Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%) vs The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
89 facts in comparison
Based on 530 Reddit opinions. Toning SolutionThe Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution leads by 13 points.
530 opinions
Toning Solution leads by 13pts
VS
67%
C+
Based on
1,280 Redditors
Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)
~$52.99
443 opinions
tldr; Reddit generally recommends Differin Gel for treating acne and hyperpigmentation, advising a slow, cautious introduction to avoid potential side effects.
Check pricesVS
Reddit's Pick
80%
B+
Based on
194 Redditors
Winner
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
~$13.5
87 opinions
tldr; Reddit recommends The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% as an affordable, effective chemical exfoliant for body and face, helping with dark spots and skin texture over time.
Check prices✓EFF
⭐ING
✋SKI
❤️GEN
⭐VAL
55
Points
64
Points
Score by Category
Effectiveness
71%86%
Ingredients
50%—
Skin Feel
20%33%
Gentleness
41%38%
Value
93%100%
Why is 7% Toning Solution better than Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)?
- Higher Reddit score (80% vs 67%)
- Better effectiveness (86% vs 71%)
- Better value (100% vs 93%)
- Better skin feel (33% vs 20%)
- Affordable AHA exfoliant
- Great for body and armpit care
- Helps with dark spots over time
Based on 1,474 Reddit opinions
Clear Winner
Reddit prefers the Toning SolutionThe Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Winning by 13 points (80% vs 67%)
Better effectiveness
Better value
Better skin feel
High confidence (1,474 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 1,474 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
(Adapalene 0.1%)
6.7/10
1,280 mentions
Toning Solution
8.0/10
194 mentions
EFFECTIVENESS
(Adapalene 0.1%)7.1/10
Toning Solution8.6/10
GENTLENESS
(Adapalene 0.1%)4.1/10
Toning Solution3.8/10
SKIN FEEL
(Adapalene 0.1%)2.0/10
Toning Solution3.3/10
VALUE
(Adapalene 0.1%)9.3/10
Toning Solution10.0/10
INGREDIENTS
(Adapalene 0.1%)5.0/10
Toning SolutionN/A
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | (Adapalene 0.1%) | Toning Solution |
|---|---|---|
Effectiveness | 71% | 86% |
Gentleness | 41% | 38% |
Skin Feel | 20% | 33% |
Value | 93% | 100% |
Ingredients | 50% | N/A |
Category Wins
(Adapalene 0.1%): 2|Toning Solution: 3
Head to Head
(Adapalene 0.1%): 2|Toning Solution: 3
EffectivenessToning Solution
(Adapalene 0.1%)71%
Toning Solution86%
Gentleness(Adapalene 0.1%)
(Adapalene 0.1%)41%
Toning Solution38%
Skin FeelToning Solution
(Adapalene 0.1%)20%
Toning Solution33%
ValueToning Solution
(Adapalene 0.1%)93%
Toning Solution100%
Ingredients(Adapalene 0.1%)
(Adapalene 0.1%)50%
Toning SolutionN/A
(Adapalene 0.1%)
67%
80%
Toning Solution
(Adapalene 0.1%)67%
Toning Solution80%
Toning Solution wins by 13 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%) | The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Differin | The Ordinary |
| Manufacturer | Galderma Laboratories, Inc | DECIEM |
| Weight | 0.2 Pounds | 0.5291094 Pounds |
| Height | 7.441 Inches | 5.9 inches |
| Color | — | Yellow |
Key Highlights
Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)Winner
🎯 Helps a lot with hyperpigmentation
🎯 Can be effective for closed comedones
⚠ Requires slow introduction (thrice a week, at
⚠ Needs a good moisturizer w/ no actives later on
⚠ May stop working for some users over time
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Affordable AHA exfoliant
Great for body and armpit care
Helps with dark spots over time
Start slowly to avoid irritation
Large bottle lasts a long time
Topic Battles
(Adapalene 0.1%): 2|Tied: 0|Toning Solution: 3
✓Effectiveness
Toning Solution wins(Adapalene 0.1%)
71%
Toning Solution
86%
⭐Ingredients
(Adapalene 0.1%) wins(Adapalene 0.1%)
50%
Toning Solution
—
✋Skin Feel
Toning Solution wins(Adapalene 0.1%)
20%
Toning Solution
33%
❤️Gentleness
(Adapalene 0.1%) wins(Adapalene 0.1%)
41%
Toning Solution
38%
⭐Value
Toning Solution wins(Adapalene 0.1%)
93%
Toning Solution
100%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Best Praise
+46 pts“I like to shower before bed, then use a foot file, apply The Ordinary Glycolic Acid, some lotion & some gel heel socks. In 1-2 weeks you will see a huge difference! I was doing this without the glycolic acid and wasn’t getting near the results. The glycolic acid is a game changer. You can also use it for your underarms or elbows.”
r/SkincareAddiction
ViewTop Criticism
+1 pts“Which product do you use for the glycolic acid mask? I have tried the glycolic acid toner from the ordinary, but it irritated my skin too much, so I stopped using it on my face (it’s been great for my strawberry skin on my arms and legs though!)”
r/SkincareAddiction
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)
Best Praise
+83 pts“Your arm looks just like my son’s. His derm suggested Adapalene. My son uses it nightly and his arms are about 75% better. Nothing and I mean NOTHING else worked. We tried all of the KP “cures” and none made a difference. It took about two weeks to see evidence of it working. Downside: dermatologist said if he discontinues use of the cream, the bumps would come right back”
r/SkincareAddiction
ViewTop Criticism
+25 pts“For some reason it did not agree with my skin when I was using adapalene, I had bumps/redness/burning, but after I stopped using adapalene it was fine on my skin”
r/SkincareAddiction
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
(Adapalene 0.1%)
Toning Solution
📈Historical Price Data
Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)
All-time low: $25.76(2017-11)
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
All-time low: $8.7(2021-10)
Which is Better?
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution Wins
80%
Solution
vs
67%
0.1%)
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution leads by 13 points based on 1,474 Reddit opinions.
Why Toning SolutionWinner
- Better Value for Money (100% vs 93%)
Why (Adapalene 0.1%)
- 🎯 Helps a lot with hyperpigmentation
- 🎯 Can be effective for closed comedones
- More discussed (1,280 vs 194)
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
37%Positive
Positive
37%Neutral
55%Negative
8%Based on 194 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
23%Positive
Positive
23%Neutral
65%Negative
12%Based on 1,280 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution or Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)?
Based on 1,474 Reddit comments, The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is the preferred choice with 80% positive sentiment vs Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)'s 67%. The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution leads by 13 percentage points.
Should I buy The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution or Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution has stronger approval ratings (80% vs 67%). However, Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%) may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution?
Reddit users highlight: Affordable AHA exfoliant. Great for body and armpit care. Helps with dark spots over time. With 194 mentions and 80% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)?
Reddit users highlight: Helps a lot with hyperpigmentation. Can be effective for closed comedones. Requires slow introduction (thrice a week, at. With 1,280 mentions and 67% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,474 Reddit comments: 194 about The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution and 1,280 about Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%). Data was sourced from Skincare products community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.
530 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 6/7/2026