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Origins Skin Care Review

SKIN CARE REVIEWS

01.30.23DISCLAIMER
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Nobody blinks an eye when a skincare brand advertises itself as “clean,” “all-natural” or “plant based.” While we all take those concepts for granted right now in this wellness focused time, it wasn’t always the case. One of the pioneers of natural based cosmetics is Origins, which was launched by William Lauder in 1990. Origins continues to trail blaze with green ideas, such as reducing its environmental impact and committing to plant trees. Here’s a look at the Origins brand, what products it sells, and is it right for you?

What Is Origins?

William Lauder (grandson of cosmetics icon Estée Lauder) launched Origins In 1990. As the company explained, “There was growing awareness of the need to take responsibility for one’s own personal health – and health of our planet.” The brand did this by incorporating natural ingredients in its skincare and cosmetics, and as well as reducing packaging waste. Origins also helps plant trees around the world.

One of the first Origins products was the Clear Improvement Active charcoal mask to help unclog pores. The company says its still one of the best-selling masks in America. Some of the brand’s other key milestones include the debut of Night-A-Mins, a mineral-enriched moisturizer, the GinZing line and a Ginger Body Scrub made from Dead Sea Salts and essential oils. Origins was also a pioneer in integrating a wellness component into the products, and has a partnership with Dr. Andrew Weil, who advocates for integrative medicine.

What Is the Concept Behind Origins?

Origins’s slogan is “Powered by Nature. Proven by Science.” The brand’s philosophy is to incorporate natural ingredients into its skincare line. This means a mix of exotic ingredients sourced from around the world as well as more common plant and oil based products, such as charcoal, ginseng and caffeine – all created in an environmentally conscious way. As Origins explains, the company is committed to “high performance beauty” that is “mindfully formulated”- “because it’s our nature to do good.”

What Does Origins Sell?

Origins sells a wide variety of skincare and makeup as well as bath and body products. There are 11 collections, including Plantscription, GinZing, A Perfect World, Original Skin, Clear Improvement and Zero Oil.

Here’s a breakdown.

Origins Moisturizers
GinZing Ultra Hydrating, Energy-Boosting Cream – Origins says this rich moisturizer delivers 72 hours of hydration, and can be used day and night.

High Potency Night-A-Mins Resurfacing Cream With Fruit-Derived AHAs – This 2-1 cream moisturizers skin overnight but also doubles as a fruit acid peel to help smooth and refine skin texture.

Origins Eye Creams
GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream To Brighten And Depuff – This rosy hued eye cream is formulated with panax ginseng and caffeine to help brighten dark circles and depuff eyes.

A Perfect World Age-Defense Eye Cream With SPF 20 – Silver tip white tea is the star ingredient in this day time eye cream, which hydrates and brightens the eye area.

Origins Face Masks
Original Skin Retexturizing Mask With Rose Clay –Powered by willowherb, this mask can be used once or twice a week to help draw out impurities from the skin, and it also helps minimize the look of pores.

Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Dark Spot Correcting Night Mask – A cocktail of skin-brightening ingredients including rosa roxburghii (chestnut rose), molasses and vitamin C work to brighten dark spots while chestnut seed extract helps smooth skin.

Origins Treatments
Plantscription Retinol Night Moisturizer With Alpine Flower – This night cream is designed to help tackle the signs of aging thanks to retinol, Swiss alpine flower and anogeissus (a flowering shrub).

A Perfect World Age-Defense Treatment Lotion With White Tea – After cleansing, pat a few drops of this lotion on the face to help hydrate the face with white tea and trehalose, a type of sugar.

Origins Exfoliators
Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Exfoliating Cleansing Powder To Clear Pores – Just add water to this powder to create a creamy cleanser which helps clean pores.

Origins Modern Friction Nature’s Gentle Dermabrasion – This exfoliator is powered by rice starch and also includes a kick of lemon oil to help brighten skin.

