The best online services for customized prescription skincare (and why Miiskin stands out)

Table of Content:
Prescription skincare | Personalized skincare | What can target? | Most popular ingredients | How to get it? | Best online services | Miiskin | Curology | Musely | Agency | Nurx | Rory | Hers | Prose | Proven Skincare | How to choose an online service?

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What is prescription skincare?

Prescription skincare refers to topical treatments that are prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider to address specific skin conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema, or hyperpigmentation. These products contain active ingredients that are not available over the counter and require a medical prescription due to their potency and potential side effects.

What is personalized skincare?

Personalized skincare typically involves over-the-counter products and routines tailored to an individual’s unique skin type, concerns, lifestyle, and environmental factors. This customization is usually based on skin assessments, quizzes, or AI analysis. 

What can you target with prescription skincare?

These treatments are regulated and often require a licensed provider’s approval due to the strength of active ingredients.

• Moderate to severe acne (inflammatory, cystic)
• Rosacea and redness
• Melasma and dark spots (hyperpigmentation)
• Fine lines and wrinkles (anti-aging)
• Psoriasis, eczema, and other chronic conditions
• Hormonal acne (medications like topical spironolactone)
• Skin texture issues (e.g., roughness, scarring)
• Sun damage and photoaging

What ingredients are commonly used in prescription skincare?

In prescription skincare, the most common active ingredients include retinoids like tretinoin, adapalene, and tazarotene for acne, aging, and pigmentation; antibiotics and antimicrobials such as clindamycin, erythromycin, and metronidazole for acne and rosacea; and anti-inflammatories including topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors for eczema and psoriasis. Dermatologists also frequently prescribe skin-lightening agents like hydroquinone, azelaic acid, and kojic acid to manage hyperpigmentation, while keratolytics such as salicylic acid, lactic acid, and urea help exfoliate and smooth the skin. For hormonal acne, anti-androgenic agents like spironolactone or clascoterone are sometimes used, while barrier-repair ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide are often added to improve tolerability. In compounded skincare, these actives can be combined into tailored multi-ingredient creams to address several concerns at once.

How to get an online prescription for skincare?

Via Miiskin, you can have a consultation with an independent, board-certified dermatologist. They will evaluate your photos and your skin’s needs and will issue a prescription for your personalized formula with prescription-strength ingredients. After you get your prescription, you can order it online, from a reputable online pharmacy. Remember to mention you want a personalized formula to your dermatologist, to ensure this is the type of medicine you get.

Consultation price is around $59 and medication refills are around $39. You need to pay separately for your prescription at the pharmacy when you order it. You will not be enrolled in any monthly subscriptions and you will only buy your medicine once your run out of it.

What are the best online services to get personalized skincare? 

Below, we’ve highlighted nine online services that provide personalized skincare solutions. Each platform takes a slightly different approach—ranging from fully customized prescription treatments to flexible subscription models and dermatologist-led care. This overview will help you compare their offerings, understand the type of support they provide, and choose the service that best fits your skin’s unique needs and lifestyle.

Company	OTC or Prescription	Type of Dermatology Provider	Subscription
Miiskin	Prescription	Board-certified dermatologists	Yes
Curology	Prescription	Licensed providers (includes dermatologists)	Yes
Musely	Prescription	Board-certified dermatologists	Yes
Agency (by Curology)	Prescription	Licensed providers (includes dermatologists)	Yes
Nurx	Prescription	Licensed medical providers	Yes
Rory (by Ro)	Prescription	Licensed medical providers	Yes
Hers	Prescription	Licensed medical providers	Yes
Proven Skincare	OTC	No medical providers (AI-driven)	Optional
Prose	OTC	No medical providers (AI-driven)	Optional

Miiskin

• What you get: prescription for personalized prescription skincare
• Focus: Acne, rosacea, anti-aging, dark spots and many other skin problem
• How it works: Have a virtual consultation with an independent dermatologist, you get an e-prescription and then you buy your medication on-demand at an online pharmacy.
• Also offers: online treatment for most common skin problems with a board-certified dermatologist licensed in your state.

Curology

• What you get: Monthly subscription of personalized prescription skincare 
• Focus: Acne, dark spots, fine lines
• How it works: Online quiz and photos reviewed by a licensed provider
• Also offers: Over the counter products

Musely

• What you get: A monthly subscription of prescription skincare featuring pre-set formulas tailored to concerns like dark spots, acne, and aging.
• Focus: Melasma, dark spots, aging, acne
• How it works: Online dermatologist visit
• Also offers: Treatment for menopause

Agency 

• What you get: Monthly subscription of pre-set prescription skincare
• Focus: Anti-aging, dark spots, fine lines
• How it works: Skin quiz + provider assessment
• Also offers: Over the counter products

Nurx

• What you get: Monthly subscription of prescription skincare (mainly generics and some some pre-set personalized formulas)
• Focus: Acne
• How it works: Online health questionnaire + provider review
• Products: Retinoids, topical antibiotics, oral meds
• Also offers: Birth control, weightloss, STI testing

Rory 

• What you get: Monthly subscription of personalized prescription skincare 
• Focus: Anti-aging, dark spots
• How it works: Online consultation with provider
• Also offers: Weightloss, fertility and multi-vitamins

Hers 

• Type: Monthly subscription of prescription skincare (with some personalization)
• Focus: Acne, anti-aging
• How it works: Telehealth consultation
• Products: Tretinoin, clindamycin, dark spot correctors
• Also offers: Haircare, mental health, sexual wellness

Prose

• What you get: Monthly subscription of personalized skincare (non-prescription)
• Focus: Hydration, texture, sensitivity
• How it works: AI-driven quiz selects from 185+ clean ingredients 
• Also offers: Custom serums, moisturizers, routines

Proven Skincare

• What you get: Monthly subscription of personalized skincare (non-prescription)
• Focus: Acne, aging, dryness, sensitivity
• How it works: 3-step AI quiz using 47,000+ ingredient data 
• Also offers: Clean, custom cleanser + SPF daytime and night creams

How to choose an online personalized prescription skincare service

• Qualified providers: Not all services are the same. Some use licensed dermatology providers, but not board-certified dermatologists. For example, Miiskin lets you choose a specific board-certified dermatologist, while most platforms assign you randomly. If choosing your provider matters to you, check before signing up.
• Types of medications:Options range from branded and generic prescriptions to fully customized formulas. Dermatologists in the Miiskin network assess your skin and prescribe branded, generic, or personalized treatments with prescription-strength ingredients—based on your needs and preferences.
• Effective ingredients: Know what’s in your formula. Look for services that use prescription-strength actives with minimal fillers. Understanding each ingredient’s role helps you choose wisely.
• Transparent pricing & flexibility: Most services run on subscriptions. Prioritize platforms with flexible plans, easy cancellations, and the option to adjust as needed. Miiskin, for instance, provides a prescription and lets you order on-demand through a trusted mail-order pharmacy.
• Ongoing support: Many platforms assign different providers for follow-ups, which can disrupt continuity of care. Miiskin allows direct messaging with your chosen dermatologist for several days after receiving your prescription, ensuring consistent, personalized support. From then on, if you’re happy with your dermatologist, they’ll remain your dedicated provider. If not, you can switch to another dermatologist for future care.
• Reputation: Check reviews on trusted platforms. Verify the provider’s credentials, experience, and the quality of their service before committing.