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Skin blemishes such as acne can be a pain to deal with. Most dermatologists suggest the use of Differin Gel, but this has side effects such as redness, dryness, and skin irritation. It takes time for Differin Gel to show visible results and it is best used with a moisturizer to combat these issues.
Lucky for you, we here at BeautiClassy have reviewed 11 moisturizers that you can use to use with Differin Gel in your skincare routine. So have a look!
Top 11 Best Moisturizer to Use with Differin Gel
| Image | Product Name | Price On Amazon |
|---|---|---|
 | Best overall Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid | Check Price |
 | Best Moisturizer for Dry Skin CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream | Check Price |
 | Best Water Gel Face Lotion Neutrogena Hydro Boost | Check Price |
 | Best Face Wash to Use with Differin Gel La Roche-Posay Toleriane | Check Price |
 | Best Daily Face Gel Moisturizer for Dry Skin COSRX Snail Mucin | Check Price |
 | Best Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream CETAPHIL | Check Price |
 | Best Moisturizer with Pro-Retinol L’Oréal Paris Revitalift | Check Price |
 | Best Moisturizing Skin Care Lotion Advanced Clinicals Manuka Honey | Check Price |
 | Best Daily Lightweight Gel Face Moisturizer Versed Dew Point | Check Price |
 | Best Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin Aveeno Oat Gel | Check Price |
 | Best Moisturizer for Looking Smooth Olay Regenerist Retinol | Check Price |
Best Overall – Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid
Specification
- Product Benefits: Improves skin texture overnight
- Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
- Item Form: Gel
- Volume: 2.5 oz.
- Scent: Unscented
Description
Differin Restorative Night Moisturizer is the perfect way to help smooth things over, without clogging pores. Formulated with Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramides, this moisturizer immediately soothes and deeply hydrates dry, flaky skin overnight.
Features
Overnight hydration: Provides hydration for the skin overnight to improve skin texture
Hyaluronic acid: helps retain moisture in the skin
Allantoin: soothes dry skin
How to use
It will come as no surprise that this will have to be used at night! So after using a face cleanser suited for your skin type, lightly pat your skin, and then apply this gel. Apply a little dime on all five fingertips and spread it all over your face. Apply an even, and thin layer covering your entire face. You can apply a little more to places where you feel gets a little more dryer like the forehead and nose. But do avoid putting too much around the eyes. For that, go as far as the upper cheekbone at most!
Expert Verdict
When it comes to a product that best pairs with Differin Gel, it was a unanimous decision among us that Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid was going to be the best overall product on the list! Any side effects you would have with Differin Gel will be gone using this! Be it skin redness, dryness, itching, scaling, or mild burning, all of it can be soothed over by this night cream! And the greatest part of this all is the fact that it actually helps Differin Gel work even better! I would like to add the fact that some of us took a little longer than others to start seeing results. But overall, we all noticed considerable skin smoothening within 2 to 4 weeks. It works great and is a great accessory for your nighttime skincare routine.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Smoothens skin and rehydrates overnight | Results may vary from person to person |
| Takes care of all Differin Gel side-effects | |
| Easy to use and can be used for your nighttime skincare routine |
Best Moisturizer for Dry Skin – CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream
Specification
- Product Benefits: Gentle on the skin
- Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
- Item Form: Cream
- Volume: 1.7 oz.
- Scent: Fragrance-free
Description
Developed with the help of dermatologists, CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream is formulated with biomimetic peptides, hyaluronic acid, and three essential ceramides that work together to lock in skin’s moisture overnight.
Features
Gentle on the skin: With no fragrance added to the cream, it leaves the skin feeling no irritation overnight.
For all skin types: works well with dry, sensitive, oily, etc.
How to use
Creams are a bit thicker in consistency than gel so you want to thoroughly clean your face with a cleanser. Then take a dime size cream on three of your fingers, and in an upward circular motion, you apply the cream. Take care to avoid the eyes around your eyes Apply night cream in gentle upward strokes and circular motions by using your fingers. Avoid the area around your eyes but do not forget to apply the cream to your neck. This all should be done about 30 minutes to an hour before bed, but remember for the best effect you want to maintain a routine of doing so, every night.
Expert Verdict
If you have dry skin as I do, then this would be the absolute perfect product for you! Easily one of the best night creams for dry skin that you get with Differin Gel. The allantoin helps keep the moisture on your face overnight. Not to mention the fragrance-free and non-comedogenic ingredients on the list make sure you won’t have clogged pores or irritation caused by the product. My only complaint is that it might cause a bit of a burning sensation on your skin so do be careful of how much you use. It might not seem like you are putting much on your face but believe me, it is really fast absorbing on the skin so you won’t realize that you are putting a lot and stinging your skin!
