I appreciate the not sponsored update. I stopped eating dairy because my digestive system was unhappy with it, I have pretty decent skin but now without dairy I don't get any hormonal acne.
I used to have cystic hormonal acne. I cut dairy and no more cysts! My.trigger is cheese specifically, but too much of any dairy will give me smaller acne.
I began using Curology after watching Angie on Hot and Flashy. I have extra sensitive, baby skin. My custom formula is very low on tretinoin and includes tranexamic acid and niacinimide. Because my skin is so sensitive, I only use it every other night--even after using it for a year. We've been steadily increasing the level of tretinoin also. I use one pump and use Dr. Sam's 13 dot method of applying and it seems to cover everything. My formula is not stretchy or grippy at all, so it might be the different active ingredients. I love it. I also only use the custom formula and do not use the moisturizer, cleansers or spot treatments. Thank you for the full breakdown. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Edit: I forgot to say that in addition to helping with blemishes and red cheeks, it has dramatically reduced my hyperpigmentation.
I’m glad it’s improving your acne! I was wondering how it was going for you! I tried Curology after seeing your initial announcement, so I just wanted to give a tip for anyone who is actively trying to conceive: If you happen to tell them that you’re trying to conceive (which I did), they might put you on a gentle formula. They put me on a very gentle formula that didn’t have tretinoin or retinol even though I wasn’t yet pregnant. In my case, what they gave me didn’t help my acne. It could very well help other people, but my acne just wasn’t responsive to it. I am pregnant now, so it doesn’t matter, but I’d like to try it again one day when I can have stronger ingredients in my formulation. I like the idea of it and I think it can be less expensive than an office visit and a prescription. I hope that’s helpful to someone!
Wow, I’m thinking I’m really lucky with my medical coverage about now. I get a full tube (1.6 oz) of 0.1% Tretinoin every single month (or sooner if I need it), and it is completely covered by my insurance. I have gotten to the point where I use that strength every single night, without any dryness or irritation whatsoever. It has truly remained the most important and transformative product in my skincare routine. 😊
I completely agree. Tretinoin is the absolute best product (prescription) that has changed my skin more than any other product I could buy over the counter.
Curology just came to South Carolina (my home place). I was very excited to simplify my routine. I completely agree with the custom formula and extras. The extras (cleanser and moisturizer) were not worth my money. The custom formula was beautiful. And helping my skin turn over more! I was in California for a month and my skin peeled much worse. Now back in South Carolina, my peeling has calmed down probably due to the humidity in the air. Great video as always.
It just came to Indiana too and I’m tempted to try it. I’ve used differin for a while and it’s gotten rid of my acne but I’d like a stronger tret for anti aging purposes.
@@Shellyish I’m wanting to try it. With cold weather coming soon I’d probably have to start with something more mild. My skin is more normal this time of year but with our winters my skin gets dry and dehydrated. I have a few dark spots but mostly I’m wanting to focus on a few fine lines
I tried curology for about 5.5 months. The starter bottle lasted me a little over a month, and the full size bottles each lasted me a little over two months. I applied it over moisturizer and I think that helped me to spread it out in a thin layer and not use too much. Ultimately I stopped using it because I wasn’t seeing a ton of difference and it was expensive for me. It must have been doing something though, because I had a horrible relapse of constant itchy painful acne when I stopped it :( so after a few weeks of going through that, I started using differin gel. Progress has been slow, but differin gel is a lot more cost effective for me. A 45g tube costs about $29 and lasts me 15 weeks. I just started my second tube. My plan is to reevaluate when I finish the second tube, and possibly see a dermatologist.
Hello Hannah 👋 I'm a fairly new subscriber, you've been hanging out in my recommended feed for a while and I'm very happy I ended up clicking one of your videos a few weeks ago 😊 Just wanted to say I appreciate your videos a lot 💚 Take care
I use curology, just the treatment. It does help, but honestly adding spironolactone to my anti acne plan is what really helped. I have been using both for about 16 months and my skin has been clear since November 2020. Good luck.
I feel really lucky in that Differin worked really well for me. I've dabbled in various acids & oils from The Ordinary but Differin is the one thing that I consistently use - though now my skin is in a good place I can use it less often. Definitely worth checking out before spending $ for Tretinoin from a dermatologist, IMO.
I was going to say this too. I used to use a tret prescription from my derm in my teens, and now I’m in my 20s and I use Differin. So far, knock on wood, it’s working very well
I use differin as well and I’ve found that cvs has a generic adapalene gel that costs almost half of what differin does. I’m almost 40 now and my skin is more clear now than it ever has been in my life
Hey Hannah, the large bottle also lasts me generally about 1.5 months with nightly application. 2 tips: use a serum that adds slip to your skin before you apply. I use the Matryxal 3000 by The Ordinary. Secondly, the higher up in tretinoin you go, you can skip a night. I just leveled up to .09% after being on .05% for 3 years. I also have hormonal acne. I cannot apply the .09 to my face everyday, yet. But it has really stretched out my bottle and, for me, I haven't had a resurgence of acne.
I’d be careful with applying the water based serums right before, as they can actually cause you to absorb more Tret. Not a bad thing, but it may be too strong initially.
@@dinasourprincessparty yes I always have to hold off on using water (when I get the tretinoin increased) to help the Curology formula to spread. It amps up the intensity quite a lot, I’ve found.
I also use Curology, but for anti-aging and to lighten dark spots. This update is so interesting, because I get the small bottle and it also lasts me about 6 weeks. Now I'm wondering if I don't use enough. My fornula has changed from azelaic acid to tranexamic acid and there's a noticeable difference in the consistency. I agree that the azelaic acid cream is drier and spreads less easily.
