9/16/2021 Replace: NIOD CAIS2 is not any extra. It has been changed by Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1*, which I reviewed on my IGTV right here, and which I really like simply as a lot! For those who nonetheless choose to learn a text-based evaluate, learn on. CAIS3 feels and performs precisely the identical for me and accommodates the identical key substances in the identical order, so most of this evaluate nonetheless applies.
This evaluate has been a very long time coming. Not simply because it sometimes takes me a minimum of one or two months to find out whether or not a “severe” (e.g. anti-aging or spot fading) product truly does something for me, but in addition as a result of I’ve had a bias in opposition to Deciem manufacturers for the longest time. Particularly in opposition to NIOD, the model that makes the product I’ll be reviewing at the moment.
The product reviewed on this submit was offered by Deciem*. This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks, which earn this weblog a small fee for purchases made utilizing these hyperlinks. Affiliate hyperlinks are marked with an asterisk(*).
So what was my downside with NIOD?
NIOD stands for “Non-Invasive Options in Dermal Science,” which begs the query, Why it isn’t known as NIODS? However that’s moreover the purpose. (Is it as a result of NIODS sounds an excessive amount of like “nads”? Did I watch an excessive amount of Beavis and Butthead as an adolescent? Who is aware of?)
NIOD merchandise goal to enhance pores and skin’s well being and look through oblique strategies that stimulate pores and skin to perform higher by itself, somewhat than reaching outcomes by way of the direct motion of typically harsh actives like retinoids and exfoliating acids. I believe.
The NIOD model web page* refuses to make issues clear. Per Deciem:
The few observers of NIOD’s childhood know that NIOD isn’t a model. It’s a pressure and it has a soul. Whereas NIOD’s genetics are dedicated to science, its soul is in the end rooted in studying.
Oh. Okay. Cool?
The pressure with a soul that’s NIOD provides merchandise with names like Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Advanced*, Modulating Glucosides*, Low-Viscosity Cleansing Ester*, Fractionated Eye Contour Focus*, Non-Acid Acid Precursor 15%*, and Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist*. Product descriptions on their web site are aggressively jargony and seemingly purposely obscure. And that’s the reason NIOD at all times drove me loopy.
NIOD positions itself as “skincare for the hyper-educated,” implying that solely very good individuals can perceive the merchandise. It’s intellectually elitist skincare. I assume you’re meant to really feel very good as soon as you’re employed out what within the precise fuck “Sanskrit Saponins*” do on your face (it’s a balm cleanser that doesn’t truly comprise any typical cleaning brokers, and no you don’t need to learn the Vedas to make use of it), and really intimidated and impressed should you can’t.
My fundamental pleasure in writing about skincare lies in presenting the merchandise as clearly as I can in order that as many individuals can perceive and luxuriate in them as attainable. That leaves me philosophically at odds with NIOD’s branding.
Issues would have ended right here, with me studiously ignoring the existence of all the household of manufacturers beneath the Deciem umbrella, if a pal of mine hadn’t landed within the PR division over at Deciem. If there’s one factor I belief greater than my very own instincts, it’s the instincts of the individuals whose skincare information I respect. So thanks, Brian, for lastly getting me to make the leap right into a bewildering world of skincare made by individuals who take into account the time period “cleaning” an “unnecessarily-privileged language kind.” As a result of all philosophical concerns apart, I fucking love the product I’m going to evaluate beneath.
NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 2:1 (CAIS2) Overview
I’ve been pleased with the outcomes of my tretinoin-heavy, youth-preserving skincare practices for a while now. Often that may imply I wouldn’t see the utility of a copper peptide product just like the CAIS2 in my routine. However I don’t prefer to put tret on my neck or chest, since I discover these areas way more delicate than my face. Because of this, I’d began to note a lack of elasticity within the pores and skin beneath my chin. Moreover, I don’t like to make use of tret continuously in the summertime. I stay by the seaside and spend lots of time within the solar; I don’t wish to danger solar injury attributable to tretinoin’s photosensitizing results. So the CAIS2 got here at an ideal time for me.
Goal: NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 2:1 primarily claims to agency pores and skin by way of improved collagen synthesis whereas boosting pores and skin’s therapeutic and immune features and combating irritation.
Finest fitted to: All pores and skin varieties.
Don’t use if: Your pores and skin is delicate to something within the substances checklist.
When and the way to use: Upon opening, dump the Copper Amino Isolate Activator bottle into the Copper Amino Isolate Serum bottle. Shut tightly with the dropper cap and shake violently for about 30 seconds.
Congratulations! Now you may have a bottle of freshly combined CAIS2!
Apply instantly after cleaning or as an early step layer after actives. Whereas NIOD states that this model of the CAIS serum isn’t pH-sensitive just like the older CAIS1 was, I might nonetheless wait a minimum of 15-20 minutes after utilizing low pH actives earlier than making use of this.
NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 2:1 Activator substances: Water, glycerin, tripeptide-29, tripeptide-1, myristoyl nonapeptide-3, trifluoroacetyl tripeptide-2, acetyl tetrapeptide-2, sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, glycogen, propanediol, pentylene glycol, dextran, dimethyl isosorbide, ethyoxydiglycol, isoceteth-20, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, caprylyl glycol, ethylhexylglycerin, phenoxyethanol, chlorphenesin
NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 2:1 Copper Focus substances: Water, copper gluconate, isoceteth-20, phenoxyethanol, chlorphenesin
Notable substances: NIOD CAIS2 is all in regards to the copper peptides, which have been trending in skincare for the previous few years attributable to their theoretical potential to extend collagen synthesis for firmer, smoother pores and skin. The CAIS2 depends most closely on GHK-Cu, a copper peptide that happens naturally in human plasma and different bodily fluids and whose presence within the physique decreases with age. Proof means that GHK-Cu can tighten free pores and skin, enhance pores and skin firmness and elasticity, clean pores and skin texture, scale back irritation, speed up and optimize pores and skin regeneration at a genetic degree, and restore photoaged or hyperpigmented pores and skin, together with a bevy of different attainable results that make this specific peptide particularly attractive within the skincare world.
That checklist of advantages appears fairly wild for a non-prescription ingredient. If GHK-Cu may actually produce all these outcomes, it will deserve to affix retinoids and vitamin C on the very brief checklist of Skincare Elements That Truly Do Unbelievable Issues To Pores and skin. And but I’ve tried a number of different peptidey and copper peptidey merchandise that didn’t do a factor for me.
As with just about some other theoretically efficient skincare ingredient, focus makes a giant distinction in effectiveness. I don’t consider a consensus exists but in regards to the optimum efficient focus of those or some other peptides, however there have to be an optimum focus, and the nearer any product involves it, the higher. I’m guessing that amongst different formulation weaknesses, the opposite peptide merchandise I’ve used earlier than didn’t comprise these substances in efficient doses.
In reality, the Deciem web site throws shade at different peptide merchandise for holding copper peptides “in very small quantities.” Usually, that may learn as a normal slam in opposition to opponents. Right here, I believe they’re on to one thing. NIOD discloses the concentrations of their copper peptides: 1% GHK-Cu and 1% free-form GHK. The variations between the 2 varieties stay unclear to my insufficiently hyper-educated eye, past what’s claimed on their web site, however the truth that they disclose their concentrations is promising.
The proof, as at all times, is within the pudding.
Efficiency
As soon as combined, NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 2:1 is a skinny, watery serum with a faint bitter scent and a phenomenal blue hue that my fellow catless cat woman Angela over at Magnificence and the Cat raved about in her evaluate of this product.
The thinness of the serum has each benefits and drawbacks. The important thing benefit is how shortly and simply it sinks into pores and skin: the water-like consistency vanishes virtually instantly, leaving pores and skin feeling naked, with none heavy residue to intervene with subsequent layers of different merchandise. The important thing drawback is that the thinness of the product could make it straightforward to by chance lose valuable drops of product throughout the act of transferring it from palm to face. Watery serums are unforgiving that manner. You’ll be able to squeeze it immediately from the dropper onto your face like magnificence gurus do in oddly suggestive skincare movies, besides, you must transfer fast to catch it earlier than it rolls proper off your chin.
I additionally discovered that the thinness of the serum made it straightforward for me to overestimate how a lot product I wanted at a time, leading to pointless waste of a not-inexpensive product.
After a couple of mishaps, I lastly settled on my traditional dosage: 1 / 4 of a dropper for face and 1 / 4 of a dropper for neck and higher chest.
What I seen after utilizing the CAIS2 for only a few weeks was nothing in need of extraordinary.
Bear in mind how I stated I don’t like utilizing tret beneath my chin? Earlier this 12 months, I’d began to note a visual deterioration in my pores and skin situation on neck and chest, which had been beginning to actually actually not match my face. There was a patch of pores and skin beneath my chin that I discovered particularly worrisome. Every time I moved my head back and forth, the pores and skin there appeared free, pulling right into a crepey flap that I simply didn’t like seeing. My neck itself and woefully UV-exposed higher chest additionally appeared to be dropping floor in comparison with my face.
It wasn’t a hydration or moisture problem, since I take all my non-tret skincare all the best way right down to my Higher Tiddy Area. Nor may or not it’s overexfoliation, since I don’t use acids or scrubs on these areas. It was, merely, a visual reminder that tret positively works, as a result of it was engaged on my face and making a particular distinction to the remainder of my pores and skin that has to go with out it.