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for dry skin | Might take getting used to the stinging sensation |
| No clogged pores in the morning | |
| No irritation because it has no fragrance |
Best Water Gel Face Lotion – Neutrogena Hydro Boost
Specification
- Product Benefits: Oil-free
- Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
- Item Form: Gel
- Volume: 1.7 oz.
- Scent: Moisturizer smell
Description
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Water Gel Face and Neck Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid is an oil-free, non-comedogenic face lotion that quenches dry skin to keep it looking smooth, supple, and hydrated day after day. The unique water gel formula absorbs quickly like a gel but has long-lasting, intense moisturization.
Features
Oil-free: makes the gel better at retaining moisture
Quick absorption: an easy and instant feeling of hydration on your face
Daily use: water-gel daily face and neck moisturizer with hyaluronic acid to hydrate dry skin
How to use
One thing about gel is that you can overapply it. First and always, wash your face with a mild cleanser that suits your skin type. So to properly apply it, take a little on each finger and then apply in a circular motion until all of absorbed onto the skin. Lucky for you, the Neutrogena Hydro Boost is incredibly light and easily absorbed on the skin so you only need to rub it a few times to see the full effect. The skin should feel smooth and supple, but not oily, so make sure you wipe off any extra gel by gently patting your face. And don’t forget about applying it to your neck too!
Expert Verdict
A water-based product is the best way to moisturize skin that gets dried from Differin Gel. And the Neutrogena Hydro Boost is exactly the hydrating gel that you will need. I know one of our writers does not like the feeling of thick and heavy cream on their face and much rather use a quick-absorbing gel that doesn’t weigh the face down. She has said how incredibly light this is and how it has this instant gratification when using it. I attest to her experience because I also felt how hydrated my face felt using this, it was amazing! The only downside might be the fact it does have a blue dye and has fragrance. So if you have sensitive skin to fragrance, you might get skin irritation, especially after using Differin Gel. Highly recommend buying it if you need want water-based gel face lotion for your face or if it’s on sale.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great water gel face lotion | Might not be suitable for sensitive skin |
| Can be used daily | |
| Instant hydration and quick absorption |
Best Face Wash to Use with Differin Gel – La Roche-Posay Toleriane
Specification
- Product Benefits: Provides skin barrier and soothes the skin
- Active Ingredients: Niacinamide, Ceramide
- Item Form: Cream
- Volume: 2.5 fl oz.
- Scent: Unscented
Description
Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer is formulated with dermatologist-recommended ingredients including ceramide-3, niacinamide, and glycerin. Double action helps repair the skin’s natural protective barrier after 1-hour and provides up to 48-hour hydration. Its lightweight cream texture easily absorbs into the skin to provide immediate comfort.
Features
Active ingredients: niacinamide and ceramidehelp retain moisture and soothe the skin respectively.
Non-greasy: the oil-free ingredient helps leave your skin feeling smooth without feeling greasy.
Great for dry places: if your face loses a lot of moisture because of Differin Gel, then this is the product you need to keep your face hydrated.
How to use
As with any moisturizer in your skincare routine, wash your face thoroughly with a cleanser before applying this product (we will get to why a little later). After you are done cleansing your face, take small amounts on the tip of your fingers and gently rub them in a circular motion on your face and as high as the cheekbone, avoiding the areas around your eyes to avoid any irritation.
Expert Verdict
The fact that this has niacinamide and ceramides makes it the best face wash to use with your Differin Gel. Two things you will get with Differin Gel; skin dryness and irritation. Niacinamide helps with soothing the effects of the irritation and ceramides help with taking care your skin from drying out and flaking. It is the best face wash that you could hope for with how much it is doing without you facing any problems. But coming to the problems, I think the only one I could think of is the fact that your skin might start to pile up when you use this product. Maybe not so much if you Differin Gel, but without you will definitely feel the pile-up. That is why it is important to cleanse your face well before using this product so that you have no build-up of dead skin on your face that might look like your skin is ‘peeling’.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Extremely light and absorbs really quickly | Piling might occur; have to watch carefully before use to avoid it |
| Protects your skin and retains moisture | |
| Soothes your skin from the irritation that you get from Differin Gel |
Best Daily Face Gel Moisturizer for Dry Skin – COSRX Snail Mucin
Specification
- Product Benefits: Long-lasting hydration
- Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, Mucin
- Item Form: Gel-type cream
- Volume: 3.52 oz.