I have the tranexamic acid in mine too and it spreads easily and is very smooth. I use two full pumps and it easily spreads on my whole face. The big bottle lasts a little over two months for me.
I use it for anti-aging and acne. I tend to run out because it’s only enough for the face, and I want to put anti-aging products on my face, neck, upper chest, and backs of hands. I use a tiny bit of water to help it spread out better and I often skip one day a week. I also try not to worry if I run out and miss a few days. I find it’s still really effective in the long term despite that. Of course I am at a pretty high %, at .05. And my acne is more occasional, so someone with that as their main issue might need daily application to get good results.
A lot of the comments are saying how you can get tretinoin from your dermo much cheaper, but Curology is typically a blend that targets multiple issues, not just acne and fine lines (tretinoin). Mine targets acne, hyperpigmentation, redness, and fine lines. It has three different active ingredients in it.
For me, the trick with the Ordinary azelaic acid is to put a blop of it on my finger, smoosh that with a finger on my other hand, use those fingertips to dot it all over my face, and then sort of pat-pat-pat to spread it. If I try to just rub it on like a moisturizer, it’s horrible, I have to use more and doesn’t spread at all & sort of pills up. But the dot-then-pat method works perfectly. Not sure if this might help make your custom formula stretch!
As a non binary fan of your content I really appreciate your acknowledgement of people who are not men or women! If I could make a tiny suggestion not all non binary people are in between men and women so perhaps a more inclusive phrase would be "ladies, gentlemen and those who are neither". Again, thank you for showing consideration for your gender diverse viewers!
I've only used that cleanser for a week but it seems really good at combating my hormonal acne so far. Very impressed. Quite drying though so I picked up their moisturiser too
If you are running out of product before the two months, you are probably using too much. You just need a small amount. My skin is dry, so I use a different moisturizer first. Then my Curology tretinoin goes on more smoothly and evenly. Or you can use it 6 nights a weeks with a night off. I do not use the other Curology products either.
I have been using Curology since March of 2018. Quick background, I’m 37. At 22 I used accutane which mostly fixed my acne but I was still getting persistent breakouts. I also have ice pick scars that I wanted tretinoin to treat it. I had moved states and the wait to see a dermatologist was long enough that I didn’t want to deal with it. I saw Hot n Flashy talk about it so I gave it a try. I purged like crazy for about three months. Then my skin looked ok but not great. I stuck it out and now three years later I can’t remember the last time I had a breakout. My skin is sensitive enough that I can’t use an acid and curology on the same days so I use my treatment 5 days a week and an acid twice a week. My bottles last me three months. I’ve never tried any of their other products and when I got started they weren’t offered. The curology doctor told me to use pyrithione zinc for body acne and gave other product recommendations. About a year in I switched from the acne formula to the anti aging formula with curology. I was really curious what you thought. I bet, like me, if you keep using it your skin will just keep getting better. I feel like it took a good year for my skin to totally clear. Also I use my HSA to pay for it-bonus!
I’m so happy Curology has helped you so much! I haven’t been on tretinoin for a while, but I think after I work through the actives I have my stash that I will replace it with a prescription tretinoin
Acne is so frustrating! I struggled with it through half of college and the first year after graduating. I think my main problems were stress, lack of sleep, and stripping my skin. I thought exfoliating and clay masks would help but they probably made the situation worse. My boyfriend's brother struggled with acne recently so I looked at his skincare. What he thought was a cleaner was actually an exfoliater 🤦♀️ It was even the powder kind you have to mix with water first. I was like, stop using this immediately 😂
Curology was GREAT for me, I used it about 3 years. Unfortunately I have RA and dry eye syndrome and I just had to cancel because Retin-A can really make dry eye syndrome worse. So pay attention to side effects, even gradual ones, I used Retin-A for years before Curology too. I'm under good control with my acne with vitamin C right now, wish me luck!
Wow. I had no idea! I’ve had dry eyes ever since I got lasik in 2019. I’ll have to pay attention to my tret cycling to see if I notice a difference. Thank you!
I found you through sam’s videos and OMG I’m so obsessed with you, your personality, the way you talk, your super informative reviews, and I find your no buy philosophy so so inspiring. Overall ❤️❤️
I so glad that changing my diet really worked wonders on the hormonal acne I had going on. Would you do a video on your favorite budget friendly skin care products? I have been wanting to try a new eye cream but I don't want to spend 50+ on an eye cream regularly so I'll check out your recommendation and I'll go back to see what moisturizer it was you mentioned. It would be great if you have a video available to go back to if you're not interested in cyrology or whatever products you are currently using that are not favorite budget options.
I use Nurx (an app) for birth control, and they offer things like skincare and other health options (STI test kits, etc) as well. I get 0.5% Tretinoin - a HUGE amount of it in a tube, for $10. It takes me like three months to use a tube. Highly recommend, especially if you can involve insurance - which Nurx will help you to do.
HANNAH! Completely unrelated to this video but Natasha Denona has discontinued the Gold palette!! I had been planning on purchasing it on Black Friday since the beginning of the year! So upset and I don’t have anyone in real life that would care so I thought I’d share with you. 😂😭
i am so happy to hear it helped, it is expensive, which is too bad, but obviously worth it. i would love to see how this works out for you one year later as well, im very curious, and i think others would benefit from such an update edit: love these earrings, maybe some day....in the future, i will buy them, they are so beautiful, and awesome
Every dermatologist always says the same thing. With tretinoin, less is more. I use Curology and when you first start (and even at a low dose), you don't need to use it every night. Start out a couple of nights a week and build up. On the advice of a dermatologist, I always apply moisturizer first, then only a pea-sized amount for my entire face. Just dot your face with that pea-sized amount and spread. Maybe using a moisturizer first, which protects my skin from overreacting to the tretinoin, is also allowing the small amount of tretinoin to spread more easily. Using it nightly only costs me $20 a month which I think is a steal and also the simplest way to get my tretinoin. If your nose is irritated by your lose-dose Curology formulation, I doubt your neck will be able to tolerate it. I use what Angie, over at Hot and Flashy recommends and that is over-the-counter retinaldehyde (Avene or MaeLove). Hope this helps and good luck!
