Curology is a dermatologist-founded skincare brand that focuses on providing personalized skincare support. It aims to address concerns like acne, clogged pores, dark spots, uneven tone, and early signs of aging.
The brand’s range also includes supportive essentials such as cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreen, and products for breakouts or dark spots. These products are meant to simplify your routine by offering options that work alongside the prescribed formula without adding unnecessary steps.
In this review, we’ll explore what Curology provides and how well its approach works for different skin concerns. You’ll also see where the brand performs strongly, where it may fall short, and what customers say about using it.
About Curology
As per the official website, Curology aims to give easier access to dermatology-guided care through an online consultation. This includes sharing your skin concerns, such as acne, dark spots, rosacea, dryness, or early signs of aging, with a licensed dermatology provider, and they may create a custom prescription formula based on what your skin needs.
The prescription side of Curology includes options like DayPrimeᴿˣ for daytime acne care, Custom Formulaᴿˣ for personalized nighttime formulas, HydroTretᴿˣ for tretinoin-based smoothing, and Body Cleanseᴿˣ for body acne. These are designed after your consultation and use clinically researched ingredients selected for your specific concerns.
Along with its prescription options, the brand also offers many non-Rx products you can use in a daily routine. The lineup includes cleansers, lightweight and rich moisturizers, hydration serums, vitamin C and dark spot serums, eye gel, SPF moisturizers, lip balms, acne spot patches, and an acne body wash.
Curology also features ready-made sets that combine products for different routine steps. The options in this include the Starter Set, Hydration Power Trio Set, AM Glow Booster Set, Winter Essentials Gift Set, and All-Weather Lip Balm Set, making it easier to build a complete routine.
Curology Bestsellers
DayPrime
As per the official website, DayPrime works as a prescription acne option and a blurring primer in the same formula. The primer base diffuses light on the skin to soften the look of pores and uneven areas, while the treatment components address concerns like acne, clogged pores, oiliness, dark spots, uneven texture, and rosacea. After an online consultation, depending on your prescription, your DayPrime may include azelaic acid, clindamycin phosphate, niacinamide, zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, or dexpanthenol.
Azelaic acid helps reduce pore congestion by slowing excess keratin production inside follicles. This keeps dead skin cells from compacting and forming blockages. It also interferes with melanin-producing enzymes like tyrosinase, which may help fade dark spots and even out tone over time.
The formula may also include clindamycin phosphate, which reduces acne-related bacteria such as C. acnes, which may lead to calmer, less swollen breakouts.
The provider might also combine niacinamide in your DayPrime, which supports the skin’s barrier by increasing ceramide levels that help regulate water loss and maintain a smoother texture. It also influences inflammatory pathways and reduces the transfer of melanin to upper skin layers, making it useful for uneven tone and post-blemish marks.
Zinc pyrithione acts on both bacteria and fungi present on the skin. It disrupts their ability to multiply, which can help when congestion is worsened by microbial imbalance. Its anti-inflammatory effect may also support areas that feel irritated or breakout-prone.
Based on your consultation, your formula may have salicylic acid, which moves through oil and loosens the bonds holding dead cells inside pores. It could reduce blackheads and surface roughness and help maintain a clearer pathway for sebum flow by clearing this buildup. This can make pores appear more refined with regular use.
Custom Formula Daily Acne-Clearing Treatment
Custom Formula Daily Acne-Clearing Treatment may address acne and related concerns using a combination of prescription-strength ingredients chosen after a consultation with a licensed dermatology provider. Your formula includes three actives at customized strengths, allowing the formula to address breakouts, inflammation, and post-blemish marks within a single product. Based on your assessment, your provider may include niacinamide, azelaic acid, or clindamycin.
Niacinamide supports barrier function by increasing ceramides and other lipids that help keep moisture in and environmental stressors out. This improved barrier stability makes the skin less reactive and helps regulate inflammatory pathways linked to redness and irritation. Niacinamide also affects melanin distribution in the upper skin layers, which can help soften dark spots left behind after acne heals.
