Hello my beauties.
Welcome back. Today I am going to be discussing in detail yet another product from the Minimalist brand. It is the Niacinamide 5% + Hyaluronic Acid 1%. The packaging looks similar to the international brand “The Ordinary“. Some products have the same formulations as well. International brands are expensive in India. So let us see if Minimalist helps Indians to get the international product experience within a budget? Let’s find out.
Claims of Minimalist Niacinamide 5% + Hyaluronic Acid 1%:
Niacinamide 5% + Hyaluronic Acid 1% is a nourishing & hydrating daily serum that repairs & soothes sensitive skin. Those who feel 10% of niacin-amide is harsh for the skin can try the 5% variant. This formulation is suitable for people with dry and sensitive skin as it contains potent Vitamin B3 (niacinamide). It also contains Hyaluronic Acid for long-lasting hydration. And a non-sticky, silky smooth skin.
The minimalist brand claims to bring transparency to the beauty industry. As a consumer, we all have the right to know what is going on inside the product. many companies hide many ingredients from the consumers or hide many ingredients in the name of Ayurveda or herbal ingredients. The 4 approaches by Minimalist:
- Transparent ingredients
- Transparent grades
- Formulations are transparent.
- Transparent claims.
Yet the company strives to provide the products at affordable prices.
Disclaimer:
This serum was kindly sent to me by Minimalist. But the review is based on my experience. I used this serum for almost 2 months and finally writing the review. I am not partial to any brand as I solely write reviews for my readers.
Price of Minimalist Niacinamide 5% + Hyaluronic Acid 1%:
Rs. 599/- for 30ml of product. I feel quite reasonable for the quantity and the formulation. And 30ml will last for a long time as few drops are needed. You can get a discount of 15% on your first order if you place an order from THIS LINK
Minimalist product packaging:
The inside packaging is ditto “The Ordinary”. It comes in a black cardboard box. All the details such as the claims, ingredients are mentioned on the box. Once you open the box, you will find a frosted finishing bottle with a dropper. The ingredients and the directions for use are again mentioned on the bottle itself. Because most of the time we discard the boxes.
Minimalist Niacinamide 5% serum ingredients:
Aloe Vera juice is the base of this formulation, instead of water. We all know aloe Vera has n number of benefits for the skin. It reduces the appearance of acne. It hydrates the skin. Aloe Vera is packed with antioxidants and vitamins.
Niacinamide keeps the skin firm and healthy. It minimizes the appearance of pores. Minimizes fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps in treating acne. Niacinamide is suitable for dry skin and also for sensitive skin. It is sourced from Royal DSM, Netherlands.
Dimethyl Isosorbide main purpose is to resurface the skin. Even out the rough skin and reduce the wrinkles making the skin smooth. Also used to brighten the skin and unclog pores.
Propanediol is safer than propylene glycol. It depends on product to product what form it is been used. Propanediol functions as a humectant or emollient. It depends on the formulation done by the brand.
Ethoxydiglycol helps to prevent dry skin and also delays the signs of aging.
Sodium Hyaluronate adds hydration to the skin. Also, it improves the signs of ageing.
Phenoxyethanol functions differently, depends on the formulation It can act as a stabilizer. It has antibacterial properties, so it is used as a preservative in many products.
Ethylhexyglycerin emollient and humectant. Also, it has anti-bacterial properties so it increases the potency of the product.
Directions for use:
It can be used during the day as well as a part of your nighttime routine. You need to take 2 to 3 drops and apply on cleansed skin. Let the serum b absorbed by the skin. I would suggest waiting for a few minutes before you proceed with your skincare routine.
What is my opinion about Minimalist Niacinamide 5% + Hyaluronic Acid 1%?
I chose this product because of the claim hydrates, repairs and soothes. Minimalist also has a product with 10% Niacinamide. I thought 10% would be too harsh for the skin and chose the 5% one. It has a gel-like consistency and it is easily absorbed by the skin. The best part is it can be used during the day as well as at night time. There are some serums you cannot use during the day because of the exposure to the sun.
I applied it and waited for 24 hours. To check if there was any skin allergies or bumps. Thankfully there were no such things. I initially started using the serum just once a day i.e. at night. I started the Minimalist Sepicalm 3% + Oat Moisturizer during the day and the serum at night. My skin was not able to take both the formulations in a single go. I got a few pimples here and there on my face. So I used either one product from Minimalist. Then it was fine. Gradually my skin got used to Niacinamide 5% and started showing results.
I have used this product for almost 2 months and it suited my skin well. It hydrated my skin. Gave a smooth texture. I got the confidence of not wearing foundation before stepping out of the house. I always used to wear a few drops of foundation or bb cream before going out. So that I could get a smooth and flawless look. But this serum did great wonders for my skin.
A small note, you will not see a major difference in one week. Skincare takes time to show results. So if you planning to buy or using this serum the results will not be overnight.
Pros:
- The key ingredient is source information is mentioned on their website/box.
- It has aloe Vera as the base instead of water (This may be a con for many people whose skin is sensitive to aloe Vera).
- Suitable for people with dry and sensitive skin.
- Easily absorbed by the skin.
- It is fragrance-free. I would say artificial fragrance-free. Because I can get aloe Vera fragrance.
- Free from alcohols. The best thing. Because alcohols strip moisture from the skin.
- Silicone and Paraben free
- Oil-free.
- pH: 5.5 – 6.5
Cons:
- The packaging is ditto as The Ordinary. I feel the company should come up with something unique.
Summary:
I highly recommend this serum. It is affordable in comparison to other brands yet effective. If any of my beauties are sensitive to aloe Vera they should do a patch test first and then apply the serum. Initially when you use the serum try using it alternate days. Then you can start using it on daily basis. Note to the company: Please come up with the aqua base, because many beauties out there are intolerant to aloe vera. Please change the packaging.
Rating: 4.5/5
You must also read about other skincare products
This sounds really good. I have heard good things about this brand 😀
Hope you are well. How you doing?