Hi Hannah: I have had acne since age 15; I am 40 now. Curology improved things somewhat. I switched to Adapalene (over the counter), and used that for over a year. It really cleared up non-cystic acne, but I was still getting cystic breakouts regularly. Then last August, during COVID, I found a virtual dermatology service. I paid $80 for the visit. They put me on Tretinoin 0.1% and added Spironolactone to address the hormonal component of my acne. That addition of the Spironolactone completely cleared up my skin for the first time in my life. I haven't had a cystic breakout since the beginning of the year. Spironolactone may be a good option to consider before Accutane. But it should not be taken if you plan to get pregnant, and it is important to use some form of birth control with it.
Try Apostrophe’s service instead. It’s something like $75 for 3 months. I only need a little more than a pea-size amount and have never run out before the next order arrived. My formula only includes .1% tret and niacinamide, so I can’t speak to azelaic acid’s impact on viscosity but the texture of mine is just like light moisturizer. You could also try buffering your formula a bit with a gel moisturizer to increase emollience so you aren’t over-using just to get coverage. Buffering it teeny bit will not dilute your formula, and will likely help with any peeling.
Given that it’s only the consistency of the product that’s making it hard to spread out effectively, wouldn’t adding a weak base serum to it, help with the viscosity for ease of use and to save money? Not in the bottle of course, but say you had a bottle of HA from the ordinary, you could put a pump of each on the back of your hand and it would likely help spread the cureology. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Canada , even Mexico and India have super cheap RX tretinoin. Even without coverage it’s under $20 for a tube. And you don’t need a derm to prescribe/ any nurse practitioner or doc would prescribe it. Adding a cheap azealic would save a fortune.. plus, you wouldn’t use this tretinoin nightly, probably. It takes me over 9 months to use a tube. I still have one, if you’d ever like it, new.
I don’t have acne concerns, but I like Curology for my retinol and I’ve done just the custom formula since the trial. I noticed it has also helped my little bit of acne. I’ve really love it and I find that I use it up in longer than two months. I sometimes do every other night or target areas for my retinol and use one pump. I’ve delayed a subscription ever so often. I probably spend $15 a month. For anyone that would be helpful!
If you want to try to make one pump of the curology spread across more area then you can try using a slippy hydrating toner/essence first. Really helps me for making my moisturizer last longer!
Just be careful if you had your formula recently adjusted as this can make it more effective, which could irritate. OTOH if a formula is not effective enough, it can boost it, which is nice.
Heimish make amazing cleansers and they last so long because you need so little and they are giant tubes. For back acne I use the Alba Botanica Acne Dote wash, which contains Salicylic and works great, also great for malassezia folliculitis. I have both on my back 😭
If you’re looking for a great azelaic acid to use just on your neck, Strata Dermatologics makes an excellent azelaic acid (called Melazepam) that is very affordable and is sold on Amazon. I also struggle with hormonal acne and am 35, and have found that azelaic acid, tretinoin, and spironolactone are my magic combination for clear skin. If you feel that tretinoin is the ingredient that is making the most difference in your skin, it easily accessible through your general provider (not a derm) and is covered by insurance.
A lot of insurance wont cover Tret. Mine didn’t. The retail price was over $160. I was given a coupon that didn’t even work but thankfully I had found a coupon so I paid about $66 for it. Which is a lot. $30 is a lot but also I think an easier pill to swallow than over $60. I honestly wish I had just done Curology. It would have been cheaper overall for me.
I got the trial and then cancelled all the extras before it even arrived. I have no moisturizer, cleanser, or facial oil that I can use through both summer and winter, not to mention traveling and lifestyle changes. Even if they were the best products ever, I was never going to need them every month.
When I used curology the bottles lasted me the 2 months. I guess it just depends how much you use each day. And I was using it for anti aging so idk if the formula was the same so it could've had a different texture.
Crystal Retinal is also a good alternative to retinoic acid if there are people without acces to a subscription . Based on the incidecoder explication , i branched from retinol to crystal retinal without having to go directly to tret. It s also good for acne besides the turnover thing. Buuut , i also believe your curology is worth it if it works for you. If it works, it works. Also four months is very fast in skincare time. I am looking back after i year of retinol and retinoids, and the results are totally worth it. I also simplified my routine after retinol. Much less acid exfoliation. Mostly mostuirzer and retinol
Have you ever thought about an oilfree nightcream? Dr. Hauschka organic skincare say that the skin should breathe and regenerate at night without oils or fats… My skin likes that a lot and is less sensitive.
Your look in this video is so great. It's rock chick but FASHION. I love it. Paula's Choice has SA body washes. I've had one in shower for a couple years. It's enormous but I only use it when I have break outs.
Helpful video, I’m trying skin+me, a UK similar product that’s £20 a month and comes in a daily doser which gives you the exact amount which I like. It has the same ingredients as yours by the sounds although my tretinoin is a lower dose right now. My skin has improved in some ways but while I’m getting less little blemishes I’m getting much deeper acne now that is frustrating. I’m only 6weeks in so hopefully it’s just purging because your skin transformation is incredible!
