Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

UFS lecturer and postgraduate students launch new skincare company

26 September 2022 | Story André Damons | Photo Jack once productions

All smiles. The three directors of Epicutis Skincare; Dr Maanda Tshikororo, Chief Marketing Officer; Dr Lehlohonolo Makhakhe, Chief Executive officer and primary formulation scientist; and Mrs Mantwa Makhakhe, Chief Operating Officer, showing of some of their new skincare products

A senior lecturer and specialist in the Department of Dermatology at the University of the Free State (UFS) and his two associates, who are also postgraduate students at the university, have realised their dream when they launch their skincare company next month.

Dr Lehlohonolo Makhakhe, a full-time medical specialist (dermatologist), Dr Maanda Tshikororo, a medical doctor and a postgraduate student in the Department of Psychiatry, and Mrs Mantwa Makhakhe, who holds a BCom Economics degree and is currently completing her postgraduate diploma in financial planning, are the directors of Epicutis Skincare. Dr Makhakhe, who is also a PhD candidate registered with UFS, is the Chief Executive Officer and primary formulation scientist for the company, while Dr Tshikororo is the Chief Marketing Officer and Mrs Makhakhe the Chief Operating Officer.

The company is launching on 22 October 2022.

Narrowing the gap between treating skin ailments and manufacturing skincare products

According to Dr Makhakhe, who published the very first comprehensive African atlas on skin diseases commonly seen in the African setting,The African Atlas, synopsis and practical guide to clinical dermatology, says Epicutis is a company which will produce a range of personal skincare products. The range will comprise of products such as body lotions, body creams, petroleum jelly and a night cream. Since becoming a dermatologist, he has always wished to narrow the gap between being a clinician treating skin ailments and being involved in manufacturing skincare products.

“Creating products as a dermatologist has great benefits, because the products are created from a clinician’s perspective, with more intentional results. All ingredients used were carefully selected for their specific and scientifically proven benefits, they were then tested for stability in terms of viscosity, pH, microbiology in association with the South African Institute of Dermatology and other third parties,” says Dr Makhakhe.

Ecstatic about the upcoming launch

Dr Tshikororo says this has been an adventure they have always thought of undertaking. “We finally reached a point of shifting from the comfort of dreaming about it, to taking action.”

“We hope our company will play a notable role in creating permanent employment for the youth, and also have an impact on the growth of the economy of the Free State province and that of the country as well,” says Mrs Makhakhe.

The three directors are ecstatic about the upcoming launch of their products, and optimistic that there is enough room for new, affordable, locally manufactured skincare products that are suitable for all family members.

All products will be available at major retailers soon after the launch. Further information is available at the official website.

News Archive

New residences open on Bloemfontein Campus

2013-01-21

Photo: Johan Roux
21 January 2013

Beginning 2013, the Bloemfontein Campus is seeing the opening of two new residences where male and female students will be housed under one roof but in separate units. Each residence will house 250 students.

House ConLaurês and House Outeniqua were opened for their first-years and Residence Committee (RC) on Friday 18 January 2013. The two newly Residence Heads, Mr Frank Makhabane (ConLaurês) and Mrs Leani Wimble (Outeniqua) welcomed the new residents.

The uniqueness of these residences is that they will be the first co-ed residences on campus. These residences are wheel chair friendly with fully equipped disabled rooms available. All signage has also been done in Braille. Each floor of the new residences has two lounges, as well as a fully fitted kitchen.

The Prime of House ConLaurês, Sherilyn Roelofse, says, “We aim to create a living space that is holistic and welcoming and will allow our residence members to be able to excel in a number of things”. Sherilyn says ConLaurês comes from the word “Condo Laurus”, which means dreams of victory. The House’s slogan is “The Symphony of Dreams”. Students came up with the name for the residence.

Tsatsi Mokoena, RC member responsible for RAG at House ConLaurês says RC members have been working hard for the past few months, trying to imagine how to do things without a physical structure. ConLaurês will be a residence with an inspirational living space where each student feels welcome, respected for who they are and at home, so that they will have the confidence to follow their dreams.”

The Prime of Outeniqua, Vusumzi Mesatywa says, “Change is always welcome and that is the mindset that we will be embracing as the new residences. When a student graduates, we need them to graduate not only as academics, but also as humans, holistic beings”.

Marla Stanier, RC First-Year Mentor at Outeniqua, says that new experiences await every student that walks through the doors of the residence. “As excited as we are, this new experience will test us in many ways.However, if we stand together as one, we will succeed.”

Mr Quintin Koetaan, Director of Housing and Residence Affairs, says, “The opening of ConLaurês and Outeniqua is a dream come true, providing accommodation for a new generation of students in the 21st Century”.

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept