Honest thoughts on Curology ๐ง
Melissa
๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ is a customized skincare subscription service - iโm sure weโve all heard of it! Ever since I learned about prescription tretinoin, I knew I had to try it. I like that Curology can prescribe Tretinoin through an online consultation so it saved me a lot of money. I signed up and I received my first bottle in the first week of 2020. โฃ
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๐๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ฉ๐ & ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฌ:โฃ
I have combination, sensitized, acne-prone skin with PIHโฃ
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๐๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ & ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ข๐ญ:โฃ
I used two formulas: โฃ
First month (January): Tretinoin 0.01% , Clindamycin 1%, Azelaic Acid 4%โฃ
Next two months: Tretinoin 0.018%, Clindamycin 1%, Azelaic Acid 8%โฃ
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*NOTE: I specifically asked for tretinoin and azelaic acid โฃ
* I have been using Adapalene for two months before I started Curology and was at the purging stage. โฃ
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๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ก: โฃ
My free trial arrived the first week of January and I tried it right away. As per the instructions, I washed my face with a gentle cleanser, applied moisturizer then the cream. I used it 2x a week. I was alternately using it with Adapelene. For the first month, the effects werenโt super obvious - other than my skin becoming smoother and softer feeling than it ever had before. โฃ
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๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ก: โฃ
I think my skin was at its worst in my second month of Tretinoin (4th month adapalene). I had more cystic acne and I was literally red all day -- I like to call it my full-on purging stage. I just stuck to it anyway. By this time, my skin was also feeling dry and I had slight peeling. My routine was: cleanser, thick moisturizer, and tretinoin. I was using my formula 3x a week. โฃ
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๐๐ก๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ก:โฃ
The last weeks of the third month was when I saw the big changes in my skin. I was able to use the cream nightly by this time. Only word I can use to describe it is - shocked. I went from having cystic, red acne and rough patches to having smooth and completely calmed skin. Though left with hyperpigmentations, my skin was better than ever. โฃ
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๐ช๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ง๐จ๐ฐ: โฃ
After 3 months with Curology (with simplified skin care routine and adapalene) almost all of my cystic acnes were gone. Something I had thought months ago never would be possible. In April, I started my Triluma journey (tretinoin 0.5% + hydroquinone +mild steroid) to treat the hyperpigmentations left behind. I finished my tube last May and from then on used another brand of tretinoin (0.5%) for maintenance and to treat PIH. โฃ
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๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ: โฃ
All I gotta say is that Curology is a great service, for most people. Unfortunately there are some of us for whom the base and/or certain ingredients simply won't work, and I believe that's no fault of Curology.โฃ
I thoroughly recommend Curology. Itโs a great option to get our hands on prescription strength products, like Tretinoin cream, without paying for an expensive private consultation.
What does azelaic acid do for skinโ
Tretinoin
Acne treatments
Skincare treatments for redness
Clindamycin
janssen
GALDERMA
Curology
DIFFERIN
Face Cream
Acne Treatment
Jun. 20, 2020
Comments
PreciousAjayiI just resubscribed and I was given the same prescription you were given for your trial. I have mostly pitted acne scars on my face, but Iโm hoping it reduces the appearance like they assured me . Nice post๐คโจ
Aug. 3, 2020ยท1 like
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Product Mentioned
Tips to Get the Most of Curology ๐ฅ ๐
Thanks for my goodies @curology! So happy to be a part of the #Curologyambassador family! ๐ โ
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Curology doesnโt work 100% of the time for everyone. As you know, skin issues are much more than skin deep. If you have a hormonal imbalance, topicals arenโt going to be the best for you. But they can still help with texture and hyperpigmentation.
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My tip: Many users can tolerate Curology every night. BUT if youโre new to any of its ingredients (like tretinoin), you might want to start slow. So you might find one to begin once a week for two weeks. Then, twice a week. Move up to three times a week. And then try it 4-5 times a week. โ
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First two week: Use twice a week (M/F)
Third-four week: Use three times a week (M/W/F)
After first month: Use four or five times a week (M/W/F/S)
HOWEVER, this timeline only works if your skin is tolerating it. How do you know it is? Weโll make sure you DO NOT have any of these:
๏ฟผSudden dryness
๏ฟผRedness
๏ฟผIrritation
Even if you can tolerate 4-5 times a week, I recommend you give your skin a day or two to relax and use those days for masks and moisturizers instead. ๐ โ
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PD: Iโm linking to my Curology page (I donโt get any commissions) for anyone who wants to try two months for FREE!โ
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#curologyambassadorโ
geralorentas
my skincare routine for fungal acne!
here are some of my homy grails for clearing up fungal acne!!
