Origins Starting Over Age Erasing Moisturizer with Mimosa

      I first saw this moisturizer while watching a Youtube video, I thought why not try it since I was changing up my skin routine. I really didn't see any difference and I thought that it was just another overpriced face moisturizer. According to the Origins website, 

 (Sephora; 1.7 oz. for $47.50)

    "94% saw a significant reduction in the appearance of lines and wrinkles. This moisturizer with Mimosa, Argan leaf and Green algae helps to rebuild collagen, repair visible lines and improve skin texture and tone. Skin looks and feels measurably younger from day one."

A Bit of Shopping: Sephora (VIB sale edition)

     Last April 11 was the preview day for Sephora's VIB sale, so of course I went to check it out! Sephora rarely does any sales so I do get excited when they announce that they're having one, granted its usually either 15% or 20% which is not a lot. For the high end brands that they carry though (which never really goes on sale at the department store) I'm just glad to have a little help on the savings department, every dollar counts after all.

     I know that I've been posting shopping entries this week almost consecutively but to my defense, I don't normally shop like this. It's just that the sales have been going on at different stores and I'm preparing for my trip this summer, so I'm buying mostly backups of products I generally use on a daily basis. These products might be unavailable, difficult to find (especially my skin tone shade), or more expensive if I were to buy them where I'm going. So that's that. 

Origins Modern Friction Nature's Gentle Dermabrasion

    I love, love, love this product! I've used several brands of facial scrub before, mostly drugstore brands like Clean and Clear, Neutrogena, and St. Ives for years. It was not till early this year that I got a travel sized version of Modern Friction that I honestly fell in love and finally bit the bullet, I bought the full size version. Before I begin to declare my love for this wonderful facial scrub, let's check out what Origins has to say about their product.

(Sephora; 4.2 oz for $38.50)

    "Sand-blasting skin with coarse, chemical crystals? How painfully passé. Here's age-smoothing exfoliation without irritation. Skin-refining Rice Starch, cushioned in cream, shows real affinity for rapidly removing sluggish cells, uneven patches and signs of skin damage and discolorations. Lemon Oil kick starts the process of illumination. Another age-sweeping action: skin-menacing molecules are mopped up. All while Aloe keeps skin calm and comfy. There's no ouch, extra steps or other complications. No redness or flaking follows. The before-and-afters are amazing. Signs of fine lines and size of pores appear to shrink in size. Skin looks perfectly polished, smooth and luminous. And the perk-me-up aromas of Bergamot and Peppermint help you look on the bright side.
Origins tested Modern Friction™ on a panel of 54 women. After just one try, of those who had undergone clinical micro-dermabrasion, 94% said they would now consider using Modern Friction™ instead."

A Bit of Shopping: Ulta

     I went to Ulta on two separate occasions, the first was a week ago with a former student of mine to go makeup shopping since Ulta sent us a 20% off coupon for our entire purchase. I actually used mine to buy some skin serum for my mom to take with me when I go home this summer. She loves using the Olay Regenersist Micro-Sculpting Serum, please don't ask me if it works because I've never really tried it. All I know is that my mother does not look her age, she looks pretty younger than her actual age so it might be working for her. 

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15

I've always been intrigued by this lip treatment... reality is, it's a lip balm. An overpriced lip balm. Here's what the Fresh website has to say about their famous lip treatment...

     "A hydrating treatment that nourishes, protects, and plumps the lips.Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 blends reparative oils and waxes with real sugar, a natural humectant, for delectable and dependable moisture. Sweet and tart black currant oil, rich in plumping essential fatty acids, cushions the lips while antioxidant grapeseed polyphenols and vitamins A, C, and E provide protection from wrinkle-causing free radicals. It also provides essential, year-round protection from damaging UV rays."

Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner

     I've read a lot about glycolic acids and I was both interested and scared to try it out... I mean the label has the word acid in it! So one fine day, I walked into Ulta and saw that Mario Badescu had their own version of it with the Glycolic Acid Toner. I said to myself, "Why not? I'm not using a toner anyways." and I'm glad I did! First lets check out what the Mario Badescu website has to say abot their product...

    (Ulta; 8 oz. for $18.00)

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel

      I started using this cleanser around December last year... I'm honestly a bit conflicted about this product. Before I start typing my opinion, here's what the Mario Badescu website says about their Enzyme Cleansing Gel:

(ULTA; 16 oz. for $20)

      "This non-foaming, gel cleanser thoroughly removes the day’s make-up, dirt and oil without drying the skin. Papaya and Grapefruit Extracts are exfoliating Alpha Hydroxy Acids that help prevent dulling build-up that can cause blackheads and pimples."

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Facial Wash

     I started using this product September of last year. I haven't looked back since then! 
First, according to the Origins website:

(Sephora; 5 fl.oz. for $20)

     "When it comes to faces with dry and oily places, it takes a clever cleanser to balance the two. This gentle, frothy face wash carefully does both jobs without canceling each other out. Broad Leaf Kelp Extract discourages excess oil production, while Wheat Protein balances and protects dry prone zones. And Tourmaline actually makes water wetter to more easily disperse dirt and sebum down the drain. There's also aromatic Bergamot, Spearmint and Lavender to add pleasure to the process. Skin feels comfortably refreshed after cleansing, never tight, pulled or parched."

Current Skin Care Routine: My Skin's Backstory

      I decided to make a series of posts regarding what i do and use for taking care of my skin, some will be reviews of the products that I currently use. I think since everybody's skin is different you have to take in consideration that what might work for me, might not for you. Nonetheless, I think it never hurt to share information that I've learned through this adventure of trying to get my skin (especially my face) to the best condition it can have. When I decided to change my skin regimen, there was limited reviews on the products I chose to use, I hope that somebody out there will find these series helpful. So let's begin...

A Bit of Shopping: Sephora

     I went to Sephora last Saturday to get a few things. Nothing special really, just needed to replenish basic skin care stuff that my husband and I used up. He has really oily, acne prone skin. I try to help him with his problematic skin by introducing him to different skin care brands and products that might work out for his skin type. One of the things he liked is the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel ($36 for 6.7 fl. oz.), I had half a bottle left (I've been using it previously, before I switched out to my Origins Skincare regimen) that I gave him to try. He finished it up and asked me to get him a new bottle, I purchased the jumbo size. It seemed like a better deal and at least he won't run out anytime soon.