Your Curology journey: month 1

Happy one-month anniversary! By  now, you may be wondering how much longer it will be before you see the results you signed up for. You might already be enjoying glowy, dewy skin like never before—but if you’re squinting in the mirror trying to notice any difference in your skin, you’re not alone!

Every day, someone in our community is celebrating their one-month Curoloversary—woohoo! It’s not easy to make a change, especially if that change involves remembering to apply a new product to your face on a regular basis, so kudos to you for making it this far.

Here’s what you can expect after a month of using Curology—and what you can do if you’re still feeling stuck at “before.”  

Is consistency the key to skincare routines?

Let’s be clear: there are definitely times when you should give up on a skincare product. Skincare products can contain ingredients that can actually make acne worse, which makes building a routine extra confusing. But even the best skincare products for acne won’t yield overnight results, so it can be hard to gauge your progress. 

Remember to keep it simple when starting to use a skincare product with active ingredients. A dedicated three-step routine (cleanse, treat, moisturize) plus consistent sun protection will yield more predictable results than if you try to throw the kitchen sink at your acne. 

Also, it can be normal to experience side effects a month into your new skincare ritual—we’ll explain more on that in a moment. 

How long does it take to see results with Curology? 

Some lucky people experience results from their Curology formula very quickly—woohoo! That said, if you’re not sure about your progress yet, that’s totally normal! It can be hard to tell if a skincare product is right for you after just one month of consistent use, but there are some clues. 

If you’re dealing with acne, it can take more than a month to see your breakouts curb, and you might even experience a temporary increase in acne (aka purging). 

How do you tell the difference between a purge and a breakout? Purging may occur when active ingredients cause temporary breakouts on their way to clearing out your pores, but a skincare product with pore-clogging or irritating ingredients might just be giving you breakouts.  

Curology’s products are dermatologist-designed to be non-clogging and non-irritating, so if you’re experiencing breakouts after the first month of using your Custom Formula, it may be related to purging. Results vary, but many notice clearer skin around two months—so stick with it! We promise it’s worth it! 

The side effects of prescription-grade skincare

Common side effects of topical skin medications include temporary dryness, irritation, and redness. You might also feel a mild stinging sensation or a slight itchy feeling for a few minutes after applying your Custom Formula. It’s often normal to still be experiencing these symptoms one month into a new acne treatment—it means your skin is adjusting! Your dermatology provider might recommend: 1) Using your formula on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights (3 nights a week)2) Applying your moisturizer before your formula (to slow down absorption)3) Mixing your formula with your moisturizer (to dilute it a bit) 4) Waiting 10-20 minutes after cleansing to apply your formula (to let your skin dry completely) Chat with your Curology provider to see what makes sense for you. 

Keep track of your skin’s progress

One of the best ways to tell if you should keep using a skincare product is to track your progress with photos. That’s one perk to sending your selfies to your Curology provider when you first start your free trial (and why it’s so fun to add photos to your progress photo library)! Obviously, you don’t have to be a Curology member to take progress photos. 

If you’re using any skincare product with active ingredients, it’s important to start slow and go low—introduce the ingredient slowly and in small doses. Using it 2-3 times weekly for the first few weeks can help!

We often recommend giving your skin at least one month to adjust to new products. Remember, your skin is an ecosystem (literally). So when starting out on a new acne treatment, keep “natural balance” in mind as a metaphor: you are trying to nourish your skin with everything it needs to be healthy—nothing extra. 

If you’re not a Curology member, then sign up for a free trial—you’ll consult with a medical provider to see if Curology is right for you. If it’s a good fit, we’ll send you a one-month supply of your Custom Formula with prescription-strength ingredients chosen for you. You can also add a one-month supply of any of our other products (like our cleanser and moisturizer) for no extra cost. Your first box is free, just pay $4.95 (plus tax) to cover shipping and handling, so you can keep it real simple and use custom skincare sent straight to your door. 

Written by

Curology Team