Origins "Zero Oil"

As you know, I'm always looking for products to help control my oily skin! This product comes in an 18ml (£12) bottle which isn't a lot, and as it is liquid it can run out very quickly depending on how much you're using.

You can apply it either under or over your make-up and it gives the face a matte finish! I used it today and was surprised it actually seemed to work!

Would it be lazy of me to copy and paste what the Origins website has to say about it?

"When everyday hassles like heat, humidity, or stress send already overzealous oil glands into overdrive, skin faces a surplus of shine, looks dingy, feels totally tacky. Breakouts are apt to blossom. Nature's master-mattifiers, including oil-foiling Silicates, toning Winterbloom, plus calming Chinese Camphor, instantly zero in skin-spoiling oil and blot up greasy shine without overdrying. Creates a smooth, invisible finish that stays matte all day. There are no streaks on cheeks. And forehead, chin and nose show positively no glow."

The only problem is have with this product is I'm unsure of how to apply it! It's a liquid so you'd assume that it should be put on a cotton wool pad and wiped over the face, but if you want to apply it over make-up then surely a cotton wool pad would wipe away most of your make-up?!

I have just been squirting it into my palms and massing it into my face before I put any make-up on, but it is quite messy and you have to do it straight away so that the product doesn't leak out of your hands!

Looking at the reviews on the website I'm not the only one who is a bit confused about how to apply it...

When you first put it on it can feel a bit tacky but it absorbs into the skin very quickly and that feeling soon passes.

All in all I'd say that it was worth the money as it seems to be keeping my T-Zone oil free throughout the day!

http://www.origins.co.uk/product/6342/11728/Skincare/Concern/Blemish-Oil-Control/Zero-Oil/Instant-matte-finish-for-shiny-places/index.tmpl

- Natalie

3rd Laser Treatment

The last time I had the laser treatment was about 6 weeks ago, the usual waiting period between the treatments is 4 weeks so it's been a little bit longer than I would have liked!

So my treatment was at 4:00pm today and I was a little bit nervous because it had been so long since the last treatment, but my face has broken out a lot recently (mostly on the left side of my face which is strange...) so I was looking forward to having it done to see if it would lessen the breakouts!

I'm sure you'll all agree with me that having these treatments is a big deal; allowing someone to not only see your face without make-up but touch it aswell, you build up a sort of bond with whoever does it for you. Well when I got there today I found out that the girl who has been doing my face for the past year had left the company after my last treatment!

The woman who did the treamtent instead was a complete stranger to me, I didn't even know her name! I felt awkward because I didn't know what to say to her, and when she took my make-up off to prepare my face I felt vulnerable because I didn't know what she was thinking about the state of my skin etc. It felt like I was walking in there for the first time.

Obviously, because she has never done any of my treatments before she had no clue about what strength laser I should be having/ how many treatments I have had before so there was a lot of paper fumbling which only added to the nerves. She said that my previous treatment settings were too low and she was going to make the laser stronger! No one can seem to get this laser thing right for me!! I don't want to put anyone off but during the treatment I could literally smell my skin burning; it didn't "hurt", it was bearable, just the whole situation made me feel uncomfrotable.

At the end of the session I realised there were no mirrors in the treatment room so I had to leave the building without seeing my face! This was a big deal for me! I ran to the closest toilet to find a mirror; my face was red and both scars and spots were visible all over so I put make-up on and kept my head down as I walked quickly back to my car.

The whole scenario just made me uncomfortable today, I'm extremely self conscious about my skin and having so many strangers (both in the building and outside) see my skin in that condition got me down. I think that's why it is so important to built up bonds with whoever does your treatments, because they grow to understand your concerns and you then have someone you can trust not to judge you when you are at your most vulnerable.

Hopefully the next treatment won't be so bad.

- Natalie

Origins Super Spot Remover

Hello! How are we all today?

I'm going to write about Origins Super Spot Remover; a blemish gel that claims to heal spots if used regularly.
It costs £12, so a little bit more expensive than your regular Tea Tree oil, and it comes in a tiny 10 ml, twist lid bottle.

It smells like Witch Hazel because they both contain some of the same ingredients that help reduce redness and imflammation; it also contains Salicylic Acid which helps to dry out the spot.

When you put it on a spot it immediately makes the skin feel tighter which is a good sign as it means a reaction is taking place, it says on the box that you can apply it between 1-3 times a day depending on the size of the spot etc but due to the amount of product you get I wouldn't recommend using it excessively. There is a risk of dryness to the skin but it states that if such problems occur then you should stop using the product.

It's fragrance free and not tested on animals!

I have read a lot of reviews on the internet regarding this product and although some people swear by it I wouldn't recommend it for severe acne as the ingredients are not strong enough to help control extreme problem skin, but if you have very mild acne or only get spots occasionally then you will probably benefit from it!

- Natalie