I use two pumps and I have to try to use it all in two months. I currently have two bottles extra. I have found that you can't slather it. I dot it on and then spread it out. One pump for my face, one pump for my neck, but again, I dot it on. I don't spread it on like a lotion.
Do you use the derma-e anti wrinkle night cream on the same nights you use curology? I thought it was not advised to use a retinol and a retinoid at the same time.
This is an older video now, so I'm not sure if you'll see this note, but have you added a very basic zinc supplement to your diet at all? It was one of the supplements that i first added at the very beginning of the pandemic, for non-skin related reasons, but I do believe that it is a big reason why I was able to go as long as I did without an acne facial. I am 44 now and have had acne prone skin my whole adult life. I have definitely learn what routine works best for me and, of course, I don't have anything like the amount of acne that I had at 25; when I went on acutane for six months. One thing that I have always relied on, to stay as clear as possible, are extraction/acne facials. However, because of the pandemic, I had my last facial March 12 of 2020 and could not have another one until September 1st of 2021 (I am also in Los Angeles and, as you know, lockdown just stretched on and on). Anyway when I noticed last year that my skin seemed to be coping with the stress of it all better than expected, and MUCH better than all of the other parts of my body were, I stopped to really think about what the reason could be. I determined, at least I really I believe that, the addition of a zinc supplement was the biggest contributing factor. Zinc promotes wound healing as well; which I think has also made a big difference with the way the acne that do have behaves. I do truly think that it has been an incredible, surprisingly useful, discovery during all of this craziness.
Everyone is so different. I use a pump and a half or two per night and it ends up lasting me over the two months. I do put an essence on first to aid slip. But I do agree with you that this is worth it for me also.
Ditto! I also like the one from the Inkey List and the AHA cleanser from Holifrog (although I only use that one for body wash maybe once a week in the summer.)
I'm wondering if the DERMA-E night cream you're using -- the tub with the purple label -- is it in plastic or glass? I've been scouring the internet for an answer without luck. Thanks for your help!
I have been using Curology but more for aging skin than breakouts. You mentioned that you wash your face then put it on. Do you wait for your skin to dry? Have you had any reaction if you put it on damp skin? THX
I use dermatica and I use 3 pumps a night for face neck and chest. It last a month and is 20 pounds. I use 5 nights a week unless I become a little irritated, then I will cut back. I splash on a toner twice before to give me more slip. Do you use a toner before? In my skincare group, people swear by this method.
The Ordinary have great retinol for pennies. In Poland we have 1% or 2% available, often in "clean" formulations. By clean I mean no silicones, drying alcohols, etc.
One tube of tretinoin last me 8 months to a year because I only tap on the metal tube $15 for the cream $25 for the jel and they are name brands and if you do the research I'm sure you can find it the same as I did
Not related to curology, but I've just started using the Benton mineral sun cream and I'm not getting on as well with it. I find my skin feels tight and kind of irritated throughout the day, and goes red if touched (my skin is prone to redness anyway). I'm wondering if I've developed an intolerance to one of the essential oils in it, curious if anyone else has had issues?
Stop using it , if you haven’t already. That’s the problem with any kind of fragrance component in skincare, is that we can develop sensitivities over time & develop dermatitis & other conditions, especially on the face.
To me, the best things about Curology are the convenience and adjustability. Convenience, because all my key actives would come in a single product. Adjustability, because active ingredients can be altered to suit. But at over $360/year for just the face, the cost is high. It's true that a dermatologist visit may run about $200. More or less. However, it's not an apples to apples comparison. Everybody should be screened for skin cancer at least once every few years anyway. It's a terrible idea to skip seeing a derm for long. Docs like mine will write a tretinoin prescription and renew it automatically in the off-years. My insurance doesn't cover tretinoin. I've bought it using GoodRx coupons for about $50-65 per 45g tube. They last me 9-12 months. The average annual cost for tretinoin should be well below $100. That leaves a lot of budget for niacinamide, azelaic acid, etc from The Ordinary, Inky List, Good Molecules, and even Paula's Choice. If you visited the dermatologis every single year for an annual melanoma screening and paid for the visit and tretinoin with cash, you'd still come out ahead of Curology. And perhaps save your life.
At this channel, we stan Marina at The Grove
:)
I appreciate the not sponsored update. I stopped eating dairy because my digestive system was unhappy with it, I have pretty decent skin but now without dairy I don't get any hormonal acne.
I used to have cystic hormonal acne. I cut dairy and no more cysts! My.trigger is cheese specifically, but too much of any dairy will give me smaller acne.
I began using Curology after watching Angie on Hot and Flashy. I have extra sensitive, baby skin. My custom formula is very low on tretinoin and includes tranexamic acid and niacinimide. Because my skin is so sensitive, I only use it every other night--even after using it for a year. We've been steadily increasing the level of tretinoin also. I use one pump and use Dr. Sam's 13 dot method of applying and it seems to cover everything. My formula is not stretchy or grippy at all, so it might be the different active ingredients. I love it. I also only use the custom formula and do not use the moisturizer, cleansers or spot treatments. Thank you for the full breakdown. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Edit: I forgot to say that in addition to helping with blemishes and red cheeks, it has dramatically reduced my hyperpigmentation.
I’m glad it’s improving your acne! I was wondering how it was going for you! I tried Curology after seeing your initial announcement, so I just wanted to give a tip for anyone who is actively trying to conceive: If you happen to tell them that you’re trying to conceive (which I did), they might put you on a gentle formula. They put me on a very gentle formula that didn’t have tretinoin or retinol even though I wasn’t yet pregnant. In my case, what they gave me didn’t help my acne. It could very well help other people, but my acne just wasn’t responsive to it. I am pregnant now, so it doesn’t matter, but I’d like to try it again one day when I can have stronger ingredients in my formulation. I like the idea of it and I think it can be less expensive than an office visit and a prescription. I hope that’s helpful to someone!
