Epitology Review: 12 Weeks of Testing this Local Skincare Range Transformed My Skin – Here’s How

Like so many women, my skincare journey has been a rollercoaster. Over the last year, in particular I’ve jumped between a love, hate (mainly hate) relationship with skincare. Being a beauty writer I’m gifted a lot of skincare to sample — my bathroom cabinet, vanity, and every available nook and cranny of my house is jammed full of beauty products. But, at the risk of sounding like a spoiled brat, this accessibility to skincare also left me feeling jaded.

Specifically, with my psoriasis I am very hesitant to see how my skin reacts to new products and treatments – and when it would potentially start to flare up. I reached a stage where I obsessed over trying to find the best products to help with skin prone to inflammation – first with routines involving multiple steps of serums and creams and then numerous attempts at skin fasting. I spent a few months going back and forth between starting new skincare routines and then swearing off skincare entirely. My skin wasn’t terrible, but it was starting to look dull, lackluster, and the fine lines around my eyes and mouth weren’t as subtle as I remembered.

But then the opportunity came to review Epitology, a new South African skincare brand created by a team of skin doctors and a medical skin therapist. After three months of consistent use, this range has restored my faith in skincare and the power of active ingredients. I’m so happy with how my skin has transformed with this range. My chin and forehead look less congested and my complexion is a lot brighter. Plus, it’s helped to reduce the appearance of those pesky fine lines I was worried about.

Explore the Epitology products here – and keep reading for my review of the full range.

An accidental success story

The best thing about the Epitology story is that they didn’t set out to create a skincare range, it happened by ‘accident’. What started inside a dermatology clinic as a way to solve a real problem for real patients has now transformed into a skincare range anyone can benefit from.

The journey began when Aesthetic Specialist Dr Nicolina Bardou became frustrated that there was no single skincare range that properly addressed her patients’ needs. Together with Debora Gorton, the clinic’s medical skin therapist and an expert in ingredients and formulations, she tried creating custom treatment plans. But, handpicking products from different brands, each chosen for the right active ingredients, still wasn’t providing the results they were looking for.

So, they began formulating their own products with the help of a trusted pharmaceutical company. Each one developed around a specific outcome, designed to be simple and effective. Then came the real work; over 3 years, hundreds of patients tested every product until the results became simple, effective, and consistent. These formulations that started as an in clinic solution started to become a brand people trusted. Patients kept coming back for more, they started to tell their friends, until eventually word spread and it was time to give the people what they wanted – a fully fledged skincare range.

That is when Simon Orrey, co-founder of Derma Clinic joined the project. As a founder of Derma Clinic, he saw this simple product range outperform established international brands on the shelf. But, before diving into creating a scalable brand the team did even more testing – over 300 patients, aged 17 to 70, used the products and gave feedback. With this feedback, the team kept refining the range; simplifying the formulations and the packaging until they were left with a range that answers the questions their patients asked every day; What should I use? When should I use it? What will this actually do for me?

Product Development, the Epitology Way: Packaging matters, formulations matter

When I started testing the Epitology range the team was still making final tweaks to the product formulations and packaging to ensure everything was perfect. I got to see the subtle packaging changes that made all the difference to my daily experience with the products at home. I saw the launch cleanser transform from a glycolic acid cleanser to the pared down, fragrance-free Gentle Cleanse milk facial wash. With each visit to Dermaclinic the team had new developments to share and it was incredible to see a brand pay such careful attention to every detail.

The product packaging has been so carefully considered with small details that make a big difference to the way you use the products. We’ve all sat in the chair at the dermatologist or aesthetic practitioner’ s rooms and had our brain check out just as they’re explaining how and when to use the products. Suddenly you’re in a Charlie Brown cartoon and all you can hear is the distinctive “wah wah wah” when the teacher is speaking. Next minute you’re at home staring at tubes of acids, serums, and creams struggling to recall which product they said to use at night, which one should be used once a week, and which two you should never use on the same day.

Epitology’s packaging gets rid of that mental load with clear instructions on each product showing which are for AM or PM, which can be used daily, or only applied 2 – 3 times per week. The packaging has also been perfected to ensure they’re appropriate for the actives in each formulation. There are dark coloured glass bottles with droppers for certain serums while others are packaged in air-tight, opaque plastic tubes with pump-action lids.

My Epitology journey — using Epitology on my own skin

Over the past three months I’ve fallen in love with every Epitology product in my skincare routine for different reasons. At first it was the Epitology Hydrate Replenishing Moisturiser. As a dry skin girly (is dry skin something we’re allowed to make a whole personality? Because it’s at least half my personality), I love nothing more than to find a good moisturiser. This one gives you deep hydration but with a light feel, and it’s wonderful. It sinks into the skin so easily, without clogging your pores, and it wears well under makeup.

With Shea butter, Jojoba oil, and Vitamin E this hard-working cream is ideal if you’re looking for a lightweight moisturiser that supports hydration, a healthy skin barrier, and skin comfort. The texture is surprisingly lightweight for such a nourishing cream. It doesn’t feel heavy or greasy and yet it keeps my skin feeling hydrated and comfortable all day long. I’ve always been stuck between moisturisers that are too rich and heavy, or ones that feel light at first but don’t provide enough lasting hydration throughout the day, so the Hydrate Replenishing Moisturiser is perfect for me.

