I'M TRYING CUROLOGY OUT OF DESPERATION (UNSPONSORED CUROLOGY REVIEW, HORMONAL ADULT ACNE)
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
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Hearing you talk so openly about how frustrating it is to have people without true acne issues give you suggestions for your serious acne was so validating and brought me to tears. I had cystic acne in college and had to go on accutane to finally clear it up. It’s not just poor self-discipline. Thanks for helping me realize I’m not alone in that burden.
I had a friend with troubled skin that had the same experience.
I had adult-onset cystic acne and it’s truly a physically and psychologically damaging experience. The amount of time I cancelled outings, the lost sleep from the pain, the scarring, the times I sliced my softened cysts to drain it for some relief. It took years of pills, ending with a year of accutane, to be somewhat controlled. I’m still on BC and I’m terrified of going off it since I know my hormones will boomerang and can cause a post accutane relapse.
The pain and lack of hope is real. No, the recommendation that I apply a yogurt mask to my face because it “worked” for your teen niece isn’t going to help.
@@mfenn7325 I wouldn’t leave my dorm room without foundation. It didn’t matter how late I was. And it was so painful, too. My face always hurt. I feel your pain, and I support you.
@@mfenn7325 It's so painful. I think a lot of people don't realise how painful it can be. I'm so glad you've found a way to somewhat manage it.
As someone with PCOS in their 30s that is struggling to conceive, I'm on the hormonal strugglebus too. Solidarity sister 🙌
Hi Hannah! I want to gently ask you to reconsider your language around diet. Dairy and sugar may not work for your body, but there is no such thing as a "clean" (and on the other hand "dirty") food. This is not at all meant to be a personal "attack" or imply anything about your relationship with food--this type of language around food is so pervasive in our culture, especially as "wellness" increasingly becomes a disguise for disordered eating. Ultimately that language just feeds into the moralization of food, and I hope we can agree that food should be morally neutral, so I just like to point it out when I see it.
I totally agree! I always say the only "clean" eating we should be doing is washing our fruits and vegetables
I adore Hannah and think she is amazing in almost every way, but I also cringed when she said “clean” with regards to diet. 💙
Thank you! Yes!
Absolutely. Food has no moral value.
I have stopped watching almost all videos for this reason -- I still recommend her to others and I will watch one from time to time because the content is otherwise amazing, but I did start to get skittish enough of the diet talk that it sent me away. Lots of love to you Hannah, so no offense intended, but this would be an easy change to consider! The Body Love Society on instagram may be a good resource for expanding on why this language change could be helpful.
hannah i really appreciate how your “if you’re new to my channel” spiel is a bit different every time. it comes off more genuine than a word for word recitation that seems very common. anyway, your efforts are appreciated!
[existential dread and stress set in]
*RUclips:* new video from Hannah Louise Poston
*Me:* ok I’m in my safe place let’s go🙏🏻😂
(Also I’m so in love with how open and helpful you are with your skincare and health journey, thanks for keeping it real gal ❤️)
I've felt defeatist too about being in my mid-30s and having worsening hormonal acne . In case the Curology plan doesn't work, a lot dermatologists will do telemedicine visits. Please don't give up! Also, I can't resist singing the praises of the drug spironolactone (if a doc thinks it's right for you). Treats hormonal acne, and I LOVE it. Works like a charm with minimal side effects (hashtag not sponsored haha). I never wanted to go on a systemic pill to treat acne, but I'm so glad I got over my fear. Anyway, I hope you feel better about your skin soon! Love your videos!
I second spironolactone! I’ve been taking it for a few years now and I had some deep very painful acne on my cheeks. It’s truly very good.
Just to provide the opposite perspective, spiranolactone made me very very sick because I have low blood pressure - but I’m so glad it’s helped you!
Totally agree about the spironolactone. I have PCOS and this medicine has literally saved me from losing my hair, facial hair, acne, and all the other androgen effects on the body. From my limited understanding, Spiro is like a prescription strength of the same thing that’s in spearmint tea.
@@alexandrah535 so sorry to hear that. Same thing happened to my sister 😞.
@@alexandrah535 Same. And my doctors/dermatologists kept giving it to me despite that it was making me fainty, and I told them as much. 😣
Not enough people tall about the psychological effects of acne, so I'm really appreciative of your honest title and general approach in this video. I've got PCOS so this struggle is very known to me!!! I hope curology works for you ♥️♥️
I sooo feel you Re. Acne and hormones and birth control.. It's so easy for people to give unsolicited advice like "go see a doctor", "it's hormonal, get birth control", "change your diet" etc. But it's sooo much more complicated than just that. Hope you find something that works for you!
I’ve been using Curology for about 9 months and I LOVE it! Not only is it an acne treating service...but it’s huge for us older ladies for anti-aging. I love the fact that it’s medically supervised and adjustable as your needs change. Good luck! Looking forward to your results. ❤️
Same here! I have been using it for almost 3 years now. I can't live without it.
Yes I don’t tend to think of it for acne, though yes of course it could be formulated as an acne treatment. I also use it for anti-aging, and for redness and hyperpigmentation.
Each month you can send a note to your provider. You can use this to change your formula and vary the percentage of your ingredients.
I've struggled with acne (and rosacea which I didn't realise for years) since I was maybe 13/14. I've been trying everything I saw on the internet that people recommended, especially acids which people swore by for helping acne. Turns out for around 6 years of my life I was just irritating my rosacea (and the acne never budged anyways). I was always moving from a trendy product to a trendy product. I then randomly came across Dr Dray and her videos. I realised I had rosacea, and conpletely changed my routine using her suggestions. I signed up for a dermatologist appointment. I'm now using azelaic acid twice a day, Differin in the evening and hydrogen peroxide in the areas I still get acne (I still get hormonal acne, but nothing in comparison to before). I felt totally hopeless for years. I had a permanently 'spotty' forehead. I'll never forget the feeling of washing my face and realising for the first time my forehead feels smooth and there is no acne. Good luck in your journey! ❤️
In UK we have the similar services for anyone who is wondering: Skin and me, and Dermatica. Not just for acne, here you can get prescriptions for other skin issues, as well as preparations for 'anti ageing'
Thanks for coming through with this tip! I didn't know about either of these.
