NIOD – Sophisticated technology in skincare

Ashley Ng

27 April 2024

NIOD is the premium version of The Ordinary (also part of DECIEM company) enforcing the standard of science-backed skincare.

The line educates users about the active ingredients that can technically create the transformation of the skin, instead of spending money on products with aggressive marketing plans including short, divine but superficial reviews from KOLs and influencers (this is a marketing trap that Asians often fall into due to emotional buying). You should understand what the active ingredients are, how they work, and try the product on your skin to see the effect – this may become the most thorough review.

Niod is highly advanced because it applies new technology and utilizes better-quality raw materials.

MULTI-MOLECULAR HYALURONIC COMPLEX (MMHC2)by NIOD - Won the Glass Skincare Award, high-tech line.

I temporarily call it multi-sized HA.

pH: 4.0-5.0, no alcohol, no oil, no silicone

*Combined formula of 15 types of HA. Why is it necessary to use different sizes of HA?

When products claim to have hyaluronic acid, we should pay attention to what types of hyaluronic acid it contains. Molecule sizes are pivotal for the absorption into deeper skin layers.

Small molecules are shorter and can more easily penetrate the skin through the protective cell layers of the epidermal outer layer.

Having said that, larger-sized forms will stay on the skin surface and absorb water from the skin to the surface, making the skin's surface instantly moist and smooth, but then it dries out. Therefore, in some cases, people experience drier skin after using moisturizer.

This MMHC2 is out of this world: includes 15 types of HA in all sizes, small, medium and large that moisturize all skin layers from the inside out, offering a longer-lasting moisturizing effect.

My two cents for HA: size matters!

*Sodium hyaluronate or Hyaluronic acid?

In the skincare world, when a product claims to have "hyaluronic acid", most of the time the real active ingredient is the sodium salt form of HA (sodium hyaluronate) (also a marketing trap). Pure form of hyaluronic acid is an extremely rare and costly active ingredient as it produces a direct effect on the skin, way more powerful in moisturizing the skin than sodium hyaluronate.

Not many brands use pure hyaluronic acid in their products because it is pricey and requires advanced technology.

The formula of MMHC2, in addition to different sizes of sodium hyaluronate, also contains 1% direct-acting hyaluronic acid that could enhance the water retention property and improve skin firmness.

The formula also includes a number of antioxidant flavonoids, and amino acids that promote collagen synthesis.