MartiDerm has long been the quiet achiever of Spanish pharmacy shelves, quietly racking up derm prescribers and word-of-mouth praise while flashier brands hog the spotlight. Its reputation for results driven formulas is well earned so when I heard about the mouthful that is Epigence Expert Repair Night I perked up. A name that sounds part sci-fi thriller part late-night infomercial certainly sets expectations high. According to MartiDerm this overnight treatment uses an epigenetic approach to nudge skin cells back toward youthful behavior while wrapping the complexion in a nourishing yet non-greasy veil.
Curiosity piqued I cleared space on my bedside table and committed to a full two-week trial, every night, layered over my usual serum and under a strict no-cheat policy. The goal was simple: see if the promises translate to smoother, bouncier skin worth your hard earned money.
Disclaimer: this is not a paid or sponsored review. The jar was purchased with my own funds and the impressions that follow are entirely personal. Your mileage may vary because skin is wonderfully individual.
What Is Epigence Expert Repair Night?
Put simply Epigence Expert Repair Night is a night cream designed to be the last step in your evening routine. MartiDerm positions it within the overnight treatment category which means it is meant to work while you sleep when skin is naturally in repair mode. Overnight treatments are thicker than a daytime lotion yet lighter than a mask aiming to create a comfortable cocoon that slows water loss and delivers active ingredients over several hours.
This particular formula leans on what the brand calls an epigenetic approach. The idea is that certain peptides and antioxidants can influence the way skin cells read their DNA nudging them toward a more youthful pattern of protein production. In practice you apply a small amount after serum across face neck and décolletage then let it absorb before your head hits the pillow. The cream promises help with common ageing concerns such as fine lines loss of firmness and dullness while avoiding the greasy residue that can transfer to pillowcases.
Epigence Expert Repair Night sits in a glass jar holding 50 ml. Used nightly it should last roughly two months depending on how generously you scoop. The texture is rich enough to feel substantial yet the finish is designed for people who dislike waking up to an oil slick. The product is intended for all skin types though very oily skins may want to adjust the amount to avoid heaviness.
Did It Work?
In the name of highly scientific journalism I benched my regular overnight cream for the first three nights so Epigence could take center stage without interference. Fourteen days felt like a fair trial window long enough for any meaningful hydration and texture shifts to show but short enough to avoid confounding variables like hormonal breakouts or seasonal weather swings.
Application was textbook: pea sized dab warmed between palms then pressed over serum onto face neck and the neglected neckline. The cream melted in quickly leaving a velvety finish that stayed put rather than migrating to my pillowcase. Night one I woke up to skin that felt nicely cushioned yet not oily, a promising start though nothing miraculous to report in the mirror beyond a healthy sheen.
By day five fine dehydration lines around my mouth looked softer and my cheeks held on to moisture through the afternoon which is unusual for me. The texture continued to impress; even on a humid evening it never crossed into heavy territory and I experienced zero clogged pores or surprise breakouts. I did notice however that any brightening effect was subtle at best. My complexion looked rested but not noticeably more luminous, a nuance that became clearer as the days ticked by.
Heading into the second week firmness claims began to surface, albeit modestly. My jawline felt a touch springier when I pinched the skin, yet photographs under the same bathroom lighting showed no visible lift. The epigenetic promise of dramatic rejuvenation remained largely theoretical for my face despite consistent use. I also tried a mid week skip night to see if the glow lingered; by the following morning my skin felt drier confirming that the cream’s benefits seem to rely on nightly application rather than cumulative change.
Wrapping up the two week romance my overall verdict is that Epigence Expert Repair Night delivers respectable overnight hydration, a smooth silky feel and mild line plumping but stops short of the transformative results its sci fi moniker suggests. It worked well enough to earn a solid 7 out of 10 in my notebook yet not so well that I would retire my current favorite once the jar is empty. Nice to visit, probably not moving in permanently.
