Ingredient glossary
Adapalene
On your shelf ✓What Adapalene does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Adapalene
In short: Adapalene delivers anti acne and texture, suits oily skin best, and the evidence behind it is strong. One thing to know: not for pregnancy or breastfeeding; introduce it gently.
- What it does
- Anti acne, texture
- Best for
- Oily skin
- Watch out
- Not for pregnancy or breastfeeding; introduce it gently
- Evidence
- Strong
The molecule
The Glow take
One of the ingredients I trust most.
When your goal is calming breakouts and congestion, Adapalene delivers, and the research properly backs it up. Skip it while you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and the rest of the time bring it in slowly.
— Maya
What it does
- anti acne
- texture
strong evidenceRandomized trials show adapalene 0.1–0.3% is as effective or superior to low-strength tretinoin for acne with fewer local side effects.
On a label: works best above 0.1%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- acne prone
- oily
Approach with care
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
- very sensitive
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskModerate
How it fits each skin type
- DryNeutral
- CombinationNeutral
- OilySuits
- SensitiveTake care
Often chosen for acne prone. Take extra care if any of these apply to you: pregnancy, breastfeeding.
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
Adapalene, answered
Is Adapalene safe during pregnancy?
No. Adapalene is best avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or trying, leave this one out and ask your doctor about a safe alternative.
Who should avoid Adapalene?
Approach Adapalene with care if any of these apply to you: pregnancy, breastfeeding, and very sensitive. Its irritation risk is moderate, so introduce it slowly and patch test first.
What concentration of Adapalene actually works?
Research tends to show Adapalene starts pulling its weight above 0.1%. If a brand prints the percentage, that is the number to look for.
During pregnancy
Leave Adapalene out while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It sits on the list of ingredients usually held back during this time.
When in doubt, check with your doctor or midwife. They outrank any website, including this one.
Commonly confused with
- RetinolAdapalene is a prescription-grade retinoid built to be more stable and less irritating than the older ones.
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