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Epiduo Gel
Epiduo

Epiduo Gel

Efficacy100/100IrritancyMedium
See all ingredients

Works for

Anti-blemish
Adapalene, Benzoyl peroxide
Works well
What the product description says
“Epiduo Gel Epiduo gel is an acne treatment which contains benzoyl peroxide and adapalene.”
Source: N/A

This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: benzoyl peroxide, adapalene. These ingredients is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.

AdapaleneHeroEffect: HighA retinoid that is effective against acne and keratosis pilaris. It can also help reduce signs of aging (fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity) and can improve skin tone~39–58%
Benzoyl peroxideHeroEffect: HighA potent anti-bacterial ingredient that is effective against acne. Often leads to skin dryness and can be irritating~6.4–9.5%
Evens skin tone
Side benefit · Adapalene
Works well

This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: adapalene.

Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.

AdapaleneHeroEffect: HighA retinoid that is effective against acne and keratosis pilaris. It can also help reduce signs of aging (fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity) and can improve skin tone~39–58%
Anti-aging
Side benefit · Adapalene
Works well

This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains adapalene.

Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.

AdapaleneHeroEffect: HighA retinoid that is effective against acne and keratosis pilaris. It can also help reduce signs of aging (fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity) and can improve skin tone~39–58%
Moisturizing
Side benefit · Glycerin, Propylene glycol + 2 more
Works

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, propylene glycol.

When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).

GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~2.7–4.1%
Propylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating~2–3%
Acrylamide· EmollientEffect: LowUsed to stabilize formulations and increase water resistance of sunscreen ingredients. In cosmetics, the polymer form of this compound is used. The polymer's molecules cannot penetrate the skin making the compound safe for use in skin care as long as the monomer residue (which, unlike polyacrylamide, is toxic) in the final product is below 0.2%. It can be irritating for skin~1.6–2.4%
Isohexadecane· EmollientEffect: LowImproves the texture of the product and helps soften the skin. Helps oil and water mix together and can be used as a cleansing agent~1–1.5%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
2 strong irritants: Adapalene, Benzoyl peroxide
Medium risk
We flagged 7 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
AdapaleneA retinoid that is effective against acne and keratosis pilaris. It can also help reduce signs of aging (fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity) and can improve skin toneHigh~39–58%est.
Benzoyl peroxideA potent anti-bacterial ingredient that is effective against acne. Often leads to skin dryness and can be irritatingHigh~6.4–9.5%est.
Propylene glycolHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritatingHigh~2–3%est.
AcrylamideUsed to stabilize formulations and increase water resistance of sunscreen ingredients. In cosmetics, the polymer form of this compound is used. The polymer's molecules cannot penetrate the skin making the compound safe for use in skin care as long as the monomer residue (which, unlike polyacrylamide, is toxic) in the final product is below 0.2%. It can be irritating for skinHigh~1.6–2.4%est.
Sodium methyltaurateHelps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agentHigh~0.95–1.45%est.
EdtaHelp to stabilize the product formulationMedium~0.5–1%est.
Sorbitan oleateHelps oil and water mix togetherMedium~0.05–0.3%est.
Comedogenic
1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
1 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Sorbitan oleateHelps oil and water mix together2/5~0.05–0.3%est.
Alternatives
The closest match we found
Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% Topical Retinoid Acne Treatment
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% Topical Retinoid Acne Treatment
Closest match72% match
$29.98
View all alternatives

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Adapalene~39–58%
Hero · Anti-aging, Evens skin tone, Anti-blemishIrritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
OilinessAnti-blemishAnti-agingEvens skin tone

A retinoid that is effective against acne and keratosis pilaris. It can also help reduce signs of aging (fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity) and can improve skin tone

More about Adapalene
Benzoyl peroxide~6.4–9.5%
Hero · Anti-blemishIrritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Anti-blemish

A potent anti-bacterial ingredient that is effective against acne. Often leads to skin dryness and can be irritating

More about Benzoyl peroxide
Edta~0.5–1%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Help to stabilize the product formulation

More about Edta
Glycerin~2.7–4.1%
Key active
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Poloxamer
Not recognized
Propylene glycol~2–3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating

More about Propylene glycol
Acrylamide~1.6–2.4%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Moisturizing

Used to stabilize formulations and increase water resistance of sunscreen ingredients. In cosmetics, the polymer form of this compound is used. The polymer's molecules cannot penetrate the skin making the compound safe for use in skin care as long as the monomer residue (which, unlike polyacrylamide, is toxic) in the final product is below 0.2%. It can be irritating for skin

More about Acrylamide
Sodium methyltaurate~0.95–1.45%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Helps oil and water mix together and works as a cleansing agent

More about Sodium methyltaurate
Isohexadecane~1–1.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

Improves the texture of the product and helps soften the skin. Helps oil and water mix together and can be used as a cleansing agent

More about Isohexadecane
Polysorbate 80~0.2–0.75%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together

More about Polysorbate 80
Sorbitan oleate~0.05–0.3%
Comedogenic 2/5Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Sorbitan oleate
Water~0.05–0.25%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Ingredient list view

Adapalene, Benzoyl peroxide, Edta, Glycerin, Unknown, Propylene glycol, Acrylamide, Sodium methyltaurate, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Sorbitan oleate, Water

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
EpiduoGelYOUR PRODUCTmedihealthZudenina GelLa Roche-PosayEffaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% Topical Retinoid Acne TreatmentAcneFree Dermatology Inspired CareAdapalene Gel USP
Match—72%72%72%
Price——$29.98$11.99
Shared key ingredients—1 of 31 of 31 of 3
Key difference————
Irritancy Medium Medium Medium Medium
Drying alcohol————
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More alternatives: Sona Adapalene 0.1 creamCreamy Sérum Adapalenato

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Product summary

"Epiduo - Gel" is effective for: Evens skin tone, Anti-aging and Anti-blemish

This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.

Ingredient callouts

  • this product contains an effective form of Retinoids (vitamin A): adapalene 39.00% - 58.00%. Retinoids are potent multitasking actives. They work to improve and prevent early signs of aging, reduce hyperpigmentation (age spots and post-acne marks), and prevent inflamed blemishes and clogged pores. The downside of Retinoids is that they can be irritating. If you are not already using a Retinoid in your routine, it is best to start slowly and apply the Retinoid product only a few times per week. If your skin tolerates it well, you can gradually increase the frequency to daily.
  • Humectants (glycerin 2.70% - 4.10%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.

Sources cited in this review

Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 5 studies and safety reviews.

  1. 1
    Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functionsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. 2
    Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitisncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3
    Propylene Glycolpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. 4
    Skin-sensitizing and irritant properties of propylene glycolonlinelibrary.wiley.com
  5. 5
    Amended final report on the safety assessment of polyacrylamide and acrylamide residues in cosmeticsncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Epiduo Gel
EpiduoGel
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As an Amazon Associate, WIMJ earns from qualifying purchases.