Wow, I’m thinking I’m really lucky with my medical coverage about now. I get a full tube (1.6 oz) of 0.1% Tretinoin every single month (or sooner if I need it), and it is completely covered by my insurance. I have gotten to the point where I use that strength every single night, without any dryness or irritation whatsoever. It has truly remained the most important and transformative product in my skincare routine. 😊
You are lucky!
I completely agree. Tretinoin is the absolute best product (prescription) that has changed my skin more than any other product I could buy over the counter.
My insurance won't cover tretinoin if over 25.
Curology just came to South Carolina (my home place). I was very excited to simplify my routine. I completely agree with the custom formula and extras. The extras (cleanser and moisturizer) were not worth my money. The custom formula was beautiful. And helping my skin turn over more! I was in California for a month and my skin peeled much worse. Now back in South Carolina, my peeling has calmed down probably due to the humidity in the air. Great video as always.
It just came to Indiana too and I’m tempted to try it. I’ve used differin for a while and it’s gotten rid of my acne but I’d like a stronger tret for anti aging purposes.
@@bmackenzie2740 I tried tret for skin tone evenness (my skin is prone to dark spots). I’m curious on how you’d get along with it if you try Curology.
@@Shellyish I’m wanting to try it. With cold weather coming soon I’d probably have to start with something more mild. My skin is more normal this time of year but with our winters my skin gets dry and dehydrated. I have a few dark spots but mostly I’m wanting to focus on a few fine lines
@@bmackenzie2740 I get it. Winter can be quite harsh on the skin. If you do try it, I hope it goes well for you. 😌
@@Shellyish thanks! Same to you as well! 🤗
I tried curology for about 5.5 months. The starter bottle lasted me a little over a month, and the full size bottles each lasted me a little over two months. I applied it over moisturizer and I think that helped me to spread it out in a thin layer and not use too much. Ultimately I stopped using it because I wasn’t seeing a ton of difference and it was expensive for me. It must have been doing something though, because I had a horrible relapse of constant itchy painful acne when I stopped it :( so after a few weeks of going through that, I started using differin gel. Progress has been slow, but differin gel is a lot more cost effective for me. A 45g tube costs about $29 and lasts me 15 weeks. I just started my second tube. My plan is to reevaluate when I finish the second tube, and possibly see a dermatologist.
Hi Marie, did the differin work for you?
You're wearing the fancy feather earrings!!! ♥️♥️
Haha!! I did comment before you mentioned them!
Hello Hannah 👋 I'm a fairly new subscriber, you've been hanging out in my recommended feed for a while and I'm very happy I ended up clicking one of your videos a few weeks ago 😊 Just wanted to say I appreciate your videos a lot 💚 Take care
thank you! I'm so glad you are here!
I use curology, just the treatment. It does help, but honestly adding spironolactone to my anti acne plan is what really helped. I have been using both for about 16 months and my skin has been clear since November 2020. Good luck.
I feel really lucky in that Differin worked really well for me. I've dabbled in various acids & oils from The Ordinary but Differin is the one thing that I consistently use - though now my skin is in a good place I can use it less often. Definitely worth checking out before spending $ for Tretinoin from a dermatologist, IMO.
I was going to say this too. I used to use a tret prescription from my derm in my teens, and now I’m in my 20s and I use Differin. So far, knock on wood, it’s working very well
I use differin as well and I’ve found that cvs has a generic adapalene gel that costs almost half of what differin does. I’m almost 40 now and my skin is more clear now than it ever has been in my life
@@bmackenzie2740 yep its even more affordable if you wait for a 40% off coupon
I use differin too, 5x weekly ( 2x week i exfoliate)
Differing is still a vitamin A product. Thst is why it works. So many Vit A/Retinol options. @Gothamista is the best for understanding the ingredient.
Hey Hannah, the large bottle also lasts me generally about 1.5 months with nightly application. 2 tips: use a serum that adds slip to your skin before you apply. I use the Matryxal 3000 by The Ordinary. Secondly, the higher up in tretinoin you go, you can skip a night. I just leveled up to .09% after being on .05% for 3 years. I also have hormonal acne. I cannot apply the .09 to my face everyday, yet. But it has really stretched out my bottle and, for me, I haven't had a resurgence of acne.
I’d be careful with applying the water based serums right before, as they can actually cause you to absorb more Tret. Not a bad thing, but it may be too strong initially.
@@dinasourprincessparty yes I always have to hold off on using water (when I get the tretinoin increased) to help the Curology formula to spread. It amps up the intensity quite a lot, I’ve found.
I also use Curology, but for anti-aging and to lighten dark spots. This update is so interesting, because I get the small bottle and it also lasts me about 6 weeks. Now I'm wondering if I don't use enough. My fornula has changed from azelaic acid to tranexamic acid and there's a noticeable difference in the consistency. I agree that the azelaic acid cream is drier and spreads less easily.
I have the tranexamic acid in mine too and it spreads easily and is very smooth. I use two full pumps and it easily spreads on my whole face. The big bottle lasts a little over two months for me.
I use it for anti-aging and acne. I tend to run out because it’s only enough for the face, and I want to put anti-aging products on my face, neck, upper chest, and backs of hands. I use a tiny bit of water to help it spread out better and I often skip one day a week. I also try not to worry if I run out and miss a few days.
I find it’s still really effective in the long term despite that. Of course I am at a pretty high %, at .05. And my acne is more occasional, so someone with that as their main issue might need daily application to get good results.
