Hi all. EpiCeram is a Rx moisturizer and seemingly the only moisturizer (OTC or Rx) that works for me — moisturizing without making me super greasy, without causing breakouts, while healing/relieving dry patches. The only problem is — to fill a script is about $1,300 in the US (with private insurance). It is very expensive - I think with almost any, if not all, insurance in the US. Does anyone know a good substitute or a place where I can get this for a greatly reduced cost?
I have tried: Sunday Riley, Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice, CeraVe, Cetaphil, Benefit, HPR Plus Cream (Rx), Ole Henriksen C-Rush, Garnier Clearly Bright, and countless others I can’t recall off the top of my head.
I was trying to find a knockoff EpiCeram. So it probably should be something with ceramides - but that isn’t heavy/pores clogging?
(FWIW-i am a mid-30s, White, female, with clogged pores-which sometimes give me acne, combination skin person)
Thank you so much to anyone who even reads this lol
Have your doctor send your RX to GoGoMeds. Go to their website, create an account, search for Epiceram and place your order. No insurance is needed, as it is a specialty pharmacy. The total cost is $20 with free shipping. I just got mine there about a month ago. The airless tube is seriously giant.
You need to use it alone, preferably after a shower or washing/soaking your face with water. Just know that it is a little waxy, but this is just a necessary per the formula. It’s not something to use under makeup or with other moisturizers at the time of application. However, I often spritz my face with a glycerin and water mix before putting it on to increase available water/NMF content. It does play nicely with glycerin. If you’re like me and can’t help yourself from layering products due to a love of experimenting, then two other products that work well with Epiceram are Cerave’s gel oil, which adds additional Ceramides to your skin, and La Roche Posay’s Tolierane Ultra, which provides glycerin and Squalane.
Just remember to treat Epiceram as a prescription product and not necessarily an overall cosmetic one. It’s formulated effectively unlike other so called barrier repair creams. Knowing this will help you use it appropriately and motivate your continued usage, should you find yourself at a dislike of the slight waxy feeling that it gives.
I hope this helps. I enjoy using the product and definitely recommend it, especially if a person is using Tretinoin. I’m at a loss as to why dermatologists don’t automatically prescribe a barrier repair cream like this every time they write an RX for tretinoin. The two together are absolutely necessary for healthy skin.
Should you try Epiceram and not like it, then the other I recommend is Eletone cream. It’s formulated differently but is a non-steroidal barrier repair cream that is more cosmetically elegant. It also comes in a two pack with prescription, and there is a manufacturer’s co-pay card that limits your out-of-pocket max to $40 per month, I believe. Just do your research on the formulations and ingredients of both products to decide which might be best for you. Pair one of these products with a mild daily chemical exfoliant like lactic acid and something loaded with natural moisturizing factors like Eucerin Professional or The Ordinary’s NMF cream/amino+B5 formula, and your skin will be much happier. Oh, and adding in a good high Linoleic oil made a big difference for me. I’ve tried several, but Evening Primrose capsules have been most effective for clogged pores. I just break one open, massage it into my skin then splash some warm water on my face and pat dry. It helps tremendously with hormonal/jawline pores.
My dermatologist wrote my prescription for EpiCeram in 2019. I’ve been paying $25 per 225g bottle through BlinkRX. Now this tear the cost has risen to $49 They DO NOT accept any insurance. This price is financial hardship price. Supposedly, the normal cost is $6,000.00 and something. Who would pay that much?? WTH ?? I have a lot of health issues, Stage 4 Breast Cancer, Lupus, Heart Failure & 4 Strokes are just the main concerns. I live on disability and only receive $1,200.00 per month.
I’m going to keep researching and see if I can find cheaper, if not… I’ll stick with BlinkRX
Can one of you tell me what color EpiCeram is supposed to be? I have a whole tube of it, as well as a little sample tube, but they’re both kind of a gold color, when I expected white. Is it supposed to be gold? Or is my product just old and discolored?