@@anotherlemontree no problem. I heard about them on Caroline Hiron's IG. I think she might have codes with both of them for some sort of discount or GWP when you subscribe to their services, might be worth a search on her blog, she has reviewed both
Something that made the largest difference for my journey with acne was getting a filter for my shower head. The metals in the water irritate my skin and there’s pretty hard water in my area. I only figured this out after staying in an area with very clean water for a month and then returning - most of my acne had cleared up, and then within a week or so of returning the acne was back with a vengeance. This was not something anyone had ever advised me on as a possibility (including dermatologists). The hard water was also giving me dandruff, which cleared up too. So, I encourage anyone struggling with acne and skin irritation to consider hard water. The filter was the best $60 I’d ever spent for my health.
WOW thank you for this info!
@Tarryn Louise Thanks for the info, Tarryn! I’ll make sure to check the temp. I purchased one from Aquasana (on sale - they have sales very frequently). Installation is about as complicated as putting a new shower head on, and they have an option that just gives you the filter attachment and allows you to use your own shower head. You need to replace the filter in the device every 6 months (~$100/year).
I hope you find it helpful for your skin. I used Tretinoin for a few years to help with cystic acne and switched to Curology about a year ago because I liked the idea of a one and done formula. So far I’m really happy with it and didn’t have much of an adjustment period because I was already on a low percentage Tret. I think it’s definitely worth a try and am excited to hear how it goes for you ❤️
I see the ads all the time and I'm so curious to hear what your experience is. Second, when I hear about the dermatologist's advice I automatically think "that's just a sales pitch" and I 100% hope I'm wrong. I've become more of a pessimist so I just assume it's not "real". I never would've asked for this video but I'm so curious about the results and I hope that it works for you!
Ooh reminds me of how people misunderstand that having dandruff means my hair is dirty. But it’s really that my scalp that’s unhappy. Washing my hair won’t fix it (for longer than a few hours).
I’m trying curology right now for the exact same reason, at this point I have nothing to lose! They’ve taken the time to consider my health issues and how they impact my skin, I’ve been pretty impressed!
Healthcare during pandemic times has been so strange. Sending blessings for this journey. Thanks for sharing with us. ❤️❤️❤️
Curology has helped me so much. It took about 6 weeks for my acne to disappear altogether. I am 35 years old and thought I tried everything. It even worked so well that I stopped using it for months and my acne did not come back until just recently. So, I started using it again. But I swear by Curology. I hope it helps you ❤
Edit: I get hormonal acne - only on and around my chin & jawline
I'm just 10min in (I'll come back and watch the rest later), but already I want to thank you for acknowledging that acne is a medical condition. I struggled badly with adult acne through my 20s, and eventually found a combination of hormonal birth control and skincare that helped enormously, though the struggle is lowkey ongoing. It can have such a profound impact on our wellbeing.
(I'm also a person who actually didn't know anything about Curology lol, so I also appreciated you explaining the system.)
I love Curolgy and have been using it for about 6 months. I use it for anti-aging and not acne. Just wanted to put that out there. The service is not just for acne treatment. It is customized for individual skincare needs. Hope it works out well for you Hannah.
That is really good to know Noel. If you don't mind me asking what type of product combo is given for that? I'm really interested in trying it out for that.
At 65 hearing your experience is deja vu and I'm so happy to be over it! FYI, Curology's service is also intended for healthy skin and optimal aging. Tretinoin (most of the time) is used as their base active as the science supports its use if tolerated. BTW, I also used tret in my late teens and then again 20 years later and found I did react differently to it initially the 2nd time around. Anyway, good luck!
oh bless you hormones are the absolute pits, I came off BC for the first time in a decade this time last year to see if it helped with my moods and it's been such an eye-opener, my skin was so difficult for six months but my moods have never been better, it's such a crappy balancing act. I really hope this works out for you, thank you as always for such a thorough and thoughtful video.
One of my best friends suffers with acne. Her skin is also in seasons. It has ruined her self esteem when she was younger so I hope you are doing okay - it can be so Hard when it flares up in a big way.
❤❤❤
Hi Hannah, I haven’t watched the whole way through yet, but I used curology like 4 years ago and it worked wonderfully for me. I hope this works out for you 🤓
I’m 35 with cystic hormonal acne/bacne and was on birth control from 14-34. I’ve seen diff dermatologists starting in my early 20’s and they prescribed antibiotics every single time 🙄 I switched to a low carb diet and started curology 2 years ago. It’s actually changed my life. Stick with it Hannah! You may have some purging, redness, peeling, etc. You may have to quadruple moisturize but it is sooooo worth it on the other side. I’m so excited for you ❤️
Sorry to post twice, but this may be helpful to people looking into this.
A few things that have helped me get the most from the program:
- Log in to the cureology site and “add it to your Home Screen” you can then use it like an app
- Skip a few weeks if you aren’t out of your products.
- Communicate with them as any Dr. If it isn’t working, then ask for them to help/make adjustments.
