 pm

Hi Manslayerliz. I don't know anything about differin. Is it kind of like clyndamycin for acne? I use that twice a day on my face and then apply vit. c on top. I don't wait twenty minutes after washing though, oops. I know its the best 10 bucks I ever spent though. I have not had a pimple since using it.
Good luck.

free skin care · Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:48 pm

Thanks for the reply, razinkane!^-^ Differin is a kind of retinoid, although I must say that clindamycin sounds like it's working pretty well for you, so if the Differin doesn't work out I might try that next. Also, while I'm at it, does anyone out there use both Differin and Juice Beauty's Green Apple Peel?

free skin care · Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:52 pm

The differin sounds better. Retinol is good at reducing pore size. Is the percentage huge? Do you think it will irritate my skin. That would take care of me wanting to try the mandelic acid and I could just use one product for skin care benefits besides acne? I can't wait to hear how it works for you.

free skin care · Tue Jul 18, 2006 4:32 pm

I have oily skin and when I was on Differin it made my skin so dry that it was flaking. My derm (at the time) recommended that I use SpectroJel Unscented as my cleanser, Differin, sunscreen and if absolutely necessary Nutraderm as my moisturizer.

free skin care · Tue Jul 18, 2006 6:38 pm

Liz,
I have been using Differin for 8 years! I does work for acne but you may need something else as well. Except for the past few months I have always used Differin plus antibiotics or Differin plus benzoyl peroxide. I am right now trying to see if I can get by with just the Differin.

When you first start the Differin you may need to stop using other actives (retinol, salicylic acid, AHAs, etc.). My skin really went through a rough period when I started the Differin but I think alot of this is due to the fact that I continued to use a product containing sulfur when I started the Differin. Once I stopped using the sulfur my skin improved a lot and eventually after a month or so the irritation subsided. If you look at the package insert for Differin it specifically advises not to use salicylic acid or sulfur with Differin. If I were you I would not use the Green Apple Peel since it contains salicylic acid. After your skin has become accustomed to the Differin then you may or may not be able to tolerate salicylic acid. I absolutly cannot tolerate it and I think that one of the reasons is the Differin. I will give you my routine but keep in mind that I would not recommend this routine for someone just starting to use Differin!

a.m.
Yonka Cream Clenser
IS Clinical Proheal (wait 15 min.)
Kanebo Sensai Emulsion I
Olay Complete SPF 15 (BTW today I just bought some of the Clarins Plus you have been raving about so I may be adding that here)

p.m.
Kanebo Cleansing Oil
Cellcosmet Purifying Gel
Differin (wait 15 min.)
Persa Gel (10% benzoyl peroxide) spot treatment only
Jurlique Herbal Recovery Mist OP
Kanebo Emulsion I

Every three days I use Kanebo Silk Peeling Powder in place of the Cellcosmet and once a week I use MaMa Lotion (10% mandelic acid, 10 % malic acid at 2.5pH) in place of the Differin and Jurlique.

I have never used a product as long as the Differin and if I gave it up it would only be to switch to a stronger retinoid (RetinA or Tazorac) if my skin could handle it. The good news: you know how sensitive my skin is and I can tolerate the Differin so it just might work for you too. Wink

razinkane Differin is good but it is no miracle product!! I still feel that I need to use additional actives to get the results that I long for.

free skin care · Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:43 am

Wow, thanks for the great information, everyone!! I went ahead and used the Dr. Hauschka RNC before the Differin last night, and I just let it dry for about 20 minutes before I went ahead and put on the Differin. I guess the good news is that this morning my face doesn't look dry/irritated, etc, so thank hevaen for small miracles. The information I've read on retinoids like differin stresses using a mild cleanser. Do you guys think that Dr. H Cleansing Milk/Diana Yvonne Wheat Germ Cleanser fits the bill? I've had terrible experiences with cetaphil, and I can't use any Yonka cleansers because they contain the dreaded castor oil (snort!!).

free skin care · Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:24 pm

I've been using Differin for ~ 3 months now, and before that I had been using Retin A .0025% cream for ~ 1 yr, which was really too harsh for my skin. Differin feels so much gentler on my skin, so that I am able to use it together with other actives (AHAs, ylang-ylang, etc) whereas I could hardly use anything while on retin a. My routine is:

AM
MD Forte III cleanser (20% glycolic cleanser)
DHCC
DH Clarifying toner
Pimple Eraser (glycolic solution)
Decleor aromessence Ylang ylang oil
Dermadoctor Pore Perfection
Mineral Makeup, eye makeup....

