#niod

Honger © Marius Meijboom, NIOD.

The Underground Camera (De Ondergedoken Camera)

If you’re like me (and many other The Ordinary fans), then you’re tired of TO’s dropper style bottles. 

Luckily, they can be easily swapped out for a pump top, which NIOD (their sister company) sells all on the same website.  So if you’re just a few dollars shy of their $25 to free shipping, then I highly recommend adding this lifesaver to your cart and giving it a try.

Some reasons I recommend the switch:

1)The process of using the dropper top for application leaves the open bottle vulnerable to knocking it over, causing spilling and or breakage (I’m looking at you in particular shattered rosehip oil bottle from a couple of months ago).  A pump bottle on the other hand would avoid this problem altogether by having the bottle in your hand as you transfer it to your fingers.

2) You may accidentally touch the tip of the dropper when applying the liquid to either your hand or your face, potentially contaminating the rest of the bottle when you return the dropper.

3) Switching from bottle to bottle is easier when you don’t have to unscrew and screw with each and every product application.

Updated as of 02/28/2019.

These are products I have not yet purchased, but I am highly interested in, and may or may not purchase, depending upon funds.

Oil Cleansers; Jullai Super 112 Bounce Cleansing Oil

Cleansers; Secret Nature Volcanic Ash Cleansing Water, Blithe's Anti-Polluaging Himalayan Pink Salt Cleansing Water, BENTON Tea Tree Cleansing Water, By Wishtrend Green Tea & Enzyme Powder Wash, Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce Gentle-cleanser

Toners; Pyunkang Yul Essence Toner, ACWELL Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner, I'm from Rice Toner, BONAJOUR Green Tea Water Bomb Toner, BONAJOUR Eggplant Daily BHA Toner

Mists; Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist, KLAIRS Supple Preparation Facial Toner

Masks; MANEFIT Natural Gift Green Tea Pore Care Sheet Mask, I'm From Series (Mugwort, Honey, Vitamin), Skinfood series (Egg White Pore, Freshmade Watermelon), Isntree Real Rose Calming Mask

Essences; NEOGEN Real Ferment Micro Essence, ATRUE Real Black Tea True Active Essence,

Ampoules; Yuripibu's Amaid Ampoule

Eye Creams; MISSHA MISA Geum Sul Giyoun Eye Cream, ERBORIAN Seve de Bamboo Eye Matte

Eye Masks; Secret Key Gold Racoony Hydrogel Series Eye & Spot Patch Set (Gold, Marine, Rose)

Moisturizers; Graymelin Black Food Nutry Cream, BONAJOUR EGF Time Recovery Solution Cream, Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer

Sleep Masks; BONAJOUR Bio Active Resurrection Plant Night Cream, Glow Recipe Avacod Melt Sleep set

Lip Masks; KLAVUU Nourishing Care Lip Sleeping Pack

Body wash; KLAIRS Manuka Honey & Choco Body Soap, BENTON Dear My Best Friend Bar Soap, Isntree Tea Tree Therapy Body Wash

Lip Blams; HOLIKA HOLIKA Good Cera Super Ceramide Lip Oil Stick, innisfree Green Tea Lip Balm, innisfree Canola Honey Lip Balm

Currently researching DECIEM products because I really want to add them to my routine. But this is what I got thus far. The site is just SO confusing, with all the fancy names and ingredients.

NIOD is also a money pit, so once you dive into one product, I am sure you get the urge to get the whole lot. It is very much an investment, and will take me a long time to save for a bulk order (since they sell sets), or one at a time, while crying that I want the rest.

Hylamide;

SubQ Eyes; I have some serious dark eye circles, so I am always willing to try something to minimize this, and this looks interesting. I am slightly more interested in the NIOD version, but because of the pricing, would try this one first, unless I am feeling funds ballsy and jump into the other one first.

NIOD;

Copper Amino Isolate Serum; From reviews, this is supposed to be one of the best selling products from this line and concentrates on your overall skin's health. I confused it for the harmful copper, but this is supposed to be different, so after some research, I am more excited to try it.

Multi Molecular Hyaluronic Complex; I am assuming this contains the same ingredients as the Marine Hyaluronic and Hyaluronic Complex with B5 from my Google research, just into one bottle. May be worth purchasing this to bulk them together, instead of individual bottles. Seems to offer more benefit, even with the price tag, seems more cost effective in the long run. Since I seem to do fine with the MH, I will be replacing it with this, when I am done with the bottle. I can’t wait!

Modulating Glucosides; I have issues with sensitivity, irritation and itchiness, so this product seems interesting to help with those issues.

Flavanone Mud & Myrrh Clay & Mastic Must & Voicemail Masque; Fancy masks are fancy.

Lip Bio-Lipid Concentrate; Looks like some serious lip oil treatment, and I do have some majorly chapped lips, despite my heavy water drinking. It may be because I am on diuretics.

Low-Viscosity Cleaning Ester and Sanskrit Saponins; Having released there own version of the double cleanse, I may give this a try - only if I have extra funds, and I am not enjoying my current routine.