I’ve struggled with acne pretty much my entire teen and adult life. Specifically cystic acne. I’ve been on BC (for other medical reasons) for over ten years now and it’s never affected it one way or the other. Acne is such a roller coaster. Sometimes my skin is great. And sometimes it just isn’t. I just try to focus on my skincare routine. My skin is the best it’s ever been right now but I still get breakouts. Curology didn’t make a huge difference for me personally but I know people who had AMAZING experiences with it. I’ve even considered going back on it just to get the retinol and see how it helps. Wishing you the best on your Curology journey!
Hannah! I just did the same thing last month....out of desperation! My (usually mild) hormonal acne married my maskne and had a family!
The curology really helped me with azaleic acid, tretinoin and clindamycin. I'm only a month in and so much improvement. I hope it works for you. The first week or two it seems worse, have to get past that.
I have been using Curology for almost 3 years, mainly for anti-aging. I am so in love with it! 💛😊
This video is very timely because I’m 30 years old and at my wit’s end with my acne lately haha. I’ve been to so many dermatologists and tried so many expensive and affordable products and treatments with very little success. If Curology works even a little better than the cocktail regime that I have going on right now, I’ll be happy.
I found the more stuff I was putting on my skin, the more I broke out. I went back to basic cleanser, glycolic acid toner or bha aha (I switch between the two never use them both within the same routine) and a gel moisturizer or cerve for when I do exfoliants. It's actually been a huge difference and niacinimide (I can't ever spell that right) has been awesome for my skin. But of course skin care is so different for everyone but simple is better for my skin, good luck and pimples and blemishes don't take away from beauty.
It worked Amazing for me for about the first year. I have hormonal cycstic acne for reference. It was always the worst around my cycle. However the last few months it helps a little but it's gotten really bad. I think I need something to regulate my hormones. It's crazy how I have worse acne now than I even did in my mid 20's 😭
Best of luck with this, Hannah! I’m 40 now, and struggled with teen/adult acne until about 5 years ago, and it was trentinoin that changed my life. I still use low dose a couple times a week for it’s wrinkle combatting properties.
I really hope it works for you, hormonal acne can be devastating...and I'm sure the pandemic doesn't help either. So much stress on so many of us. I even got some mascne and red inflamed bits recently... yikes.
I used to have cycstic acne in my twenties and nothing my doctor prescribed would help, even the pill didn't really do much for my skin. Luckily, it just gradually disappeared after some years (and my natural hair texture and colour changed somewhat, kinda weird). I get some zits nowadays (late thirties) and my skin is remaining super sensitive to actives - can't be in the same room with retinoids basically, and I am using very bland skincare - but mostly, my skin is okay if I leave it alone as much as possible. So that's what I do - trying to help mend the barrier function. Wishing for you to see the results you want!!!
I have also dealt with a resurgance of hormonal acne recently. The only thing that worked for me was a prescription of spironolactone. Just some info to keep in your back pocket. I hope this works for you 💜
I just discovered your channel based on Lauren. She always speaks so highly of you and I can see why. I love your tone, approach and vibe. This is really relaxing/informative. Loving it! ❤
Thank you so much!!
Thank you for talking frankly and honestly about hormonal acne which I have been dealing with since I was probably 11. I've recently decided that when I'm done breastfeeding I'm going to try to pursue accutane as I'm just tired of this stupid acne as I've really been flaring up on my back in recent months. I just want to be able to wear what I want without worrying if something unsightly is going on on my back chest or shoulders
Hi Hannah I have bad hormonal acne and I've found spironolactone so helpful. I hope you have a good experience with Curology!
same!!!
Me as well.
Is spironolactone something you need to stay on for it to work (like birth control) or is it something you take for a few months and then go off and it fixes acne?
@@allarab2612 you continue using it regularly, like birth control.
Hi Hannah! I adore your videos and can truly relate to the frustrations of hormonal acne. For me, it's birth control that contributes to it and it took so long to figure that out! I also wanted to put in my humble two cents on the term "clean" when referring to food. What we eat is so truly personal, and if that term is useful to you that is great. As somebody who has/is recovered from an ED, that word in particular is really loaded and potentially triggering for some. Normally, I don't bother to leave comments like this but as someone who has watched your channel since your no buy year, I know how thoughtful, insightful, and conscious you are with your word choice. I hope the Curology products are all you hoped for!
I’ve been on my curology treatment for 4 months now and am amazed at my results. My skin rarely gets any blemishes anymore, and anytime I do, they are small, not inflamed, and go away quickly. I was also thoroughly impressed by the care I’ve received from my dermatologist. Anytime I have a question, it was answered in great detail with relevant, helpful info and suggestions. They’ll even adjust your prescription based on how things are going and feedback you give. I can tell they really care about helping their patients. I highly recommend it to anyone and am excited to see your journey! Above all else, stick with it, it gets better over time.
Thanks for sharing initial experience with Cureology. I’ve been curious about it but felt reticent about the process. While I do not suffer with acne, I do also have a chronic condition that manifests in the skin. It is extremely trying to deal with that type of issue for years while receiving perhaps well meaning, but not really very helpful, advice from others who don’t have a full understanding what it’s really like. I hope that this continues to help. All my best, Jamila
Hey, Hannah, I hope you are doing fantastic. I wanted to share my acne frustrationg here, just in case serves someone.
I had hormonal acne right after my 4th pregnancy. I lead a balanced life with exercise and a diet full of veggies with almost no pre-cookeds, no processed sugars and the such, but is a full omnivorous diet (based on my grandma's eating habits, with the limitations that modern life has).
I don't use any type of drug unless my life depends on it because I find they cause more imbalances in my body.
I cleared my skin (I had acne on more places, not only on my face) by changing the whole bed dressings to 100% Linen ones. I also used Origins ginzing cleanser every day, then every two days and finally only once per week, applied with the electric brush. To top it, I use different oils to nourish my skin (because my skin is very very dry) before my hydrating cream: pixi rose oil, argan oil or jojoba oil, depending on how my skin is behaving, the weather, and if it's before sleep or first thing in the morning. I also use pure aloe vera gel masks once per week, and profusely over patches if the scarring reappears.