It’s easy to overlook the importance of using a good cleanser. The Epitology Gentle Cleanse Milk Facial Wash is a great example of why you should invest a little more in your cleanser. This product has a silky feel and is great for sensitive skin, but most importantly it cleanses your skin really well without leaving it feeling tight and thirsty. It’s formulated with Vitamin E, Pineapple extract, and Papaya extract to help support your skin barrier while still effectively removing dirt, oil, and makeup fully. I never have to double cleanse when using this product in the evenings. It removes all my makeup with no fuss and I love that my skin feels better after using it, not dry and in need of nourishment.

A simple routine anyone can follow

What I love most about the Epitology system is how simple it is. My morning routine is just three products (not counting SPF), with just one active step. In between the cleanser and moisturiser I apply one of my favourite products, Epitology Protective Glow Serum. This antioxidant serum works to prevent visible signs of ageing, brightens and evens the complexion, while helping defend your skin against the visible effects of environmental stress that can contribute to dullness and premature ageing over time.

Formulated with Ferulic acid as well as Vitamin C and E this lightweight morning antioxidant serum supports brighter, healthier-looking skin, without feeling heavy, greasy, or overly active on your skin. It’s water-light and doesn’t cause my skin to break out or feel inflamed. Some antioxidant serums leave my skin feeling hot and irritated or like there’s a greasy film sitting on the surface, this one feels undetectable on the skin and all you need is 1-3 drops to get the full benefits. If you usually struggle to tolerate vitamin C based products I highly recommend giving this one a try.

For my night routine I chose to include two of the three Epitology serums. Once a week I follow cleansing with the Epitology Brighten Serum, a gentle exfoliator formulated with Mandelic Acid (10%) and Hyaluronic Acid. The serum can be used more often, on alternate nights but it’s important to start off slow if you’re new to exfoliating acids or already use other active or exfoliating products. You can build up slowly from once or twice a week to several times a week, or even daily if your skin can tolerate it.

This serum has done wonders for my skin texture; my skin is looking clearer, smoother, and brighter and I love that my skin doesn’t feel overly sensitised after applying. Thanks to the use of mandelic acid, it’s not as harsh as other stronger exfoliants you may have come across. So, you get the benefits of regular exfoliation without the potential scary side effects some of us struggle through in our quest for radiant skin. Plus, the addition of hyaluronic acid helps to support hydration and reduce the dry, tight feeling that can come with over-exfoliation. But, as gentle as it may be I would still proceed with caution when using this serum if your skin is highly sensitive or you’re experiencing any kind of atopic flareup.

One serum to rule them all

The second serum I chose from the range is the Epitology Radiant Repair Serum. The love I have for this serum is bordering on obsessive. If we were playing one of those annoying delightful corporate ice breaker games where I’m forced to provide a limited list of things I would take with me to a desert island, this serum would be on my list. That’s a long-winded way of saying, if you only pick one product to try from this range, make it this serum. Yes, it’s another antioxidant serum, but when free radicals are coming at you all-day every day with the sole intention of robbing you of your youth, you need as much preventative measures as you can get.

Formulated with Resveratrol (nicknamed the longevity molecule), Niacinamide, and Hyaluronic Acid this serum helps to reduce inflammation, reduce redness, and protect it from daily environmental exposure and free-radical damage. It’s sensitive skin safe and is a great choice if you’re looking for a simple evening serum that repairs, protects, supports, and hydrates your skin. It’ll work for you, even if your skin is sensitive, redness-prone, or you usually can’t tolerate other actives. This product is a wonder for skin that feels dull, dry, dehydrated, or stressed. Plus, it’s great for dry skin girlies because it helps to enhance hydration overnight and is formulated to repair and support your skin barrier.

Even though this serum is one of the few preventative ageing actives suitable for sensitive skin, I’d still proceed with caution when using if your skin is very sensitive or you already use multiple active products. The safest bet is always to start slowly and build up use gradually. I started using this serum three times per week and now I use it six nights per week, with one night dedicated to the Brighten serum.

How to get started with Epitology

If you’re curious about trying Epitology, the best place to start is with the Start to Finish Minis set. This product discovery box contains the full range in mini sizes so you can try all the products before committing to any full-size products in the range. If you want to try the full Epitology routine, build a more structured routine for the first time, or take your skincare with you on your travels, this brilliant little starter kit has everything you need.

The package contains a Gentle Cleanse mini (30ml), Hydrate mini (30ml), and four mini 10ml serums — Protective Glow, Radiant Repair, Brighten, and Rejuvenate (Epitology’s anti-ageing serum formulated with Retinol 0.5%, Granactive Retinoid 3%, and Bakuchiol).

If you’re still not sure where to start you can also book a Virtual Skin Assessment on the Epitology website at R699. This 45-minute one-on-one online session with Epitology co-developer, Debora is a must if you’re feeling confused or overwhelmed about your skincare routine. During the consultation Debora will go through what you’re already using, what’s working, what isn’t, and what your skin actually needs. She’ll tell you exactly where Epitology fits into your routine and how to use it properly. After one session you’ll leave with a routine that actually works for your skin.

Even better news? To help get you started, Epitology is giving WomenStuff readers 20% off all online orders with the code Womenstuff20 — what a spoil! Visit the Epitology website to check out the full range and start your journey today, because you deserve this!