Not Sephora related, but since a couple of y'all were talking about it...how do y'all like Deciem? I have my eye on the following- SubQ Hylamide, The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid, The Ordinary Rose Hip Seed Oil, Ordinary Alpha Arbutin and Ordinary Matrixyl 10%
also, out of sheer curiosity, has anyone ever tried TNS Essential Serum? I watch a YouTuber who raves about it, but reviews in general are so mixed for such a mega expensive item.
I have been using Deciem products for more than a year! I love just about everything I have tried except the Hylamide HA Blur Primer and the Hylaminde Pore Delete. See below for descriptions. Bear with me for the list is lengthy.
Deciem products in rotation:
Hylamide:
SubQ Eye -I used 2 full bottles of this, before switching to
Cerave Eye Cream. The jury was out on it's effectiveness.
SubQ Anti-Age - This is a lightweight serum and I use it in rotation with the
Cerave Serum & Estee Lauder ANR. I may skip buying another bottle and see how things are with just the later two products mentioned.
Booster Low-Molecular HA - Use in winter for more moisture and transport of serums into my skin
Booster C25 - Vitamin C - I already have the new
Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23%+ HA Spheres 2% to try after I use this up.
I also regularly use
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic. I have used this for years along with the ELAVN serum.
Booster Pore Control - I purchased this just before
Paula's Choice released their
Niacinamide serum
($42) . WHICH thank god I did not buy, because
Deciem released The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% for 1/7th the cost!!! ($5.90) I am currently using the Pore Control in conjunction with the Niacinamide. When the Pore Control runs out I am going to just use the Ordinary and see how things go.
Niacinamide products are for daytime use only as it conflicts with any Vitamin C product!!!
Finisher Pore Delete- Tricky to use. Best for a no makeup day. Does not play well with foundation.
Finisher HA Blur Primer - Not a fan. Lent itself to the oilies later in the day
Finisher Matte 12 - I like my Becca Ever Matte Poreless Primer better!
ETA: I just learned a much better technique for applying my Becca. I am going to try this with the Matte 12 and see if the result is similar/better?
The Ordinary:
Vitamin C Suspension 23%+ HA Spheres 2% - See above - Not in use yet.
Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% - See above - Really think it helps with pores. I believe the appearance of mine has diminished.
Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% - Just added to routine. No thoughts yet.
Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% - 2/3 way through first bottle. Already purchased a second. If you can get past the strong scent, kind of like turmeric, this is an interesting exfoliant.
Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA - about half way through my first bottle. Using in hopes it helps with brown spots/hyper-pigmentation from blemishes. Will probably purchase a second bottle to bear out whether it is effective or not.
I use the direct acids above in rotation along with a BHA. I do not use more than one direct acid on my face a night. And tend to give my face a break every third or fourth night depending on how sensitive my skin is. I dislike making my face "angry." Meaning tight, itchy, redness from irritation...I find if I give my face a break I recover and have nice results from the direct acids.
TBH I am truly impressed with The Ordinary!
Aside from the shockingly LOW prices, I feel pretty good about them, because of the other Deciem products I have used.
And I do have other Ordinary products on my to try list when they are in stock: High-Adherence Silicone Primer, High-Spreadability Fluid Primer and maybe their 1% Retinol (Compare to Paula's Choice is $56 vs. $6.70!!!). I already use a prescription Retin A, so this would just be a booster. The Matrixyl 10% + HA also looks interesting.
Please keep in mind I am 48, have aging skin that tends to be combination erring towards more oily. I still have the occasional break out, but no where near the severe acne of my 20' & 30's! I also have pigmentation, some brown spots and discoloration. So I have chosen products that should help with all of those issues. Over all I am very happy with how my face is looking and feeling these days. And as you know, consistency and time are the real factors in successful skin care. WHEW! I hope this helps.