In my case, what helped the most with the first hormonal acne crisis was having a baby, but it was also the trigger of my second hormonal acne crisis. I hope this confession either helps or entertains. Best wishes.
Thank you for talking about hormonal acne! I have suffered since I was about 11 with horrible acne. I took accurate in my teens and it cleared up and my skin was decent for years while on birth control but then back in 2016 when I went off the pill, it’s just been a struggle again ever since. I am pregnant now and I am constantly shocked by how my skin is like the best it’s ever been (I was expecting to have loads of issues like my sisters). Hormones just are so crazy!
If Hannah or anyone in the comments wants to learn more about your hormonal and/or menstrual health I really recommend the books "The Period Repair Manual" and "Taking Charge of Your Fertility". Both science based and information packed while still being really readable. Full of the kind of information that every woman should learn about her own body.
I will say, I love Curology. I’ve used their services for over a year now. But they also offer help for skin issues other than just acne. They have been amazing at helping me put together and anti-aging formula to help with sunspots, texture and fine lines. And they have been great about adjusting my formula to help me find something that works best for me.
I loooooove Curology! I've been on it for 2 years and they have adjusted the formula for me twice. Stay in touch with your care provider and they will work with what you need. (My first bottles had a topical antibiotic to clear me up, then they switched me to tretinoin with azeleic acid and niacinamide). The Curology bottle is actually that size, you use a tiny amount, don't overdo it 😁
I had acne from the teens to my mid 30s and I tried it all: differin, retin-A, metrogel, proactiv, doxycyclene etc. Finally the derm put me on low-dose isotretinoin (fka accutane) and it finally killed the acne! I know going to the dermatologist is expensive with our shitty healthcare system, but one visit could really take care of it instead of constantly experimenting with random products. xoxo
I've had cystic, hormonal acne my whole adult life and started Curology at 38 (I'm almost 42 now). Curology has helped me so much and I really hope it helps you too. Also, that tretinoin really is so darn good for fine lines! Over the years, I've worked up from the same concentration you have to .12% and you'd have to pry tretinoin out of my cold, dead hands if you wanted to take it away from me!
This is such a honest opening discussion. Thank you for sharing. I have so much respect for you. You are doing such a service to women doing the same thing xxx
I also use cureology but for Anti aging, not acne (they specialize in anti aging...not just acne). I started using the service during the pandemic because I wanted to avoid going back to my doctor. I only choose to receive the custom formula and I’m really happy. (No desire to try their cleanser or cream). I’m at a strength of 0.05 which is much stronger and have had some peeling, but my skin is now used to the formula. I’m thrilled with this service.
Curology is also the only way I'm aware of to get Tretinoin over the counter in the US (and an even lower percentage of tret than you can get at a derm, which is great for people with very sensitive skin). I've used it strictly for anti-aging for about a year and haven't had any issues. The anti-aging formula is generally varying concentrations of Tretinoin, Niacinamide, and Azelaic acid.
Thank you for sharing your personal story, and I'm sorry about your struggle. I don't deal with acne anymore, but have sensitive skin with rosacea, which took years to get a handle on (and involved rethinking everything I knew about skincare). But I notice that my number one rosacea trigger is PMS - so, hormones - but the years I've spent researching skincare has at least taught me how to take excellent care of my face without aggravating my skin condition.
You give so much of yourself on this channel, and it's unfortunate that people grow to feel entitled to those details, even beyond the info you already volunteer. You are one of a small handful of RUclipsrs I still watch with some regularity. Thank you for your quality, insightful content, I can honestly say it's changed my relationship with beauty. Also thank you for remaining so positive and helping all of us get through this pandemic with your regular uploads. It's been a real treat.
I can completely empathize. I've had acne since I was a teen. I have to use Spironolactone, birth control pills, and Differin gel to keep it under control so I am very interested in more information about how Curology works & look forward to hearing your reviews of the products!
I'm lucky not to have the acne but I get pretty extreme PMS (called PMDD) I still won't take hormonal birth control to control that hormonal problem. The pill seems to come with soooo many side effects it's just not worth it. Haven't taken it in over 8 years. I've met women who had had a stroke because of taking the pill and that scared me off it for life. Birth control pills don't seem like the solution to hormonal problems, and personally I think it is good to find alternative treatments, especially for acne ☺️
I suffered from just awful acne most of my life as well. Mine was triggered by food intolerances and celiac disease. If I accidentally ingest even just a crumb of gluten I will break out in deep cystic acne for weeks. I got soooo tired of people telling me to just put tea tree oil on it..... ummm, yeah, that’s not going to do it.
I hope you find some success. People who have never experienced acne have no idea how emotionally draining and sometimes traumatic acne can be. ❤️
Edit- one thing to note about diet and acne is that it often doesn’t really have anything to do with how “clean” or even healthy a food is. It’s just how your body reacts to it, and everyone’s triggers are going to be different. For me my main ones are gluten, dairy, soy and caffeine.
I’ve had acne since I was 12 - it was the worst in High School and caused a lot of mental distress. I would skip school and not go to sleepovers bc I didn’t want ppl to see my skin. The one time I went to a sleepover in high school I slept in a full face of makeup 😩 I went on BC at 18 and just got off this past November at age 24. I’m getting acne again and I actually am having acne on my chest and back now too! My doctor said that’s a very hormonal spot to breakout. I don’t have a hormonal imbalance (had bloodwork just this month) but all my doctor suggested was to just go on birth control again, which I really really don’t want to do since the one I was on before was giving me migraines for nearly 6 years straight.
