Prescription Skincare Online
Compare online dermatology services that prescribe tretinoin and custom formulas for acne, anti-aging, and melasma — Curology, Apostrophe, Musely, and Hers.
Online prescription skincare typically costs about $20–$50 per month for a custom tretinoin-based formula. Curology offers a personalized cream combining tretinoin with ingredients like niacinamide or clindamycin; Apostrophe is dermatology-provider-backed; Musely targets concerns like melasma and anti-aging; and Hers bundles skincare with broader women’s telehealth. A licensed clinician reviews your photos and intake before prescribing. Prices are estimates — confirm with the provider.
Prescription-strength skincare — especially tretinoin (retinoic acid), the gold-standard ingredient for acne and anti-aging — used to require a dermatologist visit. Now several telehealth services connect you with a licensed provider who can prescribe custom tretinoin-based formulas online and ship them monthly. This page compares the leading options on price, what they treat, and how personalized the formulas are.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Price | Rx required | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Curology Curology | ~$20–$40/mo | Yes | Custom tretinoin formulas on a budget |
Apostrophe Apostrophe | ~$25–$50/mo | Yes | Provider-led care with a broad formulary |
Musely (The FaceRx) Musely | ~$30–$50/mo | Yes | Melasma and pigmentation concerns |
Nurx Nurx | $40/yr consult + from $15/mo meds | Yes | People with commercial insurance, Hormonal acne (spironolactone) |
Dermatica Dermatica | $29.95/mo | Yes | Hyperpigmentation & melasma, People who want included derm check-ins |
Honeydew Honeydew | from $25/mo | Yes | Severe or treatment-resistant acne, Accutane / isotretinoin candidates |
Hims & Hers Hims & Hers | from $29/mo | Yes | Routine acne & anti-aging, People who want a single brand for multiple needs |
Agency Agency | $40/mo | Yes | Anti-aging & fine lines, Hyperpigmentation / dark spots |
SkyMD SkyMD | Cash visit fee or insurance copay | Yes | Needing a diagnosis, not just a cream, People who want to use insurance |
MDacne MDacne | $29.95/mo | Yes | Mild acne, Teens and prescription-averse users |
Prices are estimates that change frequently — confirm current pricing on each brand's site.
The Options, Compared
Curology
Editor's PickRx · compounded prescriptionCustom prescription formula at a low entry price
Curology pairs you with a licensed provider who prescribes a personalized cream — typically combining tretinoin with ingredients like niacinamide or clindamycin — for acne and anti-aging, shipped monthly.
Best for: Custom tretinoin formulas on a budget
Pros
- + Low entry price
- + Genuinely personalized
- + Easy provider contact
Cons
- − Subscription auto-renews
- − Formula tweaks take time
- − Not a replacement for complex derm care
Updated Jun 2026
Includes custom formula + provider oversight. Estimate — verify on site.
Prescription required
Visit Site →Apostrophe
Rx · prescriptionDermatology-provider-backed prescription skincare
Apostrophe connects you with dermatology providers who prescribe tretinoin and other prescription treatments for acne, anti-aging, and rosacea, with a broad formulary and oral options.
Best for: Provider-led care with a broad formulary
Pros
- + Strong provider involvement
- + Wider treatment options
- + Good for multiple concerns
Cons
- − Can cost more than Curology
- − Separate visit fee model
- − Med cost on top
Updated Jun 2026
Visit fee may apply; plus medication. Estimate — verify on site.
Prescription required
Visit Site →Musely (The FaceRx)
Rx · compounded prescriptionTargeted Rx for melasma & anti-aging
Musely’s FaceRx prescribes custom prescription "night creams" targeting concerns like melasma, hyperpigmentation, and anti-aging, formulated by licensed providers and shipped to you.
