I recently turned 26, and I’m thrilled to have my frontal lobe fully developed, a body that’s nourished and loved, and skin that was as clear as the sky… then horror struck.
I don’t know exactly what happened, but my body decided to take my hormones, throw them in a bag, and jumble them into a complete mess. It was like my skin had turned back to its 18-year-old ways, and was breaking out with no control.
In the last few months, my skin has been a bumpy, inflamed mess and I wasn’t going down without a fight.
I tried Curology before and really liked the results, so I was excited to give this subscription skincare brand another go. Curology before and after results look pretty stellar online, and mine were too in the past, so I was hopeful that they would work again.
But let’s get into my honest Curology review so you can decide for yourself: Is Curology actually good? I’ll give you the juicy details on how the Curology products work, if they’re worth the price tag, and how to get the most out of your subscription!
Background of Curology
If you’ve never heard about it, Curology is a subscription-based online skincare company that creates custom formulas from licensed dermatology providers specific to your skin’s needs.
The company was started in 2014 by Dr. David Lortscher, a dermatologist who was working in New Mexico before he had the lightbulb moment to create Curology, a skincare 101 online brand.
He had several patients coming in with skincare concerns and utilized several topical medications, both over-the-counter and prescription, to concoct the perfect formula to help them.
This skincare brand is not like the others. I’ve been around the block with skincare companies (looking at you, Proactiv) and I can confidently say Curology has a solid variety of products that effectively help your skin.
They have over 100+ licensed dermatology providers (that are real people). When you sign up, you’re given a personal provider who reviews your photos and gives you a personalized formula to try for 30 days on a heavily discounted trial (it’s not a free trial, but it’s way cheaper than the subscription).
If you’re looking for set acne care that you don’t have to fuss over, Curology is a great choice.
How Curology Works
So, how does Curology actually work without stepping into a doctor’s office for a consultation or speaking to someone over the phone? How does this skincare company know what skincare routine will work best for you, and how do they decide on your custom formula?
Getting access to these personalized skin care products is actually much easier than you may think. First, you answer a few quiz questions with your personal information, like what kind of skin treatment you are looking for (acne, wrinkles, fine lines, rosacea etc.), where your breakouts or other issues are happening, your skin type, and more.
They also have categories of more topics and more content for you to add for your provider to know as much as possible before prescribing you anything.
This includes uploading body photos (not a body video) alongside face photos for those who might suffer from body acne or adding additional comments to leave for your provider.
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4.0Buy NowGently break down waterproof makeup, dirt, and oil without clogging pores with our ophthalmologist-tested Micellar Makeup Remover. Dermatologist-formulated with tiny micelles, this skin-first beauty staple is made to lift up the icky stuff, without stripping or irritating your skin.
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Unlike heavy-duty acne cleansers, the Acne Cleanser is formulated with a lower level of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide (BPO) to treat and help prevent acne, while still being gentle enough for daily use.
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While it was formulated by dermatologists for dry skin, the Cream Moisturizer contains a unique mix of ingredients that helps support all skin types: Allantoin conditions and protects your skin barrier Glycerin, aloe, and hyaluronic acid help draw water into your skin to keep it hydrated all day long—helping improve the appearance of fine lines Shea butter delivers skin-softening effects Squalane helps protect the skin and prevent moisture loss
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Have a surprise spot? Grab a Curology Emergency Spot Patch! These hydrocolloid bandages provide fast-acting healing support for sudden blemishes by concealing spots while absorbing fluid and excess oil.
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Formulated with 2% salicylic acid and clarifying tea tree oil to effectively cleanse, treat and prevent body and back acne breakouts without stripping the skin
Once they’ve gotten a good sense of your skin conditions and what your skin issues are, the information is reviewed and a dermatology provider prescribes you personalized skincare products (well, actually, just one bottle of specific formula and some basic skincare essentials.)
You log in with your email to create an account and this will unlock access for you to speak with your provider, adjust your subscription, and upload new photos.
Here’s why I really love Curology: they offer you a 30 day trial for around $20 (not free, but still…) with your personalized formula and their collection of travel minis for basic skincare essentials like face wash, moisturizer, lip balm, and this incredible micellar makeup remover. And you can cancel anytime!
You talk with a real medical provider about your skin concerns periodically throughout both your trial and subscription to make sure you have the right ingredients in your prescription to get the best results.
I actually just did a check-up with my provider, where I sent in new photos of my skin and asked to get something that was a little stronger. They got back to me within 24 hours and upped my tretinoin dosage for my acne prone skin.
What are the Formulas Made of?
Curology only has one of their products made custom. Everything else is what everyone gets (with a few variations, but I’ll get into later).
