NIOD Photography Fluid Opacity 12%

Where I got it: I was watching Bubzbeauty’s January favourites video on Youtube and this came up (she was recommended by Wayne Goss) and I got instantly interested! So I went online to do some research and I got this on LookFantastic for £20.00. There was a discount code for 15% off (LF15) so my order came to a total of NZD$37.95 with free shipping! I also used Ebates to claim 3.5% cash back! I ordered on 13/2/16 and the parcel arrived on 18/2/16! Super fast!  You can also purchase NIOD products from DECIEM which stocks all of NIOD products including a pretty good starter kit deal that contains this Photography fluid, a cleanser, eye cream and a serum.

What I got: This is a 30ml bottle of NIOD Photography Fluid Opacity 12%. NIOD stands for “Non-Invasive Options in Dermal Science” and their products are all based on scientific research using effective ingredients. So if you are a natural, organic ingredients person, you may not be into this product or even this brand. It combines light refraction prisms with topical photo-finishing technologies that transform skin to look instantly better in life and on camera. The serum-textured treatment has been specially formulated with an innovative Nano-Prismatic Yellow-Red Hue Corrector to minimize the appearance of imperfections and leaves skin with an even tone. Patented Dragon Fruit Chromatic Refractor is a bio-fruit complex tested under multiple light conditions and camera settings to boost the skin’s radiance, whilst a super-blurring suspension improves the surface and visibly reduces fine lines and pores. With an Oil-Free Hydration Bio-Sugar Complex, the fast-absorbing treatment delivers intense hydration that lasts 48 hours after application, allowing the product to work on even the driest of skin types. Achieve healthy-looking, picture-perfect skin.

How I find it: The glass bottle comes with a dropper to dispense the product with precise dose. You only need 1-2 drops for the entire face whether you mix it in with your moisturiser, foundation or just use it as a primer or by itself! I like to mix this in with a bit of moisturiser if I were to use it without a foundation as it can be a little drying on the skin. It does not provide any coverage or extra hydration despite its luminous outlook. With a foundation, I like to use it with a mattifying foundation because it will give an even glow, but control my own oil production! I use about 2 drops for the entire face and neck and I don’t even need to use a highlighter if my skin is looking good that day! It has an off-white base with very fine gold/pale yellow reflecting particles in it.

Overall: I’ve tried this out a couple of times with foundations, with BB creams or just with a moisturiser and no foundation over. If I use this with a luminous foundation, it is a bit too glowy for my combination/oily skin. So I like to use this with a normal or even a mattifying foundation. 2 drop is all that I need for a healthy glow complexion without looking like a grease ball. With a moisturiser, I only need 1 drop and it gives a natural fresh glow look to the skin. The particles are really fine and it doesn’t know look sparkly at all on the skin.

Basically, I think this is like a liquid illuminator and I have a couple of products that I think that could do the same job. A really simliar one is Lush’s Feeling Younger Skin Tint – this comes in a little glass tub and it is a little thicker than the NIOD. It also has a pink shimmer undertone instead of a pale yellow/golden one. The shimmer particles are slightly bigger than NIOD though, but on the skin, they look pretty similar.

Overall, I’m happy with the product, just not as much as I thought I would though with all the hype that your skin will look flawless even without foundation. I think that would be true for people with dull skin but no imperfections. I’ve got to cover my redness and acne scars so a bit of liquid illuminator won’t help me there.

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