The last review I did of The Ordinary products here (Read the review here) was about two years ago but this brand has since gone on to become my oily skin's best friend, because not only are their products very effective for me, they're relatively affordable and quite accessible as a lot of skincare retailers here carry it (I don't care for brands/products that i can't easily get when i need them).
In this post, I will be sharing my experience with the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% formula, so please keep reading!
A little skin profile:
My face is oily/combination, acne-prone, with large pores, lots of texture and hyperpigmentation, quite the sandpaper..
Pure Niacinamide and 1% Zinc \ A High-strength vitamin and mineral blemish formula that visibly regulates sebum (oil) production, minimizes the appearance of pores and congestion of the skin.
Review -
So I first used this product earlier this year after having seen lots of positive review on its benefits for oily skin and pores. It worked well but unfortunately i couldn't repurchase it as all the skincare stores here were out of stock and not restocking due to covid.
Fast forward to last month and i was able to get my hands on it, albeit at a higher cost than the N6,000 vicinity that it normally is (for the 30ml size).
It comes in their signature frosted glass bottle with a droplet for easy extraction of the product. The serum itself is clear and light, applies and absorbs easily and has a very mild, almost undetectable smell. If you have any tearing or open scars on your skin though, then you can expect some short sharp stinging that goes away after a few seconds.
This product does exactly as it says and immediately too! Excess oil production is stopped, pores look instantly smaller and way decongested!
I apply it everyday, morning and night as recommended, which leaves my face smoother and more impressively, brighter.
It's literally the most effective product for my skin type and issues (even more than the AHA/BHA peeling solution).
Pros -
- Lightweight, alcohol, gluten and silicon free.
- Instantly minimizes the appearance of pores, congestion & blemishes.
- Controls excess sebum (oil) production.
- Affordable compared to other similar brands.
- Non-irritating and non-drying.
Cons -
- Apart from the brightening, results are not permanent, so this is to be a regular product in your skincare routine. My pores and congestion return after a couple of days of not using the product.
That's about it. My experience with this Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% has been positive and it's definitely earned a permanent place in my heart and skin care regimen, so if you have similar skin type or issues as i do, consider trying it out.
If you have tried this product, what was your experience with it? let's chat in the comments!
Jeans are in the top 2 of favorite type of clothing that I love to wear (only second to a white button-down shirt) but it’s usually quite the challenge getting a pair that fits my curvy body properly, while being of a great quality.
Apart from Levi's and J Brand, who i think make the most awesome jeans, the better quality jeans are usually found in Vintage/thrift shops and markets, based on my experience.
New jeans from our open/mass markets here (Lagos) just have too much elastin, bad color washes and weird cuts, which might fit okay at first but those jeans are often not durable and begin to slacken and lose form after a few washes.
'Cheap' but neither classy nor sustainable.
As a curvy person, you want jeans that are flexible but with structure.
[In a subsequent post, I’ll be going in-depth about jeans and what qualities to look out for when buying them, such as fabric mixes, cut & style, etc.].
Anyway, I wanted & needed a new pair of jeans, one that is high-waisted, classic blue wash, a little loose-fitting, straight cut and almost floor-length. I used to be a skinny jeans gal but recently I’ve become more into the vintage-y, straight cut fit.
I knew I wouldn’t easily get that cut and fit in the open markets here in Lagos and buying from abroad like on Asos or Fashionova was not also a viable option, so I thrifted a pair.
The color, fabric and sizing/measurements of the jeans I got were close to perfect, except for some gaping and the too-long length.
I went ahead to do a little D.I.Y to take-in the gaping at the waist and also take up the hem a little bit.
To see the whole process of how I did this, watch the video on my YouTube channel here (please SUBSCRIBE too).
Now, I’ve styled it here for a simple casual classic look, with a plain white long-sleeve top, clear heels to add even more height and some minimal gold accessories.
This is such a classic outfit that works every time and for a reason! Simple enough for anyone to wear, flattering on almost every body type, especially curvy bodies.