Best for: Melasma and pigmentation concerns
Pros
- + Strong for pigmentation issues
- + Potent custom formulas
- + Specific problem-solving
Cons
- − Potent formulas need careful use
- − Pricier per month
- − Subscription model
Updated Jun 2026
Nurx
People with commercial insurance
Telehealth platform with a dermatology line covering acne, anti-aging, melasma, rosacea, and eyelash growth, prescribed by its medical team after an online consult. One consultation fee covers a full year of care, and Nurx can bill insurance for medications or offer transparent cash pricing.
Best for: People with commercial insurance, Hormonal acne (spironolactone)
Pros
- + One $40 fee covers a full year of care
- + Bills commercial insurance for medications
- + Offers oral prescriptions, not just topicals
- + Transparent cash pricing if uninsured
Cons
- − Excludes Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare
- − Not available in every state
- − $3 monthly support fee on order months
Updated Jun 2026
$40 medical consultation covers one year of care. Cash medication pricing from $25/mo for topicals and $15-30/mo for orals; as low as $0-15/mo with insurance. A flat $3 monthly support fee applies in months an order is processed. Does not accept Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare.
Prescription required
Visit Site →Dermatica
Hyperpigmentation & melasma
Prescription skincare subscription, originally UK-based and now operating in the US, where a dermatology team builds a custom formula from actives like tretinoin, azelaic acid, and hydroquinone. Covers acne, hyperpigmentation, melasma, rosacea, and aging, with free dermatology check-ins included in the plan.
Best for: Hyperpigmentation & melasma, People who want included derm check-ins
Pros
- + Free first month behind a $4.99 prescribing fee
- + Free dermatology check-ins included
- + Strong formulation team
- + Treats a broad range of concerns
Cons
- − Higher entry price than Curology
- − Bottles ship on a ~56-day cycle, not monthly
- − Async model, no live visit
Updated Jun 2026
Standard plan $29.95/mo (one bottle every ~56 days, two bottles per cycle). 12-month plan lowers the effective rate to about $22.42 per bottle. New users start with a $4.99 prescribing fee for the first month.
Prescription required
Visit Site →Honeydew
Severe or treatment-resistant acne
Online dermatology membership focused on acne, including hard-to-get treatments like full- and low-dose Accutane (isotretinoin), with board-certified dermatologists and unlimited follow-ups. The membership covers provider access, iPledge coordination, and lab coordination; medications are billed separately and can run through insurance.
Best for: Severe or treatment-resistant acne, Accutane / isotretinoin candidates
Pros
- + Prescribes Accutane online with iPledge handling
- + Board-certified dermatologists
- + Unlimited follow-ups included
- + Capped cash pricing on isotretinoin
Cons
- − Acne-focused, not for general anti-aging
- − Medication cost is separate from membership
- − Accutane requires ongoing lab monitoring
Updated Jun 2026
Membership from $25/mo on an annual plan; Accutane track from $50/mo. Membership covers provider access and coordination only; medications are prescribed to outside pharmacies and billed separately (cash isotretinoin capped at ~$30/box, low-dose; as low as $0 with insurance).
Prescription required
Visit Site →Hims & Hers
Routine acne & anti-aging
National telehealth company whose skincare line pairs you with a licensed provider who prescribes a custom topical cream (tretinoin plus actives like azelaic acid and niacinamide) for acne and anti-aging. Care is asynchronous, prescriptions ship from partner pharmacies, and the service is available in all 50 states plus DC.
Best for: Routine acne & anti-aging, People who want a single brand for multiple needs
Pros
- + Available in all 50 states plus DC and PR
- + Large licensed provider network
- + Competitive $29 starting price
- + Discreet pharmacy delivery
Cons
- − Async only, no live derm visit
- − Generalist brand, not a derm specialist
- − Final price climbs with formulation
Updated Jun 2026
Custom acne cream and anti-aging cream start at $29 each; final price varies with the prescribed formulation. OTC items (vitamin C serum, wrinkle cream) priced separately.
Prescription required
Visit Site →Agency
Anti-aging & fine lines
Custom prescription skincare service (also branded withAgency) focused on anti-aging and hyperpigmentation, where a licensed dermatology provider (NP, PA, MD, or DO) formulates a personalized cream from actives like tretinoin, azelaic acid, and tranexamic acid. Formulas ship on a recurring schedule with free cancellation.
