Agency Skincare Review: Curology's Anti-Aging Prescription Brand

Agency is Curology's sister brand for skin aging. It uses the same network of licensed dermatology providers, but its prescriptions target fine lines, firmness and dark spots instead of acne. The two core products are Night Renew Rx, the tretinoin-based formula that used to be called Future Formula ($130 per 60-day supply), and Dark Spot Rx, formerly Dark Spot Formula ($110), built around hydroquinone and azelaic acid.

This review covers what each formula contains, how Agency differs from Curology, what it costs as of October 2026, what results and side effects to expect, and who would be better served elsewhere. It's an ingredient-and-evidence review based on Agency's published product and policy pages and independent medical sources; we didn't use the products ourselves.

Is there a better alternative?

For a prescription, the alternatives are other telehealth services or an in-person dermatologist, which we compare below and in our Curology alternatives guide. If you mainly want to see how your skin is changing and check what's in the products you already own, Pori, the app we make, is built for that. A selfie gives you a 0 to 100 skin score with separate reads for pigmentation and tone and for anti-aging and elasticity, plus a skin-age estimate, and the Pro ingredient scanner flags ingredients as beneficial, use with caution or avoid for your skin type. Pori doesn't prescribe or diagnose, so it works best as a progress tracker next to a treatment like Agency.

How is Agency different from Curology?

Agency focuses on aging skin, while Curology focuses on acne. Agency says the brands share the same network of medical providers and skincare facilities but are separate brands, and that Agency formulas contain four active ingredients each, one more than most Curology formulas. Because they share a medical practice, you can only be an active patient with one brand at a time. Current Curology subscribers can message their provider to transfer, and the provider moves with them.

Agency also builds in a gradual strength increase: you complete check-ins before every shipment, and your provider can step up the strength of Night Renew Rx over time depending on how your skin responds. Like Curology, Agency pairs every member with a board-certified physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner licensed in your state. It's available only in the United States, in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and not in Guam, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands.

What is Night Renew Rx (the former Future Formula)?

Night Renew Rx is Agency's main evening prescription, and Agency's own pricing page lists it as "formerly Future Formula." Its product page says it pairs personalized tretinoin strengths with complementary actives, and that the formula may include:

• Tretinoin, the prescription retinoid at the center of the formula
• Azelaic acid and tranexamic acid for uneven tone and dark spots
• Niacinamide for tone and barrier support
• Dexpanthenol and glycerin for hydration
• Estriol, a topical estrogen that Agency says is prescribed only for eligible patients

Agency says up to four of these actives go into your bottle, chosen by your provider, and that the formulas are fragrance-free. It also claims its tretinoin range is "up to 40% stronger and 80% gentler" than what a retail pharmacy stocks; that's a brand claim about available strengths, not a measure of results.

Tretinoin is the ingredient with the strongest evidence here. MedlinePlus notes that tretinoin may reduce fine wrinkles but does not remove them or repair sun-damaged skin, and that it can take 3 to 4 months, or up to 6 months, to notice improvement. Agency's own expectations are similar: it says most patients need several to many months of regular use, along with sun protection, to see results. If you're new to retinoids, our tretinoin guide explains what to ask before you start.

What is Dark Spot Rx, and how does it work?

Dark Spot Rx, previously the Dark Spot Formula, is a prescription for sun spots, melasma and post-acne marks. Every bottle has four actives chosen by your provider from hydroquinone, azelaic acid, hydrocortisone, kojic acid, green tea extract (EGCG) and resveratrol. Agency says its hydroquinone strengths go up to 3 times higher than a retail pharmacy, and that not every formula contains hydroquinone.