@@angelhowell5420 same for me. I have Tret, Azelaic, Tran Acid in my mix.
A lot of the comments are saying how you can get tretinoin from your dermo much cheaper, but Curology is typically a blend that targets multiple issues, not just acne and fine lines (tretinoin). Mine targets acne, hyperpigmentation, redness, and fine lines. It has three different active ingredients in it.
For me, the trick with the Ordinary azelaic acid is to put a blop of it on my finger, smoosh that with a finger on my other hand, use those fingertips to dot it all over my face, and then sort of pat-pat-pat to spread it. If I try to just rub it on like a moisturizer, it’s horrible, I have to use more and doesn’t spread at all & sort of pills up. But the dot-then-pat method works perfectly. Not sure if this might help make your custom formula stretch!
As a non binary fan of your content I really appreciate your acknowledgement of people who are not men or women! If I could make a tiny suggestion not all non binary people are in between men and women so perhaps a more inclusive phrase would be "ladies, gentlemen and those who are neither". Again, thank you for showing consideration for your gender diverse viewers!
Cerave has a SA cleanser/body wash that is not too expensive 😉
That is hands down my holy grail cleanser! Oil cleanse first, then use the Cerave SA cleanser with my foreo device. Love it.
I've only used that cleanser for a week but it seems really good at combating my hormonal acne so far. Very impressed. Quite drying though so I picked up their moisturiser too
If you are running out of product before the two months, you are probably using too much. You just need a small amount. My skin is dry, so I use a different moisturizer first. Then my Curology tretinoin goes on more smoothly and evenly. Or you can use it 6 nights a weeks with a night off. I do not use the other Curology products either.
Thank you for such a thorough review of Curology and your overall skincare routine!
I have been using Curology since March of 2018. Quick background, I’m 37. At 22 I used accutane which mostly fixed my acne but I was still getting persistent breakouts. I also have ice pick scars that I wanted tretinoin to treat it. I had moved states and the wait to see a dermatologist was long enough that I didn’t want to deal with it. I saw Hot n Flashy talk about it so I gave it a try. I purged like crazy for about three months. Then my skin looked ok but not great. I stuck it out and now three years later I can’t remember the last time I had a breakout. My skin is sensitive enough that I can’t use an acid and curology on the same days so I use my treatment 5 days a week and an acid twice a week. My bottles last me three months. I’ve never tried any of their other products and when I got started they weren’t offered. The curology doctor told me to use pyrithione zinc for body acne and gave other product recommendations. About a year in I switched from the acne formula to the anti aging formula with curology. I was really curious what you thought. I bet, like me, if you keep using it your skin will just keep getting better. I feel like it took a good year for my skin to totally clear. Also I use my HSA to pay for it-bonus!
I’m so happy Curology has helped you so much! I haven’t been on tretinoin for a while, but I think after I work through the actives I have my stash that I will replace it with a prescription tretinoin
Acne is so frustrating! I struggled with it through half of college and the first year after graduating. I think my main problems were stress, lack of sleep, and stripping my skin. I thought exfoliating and clay masks would help but they probably made the situation worse. My boyfriend's brother struggled with acne recently so I looked at his skincare. What he thought was a cleaner was actually an exfoliater 🤦♀️ It was even the powder kind you have to mix with water first. I was like, stop using this immediately 😂
Curology was GREAT for me, I used it about 3 years. Unfortunately I have RA and dry eye syndrome and I just had to cancel because Retin-A can really make dry eye syndrome worse. So pay attention to side effects, even gradual ones, I used Retin-A for years before Curology too. I'm under good control with my acne with vitamin C right now, wish me luck!
Wow. I had no idea! I’ve had dry eyes ever since I got lasik in 2019. I’ll have to pay attention to my tret cycling to see if I notice a difference. Thank you!
Is it Sjogren’s Syndrome? Holla, my sister! RA and SS here, too!💚
I found you through sam’s videos and OMG I’m so obsessed with you, your personality, the way you talk, your super informative reviews, and I find your no buy philosophy so so inspiring. Overall ❤️❤️
thank you!!!! I'm so glad you are here!
I so glad that changing my diet really worked wonders on the hormonal acne I had going on.
Would you do a video on your favorite budget friendly skin care products? I have been wanting to try a new eye cream but I don't want to spend 50+ on an eye cream regularly so I'll check out your recommendation and I'll go back to see what moisturizer it was you mentioned. It would be great if you have a video available to go back to if you're not interested in cyrology or whatever products you are currently using that are not favorite budget options.
I use Nurx (an app) for birth control, and they offer things like skincare and other health options (STI test kits, etc) as well. I get 0.5% Tretinoin - a HUGE amount of it in a tube, for $10. It takes me like three months to use a tube. Highly recommend, especially if you can involve insurance - which Nurx will help you to do.
HANNAH! Completely unrelated to this video but Natasha Denona has discontinued the Gold palette!! I had been planning on purchasing it on Black Friday since the beginning of the year! So upset and I don’t have anyone in real life that would care so I thought I’d share with you. 😂😭
Think alter ego has a palette that’s very similar to it just FYI
i am so happy to hear it helped, it is expensive, which is too bad, but obviously worth it. i would love to see how this works out for you one year later as well, im very curious, and i think others would benefit from such an update
edit: love these earrings, maybe some day....in the future, i will buy them, they are so beautiful, and awesome
You've been looking fab lately Hannah!