Main Ingredients Explained
Peptides headline the formula. Heptapeptide-6 and acetyl hexapeptide-8 act like tiny messengers nudging fibroblasts to make more collagen and elastin which in theory translates to firmer skin. They work best when skin is already well hydrated so the generous dose of glycerin plus caprylyl glycol keeps the upper layers quenched giving the peptides an optimal environment. A soybean polypeptide adds an extra boost of amino acids that mimic the skin’s own natural moisturizing factors.
Antioxidant support comes from a duo of vitamin E forms: tocopherol and tocopheryl acetate. These help neutralize free radicals generated by daily UV and pollution exposure which if left unchecked speed up wrinkle formation. Glycyrrhetinic acid derived from licorice offers a mild soothing effect that can calm low grade inflammation often mistaken for dullness.
The texture owes its cushion to a blend of emollients such as dicaprylyl ether triethylhexanoin and caprylic/capric triglyceride. They create that velvety feel without leaving a sticky film yet two of the supporting thickeners, stearic acid and glyceryl stearate, have moderate comedogenic ratings. In other words they can clog pores for those who are very prone to blackheads or closed comedones particularly on the T-zone. If your skin erupts at the mere sight of a rich cream patch testing would be wise.
Fragrance shows up near the end of the list along with Red 40, a synthetic colorant. Neither is inherently harmful but both can trigger sensitivity in reactive skin so anyone dealing with dermatitis or a compromised barrier should factor that in. On the brighter side all listed ingredients are plant or lab sourced so the formula appears suitable for vegans and vegetarians though Martiderm does not hold an official vegan certification.
No retinoids or salicylic acid appear in the INCI roster which makes the cream comparatively gentle during pregnancy yet caution is still the watchword. Hormonal shifts can make skin unpredictable and every medical advisor has a slightly different stance on peptides and fragrance in pregnancy. The safest route is to run the ingredient list past your healthcare provider before slathering it on nightly.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
Here is the quick rundown after two weeks of nightly use.
What Works Well:
- Noticeable overnight hydration that softens dehydration lines and keeps skin comfortable through the next day
- Rich yet quick absorbing texture that feels velvety rather than greasy so pillowcases stay clean
- Peptide and antioxidant blend offers a solid maintenance option for early signs of ageing without the irritation of stronger actives
What to Consider:
- Firmness and brightening effects are mild and seem to fade if you skip a night
- Jar packaging means repeated air and finger exposure which may not suit those who prefer pumps for hygiene and potency
- Fragrance and synthetic dye could pose a problem for very sensitive or reactive skin types
My Final Thoughts
Two weeks in, Epigence Expert Repair Night has earned its place as a dependable night-stand companion rather than a life-altering soulmate. It gives solid comfort, a handsome glow and just enough line softening to feel worthwhile, yet the grand talk of epigenetic re-programming feels more like late-night TED-talk fodder than something I can point to in the mirror. My rating sits at a respectable 7/10. I would recommend it to a friend who wants a plush, peptide-forward cream that plays nicely with most skin types and does not mind jar packaging or a faint perfume. I would steer the perpetually oily or the results-tomorrow crowd toward stronger actives or lighter gels.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I have a crowded past with overnight treatments. Some fizzled, some dazzled and a few now hold permanent residency on my shelf, so I feel confident judging MartiDerm’s latest effort. If you crave an affordable all-rounder that covers hydration, barrier support and a dash of anti-ageing, Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is hard to beat and tolerates every skin mood swing I have thrown at it. For those seeking a richer collagen-hugging texture, Pro-Collagen Night Cream by ELEMIS remains a classic that still wows me with its bounce-back effect by morning. If barrier repair and calm glow are higher on the wish list, Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue by BIOSSANCE offers a fragrance-free cocoon that rivals luxury options. And whenever my skin begs for a lightweight drink rather than a meal, I reach for LANEIGE Water Sleeping Mask which consistently wakes me up looking eight hours well rested even if I only managed five.
Before you dip into any new jar a quick reality check: good skin is a marathon not a sprint and even the best cream cannot rewrite genetics overnight. Consistency is key and benefits taper off once you stop. Also do your future self a favor and patch test on a discreet patch of jawline or behind the ear first, apologies if I sound like an over-protective parent.