Thursday, January 23rd
2025 Acne Product Reviews
Curology
- Custom formulas prescribed by dermatologists
- One time cost of $34.95 or subscribe for $14.95/month
- Free shipping
- Results in 6-12 weeks
- 28-day return policy
- "A+” Better Business Bureau rating
Curology was founded in 2014 by Dr. David Lortscher. The goal of the company is to provide easier access to clinically-proven ingredients and science-backed products for a variety of skin conditions. The company is dermatologist-founded and led, so they'll work with you to choose a customized plan designed for your concerns and goals. Their formulas target hair loss, acne, aging, dark spots, dry skin, and more. You can get both prescription formulas prescribed by a dermatologist and routine essentials here.
Dermatologist-prescribed acne formula
The product we were particularly interested in from Curology is their Custom Formula for acne. It is made to improve clogged pores, acne, skin texture, rosacea, and dark spots. The cream comes in a 12 oz bottle that will last one month. It requires a prescription from one of Curology's dermatologists, so when you add the product to your cart, they'll check your eligibility by asking what state you live in, your birthday, and then have you set up an account. Before asking questions about your skin and health history, you'll add a card for payment.
3 unique active ingredients
Aside from filling out basic information about your health history and skin, you'll need to upload pictures of your skin as part of your "skinfo” profile. This helps the doctor identify the ingredients you'll benefit most from when they make your custom formula. There will be 3 chosen custom-strength ingredients included in your product, depending on what will work best for you. This may include niacinamide, azelaic acid, tretinoin, zinc pyrithione, metronidazole, clindamycin, or something similar. All formulas are free of added fragrances, paraben-free, cruelty-free, and never tested on animals. The base of any formula along with the 3 active ingredients includes aloe barbadensis leaf juice, C13-14 isoparaffin, caprylic/capric triglyceride, deionized water, laureth-7, phenoxyethanol, polyacrylamide, tocopheryl acetate, and triethylene glycol.
Free shipping
It usually takes 1-2 business days for a dermatologist to review all the information you submit with your purchase and prescribe your formula. They'll notify you as soon as your plan is ready so you can look over it and get it shipped out. There is no cost for shipping, so you'll only be spending money on the product itself.
Subscribe and save
Curology really pushes subscriptions of their products rather than one-time purchases, so you'll save quite a bit if you choose to do this. A single bottle of Custom Formula for a one-time purchase is $34.95. This isn't crazy expensive by any means, but compared to the $14.95 intro subscription price, it seems like a lot more. Plus, when you subscribe you'll get a free starter set. After your first bottle, the price jumps to $29.95/month, but you can cancel at any time.
Results in 6-12 weeks
To use Custom Formula, you're instructed to clean your face well, dry it completely, then add a thin layer around your entire face and neck before bed and leave it on overnight. With consistent use, many patients notice a difference in 6-12 weeks, but Curology says the timeline could vary slightly depending on the severity of your acne and skin type. They remind users that they're not just going for progress, but prevention as well.
Less-than-ideal return policy
If you've not seen the results you expected after using Custom Formula consistently for a couple of months, it's recommended that you connect with your dermatologist through your account and discuss it with them. It's possible they'll try to alter the ingredients in your next order or let you cancel completely. The only way to get a refund is if you reach out within 28 days of your delivery date and they'll refund your first subscription payment. However, this doesn't give you enough time to really test out the product, so it's not the ideal solution.
Great ratings
Curology has an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau. They have great reviews from customers who say they got good results from their acne products and other prescription formulas they sell. Customer service is said to be prompt and really listens to your concerns. We found hundreds of reports from users saying that the formulas here saved their skin and worked just as they claimed to. So without a doubt, Curology is backed by happy buyers.
