Origins

Ok, so I work for Origins so I am going to be a little bias.  I love all the products, but I will keep it real with you and let you know when something isn't worth your money.  At first glance I thought the products were pretty expensive ($21 for a face wash, come on!). But after doing a little research at the other cosmo counters, honestly, Origins is pretty reasonably priced.  Let's be real, the Lancome counter is diagonally across from mine and their Absolue Premium BX cleanser, similar to our Checks and Balances, is $55.  (not to bash on Lancome because they make some awesome products, I'm just trying to put the prices in perspective)

One of the main reasons I love Origins is because they use all natural products.  Here is their purity commitment:

For me this is so important because I am allergic to propylene glycol.  Propylene glycol is a relatively small molecule, so in my case it can be absorbed into my blood and I have a systemic reaction, meaning my entire body reacts no matter where I put it.  This has resulted in many hospital visits and baffled doctors before we figured out what I was reacting too.  I didn't develop this allergy until I went to college, so it took a while to figure it out because I was in such a different environment.  Propylene glycol isn't necessarily a bad product, it just is a product that a lot of people tend to be allergic to. (ok my dog is snoring so loud and it is really distracting) Ok so here is a list of why propylene glycol is used in so many products:

• It is a very effective humectant (helps retain moisture)
• It is a solvent or carrier agent for fragrances and preservatives
• it can be use as an emulsifier or co-surfactant
• It is used as a solvent for pigments in cosmetics
• It can be used as a preservative due to its anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curl-products/curlchemist-the-truth-and-fiction-about-propylene-glycol

I also think it is more important to take care of your skin the right way, than to cover up the parts you don't like with make up.  I got asked at work today when I would be graduating high school.  Now I'm not sure why this lady thought a high school student would be working at noon on a weekday, but the fact that she (along with many others) think that I already look 3+ years younger than I am is a sign that I'm doing something right.  While it may be annoying to get carded at every bar and rated R movie I go to, in the long run it's worth it to know I am going to look like I'm 20 when I'm 40.

Ok so here's my daily skin care routine:
I use a couple different face washes, usually depends on if I'm in the shower or not.  The two cleansers I use are Origins Perfect World and Aveeno Clear Complexion Cream Cleanser.  The Origins face was restores minerals and amino acids back to the skin to detoxify and prevent aging.  I use the Aveeno face wash to help with break outs.

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I also use an exfoliator 2-3 times a week.  I use Origin's Modern Friction.  Modern Friction is a natural dermabrasion and has rice starch in it.  The dead skin cells stick to the rice starch so they come off more easily.  I demo this product on customers hands daily and everyone is amazed at the difference it makes.  It really is incredible.  It is hard to see it on your own face, but when you do it on one hand and then compare them, you can really see the difference it makes.  Origins also sells Modern Friction for the body.  I haven't personally tried it, but I have heard great things.

I know I am supposed to tone after I wash my face.  I know all the great benefits of toning, but I am broke and that is the one product that I have yet to buy.  A lot of my products I use I get from samples I get from the counter (and anyone can come and get free samples any time, no purchase necessary), and although we have liquids containers, it is such a small amount that it doesn't really make it worth it to take toner home.  Maybe the next time we get our extra discount after Christmas I will get some, but all this Christmas shopping is breaking the bank!

The next set of products I use are masks.  I use two different masks 2-3 times a week.  The two masks I use are Origins Clear Improvement and Out of Trouble.  However looking at the website to get the pictures it looks like Origins isn't carrying the Out of Trouble mask anymore which I am very upset about.  The Clear Improvement mask is a charcoal mask that detoxifies the skin.  Because it pulls out all of the impurities in the skin it can cause irritation and make you break out a bit.  That is the main reason why I started using it with the Out of Trouble mask.  I usually use the charcoal mask, then take a day off, then Out of Trouble, take a day off, then Out of Trouble again.  However with this new discovery that the Out of Trouble is no longer being sold, it looks like I will be coming up with a new mask routine.

(image from Google) 

Next is eyes!  The eyes are where most people start showing their first signs of aging.  Those crows feet and fine lines and wrinkles seem to start showing up sooner and sooner.  I use three different products on my eyes in the morning, all Origins of course.  The first product I use is Perfect World for Eyes.  It is a serum that blocks out 77% of the toxins in the environment that prematurely age the skin.  You always want to put on your serums before your moisturizers so that they can penetrate deep into your skin.  Next I use No Puffery, which is a cooling rollerball that helps depuff that under eye area.  It is important to use this before your moisturizer because since it is a rollerball it will only distribute onto dry skin.  If your skin is wet from the moisturizer it will just glide over that spot so that extra product isn't distributed.  Finally, I finish with the GinZing eye cream.  I love the GinZing eye cream, it is one of my absolute favorite products.  This eye cream has plants in it that help treat the dark under eye circles, and it also has a luminescent quality that not only brightens up the entire eye area, but conceals the dark circles.  I know this seems like a lot of product, but I only do this once a day, in the morning.

I only use one serum and one oil.  Now I know most of you are cringing right now because I said I put oil on my face.  I am a naturally oily person, as I have gotten older I have become less oily, but I am still oily in the T zone and normal to dry everywhere else.  So pretty much I have every skin type all rolled into one which can be a pain sometimes.  What this oil does is restore the moisture barrier in your skin, which depletes over time, so that your skin can absorb more moisture and not be so dry.  I just started using the Plantscription Oil.  I have only used it for a couple days, so I will keep you up on my opinion of it as time progresses, so far I really like what it has done to my skin.  I feel a more natural glow from my skin, and it is not making me any more oily.  The serum I use is the Perfect World skin guardian.  Like the eye serum, it blocks out 77% of the toxins in the environment that prematurely age your skin.  It also creates this sort of smoothing bubble over your face that kind of fills in any imperfections and makes your skin feel incredibly smooth.  This effect also makes your makeup go on so smoothly.

And last but not least, moisturizers.  Surprise, surprise, I use two.  I have a day and a night, however, the night cream I have been using is just a sample, and I haven't felt the need to use it as much since I have been using the oil.  I use the GinZing moisturizer in the morning, and morning and night in the spring and summer, but as soon as it starts getting colder I feel my cheeks drying out and I need something a little heavier at night.  The cream I have been using at night is the Make a Difference Plus +.  I use the treatment one which is meant for combination skin.  The Make a Difference Plus + moisturizers are a little confusing because there are three with the same name but one is a cream (dry skin), one is a treatment (combination) and one is a moisturizer (oily skin).  All three are meant to be super hydrating, because yes your skin can be oily and dehydrated.  However, since I have been using the oil, I have been able to use my GinZing moisturizer (one of the few products I actually bought) at night as well.  I love the GinZing moisturizer because it smells amazing, and it really wakes up and brightens up the skin and gives it that natural glow.

I know this is a LOT of information, but I really believe in all of this stuff.  I love that I can do all of this to my skin and know that I will have healthy, young skin for years to come and that I haven't put any harmful chemicals into my body or the environment.  I hope this was helpful, and let me know what you think and what you would like me to talk about next!






**disclaimer about all pictures on this blog**  Unless otherwise stated I have gotten all of the product pictures from the website of the company who makes the product