Skincare: The Ordinary & Deciem
Today's skincare beauty review is one that I'm very excited for... about six weeks ago I received an order from Deciem and now after using my new products consistently, I'm ready to share my thoughts on the products I ordered. Heading into this year I wanted to make a change with my skincare. I've always had relatively good skin. Thankfully my mother taught me early on the importance of proper skincare and that's something I've carried with me over the years but truthfully, over the past 6 months I've noticed a change in my skin and it's not for the better.
As I've gotten older my skin has changed from oily to combination, with all of the negatives of having oily skin with a few new negatives from dry patches that seemingly came from nowhere! My approach to tackling these issues has been a dual plan to change up my skincare but to also get a bit of help from Jen of Bella Casa Day Spa with some microdermabrasion (more on that to come soon).
I have been hearing absolutely incredible things about Canadian Skincare Brand Deciem and particularly, Deciem's line The Ordinary. A quick google search will quickly fill you in on why this relatively young beauty brand is quickly becoming a cult favourite but the jist is this: Deciem uses high quality ingredients, cuts out the middle man and offers incredible products at a ridiculously reasonable price.
Now a word of warning, the Deciem site can be a little overwhelming. They do offer some help that you can find here however, I didn't want to mess around so I emailed them directly with what I was looking for and what my concerns were. I told them I wanted a full new regime and they sent me detailed recommendations that same day! (So if you get a bit overwhelmed, I'd suggest doing the same!0 So now, let's get right to what I ordered, and what I think....
1. Cleanser: NIOD's Sanskrit Saponins
At $29, this was my most expensive purchase from Deciem but with the below description from the Deciem team, I was sold.
A viscous and intense cleaning balm formulated with plant saponins that leave the skin looking nearly pore-free and exceptionally cleaned. With continued use, SS visibly targets all forms of build-up, blemishes, congestion and impurities.
When I first started using this product it took a little bit to get used to because the cleanser doesn't lather. I was suggested this product for my oily skin and my concern with my pores and blackheads and I will say that I am so pleased with the results. My pores look smaller, if I do get breakouts I feel like they disappear more quickly and my blackheads have decreased significantly. Although the cost is a bit higher, I feel like it's totally worth it because you only need a very small amount and to start, you use the cleanser every other day. This one is a major win in my books and is a cleanser I'll be ordering again.
2. Lactic Acid 5% + HA
The next product I purchased was the Lactic Acid 5% + HA.
Lactic Acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates the skin. This 5% formulation offers very mild exfoliation and is supported with a purified Tasmanian pepperberry known to reduce signs of inflammation and sensitivity that is often associated with exfoliation * from Deciem site
This product is a lactic acid formula that offers mild exfoliation. It's known to help to target uneven tone and textural irregularities. Because this is an exfoliant , it's a product you don't want to use every day. I use this treatment 1-3 times per week depending on how my skin is doing. I use it after I cleanse and use my toner and then once it's dried, I use my moisturizer (see below)
3. Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
The next product I picked up was the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion at $9.80 for a 30ml bottle. This product was recommended to me by Deciem for my anti ageing concerns. Here's the deal with this product:
A stable serum emulsion of next-generation retinoid active technologies to visibly target textural irregularities and have been shown to achieve better reduction in signs of ageing than retinol without irritation.
*Retinoids can make the skin more sensitive to UV radiation. Sun protection is particularly important when using retinoids. Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion must not be used in conjunction with other retinoids including retinol or retinoic acid. This product is not a treatment for acne. Acne-prone skin may experience a temporary increase in acne during the first few weeks of using any form of retinoid.
So after using this product for a while now I'll say that I did notice a bit of a breakout in the first week or two of using these products however, I think when you completely change over your entire skincare regime, it's also normal for your skin to break out a bit or take a minute to adjust to the changes so I wasn't concerned. I love this product and I use it every night that I don't use the chemical exfoliant (I believe you could use them together but I just try to limit the number of products I use to 3-4 per night!). After I apply this serum is usually when I bust out my rose quartz roller and do a little facial massage before applying my moisturizer!
4. Buffet
If you were to purchase just one product from The Ordinary, I would recommend Buffet. 'Buffet' is a peptide serum that targets multiple signs of ageing at once. This serum can be used in the AM or PM and is one that I'll often use in the AM after I cleanse and tone and before my moisturizer, or in the PM in conjunction with my chemical exfoliant. I use it all over my face and neck before applying my moisturizer. I really like this product because it has a very smooth consistency that's a bit easier to apply than some of the other more viscous products. I highly recommend checking this product out!
5. 100% Organic Cold-Pressed
Rose Hip Seed Oil
The team at Deciem recommended their Organic Cold Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil as:
A daily support oil for healthy, hydrated skin; Rose Hip Seed Oil is rich in linoleic (omega 6) and linolenic (omega 3) acids as well as pro-vitamin A, which enables it to target signs of photo-ageing and several other skin conditions.
I will say that I LOVE this product. I use this oil every night as my moisturizer. It feels so luxurious, leaves my skin glowing and ultra hydrated and I'm loving how my skin feels after using this oil (so soft!!). That being said, my ONLY critique would be that the smell isn't my favourite however, it's a very small price to pay for a product that's affordable ($9.90 for the bottle) and works so well! I'm really glad that I've made this my PM moisturizer and can't recommend it enough.
6. Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA
At $5.80, I had no problem purchasing this moisturizer to give it a try. I use this every morning as my moisturizer and it's great. Of all of the products I purchased it's probably the one I'd rave about the least only because the others are so amazing but I do really enjoy this moisturizer. What really sold me was the hyaluronic acid because HA keeps collagen synthesis up and helps to retain skin moisture which is all good stuff when it comes to anti ageing!
So there you have it, a bit of a breakdown on some of the goodies I picked up from The Ordinary! Now in full disclosure, I did get a few more products (foundation, deodorant, glow oil), so keep tuned to the blog as I'll be sharing my thoughts on those products a little bit down the line. Now if this post was all a little bit TLDR, the jist is, I really love the products I got from Deciem, I'd highly suggest checking out their site or shooting them an email to get some suggestions for your own skincare concerns. Have you used any Deciem products? I'd love to know some of your thoughts or favourites in the comments below!
