Hey there! If you‘ve landed on this page, I imagine you share some curiosity about the buzz surrounding the so-called "Abnormal Beauty Company" named Deciem. Known for its science-geek inspired skincare brands like The Ordinary, NIOD and Hylamide, Deciem built an obsessive following mixing cosmetic labs with internet culture.
As someone who got hooked on their ultra-transparent approach to ingredients that actually make a visibly proven difference, I‘ll map out everything you need to decide whether to drink the Deciem Koolaid. Fair warning, this is gonna get lengthy because I have a lot of thoughts! But grab some tea, get comfy and hopefully you‘ll emerge way more educated. 🧪🔬
What Makes Deciem So Different?
Most skincare brands want you to think some fancy packaging equals results. Deciem said "That‘s nice, but let‘s peel back the hype and show people what‘s really working at a cellular level." Founded by the late Brandon Truaxe in 2013, Deciem aimed to revolutionize beauty through radical transparency and proven science-backed formulas at almost shockingly fair prices.
The company ethos rejects superficial branding and emotional marketing tricks. Instead their over 300 products highlight research-tested active ingredients tailored to target skincare concerns at their root causes. The no BS clinical vibe earns fans among those tired of overpaying for all fluff.
But it also confuses first-timers used to prettier packaging and nicer sounding product names! Inside though, you‘ll discover some of the most fairly priced, potently formulated serums, oils and treatments out there.
Now under Estee Lauder‘s wing and new leadership, Deciem faced growing pains getting here. We‘ll get into that. But with a current valuation of nearly $3 billion dollars, they must be doing something right! Let‘s explore why diehard fans call this the holy grail of skincare.
Deciem By the Numbers
Before diving into the products, here‘s a numeric breakdown of how the self-proclaimed "abnormal company" measures up:
- 7 – Number of indie skincare brands under the Deciem umbrella including The Ordinary, NIOD, Hylamide, and others
- 130+ – Reported number of Deciem storefront locations across 25+ countries as of 2022
- 4 million – Deciem‘s Instagram follower count as a baseline of their community size
- 30,000+ – Reviews on Deciem site Influencer tallying an average 4.8 stars out of 5
- $285 million – Deciem‘s last reported sales revenue back in 2019 prior to the Estee Lauder acquisition
- Under 2% – Their return/refund rates as a signal of generally satisfied customers
So in about a decade, Deciem created an army of loyal supporters won over by the transparency and sophisticated formulas unlocking legit beauty breakthroughs.
Next let‘s dig into…
Deciem Review Part 1: The Good 😇
Having tested my fair share of The Ordinary‘s acid exfoliants and vitamin C to NIOD‘s sensitized skin saviors, here‘s the rundown on big pros:
Ingredients That Get Nerdy
Deciem lives and dies by sharing every last component in formulas that get geeky citing published research. Expect to see chemicals you probably need to Google like triglycerides, microalgal polysaccharides and tetrapeptides.
It empowers those wanting to understand the how behind what makes their skin cells tick. And it ensures said ingredients have real proven functional benefits, not just nice claims.
Prices That Punch Above Their Weight
You know that amazing $100 bakuchiol serum that made your skin glow instantly? The Ordinary‘s $7 formula likely replicates or outperforms it ounce for ounce thanks to keeping fancy packaging and marketing out. Makes my wallet happy!
Treatment For Your concern
With 7 sub-brands spanning 300+ products addressing concerns from aging to dryness, acne, redness and more, something in their lineup likely holds the key to whatever skin struggle you faces.
Sustainability Starts at The Chemist‘s Bench
Deciem walks their talk on responsible sourcing and sustainable production methods few competitors match. Their focus stays on chemistry not excess waste.
Smells Like…Results?
No added dyes or perfumes means Deciem products smell like the raw materials themselves, not aspirational promises. Again that scientific integrity over marketing sizzle.
