• Adapalene (0.1%): A topical retinoid (vitamin A derivative) that normalizes skin cell turnover, unblocks pores, and reduces swelling and inflammation. It also helps enhance the skin penetration of clindamycin.
• Clindamycin (1%): A lincosamide antibiotic that kills acne-causing bacteria (Cutibacterium acnes) and reduces inflammatory lesions.