Let’s cut to the chase: acne is the worst. Especially if you’ve dealt with it for years with no end in sight. If you relate to that sentence: welcome, we’re in the same boat.
Long story short, I’ve tried approximately a billion acne products since I hit puberty as a preteen. I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on products that didn’t work. I’ve seen three dermatologists. And I’ve tried Curology.
Curology is a custom skincare brand and, if you’re here, you’re probably wondering if it actually works.
Below, I’m going to dive into the good, the bad, and the ugly, so keep reading my *unsponsored* Curology review to see if this custom skincare is worth the money.
Also, be sure to check out our Rory Skincare review as well to see if this custom skincare is a better fit for you.
What is Curology?
As I mentioned above, Curology is a custom skincare brand that connects you with a licensed dermatologist to help you discover the best treatment plan for you. Every formula is personalized to each individual, based on the answers you give to their skincare quiz.
Their mission is to provide effective and accessible skincare to patients online who might not be able to see a doctor in person. Plus, your first custom formula is free. That’s right, free. All you have to do is pay $4.95 for shipping and handling.
Curology Overview
Originally called PocketDerm, Curology began in 2014 and hasn’t slowed down since. They now offer topical formulas, cleansers, moisturizers, body wash, and more.
Their products claim to be as effective as in-person treatment at a fraction of the price. Plus, having a personalized formula delivered to your door starts at just $19.95 per month.
Curology Review
Now for the good part. I used Curology for a little over a year and share my honest personal experience below.
Curology Custom Formula Review
The main selling point for Curology is their custom topical formula, made specifically for you. After you take their skin quiz, one of their dermatologists creates a formula targeted to your specific needs.
It was super easy to get started, and I did receive my first formula for free (plus $4.95 for shipping).
I used my formula for a little over a year and requested a change to my formula one time during that period. Overall, I really do feel like it helped my skin. It dried up some of my acne without overly drying my face. Plus, the price point was fantastic—I was only paying $19.95 a month for effective skincare.
Curology Cleanser Review
I’ll admit I haven’t actually used their cleanser, so I searched the web for honest experiences other customers had.
Overall, customers say this cleanser is very gentle and mild and great for sensitive and acne-prone skin. However, some say it isn’t super special and that you can buy similar cleansers at the drugstore.
Curology Moisturizer Review
Customers had the same feelings about the Curology moisturizer. A lot of users say it’s a good moisturizer, but works the same as a lot of drugstore moisturizers.
My Curology Review
Overall rating: ★★★★ 4 stars
All in all, I think Curology is very effective. I definitely saw improvements to my skin and used my custom formula for over a year.
That being said, I did eventually end my subscription. Although I thought it was an effective treatment, it wasn’t a permanent solution for me. My acne never fully cleared, so I decided to see a dermatologist in person for an antibiotic or hormonal treatment.
BUT, what I didn’t know at the time was that Curology does offer oral prescription medication on a case-by-case basis, it just isn’t very well advertised.
Had I gone this route with Curology, I might not have ended my subscription and seen a dermatologist in person. I realize not everyone has the privilege to see a doctor in person, though, which is why I think Curology is a super beneficial and accessible way for people to treat their acne.
If you’re still having trouble with acne after using your custom formula, I’d highly suggest talking to your derm about the oral prescriptions they can provide.
Price: ★★★★★ 5 stars
All in all, I only paid about $25 a month for my custom formula, which I think is really affordable for personalized skincare.
Shipping: ★★★★★ 5 stars
I never had any issues with shipping and handling, and my custom formula was always right on time every month.
Quality: ★★★★ 4 stars
Overall, I think Curology’s formulas are high-quality and effective. Although I needed extra help from an oral treatment, a lot of people can benefit from the topical treatment alone.
What Others Are Saying
Since I’m only one person, I thought I’d search the web for what other customers had to say about their experience with Curology. Overall, here are the main points of feedback about the custom skincare brand:
- Many customers had a positive experience with the brand
- Most saw significant improvement with consistent use
- Customers say they regained their confidence with these products
- A few people said they did not see results with their formula, or that their skin worsened
Curology has a ton of glowing reviews on their website here, but we wanted to search outside reviews to get some honest ratings. Here is a breakdown of Curology ratings from other sites:
- Influenster: 4.2 stars out of 5 with over 9,000 reviews
- Reviews.io: 4.39 stars out of 5 with over 1200 reviews
- Trustpilot: 4.1 stars out of 5 with over 800 reviews
FAQs
Does Curology actually work?
The short answer is that it depends. Curology is a custom skincare formula made based on your individual skin needs, so everyone’s results are going to be different. That being said, there are plenty of people who have seen great results with Curology, myself included.
I used Curology for about a year, and I definitely saw a difference in my skin. It might not be a cure-all for everyone, but it’s definitely worth a try.
How much is Curology?
The cost of joining the Curology program will depend on how many different products you need in your treatment, as well as how frequently you want to receive those products. Prices typically start at around $20 a month and can go up depending on how many different products and how many refills you require.
To Wrap It Up
Overall, it’s not hard to see that Curology has overwhelming positive feedback and has brought effective skincare to thousands of people at accessible prices.
I could definitely tell that my custom formula was improving my skin; if you’re like me and think you need an oral medication to use with the topical formula, you can always talk to your assigned dermatologist about your options.
All in all, this is definitely a brand to try if you struggle with acne. After all, your first bottle is free, so you won’t be losing anything if you give this skincare a try!
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