Origins Spot Remover Blemish Treatment Pads

As an adult, I still suffer from the odd spot and at certain times, my cystic acne still breaks out along my jaw. I have read and heard amazing things about these Spot Remover Blemish Treatment Pads and the Origins consultant I spoke to could not recommend them enough. After trying the Origins Super Spot Remover for blemishes which I love, I thought these would also be a great addition to my regime.

Origins Spot Remover Blemish Treatment Pads (£24) help to exfoliate the skin, unclog pores and fight blemishes. They contain Salicylic Acid, alongside Clove and Oregano which are all said to reduce blemishes and unclog pores.

After using these for sometime now, I can't really say I have notice a lot of difference with my skin. They remind me a little bit of those dreaded Clearasil pads that I used to use on my face when I was a teenager, and I do worry that these strip and dry my skin out a little bit too much. To treat the odd spot alongside my cystic acne, I do not really feel that these are the best product for me. The Blemish Treatment Pads, I feel, would be better suited to people who suffer from mild spots around the whole face, as it is hard to target a specific area (i.e. my jaw) without wanting to wipe them everywhere, resulting in drying out my skin. 

For the time being, I will continue using my Super Spot Remover and Duac Gel which I get on prescription from the doctors. If my skin however gets worse in the future, or if I breakout elsewhere, I will definitely give them another shot.

Laura xx

     

Origins Make A Difference Plus + Rejuvenating Moisturizer

Origins Make A Difference Plus + Rejuvenating Moisturizer (£34.50) is designed to add moisture to combination, dry and dehydrated skin. It contains active ingredients such as Rose of Jericho plus a Lychee and Watermelon to help add hydration all day long.

Texture wise, Make A Difference is more of a gel moisturiser than a cream. It sinks into my skin very easily and doesn't leave a greasy residue which I find a lot of creams do which are aimed at dry and dehydrated skin. Makeup goes onto the top of it easily and doesn't cause it to slide, not even on my forehead which is more 'normal' than the rest of my face. 

In the winter, I use this cream day and night, but now the weather is getting warmer, I just use it in the evening as I find it too much combined with my serum and SPF. In winter, it really helps when my skin gets very dry and flakey and on another positive note, it doesn't break me out.

For £34.50, Make A Difference Plus + is a very expensive treat, but a little goes a long way and I have been using this cream on and off since around October last year. I possibly may purchase again, but currently, I am loving La Roche Posay which is doing wonders for my dehydrated skin and is easier on the pocket!

Laura xx

     

Origins Drink Up 10 Minute Mask

Origins Drink Up 10 Minute Mask | Boots | £22

Origins masks, in the bloggers world, are very popular and after using this mask, I can see why! The Origins Drink Up 10 Minute Mask is formulated for people with tight, flaky, dehydrated or dry skin and helps to add that additional hydration. It only needs to be left on skin for 10 minutes before being rinsed or tissued off.

The product is a thick, white cream with a gorgeous, smooth texture and a divine scent. It applies to skin like a dream and you only need a small amount, so I am pretty confident that the tube will last a good 15+ uses. Whilst wearing the Drink Up 10 Minute Mask, it feels luxurious and premium; you can almost feel your skin drinking up the much needed nourishment, especially during the winter months we have had.

When removing the mask, I prefer to use a large cotton pad to remove any excess as I feel washing it off will remove some of the goodness on my skin. Afterwards, my skin feels silky smooth and very well nourished. I love to apply this after a shower, before I head out in the evening, or applying it in the morning if I've got an event to attend during the day, tissuing it off before applying my makeup. (It was perfect nourishment the morning of my university interview in February when I knew it would be a long, hard day).

As someone with dry, dehydrated skin, this, alongside the overnight version, are both musts in my collection. They both work fantastically well and have helped my dehydrated skin during the colder winter months. I think this one will also come in use over the summer because it's not quite as intensive as the overnight mask and therefore I will get more use out of it.

Origins Drink Up 10 Minute Mask Ingredients

From the ingredients, you can see lots of different essential oils which is what I believe really makes this mask so fantastic; the ingredients are definitely what you are paying for. As someone was sensitive, acne prone skin, I can confirm that the mask did not break me out, nor did the essential oils irritate my skin.