The custom part is a prescribed topical ointment created by the Curology team including your dermatology provider. This ointment varies greatly for each person and their skin needs. For instance, my acne formula consists of these active ingredients: tretinoin, clindamycin phosphate, and azelaic acid.
When you decide what you’d like help with on your skin, a provider prescribes a specific formula meant for you. I don’t have access to everyone else’s ingredients, but from what I know about acne topical ingredients from my long history of battling an uneven face, Curology knows what’s up.
They’re not giving you filler ingredients or a routine that doesn’t match your skin type. Now for the more general items –
Curology gives you your specific formula alongside an essential set to set you up to reach your skin goals. You can check out all their products in their shop, but for my skincare set, I was provided with a cleanser, a rich moisturizer, emergency spot patches, acne body wash, lip balm, and the micellar makeup remover.
Everyone gets some variation of this set when they sign up, but you can also get these products at Target or sold separately on their site!
And the best part? These products aren’t expensive and help streamline your entire skincare routine.
Does Curology Work?
The question everyone is asking, does Curology actually work? Or is Curology good for acne? I’ll tell you, plain and simple. Yes. Curology does work.
Does it work as well as going to a real-life dermatologist and getting oral medicine like Accutane or Spironolactone? Probably not, but it’s a much better alternative than winging it and picking out whatever you can find at the drugstore.
I’ve been using it for around 30+ days and in that short time period, my skin has gotten significantly better. Is it perfect? Not yet, but new topical ointments can take a while to see results on.
I’ve gone from almost cystic, hormonal acne to a nearly clear face with minimal breakouts in a very short time period. Something to note here is that hormonal acne is a hard beast to tackle from the outside, but Curology has proven to be up to the challenge.
But why does this online subscription skincare brand work when others don’t? If you were raised on Proactiv, you likely have some trust issues with online skincare companies claiming they can fix your skin. The difference between Curology and so many other brands is that Curology doesn’t take the “one size fits all” approach.
Every customer gets a different product that suits their skin needs. Skin concerns are treated on a case-by-case basis and there is a real-life person providing a solution.
What do I love the most? Curology is essentially making dermatology accessible to the masses. I’ve been to the dermatologist and it can get expensive very quickly. Curology allows people to have access to prescription topical ointments without having to worry about insurance. I love it and I think it is a revolutionary way for people to get their skincare.
Here’s the other thing that’s great about Curology: they adjust your formula based on your results. If your skin treatments are not working within the first couple months, then they’ll change your prescription. Like mentioned earlier, I just got my tretinoin dosage updated and all it took was a quick message and some photos.
So, if you’ve got skincare concerns and you’re not in the position to go see an in-person dermatologist, I highly recommend Curology.
If you’re still asking yourself, “why Curology?” as opposed to other skincare brands, it’s because their business model is trustworthy and effective, their background is solid, and their results speak for themselves.
How Much Does Curology Cost?
Okay, great, I’ve got you hooked and you’re ready to try Curology, but you’re probably still wondering: How much is Curology a month?
The structure of the Curology subscription is incredibly flexible. The price depends on how many items you add to your subscription. At the minimum, it can be $29.95/mo and at the max, it can soar over $60/mo.
Keep in mind I split the cost monthly, but per shipment, you’ll get a box every other month. You’ll also be charged every other month.
Plus, they offer a discounted 30-day trial to test out a specific formula made for you and other set travel minis from their collection.
Curology recently updated their pricing in 2023 and currently, you can get bi-monthly Curology access with your Curology custom formula along with the other basic skincare essentials for around $55/mo.
This includes most of the additional products and your formula, but you can adjust your subscription to be higher or lower in price depending on how many add-ons you have.
For example, I currently pay $54.90/mo for 6 total products, but I could also opt to add the sunscreen for another $6 or I could deduct everything but the custom formula and only pay $29.95/mo.
Is it a somewhat steep price? Yes, but relative to what you would normally spend at the store, it’s not that bad. Plus, you can cancel your subscription anytime, no questions asked.
If you’ve ever gotten a prescription from the dermatologist, it usually runs you around $50 a month, on top of buying your skincare products at the store, so for me, it’s a fair price.
You get all the skincare products you need in one box and it takes away the guesswork.
If you like to mix and match your skincare, you can still pick up the custom Curology formula without all the extras and use the other skincare products you already have at home.
Or, if you’re looking to pick up some new pieces to add to your skincare collection, check out my reviews on Good Molecules and Futurewise. Both have some great products and land at very reasonable prices.
The Curology Access Program
Let’s be real, a lot of acne care needs occur during our teenage years when our hormones are out of whack and our skin hates us, but a lot of teenagers don’t have the funds for the monthly payments, and a lot of young adults dealing with adult acne already have enough bills to deal with.
