Skin · Dermatology

The GLOW Protocol

Tretinoin + Niacinamide · Anti-Aging Hydroquinone + Kojic · Pigment

Tretinoin 0.025% + niacinamide 4%
Prescription-strength, applied nightly
Tretinoin is FDA-approved at this strength for improving fine facial wrinkles

Once daily · topical cream · Apply at night · Room-temperature shipment

Choose your starting dose

0.025%

Starter

0.05%

Standard

0.1%

Prescription-strength

$82 / month

Prescription only Free shipping Provider review in 24h US-licensed pharmacy

Important safety information

Hydroquinone 4% + kojic acid 2%
Targets dark spots and uneven tone
Nightly application, physician-monitored

Once daily · topical cream · Apply at night · 8–12 week cycles

Choose your starting dose

Standard

4% HQ

Enhanced

6% HQ

Maximum

8% HQ

$82 / month

Prescription only Free shipping Provider review in 24h US-licensed pharmacy

Important safety information

What It Is

Prescription-strength skin care — beyond what drugstores sell.

Speeds up skin renewal for smoother texture
Fades dark spots and fine lines
Prescription-strength formulation
Targets skin at the cellular level

Compare Your Options

Anti-Aging

Tretinoin + Niacinamide

Best for

Prevention and repair for aging skin

What's good

Speeds up cell turnover
Supports skin renewal and collagen production
Smooths texture over time
The gold standard retinoid

Price$82/mo

Onset6-12 weeks

FreqNightly

FormatCream

$70/mo (save $12)

Pigment

Hydroquinone + Kojic

Best for

Correction for dark spots and uneven tone

What's good

Slows melanin production at the source
Fades existing dark spots
Evens out skin tone
Visible fading in 4-8 weeks

Price$82/mo

Onset4-8 weeks

FreqNightly

FormatCream

$70/mo (save $12)

Featured Image images/protocol-glow-hero.jpg

How it works

How Glow actually works.

Glow is a compounded topical that accelerates skin cell turnover and evens pigmentation. Tretinoin and hydroquinone at pharmacy-grade concentrations, calibrated to your skin by a provider.

Visible changes typically begin around week four and keep improving for months. Your provider adjusts the formula as your skin adapts so you stay on the right side of effective.

Glow Protocol · Tretinoin + Hydroquinone

Board-certified physicianslicensed in your state

Compounded by a US pharmacylicensed, audited, traceable

Free, discreet shippingincluded in your subscription

What You’ll Take

One cream, one concern.

Pick your skin goal — anti-aging/acne or pigmentation — and your provider prescribes a single cream at the right strength.

Why This Protocol

Prescription-strength, not drugstore.

Tretinoin and targeted actives that actually change your skin — not just sit on top of it.

About this protocol

Mechanism and dermatology context.

How prescription skin therapy works

Prescription-strength cream tailored to your primary concern — anti-aging/acne, pigmentation, or melasma
Anti-aging/acne builds on tretinoin (cell turnover) + niacinamide (barrier support)
Pigmentation uses hydroquinone + kojic acid (melanin pathway) + niacinamide (pigment transfer)
Nightly topical, strength dialed to your skin type by your provider
For people who want clinical-grade actives in one prescription instead of a stack of OTC serums

Storage & handling

Store at controlled room temperature, away from direct sunlight.
Apply a pea-sized amount to clean, dry skin once daily (typically at night).
Always use SPF 30+ sunscreen during the day — these actives increase sun sensitivity.
Tretinoin may cause initial purging/peeling — this is normal and resolves in 4–6 weeks.
Hydroquinone formulations: use for prescribed duration only, typically 8–12 week cycles.
Compounded in a licensed US 503A pharmacy.

Your Skin Arc

Week 1-2

Skin may purge initially — a sign of accelerated cell turnover.

Month 1

Texture begins smoothing. Skin feels different to the touch.

Month 3

Fine lines softening. Tone evening out. Real change visible.

Month 6+

Ongoing renewal. Your skin continues improving with consistent use.

Your timeline to treatment

From personalized intake to ongoing support, we help you get — and stay — on track.

Start The GLOW Protocol in 5 simple steps

Answer a few questions about your skin, goals, and health history — all online, no in-person appointment needed. You'll find out if you're eligible within 24 hours.

A US-licensed clinician reviews your intake, evaluates your skin concern, and signs your prescription — typically within 24 hours.

A licensed clinician reviews your intake

Your Rx is compounded in a US-licensed 503A pharmacy, lab-tested, sealed, and shipped — never sitting on a shelf.

US-licensed 503A pharmacy compounds your Rx

Your shipment arrives at your door — your compounded cream packaged with step-by-step usage guidance, ready to start that evening.

Ongoing care from our medical team — follow-up check-ins, dose adjustments when needed, and 24/7 access to your provider whenever a question comes up.

Sources & References

▾

Peer-reviewed research and regulatory documents our medical team consults when evaluating intake for this protocol.

FDA / DailyMed

Retin-A (tretinoin) prescribing information

Official FDA prescribing information for tretinoin (Retin-A), including indications, mechanism of action, dosing, contraindications (including pregnancy), and adverse reactions for topical retinoid therapy.

View source

FDA / DailyMed

Tri-Luma (fluocinolone/hydroquinone/tretinoin) prescribing information

FDA prescribing information for the Tri-Luma combination formulation, establishing clinical reference data for hydroquinone-based combination therapies in melasma and hyperpigmentation treatment.

View source

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Topical tretinoin for photoaged skin

Peer-reviewed review of the clinical evidence for topical tretinoin in treating photoaged skin, including mechanisms of collagen induction, epidermal turnover, and outcomes across dose strengths.
Mukherjee S et al. — JAAD 2006

View source

Dermatologic Surgery

Efficacy and safety of hydroquinone for hyperpigmentation — systematic review

Systematic review evaluating the clinical efficacy and safety profile of hydroquinone across concentrations for treatment of melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and skin tone concerns.
Dermatologic Surgery — systematic review

View source

Medical notice. The GLOW Protocol is a physician-prescribed compounded medication dispensed only after clinical evaluation of your skin type and concerns. Tretinoin is contraindicated in pregnancy. Hydroquinone should be used for limited durations as directed. Both formulations increase photosensitivity — daily sunscreen is mandatory. May cause dryness, peeling, redness, or initial breakouts during the adjustment period. Statements on this site have not been evaluated by the FDA.

Pairs With

What Glow stacks with.

The protocols our providers most often add alongside this one.

Hair Loss · Restoration

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The GLOW Protocol

Prescription-strength skin care — beyond what drugstores sell.

Anti-Aging

Pigment

How Glow actually works.

One cream, one concern.

Prescription-strength, not drugstore.

About this protocol

Your timeline to treatment

Sources & References

Retin-A (tretinoin) prescribing information

Tri-Luma (fluocinolone/hydroquinone/tretinoin) prescribing information

Topical tretinoin for photoaged skin

Efficacy and safety of hydroquinone for hyperpigmentation — systematic review

What Glow stacks with.

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