The Unwritten Road

   Origins is a skincare line that I have been quite interested in, and i've heard a lot about the Origins Night-A-Mins. I wanted to switch up my night moisturizer as the weather is becoming colder meaning my skin will be drier and I would need a more "intense" moisturizer. While browsing the Sephora site I came across this Origins Best Sellers Kit which included the night-a-mins moisturizer and 5 more products and it seemed the better bang for my buck so I decided to give it a try.


Price: $50 CAD valued at $125 CAD
Products: Gin Zing Moisturizer (1oz)
                  High Potency Night-A-Mins (1oz)
                  Clear Improvements Charcoal Mask (0.5oz)
                  Frothy Face Wash (1oz)
                  Renewal Serum (0.5oz)
                  Brightening Eye Cream (0.5 oz)

   Overall I do like this kit as it allows you to try 6 different products from Origins. This set is very affordable as you are able to test the products with a deluxe sample size to see if you like it before committing to the full size. Now I do have my favourites from this set and I will break down all 6 of the products individually incase you are just interested in a few of the items.

Origins GinZing Energy-Boosting Moisturizer

Sample Size: 1oz
Full Size: 1.7 oz and $35 CAD
Claims: instantly hydrates and revs up radiance. The moisturizer has coffee bean and gin-zing to jumpstart hydration levels and skin should look hydrated and refreshed:
Pros: I loved the sent of this product, it has a citrus sent to it. I thought that the sent might irritate my skin but it didn't and I feel that the sent wakes me up in the mornings. I also like that this product is more of a gel in consistency as it is cooling on the skin which also helps my skin wakeup in the morning.
Cons: Not enough moisture. I find that once I put this product on and it soaks into my skin that I still need a bit of moisture. Yes it hydrates but not enough. I do have dry skin, so this product may work better for someone with normal to oily skin. I find that the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream is a better daily moisturizer for someone with dry skin.

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash

Sample Size: 1oz
Full Size: 5oz $26.50 CAD
Claims: formulated to combat both dry and oily skin. It claims that you skin should never feel tight, parched or pulled.
Pros: It removes any excess makeup that a makeup remover didn't remove and does froth a nice bit meaning product is not being wasteful as you only need a little bit at a time.
Cons: Product claims that skin should not be left tight, pulled or parched. I have used this product quite a few times and every time my skin feels tight after and like all the moisture is sucked from my skin. This cleanser is just not for me and I fell it is suited for oily or normal skin.

Origins Skin Renewal Serum with Willowherb

Sample Size: 0.5oz
Full Size: 1oz $50 CAD
Claims: claims it is a super-serum that helps skin look fresher, brighter, and smoother while blurring imperfections.
Pros: This product is similar to the gin-zing moisturizer but better. This product has the same citrus sent as the gin-zing moisturizer which i like. I also like how quick it sinks into the skin.
Cons: I find that this product works the best when I use it before the ginseng moisturizer, I find that if I use 2 of them together my skin gets a bit more moisture. Its only a con because I find that I need to use 2 products not just 1.


Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral Enriched Renewal Cream

Sample Size: 1oz
Full Size: 1.7oz $55 CAD
Claims: best for compilation or dry skin. Moisturizer helps replenish and restore skin, with relaxing aromas to help you sleep. Over night your skin get vitamins, minerals and hydration leaving your skin refreshed and younger looking skin by morning.
Pros: Love the sent of this product it has a hint of citrus like the other moisturizer and serum. This moisturizer is thicker and I find it has the right about of moisturize. When I wake up in the morning my skin feels refresher and moisturized. This is my favourite product from the set and I notice a difference in my skin if I don't use the product.
Cons: The only con to this product is the price for the full size product is expensive and is only 0.7oz bigger than the sample.

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream

Sample Size: 0.5oz
Full Size: 0.5oz $39 CAD
Claims: help reduce dark circles and leaves the under eye refreshed
Pros: love the formula, its a more light cream meaning it is't very thick which is what I like. A little goes a long way with this product. It states to use it in the morning but I use it both morning and night which is fine. The eye cream leaves the underlies refreshed, brightened and moisturized.
Cons: I like the formula in the sample better which is a tube than the pot. I find the cream in the pot is formulated different and is thicker. If I wanted the tube I would have to buy it in a set and the pot is only sold separately.

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask Treatment

Sample Size: 0.5oz
Full Size: 3.4oz $34 CAD
Claims: charcoal mask helps remove toxins, and dirt that clogs pores. Leaves skin clean and refreshed.
Pros: I like charcoal products and I love that you only have to keep the mask on for 10 minutes. It does get dry and your skin feels tight but that just shows that it is working. I love  that this mask isn't hard to remove just use a facecloth and warm water and it comes off very easily. I hate masks that are hard to remove. Skin is left clear and more alive after the mask.
Cons: Would recommend using at nighttime if you have sensitive skin as I used it in the morning and it left my skin red for a while.

For removing my make-up I would always use a make-up wipe but recently i've been trying out new products as I found a make-up wipe wouldn't remove all my make-up and there would still be eye makeup left more then likely mascara or eyeliner left. I

I'm always on the hunt to better my skincare routine and to be honest I can be quit lazy with my skincare, but I have come up with the perfect skincare routine for myself. My skin especially in the cold and dry winter weather is quit dry and is uneven with red patches.

  First Aid Beauty was a brand I didn't know much about except a lot of people rave about it especially youtubers. It was a random purchase as I was in Sephora one day, and they had their value sets out for the holiday season. I happened to see a value set for first aid beauty and decided to get it on a whim. I don't really know a lot about skincare and what products I should be using on my skin, I've always just used drugstore stuff so i decided to give this stuff a try.

 First Aid Beauty also known as FAB's products are free of harsh chemicals, paragons, fragrances and alcohol. Which makes it great for people who have sensitive and/or dry skin. It is even recommended for people with eczema. Just after using this product for a few days I could notice an improvement in my skin.



  I use 2 products from first-aid beauty, they have more products that are suitable for different skin types. The 2 products I used came in a value set with a chapstick, for the 3 products it was $40 (CAD), which is significantly cheaper then buying them seperate.

 The products I use are:


1. Ultra Repair Wash: 235ml (special size for value set)
                                  full size 473ml $31 (CAD)

   This face wash is amazing, I found that with other cleansers my face would feel dry or tight after using it. This wash feels milky, making it a hydrating cleanser on your face, not leaving it dry afterwards. I use the face wash every morning, when I wake up to start my skin care routine.

2. Ultra Repair Cream: 6.0oz $37 CAD

   This moisturizer is amazing. I can't rant about it enough. The formula is thick but it blends into the skin with no effort and a small amount goes a long way. The only down size is that it takes a few minutes to soak into your skin but thats with any moisturizer. I find that a lot of moisturizers can leave an oily film on your skin, but this one doesn't it soaks into the skin and I can apply make-up right on top of it.



      For removing my make-up I would always use a make-up wipe but recently i've been trying out new products as I found a make-up wipe wouldn't remove all my make-up and there would still be eye makeup left more then likely mascara or eyeliner left. I decided to give a cleansing balm a try.

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm: 125ml $36 CAD

  I find the balm is great at removing all makeup including stubborn waterproof mascara or eyeliner. The formula goes from a balm like texture reminding me off coconut milk to oil and then a mile face cleanser formula. This formula is gentle enough to use of the eyes. This product has changed the way I remove my makeup.