Visiting Deciem's Canadian HQ (a.k.a. Skin Care Geek Heaven!)

Hi, everyone! One of the most exciting aspects of being a skin care obsessive is discovering new brands that really get it. That is, brands who really understand skin and seek to innovate in a way that's interesting, creative, and fun. Deciem is one of those companies that fills the bill perfectly for me. They label themselves The Abnormal Beauty Company, which they credit to their unusual growth- being born only three years ago in 2013, Deciem now offers an umbrella of 10 brands and over 50 products sold in more than 15 countries across the world. They also pride themselves on quality, innovation, authenticity, functionality, and offering top-notch products at reasonable prices. Though you may not be familiar with the name Deciem, it is the parent company of several booming brands, including Niod (whose medicinal-style packaging is now ubiquitous on Instagram), Hylamide, Fountain, and Hand Chemistry. I was lucky enough to get a tour of Deciem's Toronto factory (a.k.a. their Canadian headquarters, a.k.a. the happiest skin care place on earth) this past Monday and I'm here to share my experience with you! 

When I spotted the Deciem building from across the street it was easy to recognize- a black, box-like brick building with an industrial, urban feel that is also quite welcoming and perfectly quirky. 

The instructions I received to find the building (beyond the address, of course) were "look out for the bright yellow door and the broken clock". I smiled at the thought of such unique landmarks- and that's just what I found! Also, not to be missed, there is a garage door with Deciem's slogan painted on it- The Abnormal Beauty Company, indeed! 

Upon entering, I noticed a decor that was both modern and rustic, with themes of wood and metal throughout. I was greeted by several smiling faces, including Tammy, my tour guide in training. She immediately asked me what brands I was interested in and quickly began to gather some products on the front table for me to play with later. I was then met by Eric, Deciem's social media aficionado and my head tour guide for the day. The pair eagerly led me towards the back of the building where all the magic happens behind the scenes! 

Our first stop was where all the science comes to life- the laboratory! The relatively small, but active space was filled with beakers, droppers, jars, and cheery techs in lab coats. Eric explained that all of the products are created and tested right in this lab, using the company's diverse team as eager guinea pigs. It was stressed that Deciem not only strives to be prolific with creating new and innovative products, but also to always be looking to improve their current products. This goal of continued growth and betterment is definitely admirable and certainly not the case with some other brands who are happy to rest on their laurels once they've achieved success. 

Next, I was led to the factory portion of the building- which was so much larger than I was expecting, given the view of the building from the front! The factory space was bright, cool, and bustling and was filled with vats and barrels of product that I seriously just wanted to dive into- though I resisted as to avoid a contamination catastrophe ;)

Next up was the area where products are bottled, sealed, and packaged. This was super fun for me, as it felt like a privilege to really see the products come to life and made ready for the consumer to enjoy! Here are bottles of Niod's cult Copper Amino Isolate Serum (CAIS) being filled and boxed: 

And the very new Hand Chemistry Glow Oil coming down the conveyor belt! 

After this we returned out to the front for some serious product playtime! The Deciem umbrella now includes over 50 products, so to narrow down the scope I stated my total obsession with facial skin care. Given this, Eric and Tammy brought over an amazing selection of goodies from Hylamide, Niod, and Hand Chemistry (whose products can also be used on the face- who knew!?). 

The three of us spent almost 45 minutes chatting and testing out products. I was totally in my element! I am such a geek when it comes to skin care ingredients and science, and Eric and Tammy were happy to indulge all of my questions, interjections, and nerdy exclamations ;) They gave amazing breakdowns of  how to use the products and in what order, the reasoning behind packaging and textures, and the right products for my finicky skin. By the end of the session, the backs of my hands were as smooth and glowing as can be from all the playing! 

I also expressed curiosity about Deciem's Fountain range- a line of consumable vitamin supplements for the mind, body and skin- so Eric let me have a taste of both The Happy Molecule- aimed at lifting mood- and The Energy Molecule, which naturally boosts energy with B12. I have to say, I was feeling happy and energetic the rest of the day, but it may also have been due to my geeky excitement about the tour! ;)

I also got a brief introduction to their hair care range hif (Hair is Fabric), which totally captured my interest. The hif products take a "dry cleaning" approach to treating hair, which is quite the unique perspective, and the packaging and product range are both ultra cool! 

At the end of my tour, Eric gifted me a lovely goody bag with a great selection of products to try and was happy to be my photographer before we parted ways. I left happy as a clam! 

And I of course had to snap a selfie with Eric for the road, as he was such a treat! :)

Overall, my experience at Deciem HQ was incredibly fun, interactive, and informative. I'd recommend it to any skin care fiends in the area! I mean, where else can you experience one of you favourite brands behind the scenes in such a personalized way? I feel super lucky to have visited! 

In my next post, I'll be sharing some of the Deciem products I'm testing out (from Niod, Hand Chemistry, and Fountain), as well as the wonderfully tempting products on my wishlist! 

If I've piqued your curiosity, you can check out Deciem's 10+ brands and 50+ products on their website, here! 

Have you every tried one of Deciem's many products? Any favourites? Have you had the opportunity to visit any of your fave brands behind the scenes?

Thanks so much for stopping by! xo

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