Inside three weeks after beginning the CAIS2, that flappy bit beneath my chin had utterly vanished. I nonetheless typically search for it, simply to ensure. It’s simply not there anymore, even once I do bizarre issues with my head and neck. The pores and skin beneath my chin has tightened up significantly. My neck and higher chest grew to become smoother and firmer as properly, much less susceptible to that little bit of wrinkling that’s particularly seen for aspect sleepers once we first stand up within the morning.
As for anti-inflammatory properties, the standard slight redness I get round my mouth and chin have pale a lot that I by no means put on basis anymore. I’d gotten my basis utilization right down to only a fraction of a drop to even out these areas. Now it appears completely pointless. That in itself is magical, particularly contemplating that the college 12 months is about to begin and would require me to be up round 6am and able to go away the home at an hour that I’d naturally somewhat spend sleeping.
Does the CAIS2 stimulate collagen manufacturing and pores and skin renewal on the identical deep degree as a superb sturdy retinoid? I’m undecided about that. Tret takes a very long time to indicate seen outcomes. The results of CAIS2, however, confirmed up remarkably shortly for me. My completely unscientific principle for why that is, is that perhaps the CAIS2’s mechanism of motion impacts ranges of pores and skin nearer to the floor, which might clarify the fast and drastic change to pores and skin tightness and texture however is perhaps much less lasting than modifications deeper inside. I don’t assume CAIS2 accelerates precise pores and skin renewal to the identical diploma as a powerful retinoid, because it doesn’t trigger any of the related peeling or dryness that that may entail.
As for hyperpigmentation claims, I haven’t seen any affect from the CAIS2. In all equity, although, I don’t have any specific spots I’m making an attempt to fade on my face.
Conclusion
I gained’t be giving up tret utterly, since I consider tret impacts pores and skin at a deeper degree than the CAIS2, however NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 2:1 has improved my pores and skin so dramatically that it’s earned a permament slot in my day by day skincare routine. I’ve gone by way of one of many 15mL bottles and one of many 30mL bottles now and have simply combined up my second 30mL bottle. I see no cause on earth to not proceed. I would like them to make this in a physique product. I wish to soak my whole physique in it. I wish to bathe in it like a far much less murdery Erzsebet Bathory.
I assumed I wouldn’t like something NIOD has to supply. I used to be confirmed mistaken, and I’m glad to confess it.
Score: 5/5
Score scale:
1 – This ought to be taken off the market, or this failed at its one main job.
2 – Induced me some issues or doesn’t work very properly; wouldn’t purchase once more.
3 – Meh. Neither nice nor dangerous.
4 – Fairly good. Would purchase once more until I discover one thing higher.
5 – I’ll by no means be out there for a substitute until this one is discontinued.
The place can I purchase NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 2:1?
Whereas CAIS2 is now not bought, NIOD’s Copper Amino Isolate Serum 3 1:1 performs simply as properly for me, with the important thing distinction being that you just now not want to combine the serum and activator upon opening. You’ll be able to purchase CAIS3 from Deciem right here.*
Postscript: On press samples and replenishments
As a ultimate notice, I wish to deal with one thing that I wouldn’t blame any of you guys for mentioning.
My first, 15mL, bottle of NIOD CAIS2 got here as a press pattern from Deciem. And earlier than I completed it up, I used to be provided a replenishment together with one other cargo of issues to strive, which I accepted. And the third bottle that I’ve simply began was additionally offered by the model.
I’m conscious that the availability of product I obtain places me in a particularly privileged place as a magnificence blogger. I’m additionally conscious that it may give off the impression of bias: that I’ve to say I just like the product or else I gained’t get extra. I perceive the place that suspicion comes from. However on this case, it’s placing the rooster earlier than the egg, or the horse earlier than the cart, or one thing like that. If I didn’t prefer it within the first place, I wouldn’t settle for extra. They’re sending extra, and I’m accepting extra, exactly as a result of I genuinely adore it. I hope it’s clear for these of you who comply with my day by day routines on my Instagram that merchandise I don’t like don’t final very lengthy in my routine.
Over the previous few months of our relationship, Deciem has despatched me a couple of merchandise that haven’t labored for me. One thing in regards to the very novel “Adaptive Flexo-Silicone Mesh Advanced” within the Hydration Vaccine clogs the fuck out of my pores. In the meantime, I’m not seeing seen brightening outcomes from the “networked applied sciences that method seen pigmentation” within the Re:Pigment product, and I don’t just like the heavy movie it leaves on my face. So I’ve taken these merchandise out of my routine and clearly wouldn’t be serious about getting replenishments.
I’m persevering with to make use of CAIS2, and I’m so grateful and glad that I’ve been given additional bottles of it, as a result of these things is THE SHIT for my pores and skin. It will be if I’d paid for it, and it’s although I haven’t. Now that I understand how properly it really works for my pores and skin, I’d completely purchase it if I wanted to. And that’s the ultimate phrase!
Inquisitive about my different forays into anti-aging merchandise? Learn extra opinions right here.