Origins

Give Origins This Christmas

- Vicki 6 Comments

Give Origins Origins Christmas Gifts

This Festive Season Origins are proud to be stepping up their commitment to the environment and during this period of high waste they have decreased their use of paper and cartons in all of their Christmas packaging and have created more sustainable Christmas packaging. Its nice to see a global brand reaffirming their commitment to the environment & making it a priority.  As always their beautiful gift boxes can be reused & repurposed, so if you’re crafty I’m sure you can think of many uses for them.

Origins are a brand I really like and have used their products for many years, I thought I would do a round up of my favourite Origins Christmas Stocking Fillers & Gift Sets. These eight gifts are the ones that caught my eye.

Origins Christmas Selection

1. Go Ginger £22. – This is the perfect Winter Scented Gift Set, you get 3 ginger treats including, Ginger Souffle Whipped body cream 50m, Incredible Spreadable Smoothing Ginger body scrub 50m, Ginger Burst Savory body wash 50ml. This is a great affordable set & would be ideal for an indulgent treat for any loved one.

2. Let Us Glow £30 – This set comes in a pretty makeup bag & contains everything you’d need to keep your skin glowing and energised this Christmas. You get 4 products including, – GinZing Brightening mascara 14ml, GinZing Energy-boosting moisturizer 30ml, GinZing Refreshing eye cream 5ml, Drink Up Hydrating lip balm and Berry Splash 7ml.

3. Masks To Go £8 – This set of four travel sized Clear Improvements Charcoal Masks. What a fab stocking filler or if you’re travelling this Christmas perfect for taking with you & keeping your skin looking clear & party ready.

4. Souffle Trio £30 – This set of three pampering body souflees will keep your skin super soft during the colder Winter months. This set contains Ginger Souffle Whipped body cream 125m, Gloomaway Grapefruit body souffle 125m and Calm To Your Senses Lavender and Vanilla body souffle 125ml. This set is an online exclusive.

5. Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Set £60 – This is my favourite range from Origins, its calming and hydrating and its an absolute skin saviour. This is an excellent value set and it contains 4 products & a lovely makeup bag. Full size Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Advanced Face Serum 50ml, Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Face Cleanser 50ml, Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Treatment Lotion 50ml, Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Face Cream 30ml.

6. Christmas Bauble £12 – Every year Origins bring out their popular Festive Bauble & it sells out so quickly This is a Selfridges Exclusive & it contains 5 mini best selling products.

7. Super Star Minis £35 – A great mini indulgent set that contains 7 of Origins best selling skincare products. Including GinZing Energy-boosting moisturizer 30ml, Make A Difference Rejuvenating hand treatment 15ml and Clear Improvement Active charcoal mask to clear pores 15ml.

8. Moisture and Be Merry £40.00 – This Make a Difference Set is such great value & its a very popular range at Origins. This set comes with a makeup bag and 4 Make a Difference products including, Make A Difference Plus+ Skin Rejuvenating treatment 50ml, Make A Difference Plus+ Skin Rejuvenating serum 15ml, Make A Difference Rejuvenating cleansing milk 50ml and Make A Difference Plus+ Rejuvenating treatment lotion 50ml.

These are just eight of my picks from the Origins Christmas selection, they have many more available and they’re all great value. Quite a few are limited edition so if you want to buy them as gifts, or even as a gift for yourself make sure you’re quick.

Glow On & On

- Vicki 6 Comments

Makeup

I like to wear minimal makeup during the Summer months & these are a few of my favourite products to achieve that Summer Glow. First up are a few skincare products. The lovely but very expensive Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask* is great if you’re pushed for time, I apply this in the morning and leave it on for 20 minutes, if I’m not wearing makeup I will just massage the excess in to my skin and this looks very glowing (not shiny). It is very hydrating and plumps my skin and is packed full of vitamins and anti ageing ingredients to restore the vitality and freshness of young skin. I’m scared to say I’m contemplating purchasing the full size. The Origins Brighter By Nature Peel Pads are like my secret weapon in the fight against dull skin. I love products that promise to give me radiant skin and these peel pads are damn good. The fruit acids exfoliate your skin and remove all the dead skin to keep your skin looking healthy – perfect in somewhere thats quite polluted as they help remove that deep down dirt to reveal healthy bright skin.