makeup removal
๏ฟผGARNIER - SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Cleanser & Waterproof Makeup Remover fungal acne safe !!affordable and effective
cleanser
๏ฟผETUDE - SoonJung pH6.5 Whip Cleanser ETUDE - SoonJung pH6.5 Whip Cleanser this is a fungal acne safe whipped cleanser that is super gentle!! doesnโt irritate any active break outs
toner ( optional )
๏ฟผNATURIUM - Hyaluronic Acid Essence 2% a light weight fungal acne safe toner that adds plumpness to the skin without messing with other products
serum
๏ฟผNATURIUM - Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% affordable and effective niacinamide serum that reduces redness and irritation! and its fungal acne safe!
treatment ( most important)
๏ฟผCurology - Curology formula this right here is the money maker!! this is super effective for fungal acne! make sure your formulation includes zinc pyrithione
moisturizer
NATURIUM - Marine Hyaluronic Water Cream NATURIUM - Marine Hyaluronic Water Cream although this isnโt fungal acne safe ( polysorbate) its only has one non fa safe ingredient but its super low on the list so its not likely to give you a break out. and its a lightweight gel cream
oil
๏ฟผThe Ordinary - 100% Plant-Derived Squalane affordable and moisturizing! squalane oil is fungal acne safe!
sunscreen
FACE HALO - MISSHA All-Around Safe Block Aqua Sun Gel SPF50+ PA++++ affordable light weight sunscreen that doesnโt leave a white cast. its fa safe but is VERY fragrant
comment below your favorite fungal acne products!!!
like and save
xo melanie
dewybaby
My Differin Journey (9 weeks in and STRUGGLING)
Hi all,
Around the first week of December 2020 I decided to start trying Differin Adapalene Gel to address my skin concerns. As some of my previous posts explain, Iโve struggled badly with oily skin, blackheads, extremely enlarged pores, and occasional acne, most of my teenage years and into my adult life (Iโm 26 now). I have tried SO many products to try and help curb my issues (see previous posts for examples), and though theyโve helped a little, Iโve never been fully satisfied with the results... my skin is just stubborn! I decided to swap my retinol for Differin to see if it would target my issues a little bit better and JEEZ has this been a journey so far...
So to be completely blunt, Iโm discouraged. If you look at the attached photo, the picture with all the acne is me NOW. Yes, RIGHT NOW. The one WITHOUT explosive acne is my BEFORE Differin skin.
Okay, now Iโll get into it...
So itโs been about 9 weeks since Iโve started on Differin. In the beginning I noticed my skin was starting to feel really sensitive, which it never is. Any other product (Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, etc.) felt like burning when I put it on, which is incredibly strange for me. My skin has been consistently pink ever since. I immediately stopped using any BHA, AHA or any harsh acid while using Differin and made sure to SLATHER on reparative moisturizer to help repair my skin barrier. Basically my skin routine needed to stripped to the bare minimum. Throughout the weeks, my skin flaked and peeled excessively, especially with makeup on. It looked SO dry and awful and felt stingy underneath (still does). Then about 3 weeks in, the purging started. It started off slow and erupted to where itโs at now on February 11, 2021. Purge pimples are so strange compared to my sporadic cystic acne bumps Iโm used to getting. Purging shows up in a big breakout cluster of pimples, mostly small (not always), but definitely painful and brutal looking for me. Over the weeks it just got worse and worse. Iโm getting pimples all in the same place for the most part โ my lower cheek areas. It has been tumultuous and my skin has never looked this terrible in my whole life.
Iโve done my research on Differin, and everyone says it is completely normal for your skin to get worse before it gets better (for me, A LOTTTTT worse). Iโm hoping this is true because I really want to stick this out โ Iโve already gone through the worst of it, might as well wait it out a bit longer.
If youโre interested in Differin, just be prepared for what youโre getting into! Iโm sure this will all be worth it but wanted to share my experience and help others with the SHOOKness that may or may not happen. I will definitely share updates in the future with hopefully better results!
Anyone try Differin before? Was it this hard? Did your purging last this long? Words of encouragement?
Thank you!!
DIFFERIN - DIFFERIN Acne Treatment Gel
aubreygiveshugs
Before and Afters still in progress....
