Well, this will be my last article on NIOD, because I have already bought half of the products of this brand, I have to stop at some point 😉 And then, I have only one face, and only one suitcase, I have to calm down.
I didn’t want to buy this product in the first place, but due to my damaged skin barrier, I stopped all acids. I tested 2 products at NIOD and I liked it. I can’t stand not having an exfoliator in my routine so I gave NAAP a chance.
At first I didn’t even want to write an article about this product because NOTHING happened during 2 weeks of regular use. But by the 3rd week, I realized that I had no more texture in my chin (which was usually invaded by micro cysts that clog the pores and don’t go away at all). That’s when I thought “ah!! another article to write”.
We’re going to make it quick.
Brandon Truaxe, the creator of DECIEM (and of NIOD therefore), doesn’t like acids at all. He considers it extremely aggressive for my skin to have to fight the inflammation caused by acid at regular intervals. He prefers either very heavy treatments, but to be done once and for all, rather than exfoliations every 2-3 days… If the skin looks more beautiful afterwards, in the long run, it will wake up faster.
Therefore, his idea is to propose an exfoliant that does not contain acids or retinol, but provides the same results as acids and retinol LONG-TERM
By this you mean: less or even 0 texture, brightness +++.
However, it is NOT a cell renewal booster with acne effects – like what retinol could provide. It is NOT an acne product
Packaging, Texture & Odor
DECIEM products are in glass bottles to minimize the ecological impact, and the glasses at NIOD are always tinted. I have no reproach to make to the bottle, but the pipette is a big #fail.
The texture looks like a cream, but more liquid. When you take the product with the pipette, it puts it everywhere. And when you screw the pipette back on, there is a little bit of product that overflows and makes the bottle dirty. Many recommend buying the NIOD pump, which is more adapted to the texture of the product. Survival 0 comes with a pump, I don’t know why NAAP doesn’t have one. Weird.
On the other hand, 0 tingling, 0 side effects. NOTHING happens on application. One really wonders if this serum is effective lol because I’m used to using acids that sting. In any case, I like its smell.
Of all the NIOD products I have tested, this one is the most difficult to be absorbed by the skin. There is a slightly shiny film that remains. This isn’t a problem since this product can only be used in the evening.
The order of application
NIOD products are very concentrated, I use 4 drops each time. The order of application is on the picture (from left to right)
Ingredients
Aqua (Water), Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Glycerin, Ethyl Linoleate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate, Myristoyl Nonapeptide-3, Yeast Extract, Soy Amino Acids, Bisabolol, Pseudoalteromonas Exopolysaccharides, Lecithin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 60, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Salicylate, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Pentylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
Then, for the first time, the brand does not explain what the 15% indicated in the product name is. 15% of what? assets? We don’t know.
To summarize the blah blah blah blah blah blah on the official website
- this product contains good bacteria (probiotics) that cause the skin to produce its own acids (the acids that exfoliate the skin).
- Two forms ofamino isolates work on the texture of the skin (as any retinoid would).
- A bio-fermented oligopeptide takes care of skin exfoliation (better than AHA).
- And other active ingredients ensure the protection of the cutaneous barrier and water retention
Basically, everything is effective, without damaging the skin.
Results
For 2 weeks, NOTHING happened. I use it every other night. The “advantage” of NIOD products is that it is so expensive that even the most impatient are forced to use it for at least a month before deciding to stop or get a refund.
And then, from the 3rd week, I started to make the product profitable. Yippee! The purge caused by The Ordinary’s AHA BHA left me with textures/microcysts that wouldn’t leave/return to the surface. With NAAP, by the 3rd week, they came to the surface and instead of creating a mess, the pimples were non-inflammatory (i.e. you could remove them very easily without leaving a trace). Then, with the help of CAIS 2, these pimples healed faster, in 2-3 days.
Then the area around the chin starts to get rid of its texture too. Dirt comes to the surface, and with the help of two cotton swabs, I can’t remove it, whereas usually the pores are simply closed by forming a small bubble and you can’t clean them.
So:
- no it doesn’t give the same effects as AHA/BHA. These acids react immediately, whereas NAAP takes 2 weeks to react
- no, it doesn’t have the same effect as retinol either. Retinol from Drunk Elephant gives me a beautiful skin the very next day (you can tell when I use retinol vs. when I don’t use it).
But my very sensitive skin at the moment likes it very much. The only disadvantage of this product is the film it leaves on the skin.
I think that if you can’t use acids (if you have rosacea for example or very thin skin or your skin barrier is damaged), NAAP is for you!
I’m going to finish the bottle and then I’m going to see if I’m getting back to the acids I already have (I paid a lot for them so I don’t want to throw them away, it’s not very Marie Kondo I know).
Where to buy?
42€ for 30ml (Deciem link) or 31,96€ or -20% with the code BEAUTY on Lookfantastic (link). I really recommend you to buy the NIOD pump for a better use.
note: On Deciem, you can return the product within 365 days after purchase (even if the product is half started, more info). This isn’t the case with Lookfantastic.