Overall, I am extremely pleased with the Origins Drink Up 10 Minute Mask and will certainly be repurchasing it. I love using face masks and see them as my little luxury during the week and on a Sunday where I usually have a little afternoon of pampering.  If you're suffering from dry, dehydrated skin, you may also find my Winter Skin Saviours post helpful.

Can you recommend any masks for me to try? The Kiko Purifying Mask and the Super Facialists Rose Hydrate Intense Moisture Mask are also on my wishlist. Have you tried either of them?

Laura xx

     

Origins - Three New Products - Mini Origins Haul

On a recent mini haul, I couldn't resist more Origins products! I already own and use the Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, but wanted to add the Drink Up 10 minute Mask to Quench Skin's Thirst to my collection as I've read good things about this. I have the overnight Drink Up, but sometimes it does break me out, so I thought I'd give this one a try instead.

As someone with normal/dry/dehydrated combination skin, I thought the Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash would help to try and balance out my skin. I used to use this years ago and always loved the smell. It lasts such a long time as you literally need the smallest amount ever to create a nice, smooth frothy foam.

Have you tried anything from Origins recently? Can you recommend any of their products?

Laura xx

     

Mini Shopping Haul - Christmas Shopping Haul

Here is my mini haul. Woop!! very excited with my purchases.

Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant - one of my favourite products at the moment so I had to reorder.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Naural in Light - Bit worried this is going to be too light for my skin, but I'll give it a whirl.

Origins Clear Improvements Active Charcoal Mask - another one of my favourite products at the moment so had to reorder a back up!

Aramis Eau de Toiletter Natural Spray 110ml - Present for my daddy for Christmas.

Estee Lauder Modern Muse 50ml - Present for my mummy for Christmas, although I do really like this myself!

Tom Ford for Men Eau de Toilette Spray 100ml - Present for my brother for Christmas. Took a bit of a gamble with this as I have no idea whether he'll like it!

Have you done any christmas shopping yet? What are you planning on getting for your family/friends?

Laura xx

Crazy Beauty Haul!

Hey guys,

I've been spending some major money recently and not saving any of it... Here are the latest products to add to my list. Reviews will follow in due course when I have a spare 5 minutes...

Origins Ginger Hand Lotion and Hand Cleanser. £16 each

I absolutely adore the smell of these. They're actually a present for my friend's birthday, but still a recent purchase. The lotion is nice and moisturising to say it's only a lotion and not a cream and the smell lasts for ages.

Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliating Cream £22.50

Clinique Lash Power Mascara £17

I've read so many good reviews about the Body Exfoliating Cream that I decided it's time to splash out. I've been using a microdermabrasion one from The Sanctuary recently which I loved, so we'll see if this lives up to that.

The mascara was brought as I'm sick of my mascara running under my eyes and making my dark circles look even worse. I'm hoping this will stay put, but that it'll be easily removed with warm water as per the website instructions.

Estee Lauder Idealist Dual Action Refinishing Treatment £36

On the search for a new exfoliator, I was either going to purchase Origins Microdermabrasion or the Clinique 7 Day Scrub, but then I came across this product. I love the fact it contains 30%  glycolic acid which my skin loves and always looks revived after using products containing it. This has mixed reviews, but I think it'll work well with my skin type. Very expensive purchase if it doesn't work, but i'll still use it.

Aveda Phomollient Styling Foam £14.50

I've read soooo many amazing reviews on this product. Every site I visit people are raving about this product. My hair is very thin and lacks volume, especially straight after washing. I'm hoping this might give some omph! This is one I'll certainly do a review on.

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask £22

I'm not really sure if this is going to work, or how it'll help my combination normal/dry but spot prone skin. I'm hoping it won't dry it out too much and that it'll help with the spots and congestion around my jaw line. This is one I'll review.

Origins Pure Cream Rinseable Cleanser £18

I like that this is soap free and quite moisturising which is ideal for my dry/combination skin. I've used it before and it's a product I keep going back to.

