Curology is a unique prescription skincare subscription service that pairs you with a licensed dermatologist and sends you prescription medication every month or every other month. Their products are made in their own lab in San Diego, California.
Curology medication targets acne. Not only do you receive prescription medication tailored to your skincare needs, but you also get one-on-one access to your medical provider. Prescription bottles are defaulted to ship every 90 days (three months). However, if you run out early or need it sooner, you simply request an earlier next shipment in your account.
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).
The Subscription Box: Curology
The Cost: Monthly bottle $19.95 + 4.95 shipping or 2-month bottle $39.90 + free shipping ($19.95 a month)
ACTIVE DEAL: Get your first box free! No coupon needed - just use this link.
The Products: Customized prescription skincare delivered to your doorstep + access to your dermatologist at all times
Ships to: Curology is currently licensed in 37 US states.
Check out all of our Curology reviews and the Beauty Subscription Box Directory!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add Curology to your subscription list or wishlist!
This is my first month reviewing Curology so I used this link to get my first month for free. I only had to pay a shipping fee of $4.95. I think it’s a great deal, especially when you don’t have to go through the process of making an appointment and travel to see your dermatologist.
Upon signing up, I was asked to provide some information regarding my age and my zip code to ensure my eligibility for the service. Currently, they are operating in 37 states and only accept patients who are 13 years or older.
Next, I had to answer a short questionnaire to let my dermatologist understand my skin concerns and goals I want to achieve. Although I don’t have a lot of visible acne and only get occasional pimples before that time of the month, I’m never satisfied with my skin texture, pores, and discoloration. I also have a TON of blackheads that I want to get rid of!
After that, they asked me about my medical history. Namely, they’re looking to know if you’re using any products that contain retinol or if you’re currently on any prescription medication for acne.
Then, they introduced me to my personal dermatology provider, Liz. She will be the person who designs my prescription skincare and provides skin consultations with me throughout my Curology subscription.
As of May 2017, Curology subscribers get to pick from 2 plans: Monthly Bottle or 2-month Bottle. As I mentioned above, the Monthly Bottle plan is $19.95 a month + $4.95 shipping ($24.90 a month in total), while the 2-month Bottle is $19.95 a month with free shipping. I picked the 2-month Bottle option - mainly because I don’t want to pay extra $ for shipping 😛
My last action item was to upload 3 photos of the front, left, and right side of my face. If your phone takes clear images, you can request a link to use your phone to take these pictures instead of uploading them from your computer.
A few days after I submitted my photos, I received a message from Joyce. (I was a little confused because I thought my provider would be Liz? My guess is, because I didn’t submit my photos on the night I signed up, the system paired me up with a different dermatology provider?)
Joyce sent me a long and thoughtful message to get me started. First, she mentioned my medication formula, which contains 3 ingredients (azelaic acid 4%, clindamycin 1%, and niacinamide 4%), and provided some details on how each ingredient works. She also mentioned that I might get a minor breakout at first, and once the cells are turning over, my skin should be smoother afterwards.
In her message, she also recommended a simple skincare routine and made a few comments on my current prescription, which I really appreciated. I think that the formulation and the recommendations she provided made me feel like the service is tailor-made for me, instead of being a one-size-fits-all solution.
On the next day, they texted me that my bottle had shipped!!
The first thing I noticed was a little fold-out card containing some useful instructions.
The bottle is 14ml or 0.47 fluid oz., about half the size of standard foundation. The bottle stated my name, my provider, and the 3 active ingredients in my formulation (each user’s personalized prescription consists of 3 of Curology’s 6 basic ingredients, which you can read about here).
My formulation includes:
- Azelaic acid 4% - antibacterial, reduces redness, hyperpigmentation, and blocked pores
- Clindamycin 1% - antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
- Niacinamide 4% - fights inflammation and hyperpigmentation/dark spots/post-acne marks
Here is the product on my hand. I have been using this for the past few nights, followed by my usual night cream. While the results have yet to be noticed, I do like this fast absorbing cream so far. It dries down almost instantly and doesn’t make my face feel oily at all.
Verdict: Since this is my first month trying Curology, I may not have an impressive before and after photo yet. However, I can tell you that I am impressed by their product and service so far. I feel like the whole experience has been customized to me, and the communication between Joyce and I has been nothing less than pleasant! I sent her a few questions about my pores and within a few days she answered all my questions in detail. Also, did I mention that they have a great community for us users to support each other?
What do you think of Curology? Are you interested in their service so far?
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