- Scent: No fragrance added
Description
COSRX Snail Mucin 92% Repair Cream brings all-in-one solution cream with snail mucin that helps with soothes and repairs that repair and soothe irritated skin after breakouts. A rich gel-type cream absorbs instantly into the skin with a full of nourishment while leaving your skin feeling fresh and comfortable.
Features
Cruelty-free snail mucin: no snails were harmed in the process of making this product
No residue: the rich and nourishing gel-type cream seeps instantly into the skin without leaving a residue
Long-lasting hydration: leaves skin feeling smooth and gives a lasting hydration
How to use
As always, you will want to first cleanse your face with a mild cleanser that matches your skin type. Then you take three finger scoop worth of cream and evenly apply it all over your face, avoiding the eyes and lips. Due to its gel-like properties, you may also put a second layer on your face, taking a little less than the first one and spreading it all over your face.
Expert Verdict
After using Differin Gel, if you feel like your face is constantly dry then this is the product that you can use up to 2 times a day! It’s great with how light it is even though it is cream, instantly absorbing into your skin without leaving it feeling greasy. It’s not sticky either, making it a good daily-use product. However, our concern especially mine is the fact that you have to layer it to get the best out of it. This means that you will have to use more of the product. But it is still great to use to soothe the redness and dryness you get from using Differin Gel.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Soothes the redness and dryness from Differin Gel | Have to layer the product to get the best out of it |
| Doesn’t leave the skin feeling greasy or sticky | |
| Instantly absorbs into the skin |
Best Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream – CETAPHIL
Specification
- Product Benefits: Non-irritating eye cream
- Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
- Item Form: Gel
- Volume: 0.5 fl oz.
- Scent: Slight sweet smell
Description
CETAPHIL Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream with hyaluronic acid hydrates the delicate skin around the eye and absorbs quickly like a gel but moisturizes deeply like a cream, ensuring 24-hour hydration.
Features
Gentle for the eye: Great for getting rid of redness and irritation around the eye
Vitamin complex: Vitamin B3 and E helps nourish the skin around your eyes
Instant hydration: gets absorbed into the skin very quickly
How to use
As this is an eye gel cream, you only need a pearl size amount after washing your face. Then you spread a very thin layer around your eyes. Be careful to not let it get into your eye. Wait for a minute or two after applying to let it absorb into the skin and dry.
Expert Verdict
The worse thing that can happen to you when using Differin Gel is getting redness and irritation around your eyes. You are not supposed to use it around your eyes but it might happen a little bit that gets spread over there. That is where this eye gel cream comes in. If you have any dryness around your eyes, then all you need to do is apply it every morning after you wake up and before you go to sleep. You might start noticing the effects within a few days, and the skin around your eyes will look fresh, hydrated, and considerably better. The only thing that could be a concern is it is such a small tube container that you might need to buy it every couple of months. The effects it gives are worth it, but it is only for the skin around your eyes.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Gets rid of dryness around your eyes | Small tube |
| Gentle and doesn’t irritate the skin around your eyes | Only for the skin around the eyes |
| Instant absorption that gives immediate hydration and no residue |
Best Moisturizer with Pro-Retinol – L’Oréal Paris Revitalift
Specification
- Product Benefits: Anti-aging properties
- Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic and salicylic acid
- Item Form: Cream
- Volume: 2.55 oz.
- Scent: Slight fragrance cream smell; comes with a fragrance-free option
Description
Revitalift Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer immediately hydrates skin and visibly reduces wrinkles. Uses three dermatologist-recommended ingredients: Pro-Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, and Vitamin C.
Features
Anti-aging properties: helps reduce wrinkles and brighten skin within a week with the help of pro-retinol.
Hydrating: absorbs into the skin easily and gives the skin a much-needed moisture.
Vitamin boost: Vitamin C allows the skin to have a brighter tone.
How to use
After you have cleansed your face, you take an appropriate amount on your hand and spread it all over your face. Make sure you massage the cream into your skin while avoiding the lips, eyes, and the inside of your nose. Then just let it dry for a minute or two.
Expert Verdict
With L’Oréal, you know what you are getting. This product is made for ladies that are experiencing wrinkles and loose skin. Retinol helps keep your skin firm, hyaluronic acid helps with keeping moisture on your skin, and vitamin C helps brighten your skin. It can be included in both your day and night skincare routine. Not to mention that it pairs well with all the side effects that Differin Gel has, giving your skin the help it needs to recover. However, since Differin Gel uses adapalene, the retinol in Revitalift is made redundant as adapalene is a stronger form of retinol. But the other effects this provides are still beneficial for people with sensitive skin.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Good hydration for dry skin | Retinol is not as good as adapalene used in Differin Gel |
| Can be included in both day and night routine | |
Best Moisturizing Skin Care Lotion – Advanced Clinicals Manuka Honey
Specification
- Product Benefits: Manuka honey’s antibacterial properties
- Active Ingredients: Manuka honey
- Item Form: Cream
- Volume: 16 oz.
