Nigerian investment banker. No moisturiser worked on her skin. So she made her own — and now the Duchess of Sussex is a fan.
Founder Joy Isaacs didn’t just want dewier skin. She wanted a brand that didn’t treat African women as an afterthought. Epara launched with zero PR budget and sold out in three weeks. That’s not luck — that’s a gap in the market screaming to be filled.
It’s a face oil, £78, and the claim that got me: “absorbs in 10 seconds.” I rolled my eyes. Oils sit on my skin like a greasy ex-boyfriend.
Cold-Pressed Babassu
Lighter than argan. Melts on contact like butter on warm toast.
Squalane
Not the synthetic kind. Plant-derived and actually sinks in.
Vitamin E
Not just for shelf life — calms redness before you even notice it.
Photo: Rosa Rafael / Unsplash
No fillers. No fragrance to mask cheap bases. Just oils that read like a West African apothecary list.
The star is baobab — it’s packed with omega fatty acids and doesn’t clog pores. Most brands use it as a buzzword. Epara uses it as the backbone.
- Baobab: Absorbs fast, doesn’t clog
- Marula: Antioxidant punch without the price tag of luxury marketing
- Kalahari Melon: Hydrates without feeling heavy
- Vitamin E: Actually calms, doesn’t just sit there
Texture is the surprise — it’s thin. Almost watery. Two drops cover your whole face and it’s gone in 8 seconds (I timed it). No slick, no shine, just… done.
Week two hit different. My skin looked plumped, not oily. The real win? Makeup sat on top without sliding off by lunch. Unexpected — this oil works better under foundation than most primers.
Fine lines? Softer. Redness? Less angry. Breakouts? No new ones — which is rare for an oil. But don’t expect a glow-up overnight. This is steady, not instant.
Epara’s face oil is the rare luxury product that earns its price tag. It’s not trendy — it’s effective. And honestly? I’d buy it just to support a founder who built a brand for us, not for the industry.