Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%) vs Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
90 facts in comparison
Based on 830 Reddit opinions. Petroleum JellyVaseline Original Petroleum Jelly leads by 6 points.
830 opinions
Petroleum Jelly leads by 6pts
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
73%
B-
Based on
1,009 Redditors
Winner
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
~$5.48
387 opinions
tldr; Reddit highly recommends Vaseline for its exceptional healing, moisturizing, and occlusive properties, often favored by dermatologists and praised for its affordability.
Check prices✓EFF
⭐ING
✋SKI
❤️GEN
⭐VAL
55
Points
76
Points
Score by Category
Effectiveness
71%73%
Ingredients
50%67%
Skin Feel
20%50%
Gentleness
41%88%
Value
93%100%
Why is Original Petroleum Jelly better than Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)?
- Higher Reddit score (73% vs 67%)
- Better ingredients (67% vs 50%)
- Better skin feel (50% vs 20%)
- Better gentleness (88% vs 41%)
- Better value (100% vs 93%)
- Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor
- ⏱ Heals skin fast and effectively
- Works as an effective, affordable occlusive
Based on 2,289 Reddit opinions
Slight Edge
Reddit prefers the Petroleum JellyVaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
Winning by 6 points (73% vs 67%)
Better ingredients
Better skin feel
Better gentleness
High confidence (2,289 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 2,289 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
(Adapalene 0.1%)
6.7/10
1,280 mentions
Petroleum Jelly
7.3/10
1,009 mentions
EFFECTIVENESS
(Adapalene 0.1%)7.1/10
Petroleum Jelly7.3/10
GENTLENESS
(Adapalene 0.1%)4.1/10
Petroleum Jelly8.8/10
SKIN FEEL
(Adapalene 0.1%)2.0/10
Petroleum Jelly5.0/10
VALUE
(Adapalene 0.1%)9.3/10
Petroleum Jelly10.0/10
INGREDIENTS
(Adapalene 0.1%)5.0/10
Petroleum Jelly6.7/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | (Adapalene 0.1%) | Petroleum Jelly |
|---|---|---|
Effectiveness | 71% | 73% |
Gentleness | 41% | 88% |
Skin Feel | 20% | 50% |
Value | 93% | 100% |
Ingredients | 50% | 67% |
Category Wins
(Adapalene 0.1%): 0|Petroleum Jelly: 4
Head to Head
(Adapalene 0.1%): 0|Petroleum Jelly: 4
Effectiveness
(Adapalene 0.1%)71%
Petroleum Jelly73%
GentlenessPetroleum Jelly
(Adapalene 0.1%)41%
Petroleum Jelly88%
Skin FeelPetroleum Jelly
(Adapalene 0.1%)20%
Petroleum Jelly50%
ValuePetroleum Jelly
(Adapalene 0.1%)93%
Petroleum Jelly100%
IngredientsPetroleum Jelly
(Adapalene 0.1%)50%
Petroleum Jelly67%
(Adapalene 0.1%)
67%
73%
Petroleum Jelly
(Adapalene 0.1%)67%
Petroleum Jelly73%
Petroleum Jelly wins by 6 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%) | Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Differin | Vaseline |
| Manufacturer | Galderma Laboratories, Inc | Unilever |
| Weight | 0.2 Pounds | 0.7 pounds |
| Height | 7.441 Inches | 4.19 Inches |
| Color | — | No Color |
Key Highlights
Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)
🎯 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
Vaseline Original Petroleum JellyWinner
🏆 Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor
⏱️ Heals skin fast and effectively
💰 Works as an effective, affordable occlusive
🎯 Leaves skin feeling amazing overnight
💧 Excellent for extremely dry skin when layered
Topic Battles
(Adapalene 0.1%): 0|Tied: 1|Petroleum Jelly: 4
✓Effectiveness
(Adapalene 0.1%)
71%
Petroleum Jelly
73%
⭐Ingredients
Petroleum Jelly wins(Adapalene 0.1%)
50%
Petroleum Jelly
67%
✋Skin Feel
Petroleum Jelly wins(Adapalene 0.1%)
20%
Petroleum Jelly
50%
❤️Gentleness
Petroleum Jelly wins(Adapalene 0.1%)
41%
Petroleum Jelly
88%
⭐Value
Petroleum Jelly wins(Adapalene 0.1%)
93%
Petroleum Jelly
100%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
Best Praise
+49 pts“My dermatologist won’t let me put anything on my face after any minor surgery by Vaseline. Not even aquapore- just Vaseline. My skin healed so fast. Supposedly to remove stitches it take 4-7bdays, but my skin healed up so fast they have to remove the stitches in 3 days tops. Any wound, dryness - this is all that doctors recommend. My mom also swears that putting light Vaseline on your face and rinsing it before you get out of the shower and applying make up after, your make up will be vibrant and last longer. She was an actress in the 70s and this is how the production make up artist does her make up.”
r/SkincareAddiction
ViewTop Criticism
+11 pts“I guess whoever who hasn't tried it yet, give it a go . But I've since learned during the winter trying to combat dry air, that dabbing a a little Vaseline a bit around my face, causes my face to break out like crazy the next day. Oh the night of, it is shiny and moist and lovely. But the next day, big ol bright red zits”
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%)
Petroleum Jelly
📈Historical Price Data
Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)
All-time low: $25.76(2017-11)
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
All-time low: $2.29(2022-05)
Which is Better?
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly Wins
73%
Jelly
vs
67%
0.1%)
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly leads by 6 points based on 2,289 Reddit opinions.
Why Petroleum JellyWinner
- Better Value for Money (100% vs 93%)
Why (Adapalene 0.1%)
- 🎯 Helps a lot with hyperpigmentation
- 🎯 Can be effective for closed comedones
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
28%Positive
Positive
28%Neutral
62%Negative
10%Based on 1,009 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
23%Positive
Positive
23%Neutral
65%Negative
12%Based on 1,280 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly or Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)?
Based on 2,289 Reddit comments, Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly is the preferred choice with 73% positive sentiment vs Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)'s 67%. Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly leads by 6 percentage points.
Should I buy Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly or Differin Gel (Adapalene 0.1%)?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly has stronger approval ratings (73% 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 Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly?
Reddit users highlight: Dermatologist rec'd for healing after minor. Heals skin fast and effectively. Works as an effective, affordable occlusive. With 1,009 mentions and 73% 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 2,289 Reddit comments: 1,009 about Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly 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.
830 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 6/24/2026