I always have some kind of Deciem product in my skincare arsenal. They have such a wide variety and large selection of products sometimes it can be a little daunting where to start. Deciem is the parent company over brands like NIOD and The Ordinary. They are now just these two brands as the other lines have been discontinued. I think NIOD and The Ordinary have always been their star lines, I was never into the others that much minus HF.
I started this piece with the idea of giving you the top seven from Deciem but I found it too hard to make that small of a list because they quite literally have so many good products. *I have now updated this post from two years ago, as well as from the original four years ago to reflect current thoughts. That means I added and removed products as well. Check out the old posts for changes: HERE and HERE.
The Ordinary took the world by storm when it launched because it advertised great skincare ingredients at extremely affordable prices. The Ordinary has a huge range of products and it can be a little overwhelming where to start. Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA is one of my most repurchased product. I use it everyday, it's my go to moisturizer for my daughter. I also use it as a hand cream. Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMF) are compounds that are naturally found in your skin. They are things like amino acids, fatty acids, triglycerides, urea, ceramides, phospholipids, saccharides, hyaluronic acid & lactic acid is one as well. They help keep your skin barrier intact. What I love about this cream is that it hydrates and replenishes the skin without being heavy or greasy. Review HERE. There is a new heavy duty moisturizer to the line up. The Natural Moisturizing Factors + Phytoceramides is an oil in water emulsion. Think of it as a rich version of the original moisturizer. It's glossy and rich but not too heavy or greasy. I like applying it in two layers for a good coat at night. If you like TATCHA Indigo Cream or Dr. Sam's Mask as a cream you'll like this one, similar texture.
The Ordinary has a lot of cheap single oil products. I tend to prefer a blended oil so my favorite from the line is the "B" Oil. It's hard to believe this is only $11.10 for a 30ml bottle because it's really good. The texture feels like a more expensive oil. "B" Oil has micro-algae mixed with squalane, marula, argan, baobab, pataua, brazil nut, inca inchi, rosehip and borage oils. They also threw in antioxidant powerhouse tomato fruit extract which is packed with lycopenes. If you want to get into oils this one is well worth looking at. Review HERE. Their newest launch is the Soothing & Barrier Support Serum. This is a creamy pink colored emulsion with glucosides, cica, ceramides, niacinamide (lower level not 10%) and B12 (gives the serum it's pink color). It’s for soothing and reducing the look of redness. I do prefer Modulating Glucosides for the lipid complex, if you're less dry than me you might like The Ordinary one more, it's a hint lighter. I'll do a comparison post soon...
The Squalane Cleanser is a gel oil balm that's super smooth and glossy. Think thick gel cream but blended with oil (squalane in this case which is light). It removes all makeup and SPF with ease then emulsifies and rinses clean. It's fragrance free like all Deciem products so great for sensitive skin. Apply this to dry skin on makeup then add water and rinse. Easy and cheap. I did talk about it HERE.They did launch a few new cleansers. The Glucoside Foaming Cleanser is a super light watery gel with gentle surfactants. I don't find it too drying for my super dry skin, and I don't like gel or foaming cleansers much anymore. But I do think this one is pretty good. I use it on my daughter as well. I like that it doesn't feel like this thick gel that takes forever to wash clean. It's reviewed with the eye serum in the link above. The Glycolipid Cream Cleanser is a creamy gel texture that uses glycolipids a plant derived cleansing agent to gently cleanse the skin and not strip it. It is gentle and doesn't dry me out. It doesn't feel like a typical creamy cleanser, more a gel-cream hybrid. It has a hint of a light natural coconut scent from the natural ingredients. It's faint and not an added fragrance. I tend to use the Glycolipid Cream on me and the Glucoside Foaming on my daughter. I'm dry and she's normal. Both are large 150ml tubes for a great price.
Multi-Peptide + HA Serum (formerly "Buffet") was one of my first purchases from The Ordinary. This is your anti-aging peptide serum. This serum has six potent peptides in the form of Matrixyl™ 3000, Matrixyl™ synthe'6™, SYN™-AKE, Relistase peptide complex & ARGIRELOX™. This is a hydrating serum with probiotics, multiple hydrators & amino acids. These are the same peptides in high end ($100+) anti-aging serums at a steal (30ml is only $14.80). Easily an item you should try one day if you like peptides. Review HERE. Later there was a better take on "Buffet" by adding it with copper tri-peptides. Hence Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% was born. Think hydrating serum, all the anti-aging peptides of Multi-Peptide + HA Serum with the healing power of copper tri-peptides. It's the most expensive The Ordinary product at $30.90 but it's a great addition to any skincare routine and if you're into peptides and want more affordable options this is for you. I have stopped using the Caffeine Solution as it really doesn't seem to do that much for me. Their newest eye serum launch is utterly fantastic. The Multi-Peptide Eye Serum is the best eye serum for $25 on the market. It has peptides, glucosides and a niacinamide/ash bark complex for puffiness. I reviewed it HERE. It absolutely made a difference on my lines and droopy eyelid. Highly recommend.
Marine Hyaluronics is a newer hydrating product combining an almost water light texture with hyaluronic acid free. It contains exopolysaccharides from skin-friendly marine bacteria, Hawaiian red algae, glycoproteins, algae and amino acids. It has a funky smell at times but if you're looking for hydration with a non-HA way it's actually quite good. Amino Acids + B5 is also a newer type of hydrating serum that's hyaluronic acid free. It uses amino acids and amino acid derivatives to mimic the composition of the skin's own natural moisturizing factors. It also contains D-Panthenol a provitamin of B5. It's not-greasy and has a truly unique kind of liquid texture that's not the usual slippery sort. If you're looking for hyaluronic free hydrating serums these are fun to try. Review HERE. Both are $8.90 a bottle which is great for a hydrating serum.
