I Had Tried Everything for My Hormonal Acne — & Then I Tried Curology

How the customized skincare prescription company finally helped one editor manage her hormonal acne.

During December 2018, I reached a point where I couldn’t take my hormonal acne anymore. I was slowly eliminating dairy from my diet, drinking more water, taking DIM supplements — all things that have/do definitely help, but my skin texture was still rough, bumpy, and riddled with dark PIH spots.

After weighing my options and talking with friends, I decided to take the plunge and try Curology. And it is by far one of the most skin-changing decisions I have made. I still religiously apply my tailor-made cream every night, and my skin is smooth, clear, and most importantly, hormonal acne-free.

So just what is Curology?

If you’re an old-school skincare junkie, you might remember a company named Pocket Derm, an online skincare company that created customized anti-acne and anti-aging products. Well, somewhere along the way, PocketDerm changed its name to Curology. The company was founded by two dermatologists who wanted an easier way for consumers to access customized, prescription strength skincare formulations.

How does it work?

When you first sign up for Curology, you’re instructed to fill out a thorough questionnaire detailing your skin concerns. Mine were pretty clear cut — combat hormonal acne and reduce my acne scarring. Then you submit three photos: one on each side of your face and one straight on. Make sure your face is clean and makeup free, and that the lighting from your photos is as natural as possible.

Once you submit your information, you’re matched with a dermatologist who reviews your information and prescribes you a customized blend of prescription strength ingredients to combat your skin woes. Each ingredient in your blend is described in detail and my dermatologist addressed each of my concerns individually. I was extremely impressed with how detailed and thorough my provider was (and still is)! And don’t worry, you can ask questions and clarify anything that is unclear throughout this whole process.

Once you’ve confirmed with your derm that you’re good to go, you can choose to receive a small bottle of your customized cream once a month for $19.95+tax, or you can choose to receive a large bottle every other month for $39.95. I chose the bigger bottle for convenience, but it is the same price either way.

The results

My first custom blend from Curology was 4% azelaic acid to unclog my pores and improve texture; 1% clindamycin, an antibacterial ingredient that fights acne causing bacteria; and 4% of my bae niacinamide to help fade those pesky PIH spots and combat inflammation. My provider warned that I could experience some purging, but to keep using the product. Luckily, I didn’t experience any purging.

After about a month, I could see a pretty noticeable difference in both the texture and look of my skin. My skin was brighter, more radiant, and my hormonal acne? Well, let’s say that I started my period and only had one spot, not my usual smattering of acne.

Each month, I dutifully updated my provider with new pictures showing my progress, until we got to the point where she told me that my skin had cleared up nicely, and I could start adding tretinoin to my cream for some anti-aging benefits. I decided against it since I religiously wax my brows and honestly, didn’t want to deal with all the flaking and dry skin. So instead she increased the percentage of the azelaic acid from 4 to 8%, to help keep my acne in check. And since then, my skin has remained clear and bright. I continue to use Curology and see myself doing so for the long haul. I truly stan!

Have you tried Curology? Let me know what you think in the comments!