Custom Formula is a service for selecting a prescription combination, not one fixed cream that can be judged from a single ingredient list. It is most relevant when acne and overlapping concerns need a tailored discussion.
- Key formulation
- Up to three clinician-selected active ingredients
- Product type
- Prescription compounded topical
- Price checked October 8, 2026
- $29.95/month subscription listing
- Medical review
- No independent medical review claimed
What stands out
- Multiple concerns can be considered in one consultation
- Ingredient directory and bottle labeling support transparency
What to weigh
- Not a single standardized formula across all customers
- Subscription extras may change the total routine price
What is in the formula?
The product page describes up to three active ingredients chosen after a medical intake and photographs. The provider’s ingredient directory includes options such as azelaic acid, clindamycin, tretinoin and niacinamide, alongside other actives. The bottle label identifies what was actually prescribed.[source]
How strong is the evidence?
Reviewing a variable formula requires restraint. Evidence for an individual active or a provider-reported survey does not establish the performance of every possible combination. This review does not use a self-reported acne improvement percentage as a comparison score against other services.[source]
Compounded drugs are not reviewed by FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed. That does not mean every compounded prescription is inappropriate; it means the consultation and pharmacy information matter, and approved-product evidence should not be silently transferred to this formula.[source]
What it means for your routine
The ability to adjust a formula is useful only if the process and follow-up are understandable. Ask how to report a problem, when an adjustment is considered and whether a changed prescription affects the refill or price. Keep a record of which products were used when symptoms changed.
Questions to raise with your prescriber
Tell the provider about scarring acne, persistent redness, pregnancy plans and all other medications. If an antibiotic is included, ask about its intended role and duration. Do not assume that an ingredient appropriate for one person’s acne is suitable for another person’s irritation.
What to check in the price
At review, the product page showed a $29.95 monthly subscription listing and $34.95 one-time listing. The advertised trial covers a first box under stated restrictions. Check ongoing shipments, add-on routine products and the total paid before and after the trial.[source]
How to compare the alternatives
Pore Favor is another acne-oriented option to discuss, but it is not ingredient-equivalent to Custom Formula. A fixed salicylic-acid combination and a clinician-selected prescription may address different needs. The diagnosis and final ingredients should lead the comparison.
See the full brand review for the care model, and compare the other product reviews before making a treatment decision.
Your questions, answered
Is this an FDA-approved finished product?
This review covers a compounded prescription formula. FDA does not approve compounded drugs as finished products. Ask the prescriber to explain why the specific preparation is appropriate.
Did you test the cream?
No. This is an analysis of current provider information and cited clinical or regulatory guidance. We did not buy, apply or laboratory-test the product.
Sources & further reading
Provider pages establish what a brand markets. Clinical and regulatory sources establish the limits of the evidence. Accessed October 8, 2026.
- Curology — Custom Formula RxFormula options and consultation process
- American Academy of Dermatology — Skin care in your 40s and 50sPractical skin-care foundations for mature skin
- FDA — Compounding and the FDA: Questions and AnswersCompounded drugs are not FDA-approved; oversight and evidence limitations