I truly donโt like doing before and afters especially when it looks like thereโs barely any progress but I promise you my skin FEELS so much better than it looks and Iโve seen some amazing progress! Iโve tagged the products I feel have helped the most recently. It takes patience but little progress is still PROGRESS ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ผ
Taykro928
RENTINOIDs: the BEST super ingredient
๐ธ note: two of the products in my picture are prescription only, high grade retinoids. but i have tagged their drug store dupes that are the SAME product with a lower concentration
๐ธ WHAT IS A RETINOL?
in the most basic form, a retinoid is a form of VITAMIN A which encourages skin cells to break down and turn over faster, resulting in reduction of acne, wrinkles, dark spots and signs of aging. It promotes collagen production, unclogs pores, and reduces scarring. its actually thickens skin, preventing wrinkles from forming
โ๏ธโ๏ธALWAYS USE AN SPF WITH RETINOIDSโ๏ธโ๏ธ
because your skin cells are dying and regenerating so quickly, you are much more prone to sunburns. read @jensantiโs comment below for more health cautions!
they vary HIGHLY in strength (weak to strong list)
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๏ฟผ- retinoid esters: The weakest version of a retinoid, but is good for sensitive skin, surface level
๏ฟผ retinol: found in a variety of products, works on the cellular level of skin
- adapalene (differin):๏ฟผ Used to be prescription only but can now be found in a low-dose age in most drug stores. penetrates deeper and slows the production of sebum with faster cell turnover
๏ฟผ- retinoic acid (Retin-A/tretinoin): works deeper in the skin, can produce overnight results in the form of dead skin peeling. Very advanced skin cell turnover, as it penetrates and stimulates cell death and production. Skin can become very sensitive, irritated , and red
๏ฟผ- isotretinoin (Accutane): essentially sebum production is very limited and skin cell turnover is dramatically increased. on ingestible medication that will make your skin peel, dry out, and really kill acne. Itโs prescription only but very effective.
๐ธ products i use!
prescription only: ADAPALENE 0.3%
dupe: DIFFERIN - DIFFERIN Acne Treatment Gel
ADAPALENE is the primary form of retinol in this product. this has been my go to product for years, it makes me less sun sensitive then Retin-A 0.05%, while still giving me excellent skin cell turnover and anti aging benefits. It helped my skin go from absolute shiz to a much cleaner glowing face (see 4th pic)
prescription only: RETIN-A 0.05%
dupe: janssen - Retino-A 0.05% Tretinoin Cream
TRETENOIN is the primary form of retinoid in this product. these two may actually be the same product, but the one that I have I know is usually prescription grade. it will make your skin peel overnight, so I use it as a spot treatment if I get any deep set nodular acne. i used this for a couple years but it made me really sun sensitive, it is very strong!
luxury brand: SUNDAY RILEY - A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum
RETINOL ESTER and CoQ10 are the primary forms of retinal in this product. this claims to have a 6.5% blend of stabilize retinoids and botanical retinoid alternative extracts. I think that it is incredibly overpriced for what it is. There are very similar dupes such as those from the inkey list and the ordinary
kitty.skin
Turmeric face mask challenge...stay tuned for updates! I plan to do 5-7 days depending on irritation or potential side effects.
My skin is NOT virgin by any means. Consistently using The Ordinary - Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% , OLE HENRIKSEN - Truth Serum , OLE HENRIKSEN - Banana Bright Eye Crรจme , janssen - Retino-A 0.05% Tretinoin Cream (stopped with Covid due to severe irritation under mask), TATCHA - The Water Cream , and Kiehl's - Calendula Deep Clean Foaming Face Wash . My hyperpigmentation is static at this point so looking for an adjunct to try with my routine. I normally have no breakouts/ acne but struggling a bit with maskne (12 hr shift RN) so taking it easy on a few of the products.
Iโm praying for decreased hyperpigmentation. Iโll keep you all updated on progress as I go along.
Melanie_W22
More Reviews
Curology or Differin for persistent acne?
So Iโve had acne since I was 13 (Iโm now 24).
When youโve dealt with an issue like acne for over a decade, you try a whooole lot of different products. These two are my top picks for persistent acne, and Iโll give you a spoiler: Curology comes out on top.
Differin gel was previously available only by prescription. The active ingredient is .1% adapalene, a retinoid that works by speeding up cell turnover. Basically, itโs more difficult for pores to get clogged and develop into acne. The texture is a thin gel that absorbs very quickly. It does take some time to work, since itโs a retinoidโyou really need to use it consistently for at least 12 weeks to see improvements, and your skin may purge. I used Differin gel for several years, and it cleared my acne to a far better degree than the products I had been using before (proactiv).
On the other hand, Curology is a telemedicine service that matches you with a medical provider. You upload pictures of your skin, fill out a questionnaire, and you get prescribed a custom cream with three ingredients, some of which are prescription. Mine is 1% clindamycin, 9% azelaic acid, and .018% tretinoin.
While Differin served me well for a good while, Curology has been helping my skin over the last year in a whole new way. Iโll be honest: it hasnโt been easy. My first Curology prescription completely cleared my skinโIโm talking clearest itโs been in a decadeโand then my acne came back worse than ever. The bright side is, with Curology, you can contact your provider at any time and they can adjust your formula. I did that, and my provider also prescribed me two months of oral antibiotics to help my breakout clear up faster. They helped immensely, and Iโm hopeful that my skin journey is headed in the right direction, though it takes time.