Azelaic acid helps reduce pore blockage by slowing excess keratin buildup inside follicles. It could also interfere with tyrosinase activity, making it useful for areas affected by post-acne discoloration.
Clindamycin in the Custom Formula Daily Acne-Clearing formula may help target Cutibacterium acnes, which could reduce the release of inflammatory molecules that make pimples swollen and painful. This might help calm active breakouts and lower the chances of new, inflamed lesions forming.
HydroTret
As per the official website, HydroTretᴿˣ is formulated to provide tretinoin’s collagen-supporting benefits while maintaining optimal hydration. The base is designed to strengthen the skin barrier and reduce the dryness often associated with retinoids, giving you a smoother, healthier-looking surface.
The core of the formula is tretinoin, which influences how quickly skin cells turn over. It could support collagen production by encouraging more orderly shedding of older cells and stimulating fibroblasts deeper in the dermis. This may help gradually soften fine lines, uneven texture, and dark spots that form when pigment collects in the upper layers of your skin.
The dexpanthenol (provitamin B5) in this formula may help seal moisture into the skin. It could help retain hydration more effectively, reducing flakiness and improving surface smoothness as the skin adapts to tretinoin.
Depending on your assessment, your provider may also combine niacinamide or azelaic acid. Niacinamide influences inflammatory pathways and increases ceramide production, helping reduce redness and support barrier stability. On the other hand, azelaic acid works by slowing excess keratin buildup inside pores and reducing the activity of tyrosinase, which may support clearer texture and a more even appearance.
Gel Moisturizer
Gel Moisturizer could fit easily into most routines, allowing you to use a light layer when you want minimal hydration or build it up on days when your skin feels drier. It combines hyaluronic acid, which binds to water molecules through hydrogen bonding, allowing it to hold several times its weight in moisture. This may support a more supple texture as the skin retains moisture throughout the day.
Gel Moisturizer also includes glycerin that draws water into the stratum corneum. It could help maintain the hydration between deeper layers and the surface, reducing transepidermal water loss. Its ability to stabilize the skin’s moisture barrier might contribute to a softer, more flexible feel, especially in areas that tend to become tight or dry.
The makers also added dimethicone to this formula, which helps create a breathable, lightweight film on the skin. This structure improves smoothness by filling in microscopic gaps between skin cells, allowing the moisturizer to glide evenly while reducing moisture evaporation.
Gentle Cleanser
Gentle Cleanser by Curology could help remove dirt, excess oil, and daily buildup without disrupting the skin’s natural barrier.
As per the official website, it may help cleanse without leaving tightness, dryness, or residue that can trigger irritation. Gentle Cleanser combines glycerin, which could help maintain hydration during cleansing. This keeps the barrier more stable and reduces the risk of post-wash dryness.
The formula also includes oat extract, which has beta-glucans and avenanthramides that help regulate inflammatory pathways in the skin. This can ease redness and sensitivity triggered by cleansing. The makers state that Gentle Cleanser might help remove impurities effectively while supporting moisture retention and a calmer, more balanced skin surface.
Cream Moisturizer
As per the official website, Cream Moisturizer helps strengthen the skin barrier without creating heaviness or clogging pores. Its emollient texture supports dry or compromised areas by adding moisture, reducing transepidermal water loss, and restoring softness throughout the day.
Cream Moisturizer also has hyaluronic acid, which may support surface elasticity, especially in areas prone to dehydration. It also combines glycerin, which works alongside hyaluronic acid to help maintain the skin’s hydration level during and after product application, stabilizing the barrier and reducing dryness-related roughness.
The makers also added aloe vera in the Cream Moisturizer, which has polysaccharides, amino acids, and vitamins. These compounds might help calm mild irritation and support water retention.
Shea butter in this formula supplies fatty acids that soften the surface and help seal in moisture, while squalane may help in providing lightweight nourishment that improves suppleness without a greasy finish.