Sizing Depots For Savings
The 100ml+ product sizes across many lines let you stockpile favorites for serious savings over those tiny 1oz bottles elsewhere costing the same.
So in summary – legit ingredients delivering outcomes, fair pricing, a product for every skin grievance and an earth-friendly ethos…what‘s not to love?
Now for the…
Deciem Review Part 2: The Less Good 😠
After years testing different regimens from The Ordinary and company myself plus studying reviews, some drawbacks stood out:
Clinical Naming Cause Confusion
With ingredients like "L-ascorbic acid 6% + triple peptide complex 2%" branding sounds more biochem midterm than beauty aisle. I had to science up to make sense of it all! Beginners may feel overwhelmed.
Service & Support Inconsistencies
With viral growth came customer service hiccups – delays, confusing policies and unhelpful responses reported across Trustpilot, Reddit and elsewhere. Many feel ignored sent from rep to rep issue unresolved. They acknowledge improvement needed here.
Brand Founder Controversies
Deceim‘s original trailblazing but eccentric founder Brandon Truxe left a complex legacy. Product genius but erratic behavior and company drama/lawsuits eventual led the board to force him out, disrupting operations for a period pre-Estee Lauder sale.
Formulas Play Chemistry Experiments on Your Skin
Super potent formulas can still irritate or backfire for those with sensitivities. Deciem says skin experiences will vary but warns to patch test and slowly introduce actives. Retinoids and acids won‘t vibe with all.
No Product Exchanges – Just Returns
Despite a generous 365 day return window, Deciem maintains a no exchange policy outside regions requiring it by law. Items must be returned then repurchased once confirmed. An hassle for international buyers facing restocking fees too!
The Bottom Line: When aligned to your skin goals and type, Deciem delivers visible outcomes blending science and integrity at prices untouchable elsewhere. But realizing results demands education navigating clinical names and accept some trial and error.
Now that we‘ve weighed all sides, let‘s get into the fun part – reviewing some very loved stand outs in Deciem‘s product arsenal…
Deciem Bestsellers Reviewed
Between The Ordinary‘s viral hits and NIOD‘s next gen technology, outstanding formulations exist across price tiers if you know where to look! Here‘s the cream of the crop:
The Ordinary Buffet + Copper Peptides 1% – $29
This multi-peptide powerhouse serum combats signs of aging like fine lines, dryness and uneven skin texture thanks to a cocktail of firming, smoothing and collagen-protecting compounds.
My skin legit looks 5 years younger with minimized pores, plumped hydration and restored bounce when I use Buffet religiously. Copper peptides amplify its anti-aging prowess. At $29, it outperforms $100+ dupes easily making it my top Deciem winner!
NIOD Hyaluronic Complex – $40
See ya later hydration loss! Multiple sizes of hydra molecules fill skin with next level moisture claimed to surpass topical HA limits via groundbreaking micro-encapsulation technology.
True to NIOD form at science‘s cutting edge, reviewers get ‘glass skin‘ plumping return on this award winning formula. I save it for parched skin emergencies given the pricier tag. But once box, totally worth it!
The Ordinary AHA/BHA Acne Solution $7.20
This 10 minute facial peel supercharges cleansing and exfoliation to decongest pores and fade scars/pigmentation without stripping or irritating thanks to soothing botanicals.
My oily, breakout prone skin loves this stuff once a week! I look glowy and clearer not red or raw like with some acid formulas. The price fits my budget perfectly too.
The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil – $10
This indulgent botanical oil smooths skin tone while delivering an omega-rich nutrient infusion to rebuild hydration and skin cell integrity showing the signs of premature aging.
True rose hip oil sells for 2-3x more elsewhere. So at $10 for a big bottle that makes pores vanish while nourishing my skin beautifully, I‘ll slather freely! Added to foundations, it gives the most believable natural dewy finish.
Hylamide Glow Booster – $15
This innovative serum combines optics, hydrators and antioxidants to instantly even skin‘s appearance while refining texture long term via boosted microcirculation and hydration.