Helping to revive my dull complexion is the Clarins Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base, I either mix this with my foundation or apply it as a primer.  I have the shade Champagne, a gorgeous slightly golden colour which adds a subtle highlight to your face, evens out my skin tone and helps cover my redness. This is very lightweight but still hydrating (which is important for the warmer months) this sits nicely on my skin, not greasy in the slightest. I think I am going to pick up the rose shade too.

The Benefit Hollyood Glo is a liquid bronzer in a bottle. This is perfect at giving you that sun kissed, healthy look without having to have stepped foot outside. I love that you can use this to achieve a subtle glow or apply lashings to make it look like you have been on a two week holiday to the Maldives. This bottle has been my go to Summer Holiday in a Bottle for years, I like to apply it to my cheek bones & down my nose, I love how little product you need, its my best kept secret (so don’t tell anyone …. it is discontinued). This is perfect for a night out as it keeps the skin looking fresh, healthy and dewy.

My under eye area is naturally dark so I always need a little extra help in brightening under there. I have been really enjoying this Avon Magix Eye Radiance Brightening Wand, it dries to a velvet texture and feels very smooth under my eye. It just adds that little extra pinky cream brightness to what can look a little dark. This isn’t a concealer but an extra step in hiding those pesky dark circles. The only thing thats a little annoying about this product is the doe foot applicator, I wish it had a pump.

Adding a little powder highlighter to my cheeks is a fool proof way of giving the skin an iridescent sheen / glow and I have quite a few products that I love. I managed to narrow it down to 3, the Milani Baked Blush in Rose D’Oro which is a beautiful pigmented peach blush with a gorgeous golden shimmer running through. For those of you that don’t like to wear shimmer this won’t be for you but I like to use this when I have a tan to give my cheeks a flushed look & add a glow to my cheekbones. Its gorgeous but not subtle!

USA Products

Mac MSF Soft & Gentle this isn’t shimmery but adds a flattering sheen to the skin, its beautiful when the light hits & makes you look like you have had the best Summer Holiday! This is also baked and very finely milled, it never looks powdery or too over done just beautiful on the skin. The Me Me Me Shimmer Stack in Bronze is another gorgeous bronzer & I often use this as eyeshadow too as you get 5 gorgeous shades. This adds a golden bronzed glow to the skin & looks sun kissed and healthy. I like that you can achieve a subtle glow by using the lighter colours or if you prefer to for a little more colour the darker colours add a deeper wash of colour. Very versatile. The packaging is a little bulky but you do get a decent sized mirror which is a big plus.

Me Me Me Makeup

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Eyeshadow Stick  in Golden Pink – this cream eyeshadow is great for those days you don’t want to wear much makeup but want to enhance your tan & make your eyes look bright and pretty. I sweep this all over my lids and just blend out with my finger, its as easy as that. This has great colour pay off, blends really well and has a metallic looking finish . You can add as much or as little colour as you like. Its easy for on the go & lasts all day long, even in the heat it won’t end up sliding off your face!

Golden Pink

When it comes to Summer lips I like to wear something subtle and nourishing. My lips tend to really dry out in the sun but I have found the No7 BB-Lips add a subtle wash of colour & sheen to the lips whilst keeping them hydrated. This contains Anti- Oxidants and SPF15 help to prevent UV damage by protecting the lips from the environment and sun. A great lip product to throw in your beach bag.

Let me know what your top Summer Skin products are, I’d love to know if you use any of my favourites.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own. 

