Thursday, January 19, 2012

Review: Origins Make a Difference Skin Rejuvenating Treatment

For a very long time I have been in a hunt for a moisturizer that is suited for my very oily and acne prone skin. I have tried many brands under the sun (mostly drugstore) of which none has worked for me. I received a sample of the Origins Make a Difference Skin Rejuvenating Treatment from Macy's. I was actually at Macy's to try out VitaZing SPF 15 Energy-boosting Moisturizer, and the sales attendant insisted she try this on my face. Of course, she said she has been using this moisturizer for years and it has helped reduce her acne breakouts immensely.

Not thinking much of it, and not wanting to spend $38.50 for a moisturizer I'll probably end up returning anyway, I decided to ask for a sample instead. She gave me a sample that was good for a week.

After a week of use, I was sold and decided to purchase the full sized jar.



Product Claim

My acne breakouts are under control at the moment, however acne hyperpigmentation is a constant battle for me. I do not see any noticeable difference on my skin's hyperpigmentation issues. This product did not make the hyperpigmentation any worse or any better.

I did notice that my skin is less oily. I noticed that when I wake up in the morning the next day, my skin is calm, not red, more even in tone and not greasy. I have tried other moisturizers that seemed to exacerbate the oiliness of my face. This product definitely helped to balance the moisture level of my skin. Please note that I still have oily skin, however, it is not as oily as before.

So, figure out the needs of your skin. My biggest mistake in skincare is thinking that because my skin is oily, I needed to lather on products that mattify my skin. By really paying attention to my skin, I discovered that what I really needed was  a product that provided the right amount of hydration for my skin. By providing the right amount of hydration, my skin did not feel that need to produce more oil, which only contributes to acne and oilier skin.

Ingredients

Origins is formulated without (definitions were retrieved from National Institute of Health, dictionary.com and cosmeticsinfo.org):
  • parabens: preservative
  • pthalates: "Phthalates are used in a wide variety of products including enteric coatings of food and beverage containers, pharmaceutical pills and nutritional supplements, gelling agents, personal care products, medical devices, detergents, children's toys, nail polish, and many other applications."
  • propylene glycol: "...properties which make them ideally suited for a variety of solvent applications." (Basically acts as a chemical in which other chemicals are dissolved into. For instance, sugar added into a glass of water --in this case, water is the solvent.)
  • mineral oil: derived from petrolatum
  • PABA: "a naturally occurring substance that is often used in sunscreen products."
  • petrolatum: "Petrolatum occurs as a colorless or pale yellow semisolid. In cosmetics and personal care products, Petrolatum is used in the formulation of a variety of product types, including bath products, cleansing products, skin care products, makeup, shampoos, permanent waves, hair conditioners, shaving products, and suntan products."
  • paraffin: "a white or colorless, tasteless, odorless, water-insoluble, solid substance not easily acted upon by reagents, consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons chiefly of the alkane series, obtained from crude petroleum: used in candles, for forming preservative coatings and seals, for waterproofing paper, etc."
  • DEA: "...fatty acids derivatives of diethanolamine (DEA). In cosmetics and personal care products, these ingredients are used in the formulation of shampoos, hair dyes, bath products, and lotions."
  • synthetic color
  • synthetic fragrance 
  • animal ingredients
So why is it important that Origins advertise the omission of  these ingredients? There is link between some of these ingredients to cancer, infertility, etc. Please do your own research and make informed decisions for yourself on whether or not these ingredients should be eliminated from your routine.


Packaging

The plastic jar is blue/green in color. Note that because it is a jar, you must make sure you wash your hands before you dip your fingers into the product. This prevents the product from being contaminated and growing bacteria that can potentially reduce the shelf-life of the product as well as potentially contribute to acne breakouts (if you are acne prone).
Front

Back
Texture and Color

The product is white in color and is a cream/gel consistency. It spreads very easily on the skin and is completely absorbed by my skin in about 3-5 minutes. It has a velvet or silky finish and is not greasy at all.
 


Final Thoughts

I would recommend this product to those who have oily to oily-combination skin. I use this product day and night after cleansing and toning. It has helped balance my skin from very oily to oily-combination. Although it is a little pricey, to me it's worth it because it does not contribute to my acne breakouts, thus improving the overall clarity of my skin in the long run.

Please leave any questions below.