#MyCurologyStory #9: Rose (23, RI, student)

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Hi Rose. How did you find out about Curology? I think I've heard of Curology through ads, but I didn't think much about it until my mom sent me a trial box. At that point I was like, okay, why not give it a try? I was using a lot of other over the counter and drugstore, acne creams and cleansers, but those were quite harsh on my skin and it just wasn't a match. I also went to multiple dermatologists in the States and Korea, and they would always prescribe me some different acne medication, but it just wouldn't work. My skin was super sensitive.

What problems were you experiencing specifically that brought you to Curology? Hormonal acne was something that I struggled with for more than half my life, and I started getting acne since early middle school and it just would never go away. It would just get worse and worse year after year, full high school. When I started my first semester at uni, my skin was at its worst and it was just raging hormonal acne that covered my entire face. I remember feeling so helpless at that point and just very embarrassed to meet new people and make eye contact. I just felt that I didn't look presentable and I couldn't go outside without feeling like I have to wear makeup.

When did you start to notice a change with Curology? I tracked my acne progress through the little Curology photo shoots. I started Curology in October 2020, and it took me until around February or March to see my skin completely clear. So almost, yeah, it took a while. It took a few months, but it was really worth it. What does the rest of your skincare routine look like? I’m currently using HydroTret Rx, which has tretinoin, azelaic acid, and dexpanthenol. I'm also using the Curology body wash. I also love the acne patches. Those are my go-to. Do you have a specific day or memory that really stands out from when you had skin issues? This happened back in middle school where kids are very brutal and they just make fun of how people look. I remember this one particular day, it was at the end of the school and people were crowding out to get out the doors, and somehow my arm got caught with someone else's arm. When they turned around, the first thing they noticed was my forehead, which was covered in a lot of acne. They literally shouted ‘gross’ right in front of my face. I remember going home that day and looking in the mirror and just crying because of how people perceive me. I internalized that. How do you feel now? I really enjoy when people compliment my skin. It feels rewarding. It feels like more than just a compliment. It feels like, oh, I've done so much for my skin that it really lights up my day. Especially when my friends or my family talk about my skin or ask me what products I'm using. I'm always like, oh, I'm using this Curology product and I love recommending them. What was signing up like? It wasn't too time consuming or too tedious. I enjoyed taking photos of my face and different sides so that I can see the progression. How do you like working with your providers? They’re very quick to help me. I would provide photos of my skin, and then they were able to look into my concerns and personalize my treatments. I really appreciated how they would tell me why they think these certain skincare ingredients worked well and might benefit my skin. They would also provide specific skincare routines and habits I could try. I felt very informed and trusted the products that I would put onto my face. Do you recommend Curology to anyone in your life? When I meet new people or when my friends are having acne flare-ups or they ask me how I manage to get clearer skin, I always tell them, oh, I've also struggled with the same experience, you’re not alone. I'm very happy to share with them what I did for my routine. What advice would you give to yourself five years ago? I would tell myself that it'll all work out, that I need to be a bit more patient and more gentle and caring towards my skin. At that time I was looking for fast solutions and having a lot of scrubs or active ingredients that were just way too rough on my skin. I think just being gentle and patient and having a moment for self-care and being consistent with habits. What’s the one thing you’re proudest of about this experience? I'm proud of how my mindset changed with how I view myself and my skincare habits. I think before if I would get a flare up or a little bump, that would really just completely ruin my entire day. But now I think seeing that as more of an experience and seeing, oh, maybe I'm having this flare up because I didn't sleep well, or I'm not being consistent with my skincare routine, just seeing what I need to fix instead of feeling so negative about myself is the change that I saw throughout me.

Shop Rose's routine

• HydroTret Rx*

• Acne Body Wash

• Emergency Spot Patch™

*Rx products are subject to medical consultation. Restrictions apply. Results may vary.

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*Subject to medical consultation. Applies only to your first box. Trial lasts 30 days. New subscribers only. Restrictions apply. See website for full details and important safety information.

Written by

Curology Team