·
E-SKIN is a medical grade skincare range which was formulated by a medical and aesthetic doctor, Dr Ellen Moila who is the founder of Orchid Aesthetic Clinic which is an aesthetic and anti-aging clinic based in Polokwane.
As an aesthetic doctor you are faced with patients with multiple skin concerns like aging, pigmentation, acne etc. We treat most of these conditions in the clinic but we still need our clients to maintain the results by using a good skincare at home. The home skincare products that we often recommend and with good results are medical grade skincare which are generally pricey because they are imported from 1st world countries where they were formulated.
Due to the high cost of the products I was outsourcing from these suppliers, some of my clients ended up defaulting their treatments because they couldn’t afford the prescribed medical grade homecare.
That’s when I decided to bridge the gap and formulated a good medical grade homecare range which still perfoms at their levei, yields excellent results but is affordable to the clients.
The raw materials used for the products are of medical grade, FDA approved and tested to give optimal results for skincare needs. E-SKIN formulation prioritized higher effectiveness with almost zero sensitivity. The products were also formulated with people of sensitive skin in mind. All the products have been formulated with active ingredients that reduces sensitivity of the skin to make our clients get optimal results without any sensitivity.
Though the dream started almost a decade ago, the actual formulation started in 2021.
The process of formulation was done in a laboratory that specializes in cosmetic formulation and in partnership with a company that specializes in distribution of chemicals in Africa and Asia.
The development process included careful selection of raw materials that were derived from natural sources/plants.
The E-skin range consists of 8 products;
- Daily exfoliating cleanser
- Brightening moisturizing cream
- Daily moisturizing cream
- Vitamin C serum
- Acne serum
- Retinol cream
- Suncare lotion
- Make up remover
The daily exfoliating cleanser is a daily cleanser formulated for all skin types. The key ingredient in this product is the mandelic acid which was derived from bitter almonds. The mandelic acid provides gentle exfoliation to the skin unlike other AHA like glycolic acid which makes it easy to use on a daily basis without the risk of irritation or sensitivity. It also offers other benefits like brightening the skin tone, promoting smooth texture, hydrating the skin and improving acne and breakouts.
This cleanser can be used day and night by massaging a small amount on the face before washing it off with water.
Vitamin C serum is a daily serum which is recommended for use in the morning before applying moisturizers. Vitamin c is popularly known for brightening skin tone, anti-aging properties, promoting collagen production and treating hyperpigmentation. Our vitamin C was formulated with a combination of Phloretin which is a natural antioxidant found in apples. This combination helps to boost the effectiveness of the vitamin c. We have ensured a deeper and more effective penetration to the skin by adding a specialized delivery system of an encapsulated vitamin C called Rovisome C NG. The serum is recommended for all skin type though a gradual introduction is recommended for people with sensitive skin.
Acne serum is a targeted serum designed to help manage breakouts, reduce inflammation and prevent future acne. This serum contains active ingredients like niacinamide(B3) which helps reduce inflammation, regulates sebum (oil) production and to fade acne scars. Benzoic acid which kills acne causing bacteria and reduces the severity of breakouts. Herbapurifine is another key ingredient which is an encapsulated natural plant extract helping the skin with natural regulation of sebum production.
The acne serum is best used at night after cleansing the skin. It can also be used in the day followed by moisuriser and sunscreen.
Brightening Moisturizer is used to treat uneven skin tone, pigmentation and dark spots.this cream contains a variety of skin brighteners, hydrating agents and antioxidants to address dullness, uneven skin tone and dark sports while maintaining moisture levels. Some of the key ingredients in this moisturiser are, vitamin C, niacinamide, ceramides,peptides and alpha arbutin.
This moisturiser can be used by applying on cleansed skin every morning and evening. It is best used with a vitamin c serum for the treatment of hyperpigmentation to get more effectiveness.
Daily Moisturising Cream provides essential hydration to the skin, improve its barrier function and skin texture. This helps to prevent dryness and flaking of the skin. This moisturiser is designed for dry and sensitive skin, aging skin and normal skin. The key ingredients in this product is hyaluronic acid which is a powerful humectant that attracts moisture to the skin keeping it hydrated and plumped up. Glycerin is another key ingredientthat holds moisture into the skin and also improve skin barrier function. Ceramides are also key in strengthening the skin barrier to prevent moisture loss. This moisturisers can be used twice daily, with or without serums.
Retinol Cream. Retinol is a vitamin A derivative which is widely used in skincare to treat acne, uneven skin tone, fine lines or wrinkels and to improve skin texture. Our retinol was formulated using an encapsulated retinol which is a technology that allows the retinol to be slowly released from its capsules into the deeper layers of the skin. This makes the retinol to stay longer in the skin, making it more effective than the conventional retinol. The slow release minimizes irritation and sensitivity making it suitable for people with sensitive skin. Retinol is used only at night and must be followed by use of sunscreen during the day.
Suncare lotion. Our suncare lotion was formulated to protect the skin from both UVA and UVB radiation making it effective to protect the skin from pigmentation and aging effects of sun damage. Both chemical and physical filters were used to enhance optimal protection. Our suncare lotion has a sun protection factor of more than 30 (SPF30+) to offer sun damage protection while maintaining skin hydration and skin barrier function. Ideal for all skin types and doesn’t leave white residues.
Make Up Remover is designed to effectively dissolve and remove make up and impurities from the skin. It is essential in preventing clogged pores and itballows other skincare products to penetrate the skin and work more effectively. The micellar water in this formulation contains tiny oil molecules suspended in water which help attract and lift away dirt and make up without the need for rinsing. It also contains glycerin which helps to keep the skin hydrated during make up removal.
All these products went through several tests from the onset of formulation. Every product went through skin compatibility tests, stability test, packaging compatibility tests, patch tests and preservative challenge test.
The aim of stability testing is to ensure that a product maintains its intended physical, chemical and microbiological qualities under a set of conditions. The other reason is to make sure the product maintains its aesthetics and functionality during the test period and whilst in use.
The packaging compatability test ensures that with regard to the pack integrity, the chosen packaging must have performed well under the condition it was subjected too and no product leakage, perfume issues or pack disintegration were observed.
Some of the products had to go through some tests several times due to poor compatibility and failure of the mixture to stabilize under certain temperatures.
Once the tests had passed the products had to be tested of people of different skin concerns to test the effectiveness and to substantiate the product claims.
Once we were happy with the results the last step was to take the products through dermatological testing. This helps to rule out any possible adverse reactions in the formulation.
Most of these tests lasted between 2-5months to get the results.