Origins Bath & Body
Origins Gloomaway Grapefruit Body-Buffing Cleanser – Formulated with grapefruit, tangerine and orange oil, this cleanser works into a lather while exfoliating the body.

Origins Ginger Body Scrub Smoothing Body Buffer – One of the brand’s best known products, this body scrub contains Dead Sea salts and ginger zest along with nut oils to smooth rough, dry skin.

Warm Down Warming Lava Scrub To Detox And Smooth – Working this volcanic ash-based scrub into your palms helps heat it up, leaving the body smooth and soft.

How Much Do Origins Products Cost?

Origins products are sold at a midrange prestige price point, in line with department store brands. The Plantscription Retinol Night Moisturizer With Alpine Flower retails for $64, the Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash is $24, and the Drink Up Intensive Overnight Hydrating Mask With Avocado & Glacier Water is $26. The United State Balancing Toner is $24, and the Blooming Sheer Lip Balm is $20.

Is Origins Cruelty Free?

On its website, Origins states “We don’t believe in testing on animals” and “We use volunteers to test out our products.” Origins also notes that “some countries where Origins is sold require animal testing on all imported cosmetics as part of their regulator safety process.”

What Ingredients Are in Origins Products?

Origins skincare and makeup products are formulated with plant and herb based ingredients. The Drink Up Intense Overnight Hydrating Mask With Avocado & Glacier Water is packed with oils from avocado, bitter orange leaf and castor seeds. Reishi mushroom is the key ingredient in the Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion, while willowherb and Persian silk tree are the radiance boosting ingredients in the Original Skin Essence Lotion With Dual Ferment Complex.

Where Can I Buy Origins Products?

Origins products are sold in its standalone stores around the world, department stores such as Macy’s, Norstrom and Dillard’s, as well as Sephora and Ulta.

Do Origins Products Work?

A little trial and error is always needed to find the right products for your skin. What works for one person may do nothing for you, so it’s always helpful to look at customer reviews. And no product ever gets 100% positive feedback – most products get a mix of opinions and reviews.

Origins has received plenty of editorial write ups and press awards. Some of the more recent ones include the Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion, which scooped up a Self Healthy Beauty award in 2018. The GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream To Brighten And Depuff is an Allure 2018 Readers Choice Awards Winner. Women’s Health magazine has given Editor’s Choice Awards to Clear Improvement Charcoal Honey Mask To Purify & Nourish and Zero Oil Deep Pore Cleanser With Saw Palmetto & Mint.

Sephora offers plenty of customer reviews. One of the most reviewed Origins products is the GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream to Brighten and Depuff, which has more than 4,000 reviews and 100,000 loves. Overall it gets a 4 out of 5 star rating, with positive feedback stating “Not quite a miracle but almost!!” and “AMAZING. Just amazing! I use this in the morning and it keeps my eyes looking fresh all day.” Those who gave it lower ratings said “doesn’t work at all” and “No results after over a month of use.”

Another Sephora favorite is the Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash, which has 4.3 stars from almost 3,000 reviews. 

Top Skincare Picks

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What Are Some Alternatives to Origins Skincare?

If you’re looking for skincare products to address the signs of aging, we recommend Carrot & Stick. Carrot & Stick maximizes the use of powerful ingredients and minimizes the use of superficial ones, resulting in advanced skincare solutions that help promote healthy, more youthful-looking skin. 

OUR TOP SKINCARE PICKS

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Carrot & Stick

Carrot & Stick takes a tough love approach to skincare. What does this mean? It perfectly balances the power of plants with innovative science, offering the best of both worlds. Read More
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Formulyst

The philosophy of Formulyst is long-term and effective skincare, rather than covering up any imperfections. The comprehensive line of products tackles everything from wrinkles to dark spots and dry skin. While some brands rely on unnecessary fillers and scents, Formulyst focuses on ingredients that help create results, such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Read More
  • Meredith Original review: Feb 15, 2023. Reply

    I try origins hydra boost gel I saw it was for dry skin so I bought an sued it. First it broke my 45 yr old skin out with acne bad too then after I wash it off in the a.m. after putting it on my face in the p.m. I noticed my skin was very dry out which I don’t think it’s supposed to do. I purchased it soly for the reason it is for hydration an specifically for dry skin. I’m disappointed because I paid for it an it did the opposite of what it was supposed to do. I don’t understand origins makes nice things an I appreciate origins skincare.

