The One Product That Actually Changed My Skin

We’re all looking for the One. Searching high and low, asking friends to set us up, trying apps and websites, going on trial runs that end in disaster or, at best, evoke a ‘meh’. I’m not talking about dating. I’m talking about skincare, of course! Everyone wants to find that product, that holy grail, wonderful miracle product that clears our blemishes, banishes pigmentation, and gives us the dewy, clear skin of our dreams.

But finding the One can seem difficult, if not impossible. With so many options, it’s hard to tell what is actually going to work for you and your unique skin needs. Trial and error seems to be the only way; you have to dive in and get your feet wet. However, you might come up more on the error side a great deal of the time. I know I’ve tried skincare products in the past that ended up causing even more problems, whether that be provoking an angry outbreak of acne or drying out my skin. 

Finally, after kissing many frogs, I found a prince. Now, let me be clear. Finding the One might not solve all your problems. It probably won’t give you the poreless Disney princess skin that you desire. However, how I define the One as a product that noticeably changes your skin for the better. Key word, noticeably. Most skincare products, even the ones I like, don’t provide any benefit to my skin that I can see clearly. Sure, I like my CeraVe cleanser, and I’ll probably even repurchase it when it runs out, but it doesn’t do anything to my skin that I can see with the naked eye. It cleans my skin just fine, but after using it, I don’t wake up glowier than usual, or with my pimples magically erased. With the One, you should be able to see a difference. You look in the mirror and notice a change, even a small one, that you can attribute with no doubt to the use of the One. That’s true love.

For me, this product is the Differin Adapalene Gel. Now, it’s not trendy, or cute, and it does not come in an impossibly cute container that deserves to be part of your Instagram grid. However, this product gets the job done. It provides me results that no other cream, serum, acid, or gel can. 

Differin is an over the counter retinoid. It used to be available by prescription only, until some kind fairy godmother made it available for everyone, at major retailers like Target and Amazon. Retinoids are stronger than retinols that you find in serums and creams, which is why most of them are only available by prescription. A retinoid is a vitamin A derivative that improves skin cell turnover in order to clear skin and prevent acne. And this is why I love Differin. It is the only product I’ve seen make a noticeable difference in my acne. I still get the occasional breakout, but when I’m using Differin, they are few and far between. And if I use it as a spot treatment on a breakout, it goes away much, much faster than I would on its own. Although it’s not meant to be used exclusively as spot treatment, I’ve found that it works beautifully as one. 

The increased and improved cell turnover not only helps with acne, but reveals soft, glowy skin, at least in my experience. After using Differin, I wake up with glowy, smooth skin. What more could you want?

If you’re still searching for the One who will clear your skin, I would recommend Differin to anyone. It can be irritating or drying to some when they first start using it, although I didn’t experience too much of this. Be prepared by making sure you have a good moisturizer to use in conjunction with this product. I always apply my moisturizer to my skin after cleansing, and then use Differin. Putting on the moisturizer first will ensure you don’t dissolve into flakes before the going gets good. And trust me - it gets good.

Have you found “the One”? What’s your holy grail skincare product? Leave me a comment below!