Hydroquinone needs care. The FDA says there are no legally marketed over-the-counter skin lightening products in the US and has received reports of rashes, facial swelling and ochronosis, a skin discoloration that may be permanent. Agency's answer is an on-and-off schedule. Its Dark Spot Rx guide lays out a typical plan:

1. 2 or 3 months on a formula with hydroquinone and hydrocortisone
2. 2 months on a hydroquinone-free formula
3. 2 months on hydroquinone again, without hydrocortisone
4. 2 months back on the hydroquinone-free formula

The same guide says many people see spots lighten after 8 to 12 weeks, recommends a cotton swab for a few small spots so the surrounding skin doesn't lighten, and warns against using benzoyl peroxide or other peroxides with a hydroquinone formula because the combination can stain skin. Melasma tends to come back with sun and hormones, so daily sunscreen matters as much as the cream; see how to fade dark spots and what triggers melasma. A spot that is new, changing, bleeding or irregular should be checked by a dermatologist before you try to fade it.

What else does Agency sell?

Agency has three more prescriptions. Day Defender Rx is a morning formula built on L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) with resveratrol, green tea extract and niacinamide. Eye Revive Rx uses gentler tretinoin levels with caffeine, dexpanthenol and green tea extract for the eye area. Cell Repair Rx pairs rapamycin with resveratrol. The evidence for topical rapamycin is early: the best-known human study was an exploratory trial that enrolled 36 people, 19 of whom dropped out or were lost to follow-up. It found lower levels of a cellular senescence marker and some clinical improvement, which is promising but a long way from the evidence behind tretinoin.

How much does Agency cost?

Each prescription costs $110 to $130 per 60-day order with free shipping, and new subscribers get 50% off their first box. Pairing two prescriptions takes $20 off the box.

Orders ship and bill every 60 days, and Agency says your first full invoice comes 60 days after your first shipment. Each shipment includes one consultation credit, with extra consultations at $10 each.

Price is where Agency is hardest to justify. Curology's own HydroTret Rx, a personalized tretinoin formula aimed at texture and fine lines, is $69.90 per 60-day shipment. Nurx sells a compounded tretinoin, azelaic acid and niacinamide cream for $90 for a 3-month supply after a $30 consultation, and Musely lists a tretinoin Anti-Aging Cream at $34 a month. A generic tretinoin prescription through your own doctor and insurance can cost less still.

What side effects should you expect?

Irritation and a temporary breakout are the most common issues with tretinoin and azelaic acid. Agency says purging, if it happens, usually starts 1 to 2 weeks in and can last up to 8 weeks, and suggests using the formula every other night at first, a gentle cleanser, no scrubs or exfoliating acids, and waiting until skin is fully dry before applying. Tretinoin can cause flaking, peeling, stinging and sun sensitivity, so apply it at night and wear sunscreen daily. Agency also advises against facial waxing while using tretinoin, because the top layer of skin can come away with the wax.

Can you use Agency while pregnant?

Only with a formula your provider has adjusted. Agency says people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive should not use tretinoin or estriol. It does accept pregnant and nursing patients and will personalize their formulas, and it recommends checking any prescription with your OB/GYN first. Hydroquinone is a separate question to raise with your obstetrician before using Dark Spot Rx.

How do you cancel Agency, and is there a refund?

You cancel from your payment page by selecting "I want to cancel" and completing the full flow, at least two business days before your next shipment. Agency says you'll get a confirmation email and that no email means the account hasn't been canceled. Pausing only postpones a shipment.

The Satisfaction Guarantee can refund your first two shipments if you ask within 120 days of your first order, have completed the two emailed check-ins and have sent photos to your provider. Shipping, handling and consultation fees aren't covered, it can only be used once, and returns aren't accepted.

Who should choose Agency?

Agency makes sense if you want a provider to manage a tretinoin regimen that ramps up slowly, alongside other actives for tone and dryness, or if you have stubborn melasma or sun spots and want hydroquinone prescribed with a built-in break schedule. The four-active formulas and scheduled check-ins are its real advantages.

It's harder to recommend if acne is your main concern (Curology is the better fit, and our Curology review covers it), if you're cost-sensitive, or if you're outside the US. Wherever you get your retinoid, give it at least three to six months with daily sunscreen before you judge it.