- Scent: Manuka honey
Description
Advanced Clinicals Manuka Honey Cream is formulated to moisturize using a non-greasy formula that absorbs quickly for a soft, supple feel. Manuka honey helps give a firm appearance to aged skin and instantly improves rough and dry skin.
Features
Manuka honey: provides anti-bacterial and anti-aging properties.
3-in-1 formula: helps restore extremely dry skin with much-needed moisture and gets rid of skin blemishes.
Exfoliation: helps get rid of dead skin on your face.
How to use
With the Manuka honey, you will apply it like any other moisturizer. As this has an exfoliation factor to it, you need only wash your face with warm water. Then apply an ample amount all over your face, avoiding lips and eyes. Do so in an upward circular motion to really get the product into your skin. Let it dry after you are done applying.
Expert Verdict
As Differin Gel leaves your skin extremely dry and causes redness around your face, Manuka honey will help solve all of that problem! The honey helps soothe your skin and makes it feel rejuvenated again. The Manuka honey also has antibacterial properties to it making your skin have fewer breakouts. You might think the honey would make this product sticky and greasy but rather it is the opposite. It’s light and absorbs into your skin well, giving a really nice and tight feeling to your skin. The only thing that worries me is the smell. I found the smell nice and pleasant but one of the other writers said that she found the smell a bit overwhelming when she applied it. But without a doubt, it is one of the best skincare moisturizing lotions out there.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for extremely dry skin from Differin Gel | The smell might be overwhelming for some |
| Antibacterial properties | |
| Light and absorbs fast |
Best Daily Lightweight Gel Face Moisturizer – Versed Dew Point
Specification
- Product Benefits: Non-comedogenic and lightweight
- Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid
- Item Form: Gel cream
- Volume: 2 fl oz.
- Scent: Aloe vera
Description
This lightweight moisturizing gel cream with a jelly-like texture absorbs instantly and disappears into your skin, leaving it feeling refreshed, and never greasy. Aloe juice and tea tree oil also help soothe the skin while keeping the skin hydrated with hyaluronic acid.
Features
Lightweight: extremely lightweight, won’t leave any residue or greasy feeling on the skin
Soothing ingredients: aloe juice and tea tree oil help with keeping skin soothed
Non-comedogenic: doesn’t clog the pores and keeps skin feeling hydrated
How to use
With this lightweight product, you want to take a small pea-sized amount on each of your fingers and do an upward circular motion to get it into your skin. Make sure to apply this after thoroughly cleaning your face with a cleanser and pat dry your skin. Then just wait for the product to dry.
Expert Verdict
When we say that this product is the best lightweight gel moisturizer, we mean it! It is lightweight meaning that your skin will not feel any weight while using it. The soothing ingredients in it will no doubt help with the dryness and irritation you might get with Differin Gel so it is perfect for you. However, do be warned that if you have sensitive skin this might not be the product for you. One of our writers has combination skin and had a bit of a breakout after using this. But otherwise, you can use this on the daily.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Lightweight gel | Best not to use it on sensitive skin |
| Soothing effect best combined with Differin Gel | |
Best Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin – Aveeno Oat Gel
Specification
- Product Benefits: For sensitive skincare
- Active Ingredients: Avena Sativa (oats)
- Item Form: Gel-cream
- Volume: 1.7 oz.
- Scent: Unscented
Description
Aveeno Calm plus Restore Oat Gel Facial Moisturizer nourishes your sensitive, irritated, dry skin. Best for people with sensitive skin.
Features
Sensitive skincare: doesn’t irritate the skin
Light and non-greasy: the product might be thick, but it gives a nice and light feeling when it is dried
How to use
First, you’ll have to use a cleanser and wash your skin thoroughly. Then, take a pea-sized amount on three of your fingers and massage it into your skin in an upward circular motion.