Emergency Spot Patch
Emergency Spot Patch provides a discreet way to cover and protect unexpected blemishes while helping reduce surface irritation. Its thin, flexible design sits comfortably on the skin and creates a barrier that discourages picking and popping that can worsen inflammation or increase the risk of marks.
As per the official website, the patch is made from hydrocolloid that interacts with moisture on the skin’s surface. When placed over a blemish, it absorbs excess fluid from the spot, helping create a more controlled environment as the skin heals. This gel-forming action draws out impurities without drying the surrounding tissue, which may reduce tenderness and support a smoother recovery. Hydrocolloid could also help limit friction and external irritation, helping prevent the blemish from becoming more inflamed over time.
Curology Advantages
Licensed Clinicians Network Access
Curology was founded in 2014 by David Lortscher, MD, a Board Certified Dermatologist who previously practiced in New Mexico and identified barriers in access to dermatology care, including long wait times and limited availability in rural regions. This foundation highlights that the brand is a clinically supervised service designed to make dermatology expertise more accessible through its telehealth model.
The Medical Team presented on Curology’s official website includes a wide network of licensed clinicians who review member information and create personalized formulas. This team includes Nancy Satur, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, Maryam Afshar, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist with a background in psoriasis research, Alia Ali, MD, CCFP Certified Family Physician, and Jasmin Chang, NP BC, Board Certified Nurse Practitioner. Other members in the support team include Laura Demuth, NP BC, Board Certified Nurse Practitioner, Kiko Gladsjo, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist, Charmaine Gutjahr, MD, Board Certified Internal Medicine and Pediatric Physician, and Camille Henninger, MD, Board Certified Dermatologist.
This licensed clinician network ensures that each member is paired with a real medical provider rather than an automated system. Members submit a skin quiz, photographs, and medical history, and a licensed clinician from the network reviews the information and prescribes a custom topical formula personalized to their individual skin needs. The provider may adjust the formula based on progress, supporting ongoing clinical oversight.
Personalized Membership Model
Curology offers a recurring membership structure that begins with a personalized consultation, then supplies a prescription formula alongside optional adjunct products. The model is reflected in core offerings like DayPrime and the Custom Formula Daily Acne Clearing Treatment, which demonstrate how the brand combines targeted options into an ongoing routine.
DayPrime is a combined formula and primer designed for acne-prone skin, while Custom Formula is a bespoke nightly prescription blend of up to three active ingredients selected by a licensed provider. This structure strengthens the brand’s positioning as the membership is not simply the purchase of a product but access to an ongoing clinician-guided skincare plan.
In addition to the prescription-powered options, the membership model supports access to supportive skincare products such as HydroTret, which offers a hydrating tretinoin-based formula for smoother skin, a Gel Moisturizer for lightweight daily hydration, and a Gentle Cleanser designed for compatibility with formulas. These product options allow members to build a full routine around the personalized core formula, maintaining continuity across their journey. The membership fee covers both access to licensed clinician support and the personalized skincare formulas delivered regularly.
Curology Limitation
No Professional Extraction Services
Curology operates without physical clinics, meaning you cannot receive manual removal of blackheads, whiteheads, or hardened sebum plugs, which licensed estheticians typically perform using sterile tools and controlled pressure. Instead, the brand focuses on prescription and topical options such as the Custom Formula Daily Acne Clearing Treatment and HydroTret to gradually improve pore congestion.
This fully virtual structure means that if you struggle with stubborn, clogged pores, you may need to seek outside in-person care if topical options alone are not sufficient. While supportive products like the Gentle Cleanser, Gel Moisturizer, DayPrime, Cream Moisturizer, and Emergency Spot Patch can help maintain skin health and manage breakouts, they do not replace the immediate results that some people expect from professional extraction procedures.
Pros
- Offers personalized prescription formulas personalized to your specific skin concerns.
- Provides access to licensed dermatology providers for ongoing guidance.
- Helps adjust your custom formula over time as your skin’s needs change.
