I’ve tried everything from The Ordinary’s sister skincare brand Niod – here’s what to buy

While the name doesn’t give much away, this is a concentrated milky emulsion for sensitive skin that works to reduce redness and the itchiness and stinging sensation that can sometimes occur as a result. It has a slightly thicker consistency than many of Niod’s much waterier serums, but no less fast-absorbing.

The formula contains a cocktail of soothing and calming ingredients (notably synthetic oat analogues to combat irritation and bio-active glucoside counteract uneven skin tone caused by redness and sensitivity).

My skin often experiences flare-ups, including hormonal acne, and the modulating glucosides delivered the quickest results on my rosacea, especially as you can use it morning and night. If you have reactive skin like mine, this is a fast-acting serum that will remain a permanent part of my routine.

While this feels and looks like a serum, Niod’s photography fluid is actually a pearlescent primer that evens out skin tone and reduces redness. The formula can be worn alone after your skincare routine or as a base beneath your foundation. It’s very fluid-like, making it easy to apply and adding a touch of radiance to the skin without any shimmer. Unlike other similar products, it doesn’t go greasy after a few hours of wear.

Containing dragon fruit chromatic refractor and an oil-free bio-sugar complex, it suits both oily and dry skin types and even blurs pores slightly, too. If you want something lightweight with hardworking skincare ingredients, this is ideal, as it’s weightless and super-speedy to apply – I just used my fingers.

Niod’s multi-molecular hyaluronic complex MMHC2 is one of the most well-known products. It’s a hyaluronic acid serum that hydrates, improves moisture levels and replenishes our skin’s natural supply of the ingredient that depletes as we age. It feels quite wet and slippery, and it’s not the fastest-absorbing serum I’ve tried, but it is a very effective way to treat dehydration.

There is a slight tackiness as you massage it in, but nothing off-putting. Just be sure to wait a few minutes until it's fully absorbed before applying your moisturiser or make-up. Admittedly, it doesn’t have the most pleasant smell, but it disappears once it's absorbed, leaving skin feeling smoother, softer, less irritated and plumper. Part of its effectiveness is due to 15 forms of hyaluronic compounds, of varying molecule sizes, which allow this serum to hydrate and retain moisture across multiple layers of the skin to support, strengthen and leave the skin barrier plump.

Again, this has a vague product name (survival 30), but it’s Niod’s SPF30 mineral sunscreen. The bottle is a similar size to the serums in the range, which is unusually compact, so if you are regimented with your sunscreen, you may find you’ll run out quicker. That said, it’s a great sunscreen for all skin types, even oily, as it’s lightweight, not sticky or greasy, and doesn’t take ages to rub in.

If you find SPF a bit of a bother to wear daily or struggle to find one that sits nicely under make-up, this is ideal to slot into your routine without any irritation, and it’s quickly become a staple in my regimen. The grey colour of it is due to the active ingredients, and while it did dissipate on my pale skin, darker skin tones may find it leaves a white cast. My only other gripe is that I wish it was available in a larger size.

Face mists are often a refreshing step in your routine, and while they’re not essential, the benefits of one can be varied. Niod’s superoxide dismutase 3 enzyme mist is the brand’s newest launch. It’s a water-based toner in spray form and is rich in antioxidants to combat a multitude of skin concerns, including dehydration, uneven skin tone and dullness, taking a preventative approach to skin damage before it occurs.

While our bodies naturally produce superoxide dismutase, it depletes as we age, contributing to loss of skin quality. Niod has formulated this mist with an isolated form of superoxide dismutase to help our body preserve our natural collagen content, which helps repair damage caused by pollution, firm, even tone and add radiance.

Spritz it onto cleansed skin morning and night for a refreshed complexion. I found it contributed to calming my rosacea-prone skin that often flares up after drinking red wine or when temperatures suddenly drop. The fine mist also didn’t leave my skin feeling overly wet or sticky.

Niod’s flavanone mud is the brand’s version of a classic mud mask, but it focuses more on long-term benefits rather than a short-term, temporary oil-absorbing hit. Designed for spot-prone skin, it treats congestion by removing product buildup, excess oil and sebum, and protects against inflammation and environmental stressors like pollution.

You only need to use a very thin layer across your face or to target specific areas, such as the T-zone, and this 50ml bottle promises 18 to 25 uses. There are different types of clay within it, mainly Kaolin, as well as a black Amazonian clay, and sedimentary white clay, which work together to reduce the appearance of enlarged pores and bind together excess sebum, which is removed when you wash it off. While it doesn’t have a particularly pleasant smell, it doesn’t linger too long, nor did it irritate my redness-prone skin when I washed it off with a wet flannel.

While Niod’s copper amino isolate lipid is described as a gel, it has an unexpected balmy texture. It comes out of the tube a translucent blue colour but rubs into skin clear and is ideal for those with dry, textured skin. A little goes a long way, so use it sparingly to avoid feeling greasy, but it works swiftly to soothe areas of dryness.

It is a copper-peptide rich formula, which means it improves collagen production and elastin to firm, plump and hydrate skin, while squalane hydrates and provides suppleness. If you like a rich, balmy texture, this ticks every box. It is very expensive, however, for a very small tube. It will last a long time, but it is a big upfront investment to commit to, and the most expensive product in Niod’s library.

The Niod copper amino isolate serum is formulated with copper peptides, focused on reducing the appearance of fine lines, supporting skin health as you age and improving radiance and texture. A decent all-rounder, it’s a vivid blue colour that disappears into the skin when rubbed in. The water-like texture is the most lightweight skincare product I’ve ever applied.

There’s no stickiness, tacky finish or greasy build-up. It layers very well beneath other skincare products, and offers a great anti-ageing treatment if you don’t want to commit to retinols but want something that ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to the appearance of wrinkles.