DECIEM Archives | THE FRUIT COMPOTE

NIOD CAIS + MMHC

December 14, 2017

Deciem is a Toronto-based company and the umbrella for different brands that have gained massive popularity in say, less than 2 years. One of the brands, The Ordinary, is probably the most successful after only being launched a little over a year ago and has become an instant cult favorite for many. Since my visit last year, Deciem has grown exponentially, landing a (controversial) investment with Estee Lauder (read here, here and here) and short to say, there’s no stopping them at this point. Brandon Truaxe has really set out what he intended to, disrupt and challenge the beauty industry.

In the past year, I’ve been trying several of the products, specifically from NIOD (Non-Invasive Options in Dermal Science). In all seriousness, reviewing these products is a challenge for me. I am intimidated by them. NIOD is very science-based and my brain just doesn’t go that far up there. The terms and jargons used are way above what average people might understand. And I get that. It’s pushing us to go out of the box and be more critical.

Despite all of this, I am going to attempt to convey my thoughts, in the best possible, The Fruit Compote way. Let me start with NIOD Copper Amino Isolate Serum 1.00% (CAIS) and Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex (MMHC).

A 10-minute read on Brandon Truaxe

September 1, 2016

In the continuation of DECIEM‘s office visit in Toronto, I was also able to do an interview with none other than Brandon Truaxe, the company’s founder. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see him in person as he is very busy (obviously!). So no selfies here 🙁 But, email is the next best thing.

Let me be honest. Compiling the questions were easy. Sure. I had a lot to ask. Editing and sorting them out however, is a whole other story. After reading different interviews and articles, including his informative replies on Caroline Hirons‘ blog post, I knew the man is a genius. He is very different (hence, the “abnormal” reference) and that is a breath of fresh air in the beauty industry that can get a little too dictating, confining and repetitive at times. At least that’s how I feel more than a few times lately.

I just want to know his opinions and insights on almost everything! But, I can’t ask him to spend the entire day answering my questions, right? Hopefully, the ones I picked will feed your curiosity too, at least some.

Let’s get to it!

DECIEM – The Monkey Business

August 22, 2016

If it wasn’t for Puche, I wouldn’t have known DECIEM in the first place. Thanks to her, I got to know one of the brands under its umbrella, NIOD, sometime last year and eventually the marvelous work of Brandon Truaxe, the company’s founder. From there on, my curiosities peaked and found out that DECIEM is from Canada. What’s even better, it’s from Toronto no less; the city where I went to college and a witness to some of the most important events in my life.

It truly is wondrous how the universe works. I knew DECIEM just opened their first retail store in Toronto sometime ago and at the time I had already purchased a flight ticket to the city for my brother’s wedding. I was really excited to finally get to see the products in real life. I have every intention to visit the store and this is where it gets even more interesting.

A completely harmless conversation occurred:

B (Bro) : You know, I have a friend who works in a skincare lab. If you want, I can introduce you to her so you can check it out.

K (me) : (hearing the word “lab”, I instantly asked) DECIEM?!?!?!?!

The rest is history, written on this post. Through this friend, I was able take a tour inside DECIEM‘s spacious headquarter and really, living the dream like a child in a candy store. This is to me, like watching How It’s Made live, without the LCD screen.

Warning, this is a picture-heavy post.

As soon as I saw the building, my heart palpitated.