Currently, Curology isnโt available in all 50 states, while Differin is. If youโre struggling with acne, my #1 recommendation is Curology because itโs customized to your skin needs and it can be adjusted over time. If Curology isnโt available to you, Differin is also a solid product with proven results. Differin is $30 for a tube that lasts about 3 months, and Curology is $20/month, which is more than worth it to me.
Have you used either product? How has it worked for you?
Curology-Curology formula
a MUST for acne
You can tell my love for this product considering Iโm almost done with the 1.6 oz bottle of it. I also have gone through many other tubes. I have been using this product for years and every time I think โhmm, maybe I should try something elseโ I soon learn why I love it so much.
This product has helped my acne for years and if I donโt use it for one night I can immediately tell the difference.
I have really dry sensitive skin so I like to use this product after a HA serum just to have that buffer of hydration.
If you start using this product you will go through a purging stage for a couple of weeks before your skin gets fully used to it, but once it does WOW!
I have recommended this to countless friends and shoppers at target (I work there lol) and everyone has loved it. DIFFERIN - DIFFERIN Acne Treatment Gel
DIFFERIN-DIFFERIN Acne Treatment Gel
Differin gel
Differin gel is a retinoid formula that was previously only available by prescription. Itโs specifically formulated to help with stubborn acne, and it was a saving grace for me for several years.
I started using the gel on the recommendation of a friend in pharmacy school. I was warned that my acne would probably get worse before it got better, which it did. But when it got better, it was way better! Before using Differin, I had used Proactiv for years, and while it made a dent in my acne, I still had a lot. Differin was drying for a while, but once I found a good moisturizer, the dryness wasnโt an issue.
The texture is a thin gel that absorbs very quickly. Youโre supposed to apply it once a day on dry skin, and I used it at night. Itโs not cosmetically elegant or fancy, because itโs not supposed to beโbut it does work.
The only reason I stopped using Differin is because while my inflamed acne was pretty much gone, I was still getting a lot of closed comedones and I had some scarring I wanted to clear up. I got a Curology prescription for tretinoin, which canโt be used with Differin. I still have a lot left in this tube, so Iโve been using it as an occasional spot treatment and on my occasional chest acne.
I would recommend this to anyone dealing with mild or moderate acne. Since it was previously only by prescription, the main ingredient is very effective for clearing up acne. The larger tube (seen here) is about $30, but it lasted me around 4 months every time I used it. I would recommend buying the large tube if youโre just starting out with it, as it will take at least 3 months of consistent use to see the effects. Just remember to get a good moisturizerโDifferin sells several good basic ones for very reasonable prices.
DIFFERIN-DIFFERIN Acne Treatment Gel
Put that acne in its place โ๏ธ
Let me start by saying this is not an overnight solution! This requires patience and consistency to really work!
Iโm 27 and recently had a flare up of hormonal acne around my chin and right cheek. I tried everything and finally decided to see a dermatologist. He prescribed benzoyl peroxide to use every morning (I leave it on only for 5 minutes and wash it off) and I use this gel 3 nights a week.
Iโve been doing this routine for just over a month and Iโve seen a huge improvement! Do I have flawless skin that doesnโt need makeup?? Absolutely not lol. But itโs much better than before I started using this product.
It is obviously drying and can cause irritation. I use the CAUDALIE - Grape Water and let it soak in my skin before I apply this to reduce irritation.
Ps. Your skin may go through a purge at first but thatโs normal! It will get worse before it gets better but itโs worth the results. Also will increase sensitivity so please make sure youโre using sunscreen!
DIFFERIN-DIFFERIN Acne Treatment Gel
The Secret To My Clear Skin
I was 13 years old with tons of acne all over my face that just wouldnโt go away. It really messed with my self esteem so I went to Walmart to find something that could help me out. It was called Differin Gel and it was very affordable. I would wash my face with CeraVe the cleanser at night then apply the gel to my face. I would wait 30 minutes before applying moisturizer and thatโs all it took. My skin cleared after 2 months and I barely have any breakouts. Differin gel truly helped me and it may seem like itโs not helping, but give it some time. I have sensitive skin so I did get some redness, but eventually it all cleared up. P.S. Make sure to use sunscreen in the morning as well to help not getting sunburnt because it makes you more prone to.
DIFFERIN-DIFFERIN Acne Treatment Gel
Not for everyone- fantastic for me
This Curology before & after is me just 3 months apart. The formula, moisturizer, and cleanser absolutely changed my skin. I started this & started taking Spironolactone for my hormonal-cystic acne. 1 month in I was massively seeing positive results.
Itโs been about 8 months using this now & results have lasted- just occasional summer breakouts right now from the heat ๐
May not work for everyone, but worked some magic on me getting my skin under control & on a solid routine.
Curology-Curology formula
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