(GOSH, now that i see it writing, that looks like so much layering on my face!!)

PM
Caudalie Cleansing Milk (for makeup removal)
MD Forte III cleanser (20% glycolic cleanser)
DHCC
DH Clarifying toner
DH Rhythmic Night Conditioner
Decleor aromessence Ylang ylang oil (Recently only, just because I love the scent)
Differin .1% gel (or cream, I have both)

My skin has improved, and I'm not sure whether it's the Dr Hauschka products that I started using at around the same time I switched to Differin, but it doesn't dry out and is lees reactive, and seems to tolerate the other products a lot better.
I hope this helps!

free skin care · Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:39 pm

I'm really glad to hear your input, jzainoun--- it's great news for me that you've found you can still use actives with differin--- I was afraid I'd have to give up a lot of my favorite products!! Shock

I haven't experienced any irritation yet, so I think I'll keep using actives in moderation. I'll keep you updated! (By the way, aren't Dr. H products amazing??)

free skin care · Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:56 pm

I'm so glad to hear you haven't had any irritation! I'm also very apprehensive whenever I want to try a product,(i'm scared of getting near lime juice, even though i'm addicted to lemon... i eat lemons plain) and sometimes I feel as though using Dr. H products with prescription topicals is so ridiculous, as Dr. H ascribes to a holistic approach, and, well, differin.... well.... Confused

But i've had no problems, and yes, I agree, Dr. H products are amazing! Keep me posted!

free skin care · Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:52 am

Liz, how's Differin working for you so far?

free skin care · Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:59 am

Well, so far so good! I've only been on the Differin + oral antibiotic combo for a couple of weeks so I don't expect any miracles yet, but my skin does look pretty good. I actually haven't gotten a single blemish since I started, so I'm pretty pleased about that. Of course now since the blemishes are under control I've shifted my focus to the ever present (and annoying!!) blackheads/clogged pores, and the red acne marks. Has anyone used the Green Apple Peel while they have been on some kind of vitamin A topical therapy? How about the Clarisonic? I was thinking that sucker might loosen some of these blackheads up... I miss my GAP so much, since it was so good for both the red marks and the clogged pores. I think the sensitive version might not have SA in it, so I may try that. I haven't really been using any actives the past couple of weeks since I wasn't sure how my skin would react to the differin, but I'm happy to report that as sensitive as my skin is, I haven't experienced any redness, peeling, or irritation. I'll keep you guys updated!

free skin care · Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:08 am

Liz, good for you that they're still working. You should definitely try Clarisonic. It's a big investment but I love using it...every shower feels like a spa experience now. It has singlehandedly taken care of my blackheads and clogged pores.

free skin care · Fri Aug 04, 2006 1:16 pm

I have used retin-A forever and recently switched to tazorac. I still use my 'actives' with no problem. I use md forte cleanser and lotion in the morning along with my proheal serum. At night, i just use a face oil and my tazorac gel. I also having been using my JB green apple mask with no problems a couple of times a week.

HTH!

free skin care · Fri Aug 04, 2006 1:32 pm

Liz,
I think that once your skin is accustomed to the Differin (which it sounds like it is) you can use the Green Apple Peel or other actives. You may want to approach the regular version of the peel with caution because it has salicylic acid and you will need to see if you can tolerate that now that you are using the Differin. I would try the regular version and see how your skin reacts. The MaMa lotion that I use once a week is I believe stronger than the JB Green Apple peel and I have no problems using that. You might want to skip using Differin on the day that you do your peel though. HTH

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