Great alternative to in-person dermatologist
If you want a strong, custom-made formula to target your acne, we like the idea of Curology. You don't have to make a trip to your local dermatologist, so it will save you a ton of time. You can do your own research on all the ingredients before making a purchase, yet you'll still get to consult with a doctor and have a prescription-based product. The price is really reasonable, so the only downside here that we've really identified is that there is no money-back guarantee. You may have to use up a few bottles of Custom Formula before deciding if it worked or not and at that point, you can't get a refund. However, since reviews from customers are so high, we are optimistic that Custom Formula is a great solution for people wanting a strong acne solution, so Curology has earned a high rating from us.
More Acne Product Reviews
The 11 Best Acne Products
What Are the Best Acne Products?
Acne is something that has plagued everyone at one time or another. Whether you're a pre-teen dealing with unsightly pimples or it's sticking around later into adulthood, usually you want to get rid of acne as soon as possible. Most of us don't like the look of acne, but it can also be quite painful, which is another reason we try to avoid it at all costs.
It's best to aim for clear skin to give you a boost of confidence and keep yourself healthy. But what exactly causes acne? There are a few contributors, like hair follicles that are clogged with oil, skin cells, and bacteria. It's most common in teenagers since fluctuating hormones can do a number on your skin too. Another big factor can actually be food sensitivities, lifestyle habits, and overall diet.
Acne Product FAQ
Continued from above...
When you exercise and sweat out excess toxins, it helps clear your skin naturally. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables allows your gut to function properly and often results in clearer skin as well. If you focus on this along with a reputable acne product, you'll likely see drastic changes.
Acne isn't serious or threatening, but can cause lifelong scarring. If you deal with chronic acne and have multiple inflamed cysts and nodules around your face, neck, chest, or back, you'll need to take a careful approach to clearing your skin with a safe, gentle, but aggressive enough product to eliminate acne as soon as possible and restore a healthy microbiome. Your skin is your largest organ and it requires as much nurturing and attention as any other part of your body, so luckily you can find plenty of products online that aim to do just that.
There are many companies that sell acne products online, but which ones will actually work? In a dream world, we want to find something that will get rid of acne overnight, but in reality it could take a few days, weeks or even months. Many companies offer a 60-day money back guarantee, knowing that it takes a period of consistent use to see if a new formula is really effective for you. At this point in your life, you've likely already tried a thing or two and know what ingredients irritate your skin with rashes or drying, which ones seem to do nothing, and which ones kind of work. Pay attention to the ingredients in a product and avoid those that you're either allergic to or that seem to make your acne worse.
Finding a product that will work quickly and that's formulated for your skin type and the level of acne you're dealing with is no easy task. Lucky for you, we've taken a deep look into some popular options and have broken things down. Here are some major things we've taken into account when weighing the options for acne products:
- Ingredients. Some products take a more natural healing approach, while others are full of more aggressive, hard-to-pronounce ingredients that are meant to really attack acne fast and hard. Depending on how your skin reacts to these different types of products and the individual ingredients in each, you'll want to choose one that you're more comfortable with.
- Cost. Not only could it take a little while to see results from a new acne formula, but you may want to stick with one long-term if you find something that works. Think about how much you'll want to spend for months or even years if you find a satisfying product and try to stick to that budget. Some products last 30 days while others last up to 90, so take this into consideration when you're viewing pricing as well.
- Regimen. If you are good at sticking to a daily routine of washing your face and applying skincare products without missing a beat, then you could easily benefit from a multi-step product. If you barely have time to throw clothes on in the morning and you're out late at night, then try to stick with something easy that just needs to be applied once or twice a day with no extra fuss. Remember that consistency is key with acne products, so be prepared to commit to whatever you purchase.
- Refund policy. Some companies let you return a product only if you haven't opened and tried it yet. But how helpful is that really? Look for a company that offers a money-back guarantee or lets you return opened, used bottles within a certain timeframe so you can really give it a good go. A reputable brand recognizes that you need to try their product for a while to decide if it's working for you.
The experts at Top Consumer Reviews have researched the best acne products you can buy online. We hope you are able to unlock clearer skin and find freedom from your acne with one of the formulas that we've evaluated!
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