The Origins Masks

The Origins Masks are well-known and well-loved in the blogging world and it's easy to get sucked into the hype, but are they really worth the money?

This blog post has been sitting in my drafts folder for ages. It took me a long time to actually write this post because I feel that I'm really in the minority of opinions when it comes to these particular masks. Then again, this is my blog and the purpose of this blog is to share what I think, so I'm just going to dive right into this and say that I'm not a big fan.

I've probably made it quite clear that I'm a big face mask girl. The Origins masks seem to be recommended by almost every beauty blogger when they talk about their top face mask picks, but these masks and I just don't seem to get along. There is one stand out product for me out of these four masks though, and that is the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. This is a typical bentonite+kaolin combination deep cleansing clay mask, and I think those two ingredients probably play more of a role than the charcoal powder, which is much more far down the ingredients list. I find that it really is deep cleansing and does help to clear out my pores (blackheads) as well as help shrink blemishes. I also like that while it is deep cleansing, it's not stripping, so my skin doesn't feel tight at all after I wash it off. I wouldn't say that it's better than the other clay mask options in my skincare drawer, but it is a good one, though I do think there are cheaper alternatives out there.

The two hydrating mask offerings from Origins are the Drink Up 10 Minute Mask and the Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. These two are very similar products. They are both cream masks that hydrate with emollient oils. While the sort of peaches and cream scent is pleasant, these masks really are incredibly fragranced, which can cause irritation to the skin. In addition, they contain other irritants such as lavender oil and camphor oil. For me personally, I could really see the irritation on my skin after using these products, and it's rare that a product is so irritating I see immediate consequences. After I use these two masks, my skin is always visibly red and just feels uncomfortable, which usually results in breakouts later on. I don't find the 10 Minute Mask to be any more hydrating than the Intensive Overnight Mask, because I don't find either of them to be hydrating really. They kind of just feel like a creamy moisturizer that I put on and wash off, with no results. Frankly, I would not even bother with these products, as there are much more effective hydrating mask options on the market.

The Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Mask is one that I really had high hopes for. The sales associate that sold me this product was extremely convincing, and promised me that her sister - who also has sensitive, acne prone skin - saw fantastic results with this range. I actually quite like the serum from the same range, but not so much this mask. Again, another cream mask, but this one is supposed to reduce redness and reactivity. My skin is easily sensitized and irritated, so this would have been perfect for me, if only it worked. For me, this mask doesn't do anything for redness or irritation. Like the hydrating masks, there are some problematic ingredients in here that are actually irritants, so I suffered the same uncomfortable feeling and broke out shortly afterwards. It really is quite frustrating when a product that's supposed to calm my skin actually does the opposite.

It's easy to get sucked into blogger hype for certain products, but it's also important to admit to ourselves when those products just don't work out for us. I sometimes find myself trying to persuade myself that I like a product just because everyone else loves it, even though I really don't. That being said, these masks may work fantastically for you, in which case, you should continue to use them by all means. For those who haven't tried these masks yet, you should still give them a go if you really are curious, but my advice would be to look for better options. Keep a lookout on my blog as I post about my favourite face masks all the time.

What do you think about the Origins masks?

Sephora Haul & Mini Reviews Part 1

Final exam season is in full swing, so I must apologize for my recent lack of updates. Of course, my best remedy for stress is to do excessive amounts of beauty shopping. And maybe a little bit too excessive, but hey, life's short, who can blame you? After a particularly long Sunday of last minute essay writing, I trekked on over to my local Sephora and picked up a few things. Maybe a little more than a few things. By now, I've already had a few weeks to test these products out, so I figured I would do sort of mini reviews on all of the products.

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask - I have a mini version of this mask in my skincare drawer that is on its last legs, so I knew it was time to get the full size. This mask is probably my favourite Sunday mask/detoxifying mask (as mentioned in this post) at the moment. It's the best clay type mask I've used for clearing breakouts and clogged pores. However, it dries very fast and feels like a really intense cleanse, so make sure to spray water over your face to keep your skin from drying out. I tend to reserve this for the bad skin days and use a gentler mask when my skin isn't as congested. My face looks quite red immediately after using this mask, but the next morning everything just looks ten times better. Highly recommend.

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads - I was looking for a new chemical exfoliator, and this fit the bill perfectly. They're basically cotton pads soaked in solution, which makes them very convenient to use. It's a AHA exfoliator composed of lactic and glycolic acid, but unlike other AHA exfoliators which tend to be quite harsh on the skin, these pads are not irritating even on my incredibly sensitive skin. These pads also contain soothing aloe vera juice, licorice root extract to brighten pigmentation, and antioxidant ingredients like white tea extract. $30 will give you 60 pads, but I've seen some reviews saying you can cut the pads in half and get twice the value for your money.

AmorePacific Moisture Bound Sleeping Recovery Masque - I watched an interview with a Korean actress with gorgeous, baby smooth skin reveal that her best kept skin secret was overnight masks. I'm sure some of it must have been attributed to her team of makeup artists, but I thought hey, why not give it a shot. This mask is meant to hydrate and increase antioxidant protection overnight. It feels like a gel-cream moisturizer and absorbs easily so nothing gets on my pillow cases. I would not say that it necessarily moisturizes any better than my regular night moisturizer, but maybe I have to give it a few more uses. It also is pretty heavily fragranced, so steer clear if that is not your thing.

Fresh Peony Brightening Night Treatment Mask - Another overnight mask, this one more targeted towards discolouration and dark spots. Fresh is my absolute favourite skincare brand, so when this came out, I absolutely had to have it. It has a light refreshing scent like their Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream, which is my current night moisturizer, and feels very similar as well. Although the product is packaged in a tube, it actually has a pump. It's always difficult with brightening products because you need to use them consistently for a long time to see actual results, and this product is pretty expensive at $76. If you are not a Fresh fanatic like I am, I would not put this at the top of your wishlist.

I don't want this post to be pages and pages long, so I'm going to review the other half of the products in my next post, which will unsurprisingly be Sephora Haul & Mini Reviews Part 2 and will be up later this week. Until then, take care everyone.