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52
Below Average
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Dear Brightly

Direct-to-consumer prescription tretinoin serum brand offering anti-aging and hormonal acne formulations through async dermatology review.

San Francisco, CAFounded 201810-20 employeesReviewed Sep 19, 2026
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Our Verdict

Dear Brightly scores 52/100 in our independent evaluation — below average overall. Plans start at $33/mo.

What we like

+Tretinoin-based Night Shift serum is well regarded by patients who complete treatment
+Trial pricing ($66 for 2 months) is well below typical in-office dermatology costs
+Received notable early press coverage (NYT, TechCrunch) establishing category credibility
+When escalated to company leadership directly, patients report responsive resolution

What to watch

−Very thin third-party review base (3 Trustpilot reviews) limits confidence in current service quality
−Patients report being charged for products they did not order, with difficulty obtaining refunds
−Standard customer support (email, phone messages) described as unresponsive
−Packaging quality reported as inconsistent with premium pricing and marketing claims
−Narrow product line limited to three tretinoin-based serums

Full Review

Founded in 2018 in San Francisco, Dear Brightly built its reputation on Night Shift, a prescription tretinoin-and-niacinamide serum, later extending into an Rx Eye Serum and an Rx Hormonal Acne Serum, and drew early press coverage from outlets including the New York Times and TechCrunch. Current third-party sentiment is thin and weak: Trustpilot shows only 3 total reviews at a 2.8/5 average, with complaints spanning unauthorized charges, unresponsive customer support, and packaging that reviewers felt didn't match the premium positioning. The confirmed trial offer ($66 for a 2-month Night Shift supply) undercuts in-office dermatology pricing, but the very low review volume and negative skew suggest a smaller, possibly declining, active customer base relative to compounding-derm peers.

Last researched: Sep 19, 2026

Pricing

Prices shown are based on our most recent research and may not reflect current pricing. Telehealth providers update their pricing frequently. Always verify pricing directly with the provider before purchasing.

TreatmentCategoryPrice/moIncludesNotes
Night ShiftDermatology$33
● Consults○ Lab work● Shipping
$66 for first 2-month supply, then ~$99/quarter
Subscription required
Rx Hormonal Acne SerumDermatology$33–$40
● Consults○ Lab work● Shipping
Subscription required

Where Dear Brightly medication comes from

Dear Brightly's FAQ says formulas are compounded by 'our preferred pharmacy' and does not name it.

We couldn't find a named pharmacy for Dear Brightly. Before you order, ask which pharmacy fills your prescription and check its license with your state board of pharmacy.

See every pharmacy behind the telehealth brands we track →

Score Breakdown

55
Trust & Safety (30%)
55
Value (25%)
50
Experience (20%)
45
Product Range (15%)
50
Reputation (10%)
Trust & Safety55/100
Value55/100
Experience50/100
Product Range45/100
Reputation50/100

Dear Brightly — Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dear Brightly legit?

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We rate Dear Brightly's trust & safety at 55/100 (fair), based on FDA compliance, licensing, and pricing transparency. Its overall score across all five of our scoring dimensions is 52/100 — see the full breakdown above.

How much does Dear Brightly cost?

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Dear Brightly's plans start at $33/mo. Exact pricing varies by treatment — see the pricing table above for a breakdown by product. Prices were last verified 2026-09-19.

Does Dear Brightly require a subscription?

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Yes — every Dear Brightly plan we track requires an ongoing subscription.

What does Dear Brightly treat?

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Dear Brightly offers treatment in: Dermatology.