Jacqueline Ames
You come to visit Luxe Luminous because you’re a fan of all things beauty. And beauty enthusiasts know that there’s always something new being launched on the market that claims to be the one and only product you’ll need that will be able to fix all of your skincare woes.
You’ve probably seen one such brand, Curology, making the claim to help improve your skin better than the rest. In fact, the brand’s mission is to ‘simplify skin care and make prescription products affordable and accessible’.Â
You’ve seen the supposed results from influencers and fans all over TikTok, but you may be skeptical. Does Curology work?
In this article, I take a deep dive into Curology’s waters.
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Does Curology Work?
For some people, after a few weeks of using Curology products, they report that their lives have completely changed.
That’s because the Curology way of providing skincare is to make it customizable to your unique skin condition, which is definitely something you won’t get when using a drugstore brand you buy off the shelf.
So, whether your skin issue is acne, hyperpigmentation, or premature aging, Curology says that it can improve your skin for you.
How Does the Curology Program Work?
Curology is a subscription skincare service that provides personalized skin care to subscribers.
It works by creating a customized skin care regimen for your needs, using the photos you send in, your skincare routine history, and the results you want to achieve (wrinkle reduction, dark circle correction, acne-busting, etc.).
They send you the recommended skincare products you’ll need. Moisturizers, tretinoin, niacinamide, etc. — whatever your skin type and concerns, they supply in a custom formula, dermatologist-reviewed for your skin type.
The powerful active ingredients that are contained in your custom-prescribed Curology products will fight acne, hide wrinkles, make your skin shine, or whatever you need. They provide you with a new daily skin care routine that has been made to work just for you.
According to Curology’s website, the brand’s prescription skincare service has helped many thousands of people overcome their irritating skincare woes, stating that 93% of its customers agree that the products provide an effective way to achieve clear and radiant skin that you’ll be proud to show off.
How Long Does It Take for Curology to Work?
If you’re now wondering: how long does it take for your prescribed Curology routine to work? The brand claims that most of its clients will end up seeing the results that they’ve asked for by week eight, assuming you use the products as directed.
This means that it will take most people around two months of use before they are able to assess whether or not their acne has cleared up, for example.
This time assessment correlates with the reviews and experiences of multiple users that we found on forums like Reddit.
Free Trial
The fact that Curology offers a free 30-day trial to all new customers, is a big draw. This alone may attest to the high ratings the brand gets all over social media.
We all love a good freebie, so it’s no surprise that Curology gets shouted out, simply due to this offer.
What Does Curology Offer That Is Different From Other Brands?
What you get with your Curology free trial, (which is subject to your consultation, and doesn’t include shipping and handling), is a customized formula that is made to suit your unique skin profile, along with a step-by-step routine of the other products that you’ll need to follow each day.
Acne-Busting Custom Formulas
Curology is known for fixing acne-prone skin, which is a breath of fresh air for those of us who suffer from adult acne and hormonal acne issues. The prescription acne treatments are designed to target your specific acne issues, with the help of a dermatologist review.
The Curology Box
Your customized Curology box of products will be sent to your door by subscription every other month. And you have the option to edit the products in order to suit your needs and budget.
This all sounds great, doesn’t it?
So, is it too good to be true? Are there any downsides you should be aware of? Can Curology make your skin worse?
What Are The Curology Cons?
When considering a new product or range like Curology custom formula, reading the reviews posted on Instagram or TikTok by influencers shouldn’t be your first port of call. Because more than likely, they are being paid to promote it.
And it’s also quite common that the influencer doesn’t even use the product, they just sell it.
In the case of Curology, since each package is different, it can be hard to find a review that really connects with your individual skin issues.
In this case, it would be a wiser decision to find out what the brand’s real customers are saying, so using websites like Trustpilot or the Skincare subreddit would be a good place to start.
On Trustpilot, Curology has a 3.8-star rating out of almost 900 reviews. This is a pretty dependable site, and the brand’s rating falls in line with the average for startups and newly established companies that are still ironing out their teething problems.
Some of Curology’s negative reviews on Trustpilot are from previous customers who have had reactions to using the customized products — ranging from slight skin irritation like redness and itching, to more severe examples, such as frequent breakouts and cystic acne.
However, these are the types of reviews that you can expect from any skin care brand.
Because even though the Curology formulations are customized, some people just have such sensitive skin that most things will make them react badly, whatever product they’re using.
That’s just the way things go in the skincare world.
Even though the Curology formulations are customized, some people just have such sensitive skin that most things will make them react badly, whatever product they’re using.
Most of the 1-star testimonials from aggrieved customers are along the line of some eye-raising and alleged unscrupulous practices that pertain to the company’s subscription model — not the actual products themselves.Â
For example, many of the complaints are because of the subscription-based model. For example, complaints about shipments still being sent to customers (and therefore, being charged for them), even after they’ve been officially canceled.
Others complain of customer service ignoring emails altogether.Â
Then there are other grievances from long-standing customers who have been charged for boxes that were never sent (with UPS proof).
And at around $90 every other month, plus shipping, that’s a pricey problem if you’ve paid for products that haven’t arrived, and customer service refuses to replace them.Â
In addition, there are Trustpilot complaints about rude customer service responses to many other queries, which isn’t a good look for a brand that has such a large and visible social media presence through its influencers.Â
How Much Does Curology Cost?
There are a lot of variables that go into the cost of each Curology box. The individual products recommended for your skin, your budget, etc. Here’s the company’s page explaining costs.
You can skip the sunscreen and use another one. Or maybe grab a different moisturizer. But in general, you can expect to spend in the range of $30-50 per month, or $60-100 per bi-monthly box.
Is Curology Worth It?
Having an online dermatologist cater to your needs may not be the first thing you think of if you want clearer skin! But this is where Curology stands out amongst the beauty industry crowd.
But does Curology work? Well yes, it sure does for many. However, like anything else in life, everyone is different. So it might be the case that Curology won’t work for you.Â
Any one individual review won’t help, since no one has the exact same skin concerns that you do, or I do.
The fact that you can probably find a more affordable solution to your skincare woes means you’d be better off using over-the-counter products with similar ingredients, like those that are available from CeraVe or Cetaphil, and The Ordinary.Â
However, if you like the idea of having your own dermatologist on call without having to get covered by insurance, as well as having your skincare delivered straight to your door every other month, then why not give Curology a try? The free trial is a good way to test it out.
It may save you a bunch of headaches in figuring out what exactly you need.