May Empties 2014

- Vicki 9 Comments

I’m currently living with family & trying hard to not to take over the main bathroom with all my lotions and potions. So I have been trying to use up one thing before opening another. Thats harder than it sounds for a self confessed beauty junkie. May was quite a successful month in terms of empties & here is what I finished,

Empties

Germaine de Capuccini Total Comfort Lotion £24.80 for 200ml- I bought this toner in a local salon where I go for my facials. I bought it about a year ago when my skin was sensitive and quite red in places, this was a great toner for calming my skin and keeping it hydrated. This bottle lasted me ages. I also have a foundation by the same brand which I love too. I would re purchase this again as it lasted so long.

ESPA Zesty Lemon Ylang Ylang & Crushed Tonka Beans hand wash £15 for 250ml – my husband loves the ESPA hand washes (I do too) but this one was in his bathroom and he enjoyed using it. It smells fresh and quite summery, it leaves your hands soft and clean but not stripped of all their moisture. I always put hand lotion on after I wash my hands but my husband said this was OK on its own. These hand washes are a little slice of luxury in the bathroom & the scent really lingers after you’ve used them, they last a good 3 months so I’d say they were well worth the money

The Body Shop White Musk Smooth Satin Body Lotion – I like the scent of the body spray & perfume from this White Musk range but this body lotion wasn’t as nice. The scent wasn’t as fresh, I used it all up but don’t think the formula is as nice as The Body Shop’s Body Butters & it wasn’t as hydrating & nourishing so I won’t repurchase.

Garnier Micellar Water £4.99 for 400ml- This bottle lasted me ages, longer than any other Micellar Water & I really liked using it, I used it as the 1st step in my cleansing routine. To tale off my eye makeup and a little of my foundation too. It was gentle enough to take up around my eyes and it did a good job of taking off my mascara & eyeliner without too much rubbing. I would repurchase this & think its a handy product to have. I always follow up with a Hot Cloth Cleanser or an Oil based cleanser.

Tommy Guns Fig & Plum Shampoo* £5.50 for 250ml – This was a great shampoo for taming frizz and a good first step in achieving sleeking more manageable hair. This also made my wavy hair look glossy & my curls looked more polished & less messy. I also had the conditioner in this range & they made a very good pair. I always use conditioner much faster than shampoo so they never run out together. I would repurchase these & noticed my local John Lewis store had a really good selection of Tommy Guns products so I’m going to try a different combo next time. Maybe a hydrating one.

May's Empties

Baylis & Harding Hydrating Honey Hand Wash* £2.99 for 300ml – This was in our kitchen & was a lovely hand wash, not as luxurious as the ESPA one but I guess the price tag is more affordable (especially if you go through them quickly). This was a gentle formula and sweetly scented always a good combination. It lasted a good amount of time & I would repurchase it again. This is also a Fair Trade product so if that is something you look for in products then give this a go. Its affordable, smells nice & leaves hands feeling soft.

Dr. Organic Aloe Vera Deodorant £5.49 for 50ml – I’ve tried to make the switch to natural deodorant a few times but never found one that worked well enough for me to feel comfortable. Then I discovered the Dr. Organics range & they have quite a good selection, this Aloe Vera one was the first one I’ve tried from them & loved it. It left my underarms soft & not irritated. When I’m really hot I get a little damp under my arms but I’m not worried about being sweaty. This aloe one has a very light fresh scent. I will have to see how I get on during the warmer summer but I have since bought 3 new bottles so I am all stocked up. If you have a natural deodorant suggestion for me, let me know.

Origins Make A Difference Skin Rejuvenating Treatment Lotion  – Loved this toner so much, it helped keep my complexion looking bright & feeling hydrated. I thought it was very good at helping to clear up stubborn blemish scaring & I will be repurchasing, although I think since I bought this it has slightly reformulated & improved so I’m excited to compare them.

