The Clinic, LLC

Lucy Silva Vanormer, NP

Behind the Brand Hype. What’s Actually in Those Fancy Hormone & Skincare Formulas?

Have you ever see an ad for a “doctor-developed, exclusive” hormone cream or a celebrity-endorsed anti-aging formula and wonder:

“Is that really so special?”

Here’s the real deal on a lot of these big-brand creams and serums you see online are just customized versions of standard compounded medications that any licensed provider can prescribe, often for less money and tailored specifically to you.

So, what is a compounding pharmacy anyway?

These pharmacies custom-make medications to fit you, not “one size fits all” medication.

✅ Custom strengths and combinations
✅ Different delivery forms (creams, gels, capsules, etc.)
✅ Made to order (not mass-produced)

They’re not the same as your corner retail pharmacy. Compounded meds usually aren’t covered by insurance, and while they’re carefully regulated for safety and quality, they don’t go through the FDA approval process in the same way as big-brand commercial products.

Examples?

To demystify it, I’m sharing a sample list (attached) from Strive Compounding Pharmacy, a reputable compounding pharmacy.

You’ll see things like:
💊Women’s hormone creams (estradiol, progesterone)
🧴 Dermatology solutions (for acne, rosacea, melasma, anti-aging)
⚕️ Other specialty formulations

These are just examples. Many reputable compounding pharmacies (not only Strive) offer similar options. I’m sharing Strive’s materials with their permission, they provide these to us as healthcare providers, so you can see exactly what I see!

I want to be clear that I’m not marketing any of these products by Strive. My goal in sharing this is purely educational: to show what compounding pharmacies offer, so that patients can see past some of the marketing hype online. Many “exclusive” creams and hormone formulas are simply variations of standard compounded prescriptions that any licensed provider can order. This is about transparency and informed choice, not promotion.

📎Rx Derm Handout- 1page.pdf​

📎Scalp Solution Strive.pdf​

📎Vaginal S Cream.pdf​

📎Vaginal Discomfort E vs Petal .pdf​

📎Womens Health Compounded Formulas.pdf​

❗ Important Note:

These are prescription-only medications. They’re not over-the-counter cosmetics, and they should only be used with guidance from a licensed healthcare provider who knows your personal health history and goals.

💬 Why am I sharing this?

✔ I get tons of questions about “what’s out there.”
✔ I want you to see beyond the marketing.
✔ I want you to know you have choices and understand what you’re actually paying for.

No sales pitch here. Just transparency.

⭐ A quick note about how I use compound pharmacies:

I typically use FDA-approved formulas for hormone replacement therapy whenever possible (commercial pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, Costco, etc.). But there are times when a compounded option makes sense, for example:

• An allergy to the adhesive in commercial estradiol patches.
• A peanut allergy that requires a super “clean” formulation for progesterone or a lower dose progesterone that is not found in a commercial pharmacy.
• A preference or allergy that calls for an estradiol cream without parabens
• Creating custom vaginal atrophy treatments (like alternatives to Intrarosa): while Intrarosa itself isn’t available as a generic in its exact formulation, compounding pharmacies can prepare prasterone (DHEA) creams tailored to individual needs for moderate to severe dyspareunia (painful intercourse) due to vulvar and vaginal atrophy in women.

These options exist to make sure you get personalized care that truly fits you! I hope you found this helpful.

Take good care,

Lucy Silva Vanormer, NP Founder of The Clinic