  • Meredith lyon Original review: Feb 15, 2023. Reply

    I try origins hydra boost gel I saw it was for dry skin so I bought an sued it. First it broke my 45 yr old skin out with acne bad too then after I wash it off in the a.m. after putting it on my face in the p.m. I noticed my skin was very dry out which I don’t think it’s supposed to do. I purchased it soly for the reason it is for hydration an specifically for dry skin. I’m disappointed because I paid for it an it did the opposite of what it was supposed to do. I don’t understand origins makes nice things an I appreciate origins skincare.

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    Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask Review

    The Origins Drink UP Intensive Overnight Mask has been a fan favorite product from the brand for years. In fact, this was one of the first widely popular overnight hydrating masks before K-beauty inspired hydrating masks really started to hit the western market. Even now that we have so many more options in this category of skincare product, the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask has remained a firm favorite, and for good reason. This deeply hydrating mask feels lightweight on the skin, while also infusing an impressive dose of hydration. This is all thanks to the formula behind this product. Some of the key ingredients that give the Drink Up Mask its nourishing capabilities include niacinamide, avocado oil, apricot kernel oil and mango butter. Niacinamide helps to brighten the skin and create a smoother skin surface while the oils and butters within this formula act as both emollients and occlusives to seal in hydration so that you wake up to skin that feels silky smooth and noticeably plump.
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    Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash Review

    If you’re looking for one of the most well known and well loved cleansers on the market, the Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash may be the perfect option for you. This cult favorite product was designed to serve as a workhorse cleanser that can be used on all skin types to fully cleanse the skin of impurities. Unlike other cleansers, which feature harsh surfactants and can be stripping on the skin, the Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash was one of the first products on the market that opted for a gentler lather to deliver a balanced cleanse without any dry or tight feeling after rinsing. Instead, skin feels comfortable clean and refreshed, completely prepared to absorb the rest of your skincare routine. Because of this, we would recommend this type of product to those with all skin types, even those with sensitive skin.
    INGREDIENTS

    Origins Zero Oil Deep Pore Cleanser Review

    For those with oily skin, finding the right cleanser can be a little bit more tricky that you would expect. While there is a component of oil-reduction to many cleansers, it’s important to find a product that balances oil-reduction with gentle surfactants and conditioning humectants to keep the skin feeling and looking happy and healthy. The Origins Zero Oil Deep Pore Cleanser includes all of ingredients needed to reduce oil and acne production as well as minimize the appearance of pores. This includes salicylic acid, saw palmetto and cooling mint, which each perform different functions within this formula. But in addition to these actives, this formula also includes gentle surfactants like coco betaine which cleanses thoroughly without stripping your natural oils. With oily skin, it’s important to not strip your skin of your oils completely, as this can actually trigger your natural skin processes to overproduce oil to compensate for the lose. Over time, this can lead to a damaged moisture barrier as well as an increase in skin sensitivity and acne breakouts.
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    Origins Spot Treatment Review

    One of the most talked about products from the entirety of the brand’s line has been without a doubt, the Origins Super Spot Treatment. This small but mighty liquid spot treatment has over a thousand reviews and continues to be one of the most well recommended spot treatments on the market. But what makes this particular product so effective? This product has been specially formulated to target active acne and shrink the appearance of acne from several different angles. Acne, and the causes behind acne can be complex, which requires a complex and multi-faceted solution. One of the things that can impact your acne is excess oil production, whether you have oily skin or a damaged moisture barrier. Because of this, this formula includes saw palmetto, which helps to control excess oil production, as well as reduce shine, which can make acne look more prominent. Salicylic acid is also a key part of this formula, as an exfoliating agent which is oil-soluble, meaning that it reaches deep within the pore to clear out any lingering bad bacteria.
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    Origins Charcoal Honey Mask Review

