The Super Effective Cleanser From Niod That Doesn't Look, Feel Or Sound Like A Cleanser

To say I'm obsessed with cleansing is somewhat of an understatement. If there's one kind of product in no short supply within my bathroom cupboards, then it's a huge portfolio of cleansing oils, balms, foams and creams to help leave my skin looking and feeling refreshed. There's nothing worse than not removing your makeup effectively (read my post on the 'truth about sleeping in your makeup' if you want to know why,) so I'm always experimenting with more sensual and pleasurable ways to do so - but this new cleaning ester turns that on its head by making it a functional process yet again. By design, this cleanser doesn't look, feel or sound like a cleanser at all; you could be forgiven for mistaking it for some kind of paintbrush cleaning fluid, or something you're more likely to find in B&Q than Boots. Deciem just keep pulling it out of the bag with their groundbreaking innovations, and their Niod sub-brand has become something of a vocation for their founder Brandon. Almost never intended to see the light of day, the products are simplistic but provide a totally new way of thinking about skin - for even the most passionate and knowledgeable among us. This Low-Viscosity Cleaning Ester showcases that mindset not only because of the rather unappealing name, but because of a design that totally takes the unnecessary pleasure out of the cleansing process. 

I hope you're sitting comfortably, because we're about to get technical. This ground-breaking product provides a skin cleaning system that respects the dermal barriers of skin while regulating visible sebum production, cleaning the surface and removing all traces of makeup in a single step. It contains no cleansing plant oils, no detergents and no water, but instead uses isolated sugar and avocado esters to remove every trace of dirt and makeup - with or without water. What’s even better is that the technologies used within the formula will actually further act as delivery boosters for treatments applied after cleaning; put simply, this won’t only cleanse your skin more effectively than you’ve ever experienced before, but it will help to boost the performance of any night creams or treatments applied afterwards. 

So here's the lowdown on what this transparent liquid includes: the structure of Fatty Alcohol Ethylhexanoic Acid Ester is nearly identical to a vast array of emollients used in makeup and skincare, allowing the formula to breakdown these formulations by being so similar to them. Within seconds of application, this flexible ester is able to dissolve even the most complex forms of silicones, oils, pigments and other topical formulations. Additionally, Alcohol Lauric Acid Ester is able to breakdown even the most persistent forms of UV filters used in sun care products - meaning that all traces of SPF are instantly removed. Catalyzed Avocado Butyl Alcohol Ester helps to balance sebum production while removing traces of dirt, while Gallic Acid Ester helps to remove the last traces of the product itself after it’s bound to surface impurities. The result is an incredibly clean, refreshed and perfected complexion and balanced sebum production - whether you’re a sufferer or dry or oily skin. Wowzer.

As soon as I used this I knew it was totally different to anything I'd used before. It's not a balm, not an oil, not a cream and not even a lotion - it's a transparent water-like liquid that features no water whatsoever. You need only a squirt massaged into your skin to help lift away all traces of makeup (and I mean all traces of makeup) without stinging, feeling tight or overloading the skin. There's no need to pre-cleanse or even really double cleanse, as the ingredients are so blooming effective at delivering an effortless yet thorough result. You can even apply it to a cotton pad and apply with absolutely no water too, meaning ineffective face wipe cleanses when you're at a festival are a thing of the past... Hallelujah! Although this does remove the ritual of cleansing (and the rather nice textures and scents that often accompany it,) I simply can't deny how effective it is and doing the job it promises. If you like your beauty faff free, simple and to the point, then this is definitely one for you; if you like your beauty regime to be bursting with delightful scents and evocative textures, park that temporarily and experience this for yourself. It's worth it.

The Niod Low-Viscosity Cleaning Ester is available online, priced £30.00 for 240ml.