Depology is a Korean beauty brand, and as Korean beauty has become more popular worldwide, the brand has increased in popularity. The company claims to have “years of experience in the fast-paced Korean beauty industry,” and their products are priced at a premium.
But is Depology skincare really better than your average drugstore skincare brand? Does it contain research-backed ingredients proven to have anti-aging effects? Are there any unhealthy additives in Depology products? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Depology?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we analyze the ingredients in two of Depology’s most popular products based on medical research: Depology Matrixyl 3000 and Depology Deepcare+ patches.
We’ll also share real, unsponsored Depology customer reviews.
Depology Matrixyl 3000 Review
Matrixyl 3000 is a “collagen-boosting serum” and is Depology’s most popular product. Its ingredients are shown above.
Matrixyl 3000 is unsurprisingly one of the main ingredients in this blend. It’s a trademarked peptide blend manufactured by a French skincare brand, and a 2005 clinical trial found that after 12 weeks of use, this ingredient reduced visible wrinkles by over 30%.
Hyaluronic acid is one of the most well-studied anti-aging ingredients. A clinical trial published in the Dermatology and Therapy journal found that this ingredient improved skin hydration, reduced wrinkles, and improved skin smoothness by 63%.
Coconut oil was shown to be more effective for improving skin quality than any other plant oil in a 2018 medical review. The researchers found coconut oil to have anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects when applied topically.
Aloe vera is an effective natural skin hydrator as we documented in our Gotucream reviews article on another brand using this ingredient.
Clearly there are a number of effective ingredients in Depology, and the good news is that this formulation is entirely free of unhealthy additives like synthetic preservatives and fragrance ingredients that so many cosmetics brands include.
We believe that Depology Matrixyl 3000 is likely to improve skin quality, improve skin hydration and reduce the visible appearance of wrinkles.
A YouTube creator named Leah Kirschinger reviewed Depology Matrixyl 3000 and included before-and-after images:
Depology Eye Patches Review
Depology’s eye patches are called Deepcare+, and their ingredients are shown above. The brand claims that this product can reduce puffiness under the eyes and reduce signs of aging.
Hyaluronic acid, glycerin and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (part of Matrixyl 3000) are all effective ingredients included in the previous product.
Sodium hyaluronate is a sodium salt of hyaluronic acid. As we documented in our DRMTLGY reviews article, sodium hyaluronate has a lower molecular weight which allows it to penetrate deeper into skin and it’s also clinically proven to reduce wrinkles.
Tripeptide-1 and acetyl hexapeptide-8 (this ingredient is spelled incorrectly on Depology’s ingredient list) are topical peptides, and a clinical trial published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences found that topical peptides significantly reduce wrinkles.
Adenosine may have skin rejuvenating effects according to a 2022 medical review, due to its ability to naturally stimulate collagen production.
Madecassoside is a phytochemical derived from gotu kola which is clinically shown to have anti-inflammatory and skin hydrating effects.
Like the previous product we analyzed, Depology eye patches contain a wide range of research-backed ingredients and are entirely free of harmful additives. We consider this product highly likely to reduce visible signs of skin aging like wrinkles.
A YouTube creator named Emma Rumble reviewed these patches and include a before-and-after video:
Is Depology Overpriced?
The only real complaint that consumers may have about Depology is the price, since the formulations are very high-quality. Depology products are formulated like a luxury brand and priced like a luxury brand.
Matrixyl 3000 is actually priced at a very reasonable rate in our opinion. It costs $40 (plus shipping) for 1 ounce, but since it’s a serum that should last a while. How long it lasts will depend on use but typically a skincare serum can last at least two months, which equals only $20 per month for a highly effective anti-aging product.
The eye patches are much more expensive. 16 pairs currently costs $116, which equals a cost of $7.25 per use. This makes Depology eye patches more than 10x more expensive per-use than Depology’s anti-aging serum.
For cost-conscious consumers, we would definitely recommend the serum over the eye patches. Both products contain effective ingredients and we haven’t come across any clinical studies suggesting the eye patches are more effective. Depology’s serum can be used under the eyes.
Can Depology’s Eye Patches Be Replicated Cheaper?
A medical esthetician and beauty influencer named Cassandra Bankson has a YouTube video where she suggests you can hack your way to cheaper, equally effective eye patches:
Our Clean Anti-Aging Picks
There are skincare products containing ingredients shown in clinical trials to be effective for reducing wrinkles and improving skin quality.
Annie Mak Vitamin C Serum is our top anti-aging serum.
It contains hyaluronic acid which was described as a "skin-rejuvenating biomedicine" in a medical review due to its ability to reduce wrinkles and signs of facial aging.
HYDRAGLOW by CLEARSTEM is our top anti-aging moisturizer.
It features bakuchiol as an active ingredient which was described in a 2014 clinical trial as "clinically proven to have anti-aging effects."
Bulletproof Collagen Powder is our top anti-aging skin supplement.
Collagen supplementation was shown in a medical review published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology to reduce visible signs of skin aging as well as improve skin elasticity and skin hydration.
All of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy or unsafe.