This was probably the longest comment I’ve ever left on RUclips, but I just wanted to say that you’ve made me feel less alone in this. You’ve also inspired me to try some other methods (topical and supplements) before going back to birth control. Thank you 🥺 and I hope this works out well for you!!
Fingers crossed your curology works for you! I started mine in June 2020 and my skin is better than it’s ever been, but it took several months to really truly clear up. I have a very small % of Tret in my formula, but I’ve had zero irritation. If I get any breakouts these days, they’re very shallow and not painful-the exact opposite of what they used to be like!
I’m rooting for you and your skin!
I also suffered from severe, hormonal acne that started in my mid-30's. I had been on estrogen birth control until my late 20's, but I had a health history change that contraindicated estrogen as a treatment for me. I tried everything over the counter, and finally went to a dermatologist. With my derm I tried topical Rx treatments as well as oral antibiotics, which failed. I finally resorted to Accutane (I had EXTREMELY oily skin). Treatment with Accutane and the addition of spironolactone is what finally helped me. I'm not sharing this to say that "you should try what I did", but simply to say that I went through the same desperate thoughts and feelings about my skin. I had tried Curology, and while it didn't help me, I hope it does help you, Hannah. That desperate search for something, anything to help is something I understand. Today, I have almost no acne (wearing a mask for 12+ hours as a nurse has resulted in a few minor blemishes, but nothing like before) and I'm so thankful for finding a derm who was able to guide me to a successful treatment plan. I wish you well on your acne journey and I look forward to seeing how Curology works for you.
There are so many sponsored videos for Curology, so I think your non-sponsored video will be appreciated by a lot of viewers. Yours is also the first video I've seen that went into detail about the process of starting out, communicating with the provider, etc.
I suffered with hormonal acne for almost all of my adult life. I'm now postmenopausal but still get occasional zits if I don't keep up with my skin care regimen! I agree, it's so important to regard it as a medical condition. I was over 50 before a doctor ever mentioned my skin during a routine physical checkup!
For what it’s worth, I had a great experience with Curology. Breakouts over time got smaller and less volatile, healed faster, and occurred more infrequently. I hope you have a good experience, Hannah!
got a curology and before this! I don't enjoy skincare videos, but I appreciated your commentary around your experience with skin struggles!
I identify so strongly with this! I started getting acne right when I started to hit puberty and went straight from teen to adult hormonal acne. Hormonal birth control was also what helped me the most, but I have not been on it for a long time. Spirinolactone also helped a lot in the past. But Curology has helped me a lot and kept my skin clear over the past 10 months! I hope it helps you too!
I used Curology some years ago and saw great results. The convenience of the service was also great. I stopped because I just couldn't afford paying $30 (at the time) for my formula every month. Then I used Differin (over the counter retinoid) for two years, and it helped clear up my skin except for my chin area. Differin is very cheap, thankfully. Last August, during COVID, I visited with a dermatologist virtually, who diagnosed me with hormonal acne. My regimen is now Tretinoin and Spironolactone. Took a while, but my skin has been completely clear for three months now. One tube of Tretinoin lasts about 9 - 12 months depending how often you use it and would be cheaper than the cost of 12 months Curology -- even without insurance.
I, too, suffered from acne off and on in my 30s. My dermatologist suggested I use (and this isn't a promo/ad) something called Replenix Retinol Forte 3x Treatment Serum. It has green tea and Retin A in it. My skin is sensitive, and it did help clear up the acne. I still use it; it makes my skin feel soft and glowy.
I used to have terrible acne into my mid 20s- I tried everything going- birth control, retin A, antibiotics, etc etc. Nothing worked and I eventually took roaccutane. I'm 45 now and have never had acne since. Best thing I ever did. It's not suitable for everyone, and it have to weigh the risks for yourself (I don't think they're huge honestly), but I would recommend it to anyone with acne from my personal experience.
Thank you for being so open about the experience with curology! I find all the tips and the transparency so very comforting and it makes me want to try the service. I’ve been on accutane twice in my life and nothing seems to help. So I know what it’s like to get unwanted medical advice all my life. Thank you for opening up!
I hope it goes well, Hannah! I started using Curology a few months ago because I wanted an easy way to add prescription Tretinoin in my skincare routine and I have LOVED it! I love the feel of the serum and I am a super skincare snob. I am happily replacing my crazy expensive serums from Sephora with my simple Curology serum. You're also totally correct in how the shipments work- if you continue you'll get the big bottles moving forward. I love your videos! I always learn from you in ways that go beyond beauty. hugs!!
@@HannahLouisePoston 🥰
I had hormonal acne since I hit puberty...finally, one last bad flare up when I turned 28 made me try curology - also out of desperation since I really felt like I had tried EVERYTHING else. 2.5 years later and that bad skin is like a distant memory. I told my sister to try it (and her skin is so different than mine - I'm oily, she's dry) but it worked for her too. I really hope you see results!
One thing about it though, I really went all in and ditched almost every other skincare product I was using. Now I just use a gentle cleanser, moisturizer (only if I feel dry since usually curology on its own is enough), and sunscreen. It kind of made me realize how much the beauty industry kinda wants you to spin your wheels just to buy buy buy more...the next new thing...something to fix you. I'm glad that curology also changed my mindset about all that.
I'm so glad you're having a good experience with them so far, Hannah. I tried Curology 2 years ago to try to help my hypo-pigmentation (lighter patches due to scars from rashes), & had a disappointing, invalidating time of it. I don't/never have had acne or even more than an occasional monthly zit when I didn't wash my face well enough, but my chronic illness & the meds for it gave me terrible rashes in the past which left lighter patches around the edges of my face. The Curology doc didn't seem to understand or believe me that I hadn't had acne, which a past derm had also done-- what's with docs thinking people looking for help are lying to themselves & others? Like I have the money to waste.
