Another thing I’ve been working on improving is my skin on my year of starting to feel better about myself. I’ve been trying for years to find something that helps me fix my skin so I don’t feel the need to always have to wear foundation. One thing I’ve always disliked is my nose, either it’s covered in blackheads or the pores are huge/dark. Plus there’s just texture and unevenness all around on my face that I didn’t love. But nothing I tried seemed to do anything. So when I heard about custom skin care products that were cruelty free, I was all over it. The two products that I’ve been trying for around three months are Curology and Rose & Abbott. Curology is an acne cream while Rose & Abbott is a moisturizer.

Neither of these products are sponsored, I purchased them myself. I have seen several sponsored posts but not one that’s not. Just to make it more clear that these comments are my own and are not influenced in any way. Granted even if it were, I would still have and share the same opinion.

Curology

Pictured above is the sample size that you get when you first sign up with the subscription. After the sample time period of a month, you get a full size every two months. Before you get the sample, you enter in all the details about for skin concerns and type. As well as things you want to accomplish. From clogged pores, acne, texture, and redness just to name a few. Then you are prompted to take pictures of your skin so a dermatologist can review it then determine what you need to formulate the night cream specifically for you.

My specific custom formula’s main active ingredients are:

• Zinc Pyrithione (0.25%) – Fights acne via antibacterial and antifungal effects.
• Niacinamide (4%) – Victim B3 derived anti-oxidant that fights acne, inflammation, and hyperpigmentation.
• Azelaic Acid (4%) – Fights dark spots in addition to its antibacterial, antifungal, and pore-unclogging properties.

After you’ve cleansed your skin, you apply a single dimed-sized amount of the cream over your face and neck. Then in the morning put on your moisturizer. Then about two months later, you get check-ins with your dermatologist to see how things are going with the treatment. You do have access to a 24/7 support team and can message your dermatologist at any time. Plus there is a 90-day money-back guarantee if it doesn’t work for you.

I have noticed the hyper-pigmentation and texture has almost completely vanished since I started using this acne cream. I also get only one or two pimples a month, which is a lot less than I used to get. And these one only appear once a month directly before my period. So I would say it’s working. When I was using the cream alone I didn’t notice the clogged pores on my nose get better. But I’ve been struggling to get rid of those for years. However, I have notice they are getting a bit smaller I think or rather less noticeable.

If you would like to try Curology yourself, I do have a referral link that gets you a free trial and I get $10 credit.

Rose & Abbott Moisturizer

Since the other piece you need in the routine is a moisturizer, I tried several different ones but wasn’t overly impressed with any of them. Yes, they did the job but that’s about it. Then near the beginning of February I discovered Rose & Abbott which is a custom moisturizer that is cruelty free, paraben-free, and all natural. So like Curology, you entered a questionnaire including how you would like the product to look and the fragrance of it. And one bottle with 1 oz of product is $29.

The main difference between ordering with Curology and ordering with Rose & Abbott, is you don’t have an account so if you wanted to go back later to check on your formula or reorder it, you can’t. So if you wanted to order another bottle, you have to go through the process all over again. Which is fine as the next time you might want or need something different. But if you wanted to go back to see what you got before it arrives, you can’t. As it’s not on an email you receive after ordering the product.

As for how it applies on my skin/how my skin has changed since starting to use the product… I don’t notice a different. My skin isn’t as dry anymore, which is something you want when applying a moisturizer. Other than that, I don’t notice anything different like less redness or smaller pores. But I love the way it feels when applying it. So I do enjoy it, but I wouldn’t say it’s the greatest thing in the world.

Updates from a week or so after I initially wrote this article: If you would like to try this moisturizer for yourself, click this link to try it out that gets you 25% off your first order. I do not get anything in return if I read the email from them correctly. And also according to another email that I got from their customer service they are working on an account portal where you can see your formula but for the meantime have introduced subscriptions that would resend you the same formula so you don’t have to retake the quiz every time.

Love ya,

Mae Polzine

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