While The Ordinary makes great cheaper products it's the NIOD range that is the hidden gem of Deciem. The NIOD line is more high tech and the textures are phenomenal in comparison to most The Ordinary products. There are four items from NIOD that are worth the splurge. RE: PIGMENT is your hyperpigmentation fighting serum. It's got a thin fluid texture so it's easy to layer and apply. The technology can be a little confusing when you read the online description (as with most NIOD descriptions). This serum noticeably helped my melasma and sun damage spots with continued use. Very few things have actually made a dent in my melasma, but better pigmentation formulas are coming onto the market without acids which is exciting. If you have stubborn pigmentation this one is worth a try. Due to the fluid texture a bottle lasts forever as you only need a touch. You can also spot treat with this serum. Review HERE. Survival 0 has become a more recent favorite for it's well done antioxidant formulation. It's a creamy yet light serum with non-vitamin C antioxidants. It has prebiotics, algae, tomato carotenoids (a favorite of mine), Pycnogenol & superoxide dismutase. If you're looking for a fun, unique antioxidant serum that's not vitamin C based you should try this one. Review HERE.
Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex has a super lightweight fluid texture that's so easy to layer. It's not sticky or too heavy like most hyaluronic acid serums. MMHC uses 15 hyaluronic complexes to hydrate the skin. It's the most advanced, unique hyaluronic acid serum that I've come across. It's got a perfect texture and it works. I don't use this one quite as much as I used to with more and more advanced hydrating serums that have a nice pleasant thin texture, without that crappy thick sticky feel. This was innovative when it launched and if you like HA serums it's great. Review HERE. Fractionated Eye Contour Concentrate is the multi-purpose eye serum for tackling lines, dark circles, puffiness, elasticity and texture. This also has a very fluid texture so it sinks in quickly. You can layer a hydrating cream over if you need more moisture. I'm very skeptical of eye serums as most don't do anything for my dark circles (genetics and lack of sleep). FECC is one of the only eye serums that has actually made some difference in my dark circles. It does also help with lines, skin texture and tone. It's one of the most impressive eye serums I've tried and worth the $70 for 15ml. It'll last forever because you only need a drop each eye. Review HERE. I do prefer the newer $25 The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Eye Serum to FECC now, plus it's cheaper. I still think FECC is amazing I just find it easier to spend $25.
CAIS or Copper Amino Isolate Serum is one of my all time favs from NIOD. Copper tri-peptides are a pro-collagen and pro-repair compound. This serum has an intense blue hue and water like texture. Copper tri-peptides are involved in improving skin health. One impressive part is its ability to help speed up wound healing. That means this serum is great for acne or breakouts. It will help the active ones heal faster with less damage and it can even help new ones from coming as often. This was a lifesaver when I went through my monthly hormonal acne phase. When I used this consistently I noticed my breakouts were less severe, if at all, and the spots healed faster. Less breakouts was well worth the splurge. Now I mainly use it for the pro-collagen and pro-skin health effects. Review HERE. Recently they launched CAIS 3 where you no longer have to mix bottles. It comes stabilized on its own. Copper Amino Isolate Lipid 1% has become an internet sensation. It's a gel oil product with all the benefits of copper tri-peptide plus it's more soothing. Used as a last step like a moisturizer which is the recommended way, however those of you who are dry like me cannot use it as a moisturizer. So I layer it. It's usually sold out because of its cult following. Review HERE. I still prefer CAIS due to the ease of use. I can apply it first then move onto everything else in my routine, it's just easier to use. I know some feel CAIL is more soothing from the lipids but it's just harder for me to fit into my routine being so dry.
Modulating Glucosides is a more recent love of mine. It's also one of the most recent additions to the brand. Think creamy serum that really soothing and anti-inflammatory. If you have sensitive skin this is for you. It combines, lipids, a soothing peptide, soothing plant extracts and tasmanian pepperberry which repeats itself throughout their products. Grab a seperate pump while you're grabbing this. It's thicker. If you have any kind of need for barrier repair or help with sensitivity this is worth a try. I quite enjoy layering it. Review HERE. In the same aspect of being gentle on the skin Non-Acid Acid Precursor 15% is a gel cream serum that helps exfoliate but without acids. Again if you're sensitive this is a product you most definitely need to try. It uses probiotic bacteria, amino isolates, an oligopeptide and exopolysaccharide. Don't ask me how it actually works but it does gently and with no irritation smooth and exfoliate the skin. Absolutely revolutionary. Review HERE. If you have sensitive skin try these two for sure.
I have been enjoying one of their new launches the Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum. It's a prostaglandin free, water lighte serum with four peptide complexes and botanical extracts: SYMPEPTIDE XLASH® complex (with Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17), Anargy® complex (with Oligopeptide-2 and Glycoproteins), Widelash™ complex (with Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1 and Panthenol), REDENSYL™ complex (with Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, and Zinc Chloride), CAPIXYL™ complex (Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 and Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract), and High-Solubility Caffeine. I have been bad at using consistently but I'm going to pick that use up. It's a nice price for a lash and brow product.
I do recommend you think about grabbing the NIOD Pump if you make an order. It's great for MG/NAAP, even CAIS and RE:Pigment as I tend to drop the bottles often breaking them cause I'm clumsy with droppers. A great time to grab a few is during Slowvember (November) when the entire site is 23% off for the month.
*While I do receive PR now from the brand, I have bought quite a few products myself