Think of it like a blurring Instagram filter in a bottle! Lightweight but powerful on dark spots and dullness. I use it before events or weekly for an affordable subtle glow that hydrates wonderfully too.
The Takeaway: Deciem offers clinical grade formulas rivaling luxury brands costing 4X+ more across every anti-aging, acne, hydration and skin perfecting need out there. You just need navigate ingredient names sounding more chemistry PhD than cosmetics aisle!
Once you ID your concern then cross-check formulations with targeted actives, be prepared to find holy grails. Their Vitamin C converts pigmentation and fine lines for me flawlessly session to session!
Just know not every product vibe with every person so patch testing stays key. Sign up for brand emails too so you catch rare sitewide sales because the affordable pricing gets even sweeter!
Okay let‘s recap everything in a handy pro con list:
Deciem Pros
🔬 Ingredient transparency fully discloses every component
💰 Affordable pricing thanks to no big marketing budgets
🧪 Potent active formulas deliver visibly proven efficacy
🤓 Geeky brand names signal science not gimmicks
🌿 Organic botanicals feature in many formulas
🚚 Estee Lauder acquisition brings big distribution reach
🛍 Huge product selection targets countless concerns
Deciem Cons
🤯 Clinical names cause confusion for newbies
🤔 Consistent vision disrupted by founder dynamics
⚗️ Super actives in some irritate sensitivities
😠 Spotty customer service frustrates portion of clients
🚫 No exchanges – return/repurchase only
Deciem Buying Guide: Where To Shop & Save
Once you‘ve settled on products of interest, here is the quick how-to cop on Deciem‘s family of brand sites plus some insider savings tips too!
1. Buy From Deciem Direct
Deciem ships orders to over 50 countries globally on their official ecommerce sites below with exact pricing shown at checkout:
2. Shop Their Partner Retailers
Third party sellers offer seasonal sales or discounted bundled kits not available directly too. But ensure authorized partners like:
- Sephora
- Cult Beauty
- SpaceNK
- SkinStore
3. Never Pay Full Price!
Deciem rarely advertises deals so you need to hunt savings like:
🔎 Check Retailer Sales Sections
🗓 Mark Your Calendar For Holiday Promos
🤑 Buy Bundles That Discount Per Item
👯 Refer Friends for Credits
🚨 Add Items to Wish Lists – Get Alerts When Discounted
💰 Stretch Budgets With Split Pay Installments
🛒 Replenish Favorites Via Subscription Savings
🎁 Gift Card Promos – Free Value Added
🎉 Birthday Discounts At Partners Like SpaceNK
📦 Reduce Your Cost Per Oz. – Buy Bigger Bottles
🛫 Third Party BorderFree Lowers International Taxes
Main Takeaway: Store sites directly and scour their partners during seasonal sales periods for maximum savings potential on your desired serums, treatments or acclaimed supplements!
Okay let‘s wrap it all up…
My Final Take: Who Should Buy From Deciem?
At the end of the long-read day, I stand by my original thesis – Deciem delivers astounding skincare if you pick products aligned to your actual needs and temper expectations around their clinical approach.
These aren‘t fancily-packaged quick fix potions or botox alternatives. Think of them more as supplements fortifying skin cell building blocks customized per skin struggle. Be ready to embrace some science-y terminology too!
But if the usual beauty industry BS makes you wanna scream, this radical transparency feels like a breath of fresh air. And seeing my own hyperpigmentation, fine lines and breakouts fade session after session makes me believe in the science-first mission.
My advice? If you want glowy, balanced skin truly safely backed by evidence not influencer hype, Deciem warrants exploring. Just work within your skin sensitivities, embrace the clinical vibe and hunt down deals padding those already friendlier price tags.
Thanks for sticking it out to the end of this wild ride! Have you given Deciem‘s indie brands a test drive yet? Or still debating taking the plunge? Let me know your questions below!
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