Every dermatologist always says the same thing. With tretinoin, less is more. I use Curology and when you first start (and even at a low dose), you don't need to use it every night. Start out a couple of nights a week and build up. On the advice of a dermatologist, I always apply moisturizer first, then only a pea-sized amount for my entire face. Just dot your face with that pea-sized amount and spread. Maybe using a moisturizer first, which protects my skin from overreacting to the tretinoin, is also allowing the small amount of tretinoin to spread more easily. Using it nightly only costs me $20 a month which I think is a steal and also the simplest way to get my tretinoin. If your nose is irritated by your lose-dose Curology formulation, I doubt your neck will be able to tolerate it. I use what Angie, over at Hot and Flashy recommends and that is over-the-counter retinaldehyde (Avene or MaeLove). Hope this helps and good luck!
Hi Hannah: I have had acne since age 15; I am 40 now. Curology improved things somewhat. I switched to Adapalene (over the counter), and used that for over a year. It really cleared up non-cystic acne, but I was still getting cystic breakouts regularly. Then last August, during COVID, I found a virtual dermatology service. I paid $80 for the visit. They put me on Tretinoin 0.1% and added Spironolactone to address the hormonal component of my acne. That addition of the Spironolactone completely cleared up my skin for the first time in my life. I haven't had a cystic breakout since the beginning of the year. Spironolactone may be a good option to consider before Accutane. But it should not be taken if you plan to get pregnant, and it is important to use some form of birth control with it.
So you happen to have the link of the dermo?
@@leeanncapistran3582 Search for SkyMD.
Try Apostrophe’s service instead. It’s something like $75 for 3 months. I only need a little more than a pea-size amount and have never run out before the next order arrived. My formula only includes .1% tret and niacinamide, so I can’t speak to azelaic acid’s impact on viscosity but the texture of mine is just like light moisturizer. You could also try buffering your formula a bit with a gel moisturizer to increase emollience so you aren’t over-using just to get coverage. Buffering it teeny bit will not dilute your formula, and will likely help with any peeling.
Given that it’s only the consistency of the product that’s making it hard to spread out effectively, wouldn’t adding a weak base serum to it, help with the viscosity for ease of use and to save money? Not in the bottle of course, but say you had a bottle of HA from the ordinary, you could put a pump of each on the back of your hand and it would likely help spread the cureology.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Canada , even Mexico and India have super cheap RX tretinoin. Even without coverage it’s under $20 for a tube. And you don’t need a derm to prescribe/ any nurse practitioner or doc would prescribe it. Adding a cheap azealic would save a fortune.. plus, you wouldn’t use this tretinoin nightly, probably. It takes me over 9 months to use a tube.
I still have one, if you’d ever like it, new.
I don’t have acne concerns, but I like Curology for my retinol and I’ve done just the custom formula since the trial. I noticed it has also helped my little bit of acne. I’ve really love it and I find that I use it up in longer than two months. I sometimes do every other night or target areas for my retinol and use one pump. I’ve delayed a subscription ever so often. I probably spend $15 a month. For anyone that would be helpful!
I love and appreciate all the detail and considerations that you pour into your content.
If you want to try to make one pump of the curology spread across more area then you can try using a slippy hydrating toner/essence first. Really helps me for making my moisturizer last longer!
I do this too. Spreads so easily this way.
Just be careful if you had your formula recently adjusted as this can make it more effective, which could irritate. OTOH if a formula is not effective enough, it can boost it, which is nice.
Girl this definitely worked for me.. I got two of them free.. however I didn’t purchase one I just don’t want my skin getting used to it.
Heimish make amazing cleansers and they last so long because you need so little and they are giant tubes. For back acne I use the Alba Botanica Acne Dote wash, which contains Salicylic and works great, also great for malassezia folliculitis. I have both on my back 😭
I have used curology for a year and will never go back, it’s the only thing that’s worked!
If you’re looking for a great azelaic acid to use just on your neck, Strata Dermatologics makes an excellent azelaic acid (called Melazepam) that is very affordable and is sold on Amazon. I also struggle with hormonal acne and am 35, and have found that azelaic acid, tretinoin, and spironolactone are my magic combination for clear skin. If you feel that tretinoin is the ingredient that is making the most difference in your skin, it easily accessible through your general provider (not a derm) and is covered by insurance.
I’ve been waiting on this video! Yay
All eye creams can be used on your lips. I use mine on them all the time.
A lot of insurance wont cover Tret. Mine didn’t. The retail price was over $160. I was given a coupon that didn’t even work but thankfully I had found a coupon so I paid about $66 for it. Which is a lot. $30 is a lot but also I think an easier pill to swallow than over $60. I honestly wish I had just done Curology. It would have been cheaper overall for me.
All Hail Marina At The Groove!
I got the trial and then cancelled all the extras before it even arrived. I have no moisturizer, cleanser, or facial oil that I can use through both summer and winter, not to mention traveling and lifestyle changes. Even if they were the best products ever, I was never going to need them every month.
I hate subscriptions.
When I used curology the bottles lasted me the 2 months. I guess it just depends how much you use each day. And I was using it for anti aging so idk if the formula was the same so it could've had a different texture.
It also lasts me 2 months....or longer....
Crystal Retinal is also a good alternative to retinoic acid if there are people without acces to a subscription . Based on the incidecoder explication , i branched from retinol to crystal retinal without having to go directly to tret. It s also good for acne besides the turnover thing. Buuut , i also believe your curology is worth it if it works for you. If it works, it works. Also four months is very fast in skincare time. I am looking back after i year of retinol and retinoids, and the results are totally worth it. I also simplified my routine after retinol. Much less acid exfoliation. Mostly mostuirzer and retinol
Have you ever thought about an oilfree nightcream? Dr. Hauschka organic skincare say that the skin should breathe and regenerate at night without oils or fats… My skin likes that a lot and is less sensitive.