Cons
- Occasional delays or issues may occur with customer support.
- The brand offerings may contain strong actives that can cause dryness, redness, or irritation.
Curology Alternatives
Heyday
Heyday and Curology take two different approaches to help you manage your skin, and their main differences come from how they deliver care and what kinds of products they offer.
As per their official website, Heyday is built around in-person facials, with services such as The Essential Facial, The Elite Laser Facial, and The Microneedling Facial. Between appointments, you can also shop from about 75 curated, non-prescription products from brands like Dermalogica, Dr. Loretta, Image Skincare, Naturopathica, Pai Skincare, and One Love Organics. These include products like the Botanical B Enzyme Cleansing Oil, Calendula Essential Hydrating Cream, Ageless Total Pure Hyaluronic-6 Filler, and Sweet Cherry Brightening Enzyme Peel. Every product is selected by licensed estheticians, and members get 10% off. The brand’s focus is on pairing hands-on support with a routine built from many different brands.
On the other hand, Curology works differently by offering prescription and non-prescription skincare through virtual dermatology. Instead of multi-brand retail, it provides its own products and essentials. The brand’s core options include Custom FormulaRx for acne, DayPrimeRx for daytime treatment and blurring effects, and HydroTretRx, a hydrating tretinoin-powered nighttime formula. These are supported by Curology’s in-house products, such as the Gentle Cleanser, Gel Moisturizer, Brightening Vitamin C Serum, Dark Spot Serum, Acne Body Wash, and Emergency Spot Patch.
Curology also offers some products in sets, like the Hydration Power Trio Set and the Starter Set. As the Rx formulas require evaluation, you need to complete a medical consultation before receiving them.
The key difference is the type of care each brand provides. Heyday gives you face-to-face skin options and a wide product range from established skincare brands. Curology gives you virtual access to medical providers and customized prescription options supported by its own product lineup. Heyday focuses on esthetician-guided product curation, while Curology focuses on formula personalization through dermatology.
Musely
Musely and Curology both provide prescription skincare, but the experience from each brand differs mainly in scope and depth. As per its official website, Musely offers a much wider range of options, covering dark spots, melasma, fine lines, KP, rosacea, facial hair, menopausal skin changes, hair thinning, and even longevity support. This range includes condition-specific products such as The Spot Cream, The Anti-Aging Cream, The KP Cream, The Rosacea Cream, The Facial Hair Cream, The Hair Pill, The Estrogen Boost, and The Age Well Pill.
Curology, meanwhile, stays within a narrower dermatology lane, focusing mostly on acne, early aging, discoloration, and redness with prescription options like Custom Formula Rx, DayPrime Rx, and HydroTret Rx, plus non-Rx options like the Brightening Vitamin C Serum, Dark Spot Serum, and Hydro+ Hydration Serum.
Musely highlights the use of more intensive prescription blends that often combine actives such as hydroquinone, tretinoin, tranexamic acid, spironolactone, dutasteride, latanoprost, exosomes, or metformin, depending on the procedure. These combinations allow products like The Spot Cream, The Body Cream, and The Hair Topical Solution to target specific concerns directly.
Curology keeps its formulas simpler by selecting three prescription ingredients for each Custom Formula Rx, often tretinoin, clindamycin, or azelaic acid, paired with optional supporting products such as the Hydro+ Gel-Cream Moisturizer or the Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 for routine use.
Musely’s model is designed around using different products for different concerns, so routines often involve several prescriptions if you want to address issues like melasma, wrinkles, and hair thinning at the same time. On the other hand, Curology instead builds your routine around one main prescription product, like Custom Formula Rx for acne or HydroTret Rx for smoother skin, with the option to add essentials such as the Hydro+ Eye Gel or Emergency Spot Patch.
Their pricing also reflects this structure. Musely’s products vary between $30–$49 per month, depending on the product, while Curology offers a more uniform monthly membership with optional add-ons ranging from $10–$28.