Best for: Anti-aging & fine lines, Hyperpigmentation / dark spots
Pros
- + Specialized anti-aging and pigmentation formulas
- + Dedicated custom eye cream
- + Licensed providers (NP/PA/MD/DO) per state
- + 50% off first month, free cancellation
Cons
- − Pricier than acne-first competitors
- − Billed every 2 months, not monthly
- − Less suited to active acne
Updated Jun 2026
Future Formula $80 billed every 2 months (about $40/mo, shipping included). Eye/Dark Spot Formula about $35/mo. Bundle of two formulas about $65/mo. First month 50% off for new subscribers.
Prescription required
Visit Site →SkyMD
Needing a diagnosis, not just a cream
Virtual dermatology clinic where board-certified dermatologists review photo uploads and secure chat to diagnose and prescribe for a wide range of skin conditions, typically responding in under 24 hours. SkyMD treats patients in all 50 states, accepts major insurance, and also offers urgent care, pediatrics, and behavioral health.
Best for: Needing a diagnosis, not just a cream, People who want to use insurance
Pros
- + Board-certified dermatologists across all 50 states
- + Treats a wide range of skin conditions
- + Sub-24-hour response
- + Accepts major insurance
Cons
- − No published flat cash price
- − Visit-based, not a subscription
- − Cash cost depends on the encounter
Updated Jun 2026
SkyMD accepts major health insurance carriers and offers self-pay visits; the company does not publish a single flat price on its homepage, and cost depends on insurance versus cash pay. Verify the current visit fee at checkout.
Prescription required
Visit Site →MDacne
Mild acne
Dermatologist-formulated acne app that uses an AI selfie analysis to build a personalized over-the-counter treatment kit (cleanser, treatment cream, moisturizer) with unlimited in-app dermatologist chat support. It is a customized OTC system rather than a prescription service, with progress tracking inside the app.
Best for: Mild acne, Teens and prescription-averse users
Pros
- + Free 1-month trial (shipping only)
- + AI progress tracking in-app
- + Dermatologist-formulated kits
- + No prescription or consult barrier
Cons
- − OTC only, no prescription medications
- − No physician diagnosis or oversight of disease
- − Not for moderate-to-severe acne
Updated Jun 2026
Monthly subscription $29.95/mo; quarterly $59.95/quarter. Free 1-month trial for the cost of shipping (from $9). Defaults to a bi-monthly refill cadence after the trial.
Prescription required
Visit Site →Frequently Asked Questions
How much does prescription skincare cost online?▼
Custom prescription formulas (typically tretinoin-based) run about $20–$50 per month including the medication and provider oversight — usually cheaper than a dermatologist visit plus a branded retinoid. Prices vary by platform and plan; confirm with the provider.
Can I get tretinoin without seeing a dermatologist in person?▼
Yes. Tretinoin is prescription-only, but telehealth dermatology services let a licensed clinician evaluate photos and your skin history online and prescribe a custom formula if appropriate. It’s legitimate when a real licensed provider reviews your case and a US pharmacy fills it.
Is online tretinoin safe and effective?▼
Tretinoin is one of the most evidence-backed skincare ingredients for acne and signs of aging, but it can cause irritation, dryness, and sun sensitivity, and it’s not recommended during pregnancy. A clinician adjusts strength and ingredients to your skin. Results take weeks to months of consistent nightly use.
Curology vs Apostrophe vs Musely?▼
Curology is the best-known custom-formula service with a low entry price. Apostrophe emphasizes dermatology-provider involvement and a broader formulary. Musely (The FaceRx) is known for targeted treatments like melasma and anti-aging "night cream." The right choice depends on your specific concern and how much personalization you want.
Medical disclaimer: This page is general information, not medical advice. Listings are aggregated from public sources and prices are estimates that may be out of date — confirm current pricing, services, and provider credentials directly with each clinic. Talk to a licensed clinician before starting any medication or treatment.
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