Anyways, the cleanser & moisturizer they sent for my norm-to-dry skin were so harsh & irritating, I got more rash. The serum was just okay, and it took months for me to be able to use it properly, my skin was so sensitized by the other products (which I tossed after 2 weeks). I feel like it's a good service for acne prone skins, but it's not for everyone. Angle at Hot & Flashy speaks very highly of them, I know. Just putting this here for people with different skin.
I’ve been using curology for a little over 2 years now. It has changed my skin for the better! I layered on top of moisturizer for the first few months to avoid peeling and irritation and had very little adverse effects. Keep us posted on your experience!
I’ve been using Curology for just about a year, more focused on anti-aging and hyperpigmentation. I’ve been pretty impressed by their attentiveness when I’ve sent in updates and asked for formula changes. I agree with your statement re: stopping [issue] in its tracks. I’m not sure my skin issues have gotten loads better (no magical youth reversal!), but they have definitely stopped progressing/getting worse. Acne wasn’t my main issue to treat, but I have had the great side effect that any breakout gets knocked out pretty quickly. Looking forward to hearing how this works for you.
Hormonal acne sufferer here as well ✋ (36F)
I'm glad to report that I was lucky enough to find a solution for me (around 3 years ago). What I find beneficial is regular microdermabrasion. Pre Covid I was going every 4 weeks. It just cleaned the pores like nothing else and for my skin it just works so well. Haven't been for over a year now and despite daily use of chemical exfoliants it just isn't the same... Hoping services will reopen soon🤞
I've been using curology for about a year and have had an experience with my curology doctor similar to yours for the entire period. I didn't start it as an acne treatment. They actually will discuss trentinoin for aging, which was my main concern as well as old acne scars and texture. It was when lockdown started and I felt like my face aged 5 years but I couldn't see a dermatologist. But then after 4-5 months I started getting some hormonal acne on my jaw and had another consultation and they changed my formula and gave me insightful things to consider. (I cannot take hormonal birth control. in any form.Since my early 20s, which is rough for health reasons, but who cares for others). And after a long period of time we slowly increased my trentinoin for increased aging benefits. And even now when I've been back to my dermatologist for other reasons, I keep using the service and my blend because it works so well for me and even with endo swings and extreme stress, like 25-27 days of the month, I feel like my skin looks wonderful. But when the weird breakouts started last summer,being able to change my formula and have help and address them was really helpful. Life is stressful enough, I didn't want to go into a spin cycle about my skin looking old AND blemished.And after about 6 weeks, it was better than normal and has been realy consistently good. I DO seven skin the sh!t out of it, but I've been doing that for a long time and find it to be my other mainstay. I hope it helps and I'm glad you got such care. It makes such a difference, yes? That feeling of care.
Good luck Hannah! I’ve been using Curology since 2018 mostly for rosacea. I used to have monthly mild acne but it’s practically nonexistent since using tretinoin (the other active ingredients in my treatment are azelaic acid and niacinamide). I was able to gradually increase my percentage of tretinoin to 0.05% as my skin adjusted to it, so if your skin handles it well you can definitely ask to increase the percentage.
To align with your, “what is bringing me joy?” vibe lately... this... this is bringing me joy. You seem hopeful. It is so wonderful to see. You are a beautiful spirit, HLP. ❤️
I’ve been on differin gel (adapalene) for two years now and it has changed my skin. Nothing has worked remotely as well. Retin-A’s really are the key to topically treating acne.
Girl, I feel like your hormonal acne story is very similar to mine. I used Curology for almost a year (just the treatment, not the other products they offer) and it made such a huge difference in my skin. Last summer I decided to take a break from it since my formula contained an antibiotic and I didn't really want to be on that long term. I've since found other skincare options, besides the clindamycin, that were in my formula. Mainly azelaic acid and niacinamide, so I use those on a daily basis now. My one issue with Curology was that I would burn through a treatment bottle that was suppose to last 2 months in just 4-6 weeks, only using it once a day and the recommended amount. I had to be on top of my prescription ship time since it takes them a few days to make the formula. Other than that I found Curology really helpful and I hope it helps you as much as it helped me
As another adult woman with acne, and now at almost 41 I've got wrinkles too, I feel you babe. Sending you love and hoping for a satisfying outcome for you. ❤❤❤
I really hope this works for you! Everyone’s skincare is different and if it helps, I’ve been using curology for 3 years now and works perfect for me, I’m going to be honest: I didn’t see any results until the 3rd- 4th month, be patient and if curology doesn’t work, I agree with some of the other comments to go to a dermatologist for a more personalized RX❤️ I looove your videos so so much, you are def one of my favorites 😘
I've had a similar acne journey to you (from what you've told us about). Still dealing with hormonal and occasional bacterial acne. It turned out dairy was the key in my hormonal acne. (though sometimes I still indulge for other dietary needs.) For those who don't know, dairy can increase the ratio of androgens in your system.
It sounds like the Curology team has a good system down! 😊
I love this content! I've seen people reviewing curology, but no one that I watch regularly. Looking forward to hearing the follow-up to this. I think a month probably isn't a long enough to tell whether or not something is really effective.
I had an awful time time with cystic adult acne. It popped up in my early 30s after having perfect skin throughout my teens and 20s. l finally went on accutaine after trying everything else and it cleared it up well. I was the oldest person at the clinic lol. I just wish you the very best in your acne journey because I know how mentally rough it can be.xx
Welp I'm definitely craving spearmint tea now and I've never had it in my life 🍵 Good luck with your Curology Hannah...thanks for sharing!
it is surprisingly yummy just on its own! I don't add honey, cream or anything.