Expert Verdict
Aveeno made sure to keep sensitive skin in mind for this product and it shows! It is so good for sensitive skin regardless of your age! The consistency might be off-putting at first but taking little amount goes a long way. This does mean that I can only recommend this for a nighttime skincare routine because it might be too heavy for day use. But the fact that it does not irritate sensitive skin and leaves your skin feeling soothed makes it a must-have in your routine! But the downside is that if you use it with Differin Gel, you might need something a bit more moisturizing. This might not be enough for your skin that is dried by Differin Gel so you will have to find something else for the dryness.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| No skin irritation | Not be too moisturizing |
| Soothes skin with oats ingredients | Too thick for day use, better as a night skincare routine |
| Dries fairly quickly when applying a thin layer |
Best Moisturizer for Looking Smooth – Olay Regenerist Retinol
Specification
- Product Benefits: Leaves skin feeling smooth
- Active Ingredients: Retinol and niacinamide
- Item Form: Cream
- Volume: 1.7 oz.
- Scent: Fragrance-free
Description
Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Facial Moisturizer penetrates deep into the skin’s surface layers. With a blend of niacinamide and retinol complex, it leaves the skin hydrated when you wake up. The smoothness it provides is unmatched.
Features
Skin smoothening: leaves a smooth texture on your skin when used
Fragrance-free: no fragrance that might irritate your skin
Nighttime rejuvenation: wake up to a smoother and more hydrated skin
How to use
With this skin, you want to apply it 30 minutes before heading to bed. But first, wash your skin thoroughly with a mild cleanser or face wash to clear any dead skin on your face. Then, massage the product into your skin and neck, spreading it across an even layer.
Expert Verdict
The blemishes on your skin left behind by acne can be hard, which is why you might opt for Differin Gel to get rid of them. However, the scarring that remains is unpleasant. That is why Olay Regenerist Retinol Moisturizer is exactly the product that will bring back a smooth texture to your face! The niacinamide helps restore your skin’s moisture barrier overnight and you can wake up to beautiful smooth skin in the morning. And no fragrance means that you will not get irritation from the fragrance that other smoothening moisturizers have. I will say to not use it every night, maybe every 3 days later is best. The retinol burns you might get are not worth using the product, which is good since this is only a 1.7 oz. product.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for smoothening skin | Not best for daily use, use every 3 days later to avoid retinol burns |
| No irritation from fragrance | |
| Niacinamide helps protect from loss of moisture |
Differin Gel in Skincare Routine
Differin Gel is a product by the company Differin. Its active ingredient adapalene is a topical retinoid (and FDA-approved ingredient) that helps combat acne and acne breakouts on your face. Differin Gel has incorporated this with the help of dermatologists to provide the best skincare for people.
However, Differin Gel takes a long time to take effect, from 1 to 2 months, and the side effects last just as long. From dry skin, redness, burning, and stinging sensation. This might also result in more acne breakouts, but it all helps in the end. It clears the skin and unclogs all the pores on your face to help you get clear and acne-free skin!
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How to use Differin Gel in a skincare routine?
To incorporate Differin Gel in your skincare Routine, you will have to first cleanse your face and then put the Differin Gel before moisturizing your face. Remember, retinoid is still pretty harsh on your skin so you can only apply it once a day for the best results, either morning or evening. If you are going out in the sun, you should protect your face with at least an SPF 30 and above sunscreen to not aggravate the retinoid on your face.
How to use Differin Gel for acne?
For best results, first wash your skin with a mild (non-irritating), non-drying cleanser and then apply a thin layer of Differin Gel to clean dry skin. Apply this all over your face and follow it up with a moisturizer. The washing part is the important one as you want to get rid of any dead skin on your face as a result of the exfoliating nature of Differin Gel and unclog all of your pores. If you are going out in the sun, remember to use sunscreen or sunblock to protect your face!
It is important to note that you have to use Differin Gel even after your acne has cleared up so that there are no future acne breakouts. The retinoid works to clear up all the dead skin that causes acne and will take up to 12 weeks to see the best result. It is not a spot treatment product so you will have to incorporate it into your skincare routine to get the best out of it.
FAQs
The best overall moisturizer to use with Differin Gel is Differin’s Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid by the Makers. But there might be others that can be just as good and more suited for your needs.
Yes, you have to use a moisturizer after using Differin Gel because of how dry your skin will be.
If you are using Differin gel, you might want to avoid products that have alpha hydroxy acid or glycolic acid, and other acne medications and treatments.
After washing your face and then applying a thin layer of Differin Gel, you take the moisturizer that suits you and applies it in an upward circular motion all over your face, making sure to avoid the eyes and lips.
Of course, you can! Niacinamide helps retain the moisture barrier you lose with Differin Gel so it is really good to use products that have niacinamide as an active ingredient.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! Differin Gel is easy to put into your skincare routine but takes a while for results to come up. That is why it is important to include a moisturizer that works well with Differin Gel so that you get the most out of it by decreasing the effects of dryness and burning from the retinoid. So if you think you have found a product here that might be what you are looking for, do not be hesitant to give it a try.
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