    Origins has been one of the longest standing brands that has advocated for botanical-based formulations for decades. The brand has recently released a number of new additions to some of their favorite product lines including the Origins Charcoal Honey Mask from their Clear Improvement line. This product was designed to serve as a purifying mask to thoroughly clean the skin and draw out impurities from within the pores, including dirt, debri, excess oil, makeup residue and bad bacteria. All of these components can negatively contribute to acne and blemishes, and can even cause congestion, clogged pores and blackheads. The formula behind this product contains a range of purity and soothing ingredients including bamboo charcoal, golden wildflower and fermented honey. Bamboo charcoal has been used for centuries in both skincare and healthcare to draw out unwanted materials from the skin, as it is extremely absorbent. Fermented honey on the other hand helps to nourish, condition and soothe inflammation in the skin while the antibacterial properties in honey help to prevent new acne marks from forming in the future.
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    Origins Ginzing Peel Off Mask Review

    Origins Ginzing Peel Off Mask is a copper-colored peel off mask that is said to help lift away dull, dead skin plus dirt and debris to leave your skin looking clear and radiant. One of the key ingredients in this mask is Panax Ginseng (ginseng) root extract. Ginseng root extract functions as a skin-whitening agent due to its ability to inhibit melanogenesis, the production of melanin pigments that creates undesirable dark spots on skin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. Origins Ginzing Peel Off Mask is also said to be fortified with coffee beans, however, the mask merely contains caffeine. As a natural stimulant, caffeine causes vasoconstriction, which may have a tightening effect on the skin.

    There are a couple drawbacks with the Origins Ginzing Peel Off Mask, for example, it contains a high concentration of denatured alcohol. Denatured alcohol is well known to cause skin dryness, irritation, and even disruption of the skin barrier when used in high concentrations. Another problem with this mask is the amount of fragrance ingredients, including lemon peel oil, grapefruit peel oil, spearmint leaf oil, orange peel oil, limonene, linalool, and citral. These fragrance ingredients can potentially cause allergic reactions and skin irritation. To make matters worse, all of these fragrance ingredients are in higher concentrations than both ginseng root extract and caffeine.

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    Origins Modern Friction Scrub Review

    If you enjoy a good dose of physical exfoliation, but don’t want to risk the microtears that harsh scrubs can inflict, you may want to check out the Origins Modern Friction scrub. This gentle physical exfoliant was designed to smooth the surface of the skin without any signs of irritation. The main exfoliating agent in this product is rice starch. Rice has been used for centuries as a brightening and skin smoothing ingredient, and continues to be well used today in a variety of different products. The rice starch in this product is also cushioned in a cream base, which helps to further remove the risk of irritation, as well as dryness and stripping. Aloe and lemon oil are also present in this formula to sooth and calm the skin while also brightening and lightening areas of hyperpigmentation. According to the brand, this product has also been shown to help with the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as enlarged pores to create a more perfected complexion. Because of all this, we’d recommend this product to those of you who have struggled to find an exfoliating product that works well for you, but still want to experience all of the benefits of regular, weekly exfoliation. Those with sensitive skin types should start by using this product once a week, but if you find that the Modern Friction plays well with your skin, you may be able to up it to 2-3 times a week.
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    Origins Original Skin Serum Review

    If you’re looking for a brightening serum that’s easy to incorporate into your daily routine, you may want to check out the Origins Original Serum Serum. The Origins Original Skin Serum was developed to help those who struggle specifically with dullness as well as enlarged pores in order to create a smoother, more flawless looking complexion. According to the brand, this product infuses the skin with radiance boosting hydration while simultaneously smoothing out rough texture and visibly blurring pores for a smooth finish. This product features a number of beneficial extracts and active ingredients including peony root extract, salicylic acid and their star ingredient. willowherb extract. In order to get the most out of this product, we’d recommend applying it twice daily as part of both your morning and evening skincare routine, although you may reap most of the pore blurring benefits in the morning prior to makeup application.

