little white truths

I bought four skincare gift sets in the second half of last year, and while I've opened and finished most of them, this one has taken me a while to get to.

Thankfully it was a Christmas release so it hasn't been hanging around too long, and I've started to use a couple of the items already because I had some gaps in my collection. I'll be opening the rest over the next month or two.

It's a beautifully presented little kit, and it comes with a gorgeous red box and a sweet little hessian bag. It would make a nice gift, and while I don't think you can buy this particular set anymore, you can buy all the items individually and Origins often has different kits on offer that also look nice so I'm sure you could find something similar.

I haven't tried a lot from Origins and the kit was good value, which is why I bought it. I wanted to get a better idea of the brand without committing to full-sized purchases, and thankfully the items are large enough that I'll probably be able to review most if not all of them individually.

Here's what I got for my $51 AUD:

So you receive seven products and the range covers just about everything you could need. What I'll do now is introduce each item, then I'll review them all individually and once I've done that, I'll come back and update this post with mini reviews so you know what I thought of the set as a whole.

Origins Checks & Balances Frothy Face Wash (RRP $17 AUD for 50ml or $33 AUD for 150ml)

This claims to be a gentle, foaming formula that's built on a unique blend of botanicals. It uses broad leaf kelp extract to tackle excess oil and wheat protein to hydrate and protect dry areas. Water-activated tourmaline washes away dirt and makeup, while essential oils such as bergamot, lavender and spearmint leave skin feeling nourished and refreshed - never tight, pulled or parched.

I'm a cleanser junkie so I can't wait to open this product, and it's been on my list of things to try for a while. Problem is, I have far too many cleansers. As soon as I finish one, this is the next cab off the rank.

Origins Ginzing Energy Boosting Gel Moisturiser (RRP $41 AUD for 50ml)

This botanical-packed moisturiser aims to simultaneously brighten and hydrate skin. Natural caffeine-rich extracts such as coffee bean and panax ginseng give skin an instant reboot, while vitamin b shields skin from environmental damage. The added bonus of magnolia bark, which is loaded with light-diffusing minerals, helps fade dark spots and diminish the appearance of hyperpigmentation. 

I need a new day cream so I'll be opening this very soon. I have a feeling that I've tested this before and really enjoyed it, but I can't say this for sure so we'll see. Looking forward.

Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Cream (RRP $64 AUD for 50ml)

A nature-infused night cream that works while you sleep so you wake with skin that's replenished and refreshed. Enriched with vitamins C, E and H to hydrate and restore. Time-releasing minerals gently exfoliate dead layers to reveal brighter, plump, more youthful-looking skin. Dullness is diminished and damage is repaired so you start the new day with a complexion that is rested and radiant.

I've almost finished my night cream so this one's next on the list. It's had some good reviews so I'm looking forward to trying it. Hopefully it has enough punch for my dry skin.

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask (RRP $39 AUD for 100ml)

Designed to give your pores a deep, thorough clean. Formulated with the benefits of activated charcoal, which act like a magnet to draw out deep-dwelling pore-cloggers, this creamy smooth mask also contains white china clay to absorb oil, while lecithin eradicates impurities to leave skin clean. The results include skin that is soft, smooth and purified, with fewer breakouts and minimised pores.

I need another face mask like I need a hole in the head, but this certainly won't go astray and I will use it eventually. I just need to finish off at least two other face masks first. Could be a while ; )

Origins Make A Difference Rejuvenating Hand Treatment (RRP $23 AUD for 100ml)

A non-greasy daily hand treatment that works to relieve dryness, smooth roughness and even skintone. With its star ingredient, rose of jericho, plus an array of other skin revitalisers such as trehalose and sea haricots, these properties work hand-in-hand to nourish dehydrated skin, restore UV damage and soften chapped, cracked hands. The result is skin that is brighter, silky smooth and evenly textured.

I opened this a couple of weeks ago and I'm really enjoying it. I'll be reviewing it soon so stay tuned for that if you're interested, but suffice to say that I would absolutely buy the full-size.

Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream (RRP $45 AUD for 15ml)

Tired eyes are perked up thanks to a whole host of hardworking properties including coffee bean-derived caffeine, panax ginseng and magnolia extract. This complex of ingredients works to combat the signs of fatigue and swelling under the eye and increase the flow of circulation. Natural optic brighteners diffuse dark circles and illuminate the skin to make you look awake and refreshed, while a multitude of moisturisers delicately hydrate and soften the area beneath the eye. 

Since the kit includes a 15ml full-size of this product, it basically makes up the value of the kit - that tells you what a good deal it was. Mind you, I've been using this for a couple of weeks now and so far I don't love it, although I'll wait a little longer before firming up my opinion on that.

Origins Modern Friction Nature's Dermabrasion (RRP $58 AUD for 125ml)

Keep skin looking refreshed with this gentle face scrub that offers exfoliation without irritation. At the heart of this slightly grainy formula is skin-refining rice starch, which lifts dead skin cells and reaches to the core of damage and discolouration. Time-tested lemon oil provides back-up support to illuminate skin, aloe calms and soothes, while tangy bergamot and cooling peppermint add a perky pick-me-up to the whole process. The appearance of fine lines and enlarged pores is reduced, leaving skin perfectly polished, radiant and smooth without redness or flaking.

This has been on my list of things to try for a while because I'm always in the market for a good exfoliant, so it will be interesting to see how it fares. Fingers crossed it does the job without being too abrasive.

In sum

That's all from me. I can't wait to try everything in here (finally) and get a better idea of Origins as a brand. Hopefully it works for me, and I say hopefully because it's not the most expensive range lining the shelves of Mecca so it would be handy if it suited my skin!

Hope all's well with you, and speak soon x