Tropic Skincare Vitamin Toner £12.00 for 120ml – This is a really nice refreshing facial mist, it smells quite fruity and is packed full of skin loving vitamins & antioxidants and is alcohol free. I like spraying this at every possible opportunity as it made my skin feel soothed and hydrated. I do recommend using it in the morning before you apply your serum / moisturiser & again in the evening after cleansing & before applying your skincare. The spray action was like a light mist not a full on drown your face in liquid (thats happened before). Id say this bottle lasted me a good 7 months. I would repurchase this again, especially as a summer toner.

Have you used any of these products, did you like them / repurchase them? Let me know.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

One Brand Focus – Origins

- Vicki 12 Comments

Origins was one of the first skincare brands I started using on a regular basis and it was my mum who introduced me to them whilst on holiday in New York 10 years ago & I’ve never looked back. I thought I’d share a few of my favourite Origins products with you.

Selection Origins Skincare

Origins Make a Difference Skin Rejuvenating Treatment Lotion – This was a lovely toner and I noticed a visible improvement in my skin after using this (so sad that this is now empty). It helped keep my skin soft and looking bright, my dark acne scars look better after using this. They are starting to fade so I will be repurchasing a new bottle and I think they have improved the formula so I am excited to see if its even better. This is a gentle toner and very soothing too.

Origins Clear Improvement Mask – This is such a popular mask. I only use this a couple of times a month, if I feel myself getting a breakout or my skin is a little more oily than normal I will apply this and leave it on for about 15 minutes. I don’t like to let it dry as it makes my skin feel a little tight and dried out so I leave it just long enough and wipe it off with a warm flannel. It is great at giving a really deep clean feeling and drawing out all the dirt and sebum from your pores. My husband likes to use this too especially on his nose.

Origins Mega Bright Dark Circle Minimizer Eye Cream* This little pot has lasted me since January and I use it at least 6 times a week. Although it’s quite a thick eye cream my concealer sits on top of it well, no slipping about or too much creasing so thats a thumbs up. It is very hydrating and makes my under eye area feel plump, moisturised and bright. I have noticed my under eyes are looking less dull since using this so I would say it works at brigtening too. It is ticking all the boxes for me.

Favourite Origins Products

Origins Brighter By Nature High-potency Brightening Peel Pads – These are like my secret weapon in the fight against dull skin. I love products that promise to give me radiant skin and these peel pads are damn good. The fruit acids exfoliate your skin and remove all the dead skin to keep your skin looking healthy. The pads are a little textured, but I don’t press too hard when using them so its not abrasive on my skin. I use the cotton pad front and back, I use them once a week as I find using them more often than that a little too harsh for me. So if you want brighter, glowing skin these pads will be right up your street.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask – This is another product with a cult following, I do like using this overnight mask when I know I have to get up early or If I have an important day where I need to look my best as this just gives my skin a boost of hydration and helps it look plumped, more youthful and my fine lines are less dehydrated & are less visible. It smells incredible too. I’ve been through a number of tubes and always repurchase.

Origins Super Spot Remover – I resisted buying this for so long, as I thought it was such a small pot & how good can it actually be?! Well pretty damn good, let me tell you. This treatment gel is instantly cooling and you can feel it working right away. It can sting a little but that only lasts a few seconds, this is a targeted treatment so you only need to put it on the area where you feel a blemish coming or if you have a blemish thats already erupted. I don’t suffer too badly with breakouts but when I do I pop this on anytime of day and it helps calm and treat the area. It stops blemishes from becoming too sore & angry and helps them clear up much faster too.  This bottle might be small but the contents are pretty mighty & I don’t know how I’ve lived without it. I am so pleased I finally took the plunge & bought it. I can see why it is a firm favourite of so many people. Its also a handy sized little bottle to travel with as that is when I tend to get breakouts.

I don’t have any on the go at the moment but I love the Origins Mega Mushroom range and tend to buy this during the winter months as it is very hydrating and good at calming the redness in my skin. I tend to get more redness when Its cold & from using the central heating. That really dries my skin out so I like to treat myself to a few items from the Mega Mushroom range so they get an honourable mention too.

I’d love to know what Origins products you’re using & what you couldn’t live without.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.