Skincare has always been a tricky road for me. I’ve bought products at every price range, going so far as to really stretch my budget because your skin is irreplaceable and worth the investment (though the budgeting is not always easy!). As such, I know what it’s like to save up for a product and end up super disappointed by how it performs. My skin is dry and sensitive, though I am still prone to hormonal breakouts. I’ve tried everything from drugstore to medspa exclusive, and have yet to find that “holy grail” skincare product that transforms my skin.

When I saw a few different estheticians recommending Epicutis Lipid Serum as the “magic” product that addresses inflammation (AKA the cause of most skincare issues), I knew I wanted to save up to try it. It seemed like it was the missing product from my skincare routine, and I had high hopes.

That said, it is VERY expensive. Retailing for $250 a bottle, it is so pricey and I definitely needed to save up for it. I started out with two trial sizes (because I also wanted to try the Epicutis moisturizer), to get a feel for the product before investing a bottle.

Below, I share my full review of the Epicutis Lipid Serum with before and after photos, tips for using, and whether or not I think it’s worth the money.

epicutis lipid serum review

The Epicutis Lipid Serum is designed to heal inflamed, stressed, sensitive or post-procedure skin. It’s formulated with only eight ingredients, making it ideal for sensitive skin that is easily irritated. Key ingredients include:

Hyaluronic acid - boost skin’s moisture level
Propanediol - plumps skin and provides anti-microbial benefits
Glycerin - helps serum glide across skin’s surface

Scentless, this product comes in a dropper bottle and is highly concentrated; just one pea-sized amount (NOT a full dropper) is all you need.

What surprised me about Lipid Serum is its texture. It’s gel-like and extremely lightweight, but slightly sticky; my skin definitely still craved moisturizer after using. This is not the skincare product that “wows” you upon application; it definitely takes a few uses to notice a difference.

my results

As I mentioned, this product didn’t instantly changed my skin. A trial-sized bottle lasted me a month, and my skin changed throughout that full month.

after the first few uses

My skin was more hydrated and less irritated, but didn’t feel super soft or overly moisturized, if that makes sense. I noticed that my skin looked calmer and less red, but it didn’t have the soothing effect that SIV serum did, for example.

after a few weeks

Closer to a month after using Lipid Serum, my skin was less red and less reactive. I had less breakouts, and my skin felt a little more resilient.

I didn’t change my diet, stress levels, or workouts (anything external), yet my skin did feel stronger and like I could start to apply stronger actives as a result - that was the biggest benefit for me and where I could understand how people rave about it so much.

I can’t say that Lipid Serum improves your barrier specifically; I had been using the Face Reality Barrier Balance Creamy Cleanser for about 2 months prior, and that really did heal my barrier and bring my skin from reactive to neutral. So if you specifically want to restore your barrier, check out the cleanser as it is much more cost-effective.

epicutis lipid serum before and after

what it didn’t improve

While Lipid Serum does a lot, it isn’t a one-size-fits all skincare product that fixes everything. Lipid Serum isn’t dramatically anti-aging and won’t hydrate your skin on its own. As someone with dry skin, I needed to use a creamy cleanser plus a hydrating moisturizer (Glymed Comfort Cream) in order to make sure my skin stayed hydrated.

Lastly, Lipid Serum made my skin less red, but didn’t address any of my hyperpigmentation.

is the epicutis lipid serum worth the price?

Epicutis Lipid Serum is a luxury skincare product, and with that comes a luxury price. One bottle (1oz) costs $250 and even though you only need a pea-sized amount at once, it is still a LOT of money to spend up-front.

Here is my unsponsored, unfiltered opinion:

If you have tried everything skincare-wise and are at the end of your rope, I think you will notice improvements from Lipid Serum and it may be the product that “clicks” your routine together.

If your skin is in a highly reactive place and you are looking for one product that can cure it all, you might see results, but as someone who has been there, I recommend trying:

Face Reality Barrier Balance Creamy Cleanser - this restored my barrier as someone with dry, sensitive skin.
SIV Serum - much cheaper than Lipid Serum, this is what healed my breakouts that never went away, scabbed, and scarred.
Glymed Comfort Cream - if you need a moisturizer, this is healing, lightweight, creamy, and my favorite for under $50.

Try those three products first. They are cheaper (altogether and separately) and improved my skin more than Lipid Serum did. I think I would have been disappointed had I started with Lipid Serum.

Ultimately, I probably won’t repurchase Lipid Serum. It was nice to try and did make my skin better, but for $250, I would rather buy a few skincare products that target different concerns (like hyperpigmentation) or treatments. I don’t have the budget for a $1000 skincare routine, and Lipid Serum didn’t give me $250 results, to be honest.

pros

Gentle
Lightweight
Soothing gel-like texture
Fragrance-free
Minimal ingredients; ideal for sensitive skin
Highly concentrated formula; a little goes a long way
Minimal irritation risk, even if you have very reactive skin

cons

Expensive
Subtle results
Small bottle
Most likely won’t replace moisturizer
Doesn’t address hyperpigmentation

who i think the epicutis lipid serum is best for

If you have the $250 to spare, I think Epicutis Lipid Serum will give you the best results if you have:

sensitive skin
a compromised skin barrier
post-procedure skin
redness-prone skin

It’s also ideal if you prefer a minimal skincare routine. That said, you may want to skip it if you:

have oily, acne-prone skin and want to treat your acne
want dramatic, overnight results
are on a budget

Ultimately, Epicutis Lipid Serum is worth it if you have sensitive or reactive skin and prefer elegant, minimal skincare. It reduces inflammation so that the rest of your skincare products can actually work. While it’s not a miracle serum, Lipid Serum is one of the better supporting skincare products I’ve tried. It delivers on its promises, but if you don’t have $250 to spare, there are similar products that will work, too, so don’t feel like you are missing out if it’s out of your price range.