MAC Strobe Cream 30ml - £12.50

MAC Sheertone Shimmer Blush in Peachykeen - £18

Not 100% sure why I ordered these two products! The blusher is so similar to a Smashbox one I have, if a little bit peachier and I'm not 100% sure if the strobe cream will brighten my skin. I usually wear Estee Lauder Double Wear which I find extremely drying and very matte, so I thought this might give my skin a bit of a boost. I'm going to try mixing it with the double wear before applying it too and then stippling the products onto my moisturised skin.

The blush is gorgeous and extremely pretty, but do I really need another blush? Not really!

Smashbox Halo in Light - £39

Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener - £16

Smashbox Lipstick in Melondrama - £15.50

This is the second purchase of my Halo powder but in the next shade as I have a little bit of colour since the sun has been out.

The Photo Op Under Eye Brightener is great and something I've tested before in Boots. Under my eyes at the moment, after working 7 days weeks for goodness knows how long, are very dark and concealer just doesn't cover it.

Been in love with Melondrama Lipstick for so long. It's a gorgeous peachy orange. Doesn't have amazing staying power, but looks lush!

Estee Lauder Double Wear in Ecru - £28.50

I have a love hate relationship with Double Wear. I love that it stays on my skin ALL day, any day, no matter what the weather, but I hate the drying and taught feeling it gives my skin.

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation - NC15 - £25

On the basis of the above, I decided to also try a MAC Pro Longwear Foundation to see whether this will give the same coverage as Double Wear, but without the drying and very matte finish. Didn't really read any reviews on this, just liked the fact it was a longwear foundation and though, oh, sod it!

Have you brought any new makeup purchases recently? Have you brought or tried any of these products? Recommend something for me to try if there's something you're loving at the moment.

Laura xx

Wishlist - Skin care & Make up

MAC Mineralise Blush in shade 'gentle' - £19

I've seen this on a lot of blogs and it gives a gorgeous colour on the cheeks. With my pale skin, I think this would suit me really well. 

 Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Face Lotion £46 for 50ml

I've tried this product on in store, just over the top of my makeup as my skin felt taught and lacking moisture. I really, really liked the feel of it on my skin and I felt it penetrated my skin deep down. I'd love to try it on my actual bare skin. My skin is very up and down at the moment, always having a paddy if I put certain products on it. I spoke to the Origins lady who said the Mega Mushroom range is great for people with sensitive or acne prone skin and that it shouldn't upset it.

 MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator £22

Not really sure why this is on my wishlist! I think I've read so much about it on blog and when it was limited edition (I think), it sold out like crazy. So, I just want to try it to see what all the hype is about! Plus, it looks nice and sounds great.

 Smashbox Halo Powder in light £39

I now own this product and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!

 Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant £17 for 150ml

This sounds amazing and the reviews are pretty good. I've seen this also on a few blog and I'm impressed with what I've read. Hopefully, it'll help my moisturiser to be absorbed better and smooth over enlarged pores and help with any blemishes.

 Clinique City Block Sheer

I used to use this year ago and remember how I loved the texture and the way it made my skin feel. I feel that the only way to keep skin looking as young as possible is to use an SPF everyday, not just when you're in the sun and on holiday. The rays can still penetrate through clouds and will still effect your skin. I really want to start using this again before it's too late. 

Recently I've started to see more freckles and dark spots on my face, so worried that my skin will start aging   soon : (

 Smashbox HD Concealer Fair/Light

I LOVE this concealer. After trying way too many concealers to mention, this product is fantastic at coverage without that sitting in fine lines or drawing attention to the blemish you're trying to cover. At £17, it's not cheap, but will last a loonnggg time as you only need the tiniest bit.

 Ojon Damage Reverse Thickening Scalp Treatment £24

Having fine, flat hair that gets greasy very quickly, I've added this to my wishlist in the hope it won't weight it down and make it greasy. I've tried so many products in the past to try and give my hair a volume boost, but haven't ever found something that give me volume without greasy or that horrible crunchy mousse like feeling. My fingers are crossed. I will hopefully be ordering it soon.

 Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask

This is something I want to try purely on what Origins say about it. I'm hoping it will clear my clogged up pores without dehydrating my skin even further. It sounds lovely and I like the idea of using charcoal. I love Origins products and trust them as a brand. Hopefully this will live up to the description on their website.

What's on your wishlist? What else shall I add to my wishlist? Can you recommend anything? Leave me a link to your blog and I'll check out your favourite products.