HydroTone Gel

HydrationLightweightDaily

HydroTone Gel

RxPrescription onlyApplied to the skin · Once a day · Hydration · Lightweight · Daily

Starting at $94/mo

HydroTone gel: lightweight hydrating gel with humectants and ceramides. Mattifying for oily skin; hydrating without heaviness.

Choose your plan

Start treatment· $94/mo

Real prices from our pharmacy. Longer plans cost less per month and are billed up front. Pause or cancel anytime.

  • Lightweight hydration without occlusion
  • Ceramides and peptides support barrier
  • Suitable for oily to combination skin

Every plan includes

  • Personalized, physician-guided plan
  • Monthly, 3-month and 6-month plans
  • Dispensed by a US-licensed compounding pharmacy
  • Unlimited protocol adjustments and messaging
  • Ongoing support and check-ins
  • Pause or cancel anytime
  • Reviewed by our in-house physicians
  • Physician-guided care
  • Ongoing, expert support
  • 100% online
  • Free, discreet shipping

What is HydroTone?

(humectant + ceramide hydrating gel)

HydroTone is a fast-absorbing gel with humectants (glycerin, hyaluronic acid) to draw moisture in, plus ceramides and peptides to support the skin barrier. It hydrates without the heaviness of creams, making it ideal for oily or combination skin. Use morning and night.

How it is taken
Applied to the skin
How often
Once a day
Form
Hydration · Lightweight · Daily

Lightweight

hydration for oily to combination skin; no greasy feel

Can be layered under or over other treatments. Pairs well with actives like tretinoin or salicylic acid.

How it works,
week by week.

  1. Week 1

    Start with one or all four depending on your skin needs. All are gentle and safe to layer.

  2. Week 2–4

    Skin feels more hydrated. Subtle radiance improvements. No irritation.

  3. Month 2–3

    Fine lines appear softer. Dark circles under eyes less noticeable. Skin tone more even.

  4. Month 3–6+

    Cumulative antioxidant and peptide benefits compound. Skin appears firmer, brighter, more resilient.

What you may notice,
and when.

  • Improved radiance

    skin brightness and clarity build over weeks

  • No irritation

    all four are gentle enough for daily use

  • Firmness over time

    peptides and collagen support strengthen skin

  • Targeted benefits

    LuminEye for eyes, HydroTone for hydration, etc.

Individual results vary. Benefits reflect what Zepym Health members commonly report to their physician at check-ins; they are not the results of a clinical trial.

Safety first:
what to know before you start.

Important safety information and common side effects

All four products are gentle, non-irritating, and suitable for daily use. No sun sensitivity or downtime. Safe during pregnancy after consultation. No contraindications with other treatments. Tell your physician if you have sensitivity to any ingredient (vitamin C, peptides, etc.). These are supportive skincare, not active treatments; they complement tretinoin, acids, and other prescription options. No adverse effects reported at standard doses.

The research behind
skin brighteners.

These creams mix several actives. Azelaic acid, niacinamide, tranexamic acid, vitamin C and hydroquinone have the most human data for dark spots; the rest have little or none.

  • Azelaic acidMASI -1.23 vs hydroquinone

    Meta-analysis of six randomized trials with 673 people with melasma: azelaic acid lowered the melasma severity score more than hydroquinone (mean difference -1.23, 95% CI -2.05 to -0.40). The trials used 20% azelaic acid; the creams here contain 10%.

    Albzea et al., Cureus 2023;15(7):e41796
  • Niacinamidereduced spots vs vehicle

    A moisturizer with 5% niacinamide was tested in 18 women with hyperpigmentation in a paired design. After 4 weeks, hyperpigmentation fell and skin lightness rose compared with vehicle. The 35–68% figure is from a laboratory model, not a skin result.

    Hakozaki et al., Br J Dermatol 2002;147(1):20-31
  • Tranexamic acid22 studies, 1,280 patients

    A 2024 meta-analysis found tranexamic acid significantly reduced melasma severity, with oral use showing the largest drop; studies were highly heterogeneous. A 2019 systematic review rated it a strong recommendation.

    Calacattawi et al., J Dermatolog Treat 2024; Austin et al., J Drugs Dermatol 2019

What the studies found

  • Azelaic acid lowered the melasma severity score more than hydroquinone in pooled trials (mean difference -1.23 MASI; Albzea et al., Cureus 2023).
  • In a paired study of 18 women, 5% niacinamide lightened hyperpigmentation vs vehicle after 4 weeks (Hakozaki et al., Br J Dermatol 2002).
  • Tranexamic acid significantly reduced melasma severity across 22 studies with 1,280 patients (Calacattawi et al., J Dermatolog Treat 2024).
  • A six-month trial of 5% vitamin C cream showed clinically apparent improvement in photoaged skin vs vehicle (Humbert et al., Exp Dermatol 2003).

