Protocola Start your protocol

Doctor-prescribed · Compounded · Personal

Skincare,
the way it
should be.

A real prescription, compounded for your skin by a US-licensed pharmacy. One bottle replaces the cabinet. Visible change in 12 weeks — or your money back.

★★★★★ 4.9 · 2,847 verified reviews Ships free Cancel anytime
Tretinoin 0.025%
Azelaic 10%
Niacinamide 4%
PROTOCOLA SKIN PROTOCOL Tretinoin · Azelaic Niacinamide 30 ml · 1 fl oz
Your nightly ritual
One drop.
One protocol.
12 weeks to visible change
Clinician on call
As featured in
VOGUE Allure HARPER'S BAZAAR ELLE Byrdie GOOP THE NEW YORK TIMES VOGUE Allure HARPER'S BAZAAR ELLE Byrdie GOOP THE NEW YORK TIMES

The honest part

You've tried everything.
Most of it was just marketing.

The serums on your shelf are 20× weaker than what a dermatologist would actually prescribe. The "miracle" creams can't legally claim to reverse anything. And the routine that's supposed to take 30 seconds somehow grew into 12 products before bed.

We made one bottle that does what the others can't — because a real clinician wrote a real prescription. that's the whole thing.

By the numbers

20×
stronger than retinol you can buy without a prescription
12
weeks to visible change in tone, texture, and clarity
1
bottle that replaces an entire bathroom shelf

How it works

Four steps. No surprises.

From quiz to compound to results — without leaving home.

01

A 2-minute consult

Tell us about your skin, your goals, your history. Real questions, no quizzy gimmicks.

02

A clinician reviews

Within 24 hours. They write the prescription, choose the strength, build the protocol.

03

Compounded. Shipped.

A US-licensed pharmacy compounds the formula to your prescription. At your door in 5–7 days.

04

Your protocol begins

A 4-phase ramp built into the app. A clinician on call. Visible change in 12 weeks.

Inside the bottle

Three actives.
One protocol.

A compound that does the work of an entire shelf — designed by clinicians, prescribed for your skin, made by a US-licensed pharmacy.

See your prescription →

Tretinoin

0.025–0.05%

The most-studied molecule in dermatology. Speeds cell turnover, smooths texture, fades pigmentation, softens fine lines. Prescription-only.

cell turnover fine lines pigmentation

Azelaic Acid

10%

Anti-inflammatory and tone-evening. Calms redness, fades post-inflammatory marks, balances texture. Works alongside tretinoin without aggravation.

redness tone PIH

Niacinamide

4%

Strengthens your barrier, reduces TEWL, calms the inflammation that makes most retinoid users quit. The reason this protocol stays kind to your skin.

barrier hydration calm

The protocol

Built to stay kind
to your skin.

Most prescription skincare fails not because the science is wrong, but because the ramp-up is brutal. We engineered ours so your skin meets the active gently, then graduates.

Try it →
Phase 01

Train

Week 1–2

Apply, wait 60 minutes, rinse. Three nights a week. Short-contact therapy.

Phase 02

Settle

Week 3–4

Overnight, every third night. First sustained exposure. Mild flaking is normal.

Phase 03

Build

Week 5–6

Every other night. Skin has adapted. Real changes start showing.

Phase 04

Glow

Week 7+

Nightly. Therapeutic dose. Hold for 12 weeks before judging results.

Tap any toggle to activate a phase. Or hit Run the ramp to watch the full progression.

The 12-week arc

What you'll see,
measured.

Most people can't see their own skin change — the mirror lies, every day. We capture standardized photos every 14 days and score them against your Day 0 baseline so progress is visible, not vibes.

Texture
+38%
Tone
+44%
Clarity
+52%

Median improvement at week 12, n=412 verified patients. Individual results vary.

Your skin score
Week 12
0 OUT OF 100
42
Day 0
58
Day 30
71
Day 60
84
Day 90

Real people, real results

Twelve weeks later.

Representative outcomes from clinicians' verified patients. Individual results vary.

12 weeks A.
★★★★★
"I stopped wearing foundation. Honestly didn't think that was a thing for me anymore."
Verified patient · 38 Skin Protocol
12 weeks M.
★★★★★
"My old derm wanted three appointments to start me on a retinoid. This was less friction and the results are better."
Verified patient · 42 Full Protocol
12 weeks S.
★★★★★
"The 4-phase ramp is what made the difference. My skin never freaked out the way it did when I tried tretinoin alone."
Verified patient · 35 Skin Protocol
94%
would recommend
8,400+
active patients
4.9
average review

The clinical team

Real clinicians.
On call.

Every prescription is reviewed by a board-certified clinician licensed in your state. Message them in the app any time — about the protocol, the formula, or how your skin's responding.

All clinicians are independent contractors of an affiliated medical group. Protocola does not practice medicine.

MD

Dr. A. Chen

Dermatology

MD

Dr. M. Rivera

Internal Medicine

MD

Dr. S. Okafor

Cosmetic Derm

MD

Dr. L. Petrov

Family Medicine

Start your protocol

$99 a month.
Everything else included.

  • Real prescription, compounded for your skin
  • 4-phase ramp + onboarding kit
  • Clinician messaging in the app, anytime
  • Free shipping. Pause or cancel anytime.
  • Money-back if you don't see change in 90 days
Take the consult →

Auto-renews every 60 days at $99. No charge until your prescription is approved.

PROTOCOLA SKIN PROTOCOL 30 ml · 1 fl oz

Questions

Everything honest.

Still wondering? Email us at care@protocola.co.

Live

Average clinician response: under 4 hours

Is this safe during pregnancy? +
No. Tretinoin is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Our intake screens for this and your clinician will not write the prescription if you indicate either. We can recommend pregnancy-safe alternatives.
How is this different from Curology, Hims, or my dermatologist? +
Same Rx category, different protocol design. We compound three actives in one bottle (instead of layering products), and we built a 4-phase ramp + clinician check-ins specifically to address the irritation cliff that makes most people quit retinoids in month 1. Single subscription. One bottle. No bathroom shelf.
When will I see results? +
First wins (smoother texture, less congestion) usually in weeks 4–6. Visible change in tone, fine lines, and clarity by week 12. Compounding gains continue past month 6. Photos every 14 days in the app help you see what the mirror won't.
What if my skin reacts badly? +
Message your clinician in the app — most reactions are normal Phase 1 retinization (mild flaking, transient stinging). For anything more severe, your clinician can adjust strength or pause your protocol. If it's not the right fit, we offer 90-day money-back.
What about sun sensitivity? +
Real. Tretinoin increases UV sensitivity. SPF 30+ every morning is non-negotiable on this protocol. We'll add an AM Protocol with SPF as a companion if you don't already have one you love.
Can I cancel? +
Anytime, in two taps. Pause for a month, change cadence, or cancel — all from your account. No phone calls, no friction.