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    ORIGINS High-Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral-Enriched Oil-Free Renewal Cream Review

    The Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral -Enriched Oil-Free Renewal Cream offers an oil-free formulation that is geared towards more mature skin types. The formula behind this product includes AHA’s which gently exfoliate the skin, revealing a more radiant and even complexion. The Alpha Hydroxy Acids used in this product are all fruit-derived, making them slightly gentler on the skin upon application. Additionally, using chemical exfoliates in a moisturizing formula helps to buffer the skin and minimize any irritation that you could experience, making this product an excellent option for those of you who would like to exfoliate every day, but have experience increased sensitive or irritation when using more concentrated or less nourishing products. While this product is oil-free, the formula does contain shea butter, jojoba esters, jojoba butter and squalane to act as some of the main moisturizing and nourishing agents in this cream. All of these are very unlikely to clog pores or cause irritation, but if you know that you’re skin is sensitive to oils, we recommend completing a patch test before incorporating this product into your regular skincare routine.
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    Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Serum Review

    The Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Serum is a potent serum for those who are concerned primarily with minimizing the signs of aging. The formula behind this product features anogeissus as well as a Bamboo Power Complex which is unique to Origins. These two ingredients help to fight the visible signs of aging including fine lines and wrinkles, creating a more youthful and glowing complexion. In addition to these benefits, the Anti-Aging Serum from Origins can also help to diminish the appearance of pores and noticeable skin texture. Since Origins aims to use natural, botanical extracts and ingredients in their formulations, this product is free of parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oil, petrolatum, paraffin, DEA and animal ingredients. The only exception to this is cruelty free honey or beeswax. In order to receive the maximum amount of benefit from this product, the brand recommends applying this serum as part of your morning and evening routine prior to moisturizer.
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    Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Cream Review

    The Origins Plantscription Anti-Aging Cream is an excellent option for those of you who are looking for a day time moisturizer that offers a bit more than your standard cream. This Anti-Aging Cream features SPF 25 as well as a number of ingredients to boost your skin’s natural renewal processes. Dill seed extract and cassia alata help to optimize elastin synthesis and production, while simultaneously restoring youthful structure and improving fine lines and wrinkles. These ingredients plus others in this robust formula help to create a perfect final step to your skincare routine, as well as an great base for makeup application. Incorporating a daily sunscreen with around SPF 25-30 is one of the most beneficial steps you can take towards preventing signs of premature aging.
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    Origins Zero Oil Oil-Free Moisture Lotion Review

    Origins Zero Oil Oil-Free Moisture Lotion is a lightweight, oil-free, hydrating lotion that is claimed to instantly reduce shine, refine skin texture, and create a smooth, matte finish. One of the key ingredients in this lotion is saw palmetto fruit extract. The fruit of the saw palmetto possesses powerful antiseptic properties and is known to be a potent purifier. It’s been shown to be effective in controlling excess oil production which reduces shine and can help prevent breakouts. Another key ingredient in the Origins Zero Oil Oil-Free Moisture Lotion is jojoba esters, which are the hydrogenation or transesterification product of jojoba oil. Jojoba esters work to soften and smooth the skin, and also help to balance oil production due to its remarkable similarity to the natural oils produced by the human skin.

    One drawback with Origins Zero Oil Oil-Free Moisture Lotion is the high concentration of plant extracts that contain volatile fragrance components. For example, this formula contains spearmint leaf oil, lemon peel oil, orange oil, lavender oil, ylang ylang oil, citral, linalool, farnesol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl salicylate, limonene, geraniol, and more. These fragrance ingredients have the potential to cause allergic reactions and skin irritation. In addition, spearmint oil and the various citrus oils can cause a phototoxic reaction when skin is exposed to sunlight. It’s important to keep in mind that you don’t always need to immediately see or feel the sensitizing effects of fragrance ingredients for your skin to suffer damage.

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