Good skin with breakouts is such a brilliant idea! I beat myself up over my skin as I still get blemishes, but I don't have 'bad skin'. I'll be using that phrase from now on, thank you for helping me reframe the language I use about my skin!!
I’ve had a really bad flood of breakouts the last 5 months and finally went in to a dermatologist but I know not everyone has that luxury. Finally seeing some improvement but having acne is really hard peace and love to anyone struggling right now!
Sorry, I keep adding stuff lol - but I now only receive the custom formula. I love it. At first I only used what they sent, for the first month... and then I later started to introduce my massive collection of skincare. And it's actually been fine. My skin actually cleared up! I never thought this would happen. And a month or 2 later, I stopped using the custom formula for a good 3 or 4 months, with continued clear skin. Only recently, I began to break out again with hormonal acne. And so I began using the custom formula again. But this stuff is great, honestly - keep with it - you will find it works so well.
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. Everything has been so stressful for a year now and I'm sure you don't need this on top of everything. Also your cheeks look so glowy!
The ONLY thing that helped my extremely hormonal acne was spironolactone. Seriously was a game changer and actually helped regulate my cycle a lot more too. I have Hashimotos so my endocrine system isn’t doing the best either 😅
I feel your struggle with the acne. I had terrible acne as a kid. I did two rounds of Accutane and my skin was great! Fast forward, Im now 35 and am starting to see acne reappear on my face, chest and back. The only thing I can figure thats causing it, is that im no longer on hormonal birth control. Since i had a hysterectomy last year, i dont see BCP being approved for me just for my acne. 😕
I have insulin resistance which makes my ovaries produce higher levels of testosterone and DHT which is causing cystic acne along my jawline. I’ve been fighting acne for years :( a clean diet is key for me, no sugar but it’s difficult. I’m going to try Curology. Because you’re so right, acne is so very multifaceted.
For me, tretinoin was the magic bullet that made it impossible for me to get any acne on my face while I’m using it consistently (i.e. every night). If I get sloppy with it, it’s possible to have a few spots slip through the gaps, but it has definitely been a gamechanger for me.
I’m not sure how much you know about the ingredient tretinoin, so I’ll leave some information here that might be helpful. The form of vitamin A in tretinoin works out to be around 100x the potency of the ingredient listed as “retinol” in over the counter products, when you’re comparing like for like concentrations of each (bear in mind that some forms of vitamin A in OTC products can be a little stronger (e.g. hydroxypinacolone retinoate) or weaker (e.g. retinyl palmitate) than an ingredient listed as just “retinol”, so this advice will have to be adjusted if you’re familiar with products containing those instead). Gentler products typically come with a 0.3% retinol concentration (most creams that do not specifically list the retinol % but have it as an advertised active ingredient will be around here) with retinol serums usually containing a 0.5%-1% concentration of retinol. There is some confusing marketing trick where products can appear to have a much higher % advertised, such as a 5%, but a product with “retinol” in the INCI sold over the counter cannot go above 1% concentration.
Prescriptions for tretinoin typically come in 3 concentrations - the strongest is 0.1%, with weaker options available at 0.05% and 0.025%. Since tretinoin is 100x more potent than retinol, the strongest OTC retinol serum at a 1% concentration of retinol will be around 10x less potent than the strongest tretinoin prescription at a 0.1% concentration. What this means for your prescription, which is at a 0.01% concentration of tretinoin, is that it is roughly equivalent to a 1% retinol serum you can buy over the counter. Curology have presumably done this to start you slow and let your skin acclimate to tretinoin before giving you a higher concentration, but if you’re looking for results I think it is probably unlikely you’ll see them for a while whilst using such a low concentration. I would absolutely move to using the cream every night and using a generous amount of it to try to boost the effects, though really at this stage you’re just looking to speed up the rate at which your skin acclimates to the ingredient tretinoin so you can reap the benefits once you start using a higher concentration. (All this is to say I wouldn’t expect to see any kind of acne improvement in your first month of using the product.)
In my experience, you’ll want to be using a 0.05% tretinoin cream consistently to really see the acne fighting effects and get all the skin texture benefits from it. You can try to go the slow and steady route where you gradually increase concentration/frequency of applications so you can build up to using the stronger product with minimal side effects, and this tends to be the recommended route nowadays because so many people give up during the awful retinisation period. For me, though, i must have spent around a year using tretinoin off and on 2-3 days a week to try and build up resistance without many side effects and I didn’t end up making much progress improving my tolerance. Eventually I just decided to bite the bullet and go for it every single day. It took around three months for my skin to fully acclimate, but there was significant improvement during that time and you can see some of the benefits even while you’re dealing with the side effects (e.g. your skin will be peeling but the skin underneath will look glorious, moist and plump). If you do go down this route, my advice would be that irritation from using tret tends to be delayed by a day or two with the consequence that the first time you use it intensely, your face will go bright red and incredibly oversensitised to the point where you have to stop using the tret, and even then for the next two days the irritation will get worse and worse before it starts to get better because the irritation from your last applications will be delayed. When your skin is in this state, as well as redness, flaking and sensitivity, your barrier function will be disrupted which can make your acne a lot worse than it was previously as the bacteria proliferate, for the first month or so of using it consistently. If you use anything even slightly active, including some hyaluronic acids, it will be incredibly painful and sting as you apply it. If you use a vitamin c serum on your face in this state it will burn and itch like the fires of hell. Drunk Elephant C Firma felt like I had doused my face with hydrocholoric acid and was far worse than even the strongest AHAs toners i was using at the time. Another consequence which may be a dealbreaker for you is that because of your skin’s disrupted barrier function, any foundation you use for the first month of being on 0.5% daily tret will sit terribly on top of your skin to the point where it’s not even worth wearing at all because it looks so patchy and will fail to form anything resembling an even film. And unfortunately for you, Joe’s help with the youtube setup upgrades will probably mean that it is not possible to disguise this uneven/textured foundation on camera 😬
The advice here from Curology for dealing with irritation was good and you should follow it - just use very simple, basic formulations that are thick and nourishing with no active ingredients. I wouldn’t personally be married to the other products they’ve given you in the box, because you can probably find equivalent formulations elsewhere for cheaper. You just need basic stuff that will soothe and combat some of the adverse side effects. It will depend on price point, but the main star here is the tretinoin and it is this that will do all the heavy lifting.
