Review of Proven, Curology and Personalized Skin Care Routines
Many brands like Curology, Proven, Cera Ve, and Skinceuticals offer personalized skin care routines and advanced regimen builders. How do you know which is best? Before you buy any brand of skin care, you should take 3-5 minutes to find out your skin type. This is the best way to know which skin care brand is best for you to get a dermatologist-recommended skin care routine.
In this blog we review Curology, Proven, Skinceuticals custom skin care routines to see if they are good for your skin. These brands are not right for every skin type. Take the quiz so when we discuss below which skin types they are best for- you will know what your Baumann Skin Type is.
Companies that Do Personalized Skin Care Routines
Curology Custom Skin Routine Review
Curology was started by board certified dermatologist Dr. David Lortscher in 2014 when he had been a dermatologist for 2 years. His products focus on acne. If you sign up for a consultation, you can get products with active ingredients like:
Tretinoin
Azelaic acid
Niacinamide
Tranexamic acid
When I review the Curology skin care products and ingredients in them, they focus on acne but not dry skin, aging skin, or sensitive skin with inflammation.
The custom skin care routines by Curology are not truly custom or personalized for all Baumann Skin Types. They seem like a one size fits all routine for oily, acne- prone skin types that do not have much skin sensitivity. These routines can be very irritating and cause skin inflammation.
Another downside of Curology is you cannot easily mix it with other skin care brands with confidence that the routine will still work well. I prefer choosing the best products from different brands and combining them, and Curology does not offer that.
What Skin Types Is Curology Good For?
Curology Custom Routines should work well for you if you have oily, acne-prone skin with minimal redness and irritation.
The Curology products will only work well for Baumann Skin Types 5 and 6. Curology is best for Baumann Skin Type 6, but if you get the consultation, the products may work for Baumann Skin Type 5. If you have dark spots from acne, and do not have stinging and skin irritation, the Curology line might work well for you.
Curology is not good for acne-prone skin types with dry skin and those that cannot tolerate retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, and foaming cleansers in the same skin care routine.
Proven Custom Skin Care Routines Review
I am not impressed with the Proven Skin Care Custom Regimens for several reasons.
They do not have a scientific way to determine your skin type or it’s needs. They do not have a skin type quiz that has been scientifically validated to correctly diagnose skin type. It is well known that people guess their skin type incorrectly. (6) Proven is asking you to guess what your skin type is.
They claim to have analyzed genome data from many different skin care ingredients but I do not see any publications from them about this in the medical literature.
They claim they have the most comprehensive skincare database in the world and technology that analyzes the effectiveness of over 20,238 skincare ingredients, from arnica to zinc.” My question is- effectiveness on who and what skin type are they? Analysis of consumer data on skin care ingredients is essentially meaningless without an accurate diagnostic quiz and skin typing system. Just because an ingredient works for one skin type, does not mean it will work for another.
There is a question about if these products are truly personalized. For example, they cannot remove fragrance.
They are not transparent about what ingredients will be in your products and your final skin care routine.
They do not allow you to combine products from several brands.
The chemical structure and activity of skin care ingredients change when you combine them so studies must be done on the final formulations, no on the individual ingredients alone. You also need to test them in a layered skin care routine to see if they work together.
Skinceuticals Personalized Custom Skincare Routines
Skinceuticals was originally started by Dermatologist Sheldon Pinnell, the Chairman of dermatology at Duke University.
The medical grade products are well made and effective for many different skin types. We do not like their skin type quiz because it is not as accurate as ours. But that is ok. You can use our skin care routine quiz and use our skin care routine builder to combine Skinceuticals products in a skin care routine with other brands.
It can be confusing to know which Skinceuticals products to use in your routine because they have so many, we can easily guide you. Once you take the quiz, your skin type octagon will show next to the products that are right for you to make it easy to build a routine.
DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life.
What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin?
Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition.
Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes.
If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider.
What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin?
Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity.
Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C.
Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post.
Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster.
This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster.
While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin.
It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin.
Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning?
Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance.
You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather.
Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.
