Classic Cleansers from Clarins & Origins

I thought I had sworn off gel cleansers until these two cleansers came along...

I've been obsessed with cleansing oils, but these two cleansers from Clarins and Origins made me realize that I still enjoy a more "standard" cleanser for a fast and easy cleanse. 

Especially since some of my cleanser loves are quite pricey or just require a bit of effort, these two cleansers from Clarins and Origins certainly make my morning routine easy and much more affordable. Both come in at under $25 and leave my skin feeling clean and not dry,

I was particularly surprised by how well I got on with Origins Zero Oil Deep Pore Cleanser, which I picked out for Mr. Bunny last summer. I thought I would never get along with a gel cleanser marketed toward oily skintypes, but my dehydrated skin feels perfectly normal using this stuff. Plus, it has a light minty scent that is quite refreshing in the mornings!  

And when the Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser landed on my doorstep in a beauty swap of sorts, I was quite puzzled. How could a foaming cleanser be for dry and sensitive skin? In any event, this cream textured cleanser lathers a bit and feels just perfect for wintertime! 

What cleansers have you been using lately? I'd love to know! :) 

Wake Up to Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer

During the summer, I was looking for a really light feeling moisturizer that absorbed quickly and felt light on the skin. I have always enjoyed Origins moisturizers, and I was curious about Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer when it was released, so I picked up a jar. 

What I love about this cream is that it is scented like oranges and is super light in texture. There is no stickiness at all when you apply this, and it absorbs so quickly that you can get to the rest of your routine. While I find the jar packaging inconvenient, this isn't a deal breaker for me usually. 

I think this moisturizer would work great for oily to normal skin types, and is perfect for hot and humid weather. My skin has been so dehydrated and my summer has been so dry that many days, this isn't enough. However, when layered with an SPF, it works pretty well for me. If I remembered to use serum, I'm sure it would be even better! :) 

Have you tried any products from the Origins GinZing line? If so, what did you think? I'd love to know!

This post contains affiliate links. Product featured was purchased by me.  

Everyday Staple: Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask

A few weeks ago, I got a lot of mask samples on a shopping trip. I was hoping to pick just one, but I've realized there are too many categories of masks to stick to just one kind! (Eeek! This could be painful for my wallet!) In any event, I had heard so much about this mask and found it useful enough to go and purchase it before I even used up my sample. But hey, I was at Sephora making an exchange anyway... (That is the start of all bad spending habits, right??)

I purchased the full size, which is $23 for 3.4 oz. Sephora and other retailers also carry a 1,7 oz travel size for $16, which I should have probably purchased, but my Sephora was out of stock. In the realm of masks that are currently taunting me (hi Koh Gen Doh and Chantecaille!), this one is quite inexpensive in comparison.

This mask is definitely what I expected of a clay mask - it hardens quickly, and does clear out my pores quite well. What I was really surprised to find was that it improved the look of one of my not so cute pimples after I removed the mask! Look at the gray clay-iness of it! (Yes, I just said clay-iness, lol!)

So, once I discovered this, I proceeded to use this as an overnight spot treatment on some recent breakouts. I don't know what it was - perhaps a combination of hormones and bad face washing habits - but I broke out more in mid January than I have in the last few months combined. Ew.

In any event, I am going to keep using this as a spot treatment. For those painful breakouts, this really minimizes their size, and small little bumps nearly disappear with one use. Of course, everyone's skin is different, and perhaps even every breakout reacts differently to products, but I'd say this is definitely worth a try, both as a mask and spot treatment!

I do need to mention that this is a drying mask, at least in comparison to other masks I've tried recently. For me, it is nothing a good moisturizer or hydrating mask can't fix, but I do want to caution those with very dry skin. For reference, my skin is normal but leans dry, particularly in the winter. The first time I used this all over my face, I didn't moisturize well and found myself feeling tight around my mouth/nose the next morning. While it probably didn't help that it was 3 degrees out that day, I did need to add moisturizer to feel my normal level of skin comfort.

Anyway, I am quite enjoying this Origins mask, and urge you to give it a try if you're looking for a typical clay mask or a new spot treatment. Have you tried this or any other mask from Origins? What have been your go to masks lately?? :)

Winter Skin Saviors, Part 1

Earlier this week, we experienced exceptionally warm weather for a Chicago winter, but we were back to cold, cold weather today. I thought it would be timely to share some of my winter skincare favorites. Origins Make a Difference Plus+ Rejuvenating Moisturizer is a product I picked up during the Sephora VIB sale. I have to say that this moisturizer is really keeping my skin hydrated - not just on the surface, but it just feels GOOD.

I discovered La Mer the Lip Balm towards the tail end of last winter, and let me tell you, it continues to be a HUGE part of my life. I'm obsessed. My perpetually flaky dry lips feel plump and normal and even have better color. As long as I use this regularly, my lips are in good shape. They aren't pretty when I forget to use this for a day or two!

Everyone needs a good hand cream in the winter as well, and this year I dug up this cheerful cream from Bath & Body Works. It's the Look Ma, New Hands! cream from there True Blue Spa line, and it has gotten my hands through many a winter since high school. While I've branched out and purchased Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, which from my limited experience of it is quite wonderful, I still like this cheerfully packaged, lightly citrus scented hand cream.

In the next installment, I'll be sure to show you the two products that are keeping my boyfriend and I eczema and itch-free each winter - a few favorites from First Aid Beauty! What are your must have winter skin items? I'd love to know! I'm always on the lookout for something that makes winter a little easier to bear! :)