Ethylated L-Ascorbic Acid 30% Network; I am still confused about Vitamin C, and wonder if this is quite different, can use at same time, better, or worse then what I am using now, which is the COSRX Typle C Lightning Liquid.

Fractionated Eye Contour Concentrate; May be an upgrade from the SubQ Eyes, and honestly, for the price, it better raise Jebus. If the other doesn't work, I may be desperate enough to attempt this one for my dark circles.

Non-Acid Acid Precursor 15%; Supposed to be an alternative to peeling without using acid. I am still up in the air about trying this one out, because I am afraid of trying the more serious peels.

Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist; Looks like a good, antibacterial, inflammation, hydrating mist. I was thinking of removing mists from my routine, since I can’t mist throughout the day because of sunscreen, but this actually looks like it would be more beneficial in conjunction with all the other products, even if used once during your regular routine.

Re: Pigment; This has mixed reviews and is quite pricey, but I heard good things about this particular line and would be willing to give it a shot, as I suffer from a lot of hyperpigmentation.

Chemistry Brand;

Hand Chemistry, Extreme Hydration Concentrate, Heel Chemistry, Hyaluronic Concentrate, HA3 Hand Hydrator, Retin-Oil;

The hydrating hand and body oils seem to be the only interest for me in this line. I suffer from severe dry hands during the winter that can lead to Dyshidrosis, if I don't treat it properly. I often break out two times a year in the winter with this. Otherwise, I never had any issues with body/hand dryness. So I may opt for these products during the winter. I do suffer from hyperpigmentation from acne scarring on my back, and other parts of the body from scarring (I did a lot of rescue work for cats). I feel the Retin-Oil may help with this - but honestly, I am a big tattoo buff, so everything for me will eventually be covered by tats, so I never really invested in body care in terms of visual appeal. I just use regular ole black african soap lotion, and or Gold Bond for Excema, worked just fine to help with any pain for dryness.

As for their “reduce hair” line - I would never be interested in that (face, leg, arm pits). I was born with lucky genes I guess - which is quite odd, because all of my female Filipino relatives had insane body hair. But me... never had that much hair growth in the first place. Then I was placed on Spironolactone, and that almost obliterated the little growth I did have. I am talking about, I can go six months without shaving my legs, and it looks like I haven’t shaved in two days - very minor hair growth!

Fountain; I honestly don't take supplements, I only recently decided to do a multi-vitamin and take zinc for my acne. I also do Kachava shakes, and that has a lot of good protein.

March 2018 Favorites

Skin Care:

Eve Lom Cleanser & Muslin Cloths

You know when you try a luxury product and you’re like “oh wow I didn’t know how good ____ could be, and now that I know I’m spoiled forever”? That’s me with the Eve Lom Cleanser. It’s just SO good! The texture is like buttery silk on the skin. It leaves my skin feeling so hydrated and plump after. Also, this converted me to the hot cloth cleansing side. The idea of rubbing my face with a washcloth has always turned me off. However, the Eve Lom Muslin Cloths are soft and thin, but strong and provide a gentle exfoliation. It’s such a more convenient and effective way to remove your cleansing oil. Overall, I’m just really blown away by these 2 products.

NIOD Sanskrit Saponins

This was the month of the cleansers. Sanskrit Saponins is a revolutionary product. It’s technically a “balm/cream” cleanser, but it deep cleanses like a boss without stripping the skin. If you’re dry and acne-prone, this product is designed for you. (though any skin type could enjoy this) I also notice a more refined skin texture when I use this cleanser. I wouldn’t use this twice a day, but rather as a morning cleanse or after a day with a full face of makeup.

Herbivore Botanicals Jade Roller

I’m a jade rolling fiend at this point- it’s the best way to wake your face up in the morning. First, I wake up and cleanse my face. Then, on still wet skin, I use the jade roller all over my face and neck, rolling in outward and upward directions. The roller is cool, which along with the massage, helps to depuff. It also just feels so good. My jade roller is a morning staple for me.

Makeup:

Lancôme Juicy Shaker in Mangoes Wild

I’ve already expressed my love for the Lancôme Juicy Shakers many times in the past, but I felt like I had to mention them again. They’re my favorite lip product on the market, second only to the YSL Volupté Tint-In-Oil (and for $10 less). Mangoes Wild is a beautiful reddish pink. Pairs wonderfully with the MEMEBOX crayon I mentioned in last month’s favorites.

Body:

Lush Butterbear Bath Bomb

A bear shaped version of the classic Butterball, from Christmas time. It has a comforting cocoa butter/vanilla scent. In general, I’m not crazy about bath bombs because I have dry skin and need something more moisturizing. Butterbear addresses that need in spades. The cocoa butter does a great job at moisturizing the skin.

Food:

Chocolate Raspberry Cold Brew at Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters

If there is anything in this world that I love, it’s iced coffee. Not only does Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters (a local coffee shop chain) make a killer cold brew, period, but they’ve re-released their seasonal chocolate raspberry flavor. I’m in love.

Entertainment:

Hell’s Kitchen

🚨 RED ALERT! RED ALERT! 🚨 THIS IS NOT A DRILL!🚨 DECIEM IS HAVING A BLACK FRIDAY SALE!