Musely focuses on addressing multiple concerns or more complex conditions, while Curology offers a simpler path for day-to-day acne and early aging care.
How Did We Evaluate?
Customer Experiences And Feedback
When we evaluated Curology, we looked at its Trustpilot reviews from 2025, where the brand has received a 4.1 rating based on 1,200+ reviews. Many users mention receiving quick replies and helpful dermatology providers. Several also say they received clear explanations, easy formula adjustments, and even free replacements.
Some customers highlight noticing better skin, reliable prescriptions, and the convenience of handling everything online instead of visiting a dermatologist in person. They appreciate being able to message their provider, get updates on their formula, and follow a plan designed for their needs.
At the same time, a few users were seen frustrated by automatic charges, strict refund rules, or missed pre-shipment alerts. Some even mentioned wanting a customer service phone line instead of only chat or text.
Based on these reviews, Curology seems to offer reliable personalized care, fast support, and ease of use, but there are clear concerns around subscription management, refunds, and communication during cancellations or changes.
Brand Credibility
To evaluate Curology, we first looked at the brand’s age, history, and overall focus. The brand started in 2014 and was created by dermatologists who wanted to make personalized skincare easier to access. It focuses on reducing acne, dark spots, fine lines, and uneven texture through custom prescription formulas made by licensed providers.
Curology also offers non-prescription options, including cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreens, and targeted options that help you build a full routine. It has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, which shows the company handles customer issues responsibly and follows consistent business practices. The brand also holds a 5.0 rating on TenereTeam, but this is based on only nine reviews, which is too small to rely on.
Curology aims to offer a combination of medical oversight, personalized formulas, and a solid track record across reputable platforms, which suggests that it has maintained user trust over time. While smaller review sources offer limited insight, the broader history and established ratings provide a more dependable view of its performance and consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
The brand’s products can be used with an existing routine, but it generally recommends simplifying at first to avoid irritation. You are advised to pause stronger actives like AHAs, BHAs, salicylic acid, and physical exfoliants until your skin adjusts. A provider can help personalize application frequency and suggest when to introduce other products gradually.
No. The brand may not suit you if you react poorly to actives like tretinoin, azelaic acid, clindamycin, or benzoyl peroxide, which are commonly used in its Custom Formula, like DayPrime Range. Providers suggest slower use or barrier-first application, but strong sensitivities may persist even with these adjustments.
The brand offers products like Gentle Cleanser and Dark Spot Serum that may be used alongside skin-focused oral supplements, but it doesn’t offer specific guidance on how these oral products interact with actives like tretinoin, azelaic acid, or clindamycin. You may need to pay attention to how your skin responds when both are introduced together. Providers can guide topical use, though supplement effects fall outside Curology’s direct oversight.
Conclusion
Curology uses personalized, prescription-based skincare supported by ingredients such as tretinoin, clindamycin, and azelaic acid that are commonly used in dermatology for acne, dark spots, and uneven texture.
However, improvements with prescription ingredients take time, and your results depend on skin sensitivity, adherence, and how your skin responds to the actives. The subscription model may feel restrictive if you prefer on-demand purchasing, and virtual care cannot replace in-person evaluations or procedures such as extractions.
Curology aims to offer a structured way to use prescription-backed skincare, but it’s most effective when you’re comfortable with virtual care, steady routines, and gradual progress.
When starting with the brand, it is essential to remember that prescription ingredients may cause dryness, irritation, or temporary purging during the initial weeks. Make sure to avoid mixing the formula with other strong actives unless your clinician approves it. If you have severe acne, highly reactive skin, or concerns that require physical examination, an in-person dermatologist may be more appropriate.
- About the Author
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Alisha Matthew has been a practicing nutritionist since 2016. She holds a master’s degree in nutrition from the University of IOWA. She is a staunch believer in improving the human health index by educating people about nutrition and the importance of nutrition in leading a healthy and happy life. Her long-term goal is to keep educating people on general health and keep herself updated with the latest trends in the field of health.