The Curology access program is an amazing program that allows kids or adults who qualify and can’t afford the skincare products to get a $485 credit for their Curology subscription.
Every month, Curology picks 200 people to give $485 to go towards their Curology subscription. Kids who qualify for the National Lunch Program are eligible to apply and so are young adults who provide documentation of financial need.
This is why I like this company. They are making the effort to truly make using Curology accessible to as many people as they can. 
The health of the skin on your face and body can play a MAJOR role in your confidence (I know from experience) and being able to have access to quality skincare at an affordable price should be accessible to everyone. Good job Curology!
My Curology Before and After Acne Results
Finally, the juicy bit of the article that you’ve all been waiting for, my results. I’ve been using Curology for around a little over a month and I’m ready to spill the beans.
I’d been letting my skin get super bad without really doing anything for it because I assumed it was just a flair-up from my period or a temporary hormonal change that would even out soon.
But around two months into my stint with acne, I realized it wasn’t going to go away without some help. After reading some curology reviews for acne, I figured that using Curology was my best bet for getting my skin on track as fast as possible.
As mentioned previously, I’d also used Curology in my early 20s and really loved the results, so I was hoping for much of the same. Within one week, I noticed changes in my skin. My big pimples had started to back off and I was able to utilize their travel minis set for my first 30 days.
P.S. Use the face cream sparingly. A little goes a long way and you don’t want to run out before your next shipment comes! Within the first 25 days, my skin had cleared up substantially, but it wasn’t perfect.
After my 30-day trial was up, I decided to keep going with the brand because I knew if I stuck with the formulations and modified them slightly when needed, my skin would get back to glowing. Today, I’m still getting some light breakouts with bumps on my cheeks, but I’m not worried.
I have time with my provider to adjust my prescription, test out new combinations, and see what works best for my skin.
If you shop for products at a drugstore, you don’t have anyone to advise you (at least not a professional), but with Curology, you get someone who knows what they’re talking about to prescribe you the right stuff. And, if new skin issues arise, you can adjust your prescription!
For instance, if you’ve decided you want to focus more on skin aging rather than acne, you can talk to your Curology provider and get a new prescription that better targets your skins needs.
A lot of people have issues with acne topical treatments causing skin irritation and dryness, so I assume a lot of people out there are asking, “Is curology good for sensitive skin?”
Yes, Curology has been amazing on my sensitive skin. The formula I have is gentle enough I can use it every night, plus their moisturizer and face wash are super gentle as well.
So, Should You Get Curology?
You might still be asking yourself, why Curology? And is this brand right for me? Here’s what I think:
If it’s your first time using a topical treatment on your skin, yes. Curology is a great starting point. I remember being in high school with AWFUL skin and going to the store to buy the most stripping, drying acne spot treatment I could find that further ruined my face.
If I had had Curology as my first go-to, then I would have saved my skin a lot of scarring and trauma. The health of your skin matters, so don’t mess around with ingredients and topical ointments that are cheap.
Before hitting the complete checkout on your Curology trial, take a few minutes to read some of the Curology reviews.
Why Curology Reviews? Because it will give you a more well-rounded answer to whether this brand is right for you. Read a Curology review before and after cystic acne, a review of Curology before and after oily skin, and maybe even a Curology review for wrinkles just so you can see the full scope of this brand’s capabilities. Read all the stories and then make your final decision.
Of course, Curology is not the only answer to your skin concerns. There are several other skincare treatments on the market that work well, too.
Check out Kara’s piece on Drunk Elephant products or her review of the For Hers acne treatment with tretinoin!
What Not to Mix With Curology
Your Curology team member will provide you with a list of ingredients to stay away from while your skin adjusts to the new medication.
The best practice if you don’t know which products you can use alongside Curology is just not to use any of them. Utilize the care set you’ve been provided. If you’re really pressed and want to use that new Retinol cream you bought, too, talk to your provider or do a deep dive into the Curology mind 101 blog to find your answers.
Regarding our favorite topics skin concerns, the Curology blog is a great resource to find out more about your skin! Also, if you only want to use Curology, check out their website, where they give you suggestions on things like “our favorite set” or “our minis set.”
When I got my first message from my provider, they laid out very specifically what I should avoid. Mine told me to steer clear of benzoyl peroxide, brushes and scrubs, BHA (salicylic acid), AHA (e.g., glycolic acid, lactic acid), Topical vitamin C (e.g., ascorbic acid), and Retinol.
They recommend holding off for the first two-three weeks when you begin treatment so your skin doesn’t freak out on you and you have better judgment on whether Curology is working for your skin or not.
Once you’re ready to start adding in more products to your routine, check out my piece on hyaluronic acid and retinol so you can better decide what products are best for you!
That’s my rundown on the very popular and very effective Curology brand! Have you tried this skincare company before? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below!