Each cream's actives are at the strength on its label. Trial results are for the single active at the strength studied, not for the mixture. The hydroquinone creams (brightening cream and ClearTone) are prescription drugs; compounded versions were not studied.

What this does not say

  • Vitamin C has a six-month double-blind trial of 5% vitamin C cream against vehicle in photoaged neck and arm skin, which reported clinically apparent improvement and a smoother skin relief (Humbert et al., Exp Dermatol 2003). It is not a melasma trial.
  • We found no melasma outcome trial for hyaluronic acid, caffeine, dexpanthenol, vitamin E or resveratrol in these creams; they hydrate or support.
  • Clindamycin, erythromycin and ketoconazole in the acne creams have evidence in acne, not in brightening.
  • Hydroquinone carries a theoretical risk of ochronosis with long use.

The research
behind it.

Humectants pull moisture into the stratum corneum. Ceramides reinforce barrier lipid structure. Peptides support natural hydration.

Dermatologically recommended for oily, acne-prone, and combination skin. Does not clog pores or interfere with acne treatment.

Getting started
takes a few minutes.

  1. 1

    Connect with a physician

    Answer a few questions online and a US-licensed physician reviews your health, history and goals to make sure treatment is right for you. 100% online. No in-person visit required.

  2. 2

    Get your discreet shipment

    If approved, your treatment is compounded by a US-licensed, LegitScript-certified pharmacy, inspected for quality, and shipped discreetly to your door.

  3. 3

    Receive continuous support

    Start with one goal, then keep building over time. Unlimited physician messaging, easy refills and dose adjustments, all from the Zepym Health app.

Start treatment

Frequently asked questions

Contact support
How do I use HydroTone Gel?

Applied to the skin, once a day. The starting prescription is 1 pump each time. Your physician sets your own dose and it is printed on your label.

What exactly is in it?

Niacinamide 4%, Dexpanthenol 2%, Vitamin E 1%, Hyaluronic Acid 0.2%.

How much arrives in each shipment?

1 tube at the starting strength, shipped to your door from a licensed US pharmacy.

Can I use HydroTone instead of a moisturizer?

If you have oily skin, yes, it provides sufficient hydration without occlusion. If you have dry skin, layer it over a richer cream or use before an oil-based serum.

Can I use all four together?

Yes. Apply in order: GHK-Cu cream + Vital C5 in morning, HydroTone as hydrating layer, LuminEye under eyes. At night, use GHK-Cu again. They layer well.

Can I use these with active treatments like tretinoin?

Yes. Use actives at night; these in morning or as base layers. They support and protect your skin while tretinoin accelerates renewal.

How long before I see results?

Immediate: improved hydration and texture. At 4-8 weeks: brightening and firmness. At 12 weeks: noticeable anti-aging benefit. Results compound.

Are these sufficient anti-aging alone?

These are maintenance and support. For significant wrinkle reduction or dark spot removal, combine with active treatments (tretinoin, hydroquinone, etc.). Alone, these prevent aging and support radiance.

HydroTone gel educational content reviewed by our physician

Scott Nass, MD Doctor of Medicine, board-certified in Family Medicine

Charles R. Drew University and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center.

More options
in this area.

  • Cream

    Acne Cream

    Triple-action topical for acne: antibiotic (clindamycin + erythromycin) and antifungal (ketoconazole). Covers bacterial and fungal acne.

    Starting at $101/mo

  • Cream

    Acne Cream with Tretinoin

    Acne treatment combining antibiotics (clindamycin/erythromycin/ketoconazole) with tretinoin for faster clearance and post-acne healing.

    Starting at $101/mo

  • Cream

    Brightening Cream

    Stronger prescription cream for stubborn melasma and dark spots: hydroquinone 6% with tretinoin, hydrocortisone, kojic acid and vitamins C and E. A short course, usually up to 8 weeks.

    Starting at $109/mo

  • Cream

    Clarity Cream

    Acne and post-acne formula combining azelaic acid, niacinamide, clindamycin, and tretinoin. Anti-inflammatory and cell-renewing.

    Starting at $109/mo

References

  1. 1.Vitamin C and antioxidant stability: mechanisms and skincare delivery. Cosmet Dermatol, 2015
  2. 2.Peptides in moisturizers: collagen stimulation and barrier support. J Cosmet Dermatol, 2019

Prescription products require an online evaluation with a licensed medical professional who will determine if a prescription is appropriate. Products are compounded by a licensed pharmacy. The FDA has not reviewed or approved compounded products for any use for safety, efficacy, or quality. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved brand-name products.