If, like me, you’re new to NIP + FAB‘s skincare range, then you might be curious as to who/what they are. Maria Hatzistefanis is the founder of NIP + FAB as well as the Rodial, another brand you may be familiar with. From my little bit of research, they seem to be a UK brand that is also sold in the US at Ulta and in Canada at Shoppers Drug Mart.
The NIP + FAB range I’ve been testing out over the last month has been their Glycolic Fix range which is intended to exfoliate and brighten.
The NIP + FAB Gylcolic Fix Overnight Purifying Gel was the first item I dug into. This gel is a night-time cleansing system for dull and oily skin (I’m somewhat oily during the summer so this works out!). It contains glycolic (4% acid) and salicylic acid to help resurface and purify the skin bey gently lifting dead skin cells away with.
I found that this was definitely comfortable to wear overnight because it sunk in to my skin enough to not feel like a gel mask overnight. Oddly though, I found when I took my shower in the morning, I had to wipe it off my face because it kind of turned my face into a a slippery texture. Was a bit unusual, as I’d never experienced anything like that before, but there were no ill effects as far as I could tell!
Surprisingly for me, I did seem to notice a difference in my skin within a few days. I’ll admit I didn’t actually read the instructions or bottle before I started slapping it on my skin. So when I woke up one morning and was like “my face looks brighter” I was like… where the heck is this coming from? I then took a look at the skincare I’d started using and it’s only then that I realized that this stuff was intended to do that! I almost wonder if blind skincare testing is the way to go. Use it, see what it does, then see if it matches the claims. So yes, this did make my face brighter! It also has a wonderful grapefruit scent which I highly enjoyed.
The NIP + FAB Glycolic Fix Overnight Purifying Gel can be purchased online at Ulta.com for $14.95 USD.
If you’re looking for a more intense skin resurfacing, the NIP + FAB Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme may be for you. These contains “concentrated acid blend of AHAs and BHAs help to improve the skin’s natural exfoliation process + decongest dull skin with one pre-soaked pad. Pores appear more refined + the complexion brighter to rival results of an acid peel.” (The glycolic acid is 5% in this one.) Of course, sometimes reading the directions is beneficial, as this one told me I should only use it 2-3 times a week (once a week if you’re sensitive). I had used it five days in a row with no ill effects… however I also didn’t notice anything else happening either. It’s entirely possible this was working in conjunction with the Overnight Purifying Gel, but when I cut it down to once a week, I didn’t notice a change.
The NIP + FAB Glycolic Fix Nights Pads Extreme can be purchased online at Ulta.com for $14.95 USD.
And lastly, we have my favourite out of everything I tried. The NIP + FAB Glycolic Instant Fix Mask is a “high potency, pore tightening gel mask to perfect and mattify the complexion. Glycolic acid combines with EVERMAT technology to gently smooth away the appearance of lines + wrinkles whilst clearing + reducing the look of enlarged pores. Skin is more even-toned + visually smoother.”
This is a 10 minute mask that you’re actually going to FEEL like it’s doing something. And as someone who doesn’t always notice a visual change in the appearance of my skin, I’m really freaking happy to get that sensation that something is actually happening with my skin. Whenever I applied this mask (about once a week) I got a slight burning/tingling sensation on my face throughout the duration of wear. It definitely turned my face red, which was still visible after removing the product, but it slowly dissipated afterwards. I made sure to moisturize my face after each use because I was left feeling like my skin was tighter. Once my face had calmed down, I felt a difference when I touched it with my fingers and it definitely looked minutely smoother than before I used the mask!
The NIP + FAB Glycolic Instant Fix Mask can be purchased on online at Ulta.com for $12.99 USD.
Final Thoughts
Of the three NIP + FAB products I tried, the Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme was a pass for me. The other two – the Glycolic Instant Fix Mask and the Gylcolic Fix Overnight Purifying Gel – were a total win. They’re also in a really nice price point and won’t break the bank so I think that’s something to take into consideration as well. Let me know if you’ve tried anything by NIP + FAB before and what your thoughts were!
The products featured in this review were sent to me for consideration.
Would the mask be a good product for dry skin, or do you think it would irritate too much?
Okay so I had to look into it since I was unsure, but from what I’d read, YES, glycolic acid is good for dry skin. “Using an acid removes the top, dull layers, promoting the production of collagen and elastin. It’s a rapid exfoliant that will slough away dead, dry skin cells resulting in an even-toned radiant and glowing appearance.” So it looks like it’d be good for dry skin too!
Wow it’s good that the products actually do something lol. That seems rare with skincare. These seem like interesting products indeed. I have a glycolic toner from Pixi that I bought at Gen beauty. I have reason to believe my skin is allergic though as I was facing some weird skin rashes while using it. I was thinking it might be the combination of skincare products I’d been using (which I’ve since switched up) but I’ve been too scared to try it again. Glycolic acid seems like such a super ingredient too! I hope I’m not actually allergic!
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I know right? So often I’m left wondering if skincare is just laying on top of my skin as opposed to actually interacting with it (not moisturizer though… I *know* when that stuff is working!). People seem to be obsessed with that Pixi product but I’ve never tried it. Too bad that is seems like your skin is allergic to it. 🙁
I received a small sample of those pads in a Target box, I believe. They were too strong for my face, but I used them for the KP (aka chicken skin) on my upper arms. They worked like a charm for that! I will be picking up the full size. Now my husband can quit asking me if I’m cold! It’s 102 frickin degrees! I’m not cold.
Oh that’s such a good idea! I’ve heard chemical exfoliants are ideal for getting rid of that chicken skin whereas scrubs will just exacerbate the problem.
Isn’t that genius? I’m totally going to try that tonight!
I never thought to use them on my upper arms. I’m going to have to try that out! I’ve had that problem since I was younger, although it’s definitely not been as bad in my late twenties and now early thirties, but it’s definitely still there.
I like the idea of not reading the product’s claims beforehand, as expectations can really impact what we notice. I’m tempted by that overnight gel for sure!
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It was kind of done by accident because I figured they were just a skin refresher type pad. Whoops! And yeah, expectations play a huge role in skincare. We try to look for what we’re supposed to be seeing, which… I think sometimes my brain will lie to me. lol