I've subed to Curology for about 2 years. I suggest using 2 pumps of the treatment cream. The inclination is to use 3-4 for your whole face. But try to keep it to 2 or less. In the normal size (not trial) using 2 pumps i can get the treatment cream to last about 6 week. But...I use mine every night cuz I'm old and have worked my skin up to 7 days a week. Good luck! I love it. I'm 49 with super oily skin and lots of acne. I still have some acne, but its like 1 or 2 spots, not 20. So that's very freeing. Also I'd share that my custom treatment has something in it that is helping fade my scaring. Azalic Acid i think?? Anyway, it's amazing. I highly recommend. Good luck!
Hi Hannah, I had really bad hormonal issues for a while and i took Maca capsules it really helped my skin and hair. Maybe try that in conjunction to the curology. Good LUCK!
I didnt know what curology was lol as I live in the UK and perhaps our licensing laws are different here
Been using prescribed retinol and over the counter tretinoin for years on my hormonal acne because I refuse to take the pill
Sometimes it really works and sometimes it doesn't
But overall it's my acnes least favourite ingredient 😃
Hope it works for you! It does sound like a good company
With my hormonal acne, I got prescribed tactupump forte for it. It's an extremely strong topical treatment (which I liked because I didn't want to have to take oral medication if at all possible). Now....my adult acne was extremely cystic, extremely painful, and all over my chin and up the sides of my cheeks. It was a really severe case...
The truth about tactupump for me....it was almost as painful as the acne itself, because it was so extremely drying. You have to completely change up your routine to use a face cleanser that is not drying in the least, and use a super simple moisturizer (religiously). As bad as the drying was, the results were undeniable. Within about 6 months my skin was clear enough for me to switch to other treatments to manage just the odd flare ups instead.
The Ordinary Retinol 1% (in squalane I think it is) every night, and the Inkey List's salicylic acid cleanser are my new holy grails. I ran out of the cleanser and started getting more breakouts and clogged pours, but once I got it again, everything balanced out again. This is the best skin I've had in years... Hope this is helpful to anyone going through this too!
We don't have curology in the UK but we have a couple of similar services, one of which I ended up trying and honestly at the age of 32, my skin is finally clear. It's a ride. A flaky ride. But it worked out. Hope you have success with it!
I’ve had hormonal acne since I turned 18 (now 29) so I relate to your struggle. The comments from people who don’t know what they’re talking about are the worst. I’ve never wanted to be on BC so I’ve done all the research, tried natural remedies, dietary changes, all the skincare plans, and also did tretinoin for a couple yrs and spironolactone for a couple, at different times. Most effective for me medicine-wise was the spironolactone. It helped more than the tretinoin, with fewer side effects (basically none), but didn’t get rid of it. I’ve tried expensive multi-step skincare and honestly my skin does the best with a super simple and gentle routine. Water and then Witch hazel toner in the morning to cleanse, and a light moisturizer (usually B-Hydra from Drunk Elephant). At night, double cleanse to remove makeup, then I use the Cerave PM night moisturizer. (Sometimes I use squalene oil, rose hip oil, or the ordinary zinc +niacinamide as supplements, but not often.) Recently I had the worst dry skin of my life so for extra moisture have been using some thicker creams (Belif Peat eye and face cream) as well as The Ordinary’s The Buffet for some fine lines. It seems ok so far and is helping the dryness without breaking me out.
The biggest overall affect to my acne was changing my diet to keto a few years ago, probably because it is no sugar and reduces overall inflammation in the body.... I think it could also help even more to reduce my dairy too, but it’s gotten to a manageable point and I love cheese. 😆 Thank you for sharing about your acne struggles!
One other thing I would mention - mine of course flares up in certain parts of my cycle, but it also seems to be affected by changes in the weather (changing season) a LOT and usually last about 2-4 wks of bad flare up during that time. Maybe could be a factor for you as well. Also the stress of the election had mine bad for a while I think. 🤷🏻♀️
Curology is marketed for anti-aging as well. I’m not sure they should be doing this because they don’t give you enough product to use it that way. People using anti-aging products want to apply them to the following areas: face, entire neck, upper chest, and the backs of the hands. They only give you enough to put on the face and just under the jawline. So I have to really ration it out and am often caught short each month. It’s pretty transparent they started out as an acne skincare product and are now trying to expand, but still catering to that original demographic. I’m still on the fence about it for this reason and am shopping around for a similar company that markets to us older people and backs it up with a product that delivers on those claims.
I've suffered from.horomonal cystic acne for yearssssss, the only thing that works is spironalactone for me. I got an online prescriotion and it cleared my skin, I swear by it for the last year and a half. Goodluck!
I'm excited for you! I hope cureology works for you. 💚
Dear Hannah, I want to send you my words of love and support. I've been on BC for a few months for a medical reason and it just made me feel bad and worsened some other conditions. Thank god I don't need to take it anymore. I hope you hold through this tough time and find a way to live without BC.
🤷♀️ your non sponsor video had a curology ad right at the start . Good luck on your skincare journey. Listening intently to rest of the video . 📚