Your look in this video is so great. It's rock chick but FASHION. I love it. Paula's Choice has SA body washes. I've had one in shower for a couple years. It's enormous but I only use it when I have break outs.
i love the long wispy bangs!
Helpful video, I’m trying skin+me, a UK similar product that’s £20 a month and comes in a daily doser which gives you the exact amount which I like. It has the same ingredients as yours by the sounds although my tretinoin is a lower dose right now. My skin has improved in some ways but while I’m getting less little blemishes I’m getting much deeper acne now that is frustrating. I’m only 6weeks in so hopefully it’s just purging because your skin transformation is incredible!
The purging is real. Hang in there!
I use two pumps and I have to try to use it all in two months. I currently have two bottles extra. I have found that you can't slather it. I dot it on and then spread it out. One pump for my face, one pump for my neck, but again, I dot it on. I don't spread it on like a lotion.
Do you use the derma-e anti wrinkle night cream on the same nights you use curology? I thought it was not advised to use a retinol and a retinoid at the same time.
This is an older video now, so I'm not sure if you'll see this note, but have you added a very basic zinc supplement to your diet at all?
It was one of the supplements that i first added at the very beginning of the pandemic, for non-skin related reasons, but I do believe that it is a big reason why I was able to go as long as I did without an acne facial.
I am 44 now and have had acne prone skin my whole adult life. I have definitely learn what routine works best for me and, of course, I don't have anything like the amount of acne that I had at 25; when I went on acutane for six months.
One thing that I have always relied on, to stay as clear as possible, are extraction/acne facials. However, because of the pandemic, I had my last facial March 12 of 2020 and could not have another one until September 1st of 2021 (I am also in Los Angeles and, as you know, lockdown just stretched on and on).
Anyway when I noticed last year that my skin seemed to be coping with the stress of it all better than expected, and MUCH better than all of the other parts of my body were, I stopped to really think about what the reason could be. I determined, at least I really I believe that, the addition of a zinc supplement was the biggest contributing factor.
Zinc promotes wound healing as well; which I think has also made a big difference with the way the acne that do have behaves.
I do truly think that it has been an incredible, surprisingly useful, discovery during all of this craziness.
Everyone is so different. I use a pump and a half or two per night and it ends up lasting me over the two months. I do put an essence on first to aid slip. But I do agree with you that this is worth it for me also.
I rate CeraVe SA smoothing cleanser as a body wash 🧴
This is also my preferred SA Cleansing product! I’ve never used it as a body wash, but it’s great for the face!
@@clairedaniels3292 I’ve also used it as a scalp wash ☺️
Ditto! I also like the one from the Inkey List and the AHA cleanser from Holifrog (although I only use that one for body wash maybe once a week in the summer.)
I'm wondering if the DERMA-E night cream you're using -- the tub with the purple label -- is it in plastic or glass? I've been scouring the internet for an answer without luck. Thanks for your help!
I really like the la Roche-Posay salicylic acid face and body cleanser. It's really reasonably priced.
I have been using Curology but more for aging skin than breakouts. You mentioned that you wash your face then put it on. Do you wait for your skin to dry? Have you had any reaction if you put it on damp skin? THX
Great review! So helpful!
So did you end up drinking the Spearmint Tea as recommended by your consultant?
I use dermatica and I use 3 pumps a night for face neck and chest. It last a month and is 20 pounds. I use 5 nights a week unless I become a little irritated, then I will cut back. I splash on a toner twice before to give me more slip. Do you use a toner before? In my skincare group, people swear by this method.
The Ordinary have great retinol for pennies. In Poland we have 1% or 2% available, often in "clean" formulations. By clean I mean no silicones, drying alcohols, etc.
Living for the hair & earrings
One tube of tretinoin last me 8 months to a year because I only tap on the metal tube $15 for the cream $25 for the jel and they are name brands and if you do the research I'm sure you can find it the same as I did
Not related to curology, but I've just started using the Benton mineral sun cream and I'm not getting on as well with it. I find my skin feels tight and kind of irritated throughout the day, and goes red if touched (my skin is prone to redness anyway). I'm wondering if I've developed an intolerance to one of the essential oils in it, curious if anyone else has had issues?
I haven't used it but sensitivity to essential oils can definitely be a thing.
Stop using it , if you haven’t already. That’s the problem with any kind of fragrance component in skincare, is that we can develop sensitivities over time & develop dermatitis & other conditions, especially on the face.
Yeah don't worry, stopped already
If you threaten to cancle they give half off
What custom ingredients did you get ?
No more vitamin C in the morning?
To me, the best things about Curology are the convenience and adjustability. Convenience, because all my key actives would come in a single product. Adjustability, because active ingredients can be altered to suit. But at over $360/year for just the face, the cost is high.
It's true that a dermatologist visit may run about $200. More or less. However, it's not an apples to apples comparison. Everybody should be screened for skin cancer at least once every few years anyway. It's a terrible idea to skip seeing a derm for long. Docs like mine will write a tretinoin prescription and renew it automatically in the off-years. My insurance doesn't cover tretinoin. I've bought it using GoodRx coupons for about $50-65 per 45g tube. They last me 9-12 months. The average annual cost for tretinoin should be well below $100. That leaves a lot of budget for niacinamide, azelaic acid, etc from The Ordinary, Inky List, Good Molecules, and even Paula's Choice.
If you visited the dermatologis every single year for an annual melanoma screening and paid for the visit and tretinoin with cash, you'd still come out ahead of Curology. And perhaps save your life.
Replenix is expensive and I know you will be surprised. Bet you will be looking for a replacement. 🤣🤣
What are you wearing on your eyes tho?
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