Origins Modern Friction

I have never been one to spend a lot of money on exfoliants, as I have always been of the belief that one was more or less the same as another. Truth be told, I have never felt that they made that much of a difference to my skin, although I have, on occasion, noticed a momentary brightening after use, having obviously got my circulation going as I was massaging the product over my face. I bought the Origins Modern Friction on a whim , intrigued by its natural ingredients, but not expecting much (at the the time I had never tried anything from Origins before). 

Modern Friction is touted by Origins as 'nature's gentle dermabrasion'. It is so-called because it uses rice starch, as opposed to coarse chemical crystals, to slough away dead skin cells, thus making it that much gentler, and pores and lines are supposed to appear greatly diminished after use. Modern Friction contains lemon oil for illumination, and vitamin C to mop up any nasty free radicals. Oh - and it also helps to remove any uneven patches, signs of skin damage and discolouration.  All this, sans irritation and redness? Sounds good to me.

So, how did it fare?

The first time I used this, I wasn't all that impressed. In consistency, it seemed like any other exfoliator, although it was thicker than most I've tried, and it also had a pleasant lemony scent.

To use, you massage this onto clean, dry skin (you can leave your skin damp if you've got particularly sensitive skin) in circular motions, before adding a dash of water and working it into a lather. Rinse, pat dry and you're all done.

When I had finished using this for the first time, I didn't notice a huge difference. That was, until the next day. When I was applying my makeup in the morning, I was pleasantly surprised by how radiant and glowing my skin looked, and upon closer inspection I could see that my skin and pores looked really clean.

But it was the second time I used it that it really succeeded in impressing me.

I had some dry, flaky patches on my nose where I had been trying to clear some forever-blocked pores there, and nothing would shift it. Eventually, I decided to give it a quick exfoliate with Modern Friction, but I didn't expect it to make a huge difference, as when I have tried to exfoliate really dry/flakey patches in the past it has only improved the situation by about 20%.

Well, I was wrong. Very wrong. 

I used the product in the same way as I had done before, this time concentrating on my nose, and when I washed the product away I was amazed to see that I  had a perfectly smooth,silky soft nose, without a flake in sight. Ah-mazing.

Since then, I've been using Modern Friction Twice a week, and it has fast become an absolute must-have for me. It's rare for me to suffer from dry skin, but this is not just for people who have this problem. It leaves my skin looking absolutely glowing with health, and I haven't had a single spot since I started using this! Granted, I have been using it in conjunction with the Origins Clear Improvement mask (review coming up), but between the two of them they have done an incredible job.

Have you tried anything from the Origins skincare range? What did you think?

xx

October Favourites

Bonjour my lovelies, and thank goodness it's Friday! Personally, I get Fridays off work, so that makes them doubly nice, and means that I get to have a good old lie in and then catch up on some blogging over a cuppa. So, with it being November already, that means it's time for me to share my favourite products of the past month! Apologies for one or two of them being foreign versions, but worry not, as you can still pick those up in the UK, and probably the US too.

Suti Peppermint Water Organic Facial Toner

I absolutely adore this facial spritz. It's so refreshing, and the calming peppermint fragrance makes it perfect for use before bed as well as to make me up in the morning. I also like to take this with me in my bag when I go to work, as it's great as a pick-me-up during the afternoon slump! It's fine to spray this on top of your makeup and actually kind of 'wakes it up' a bit, which is an added bonus. And to top it off, this is an organic product, which means you don't have to worry about what nasties are coming into contact with your face! Love. For my full review on this little treat, head over here.

Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask

Absolutely my new favourite mask. It contains charcoal as the active ingredient, which penetrates the pores and draws out any bits of grime. I must say, my skin has been amazing since starting to use this. I did actually buy it with the hope that it would clear the perpetually blocked pores on my nose, and while I was originally a little bit disappointed that they didn't completely disappear, they definitely did make a difference. And since then, my skin in general has been really clear and glowing - not one spot! I am now using this once a week and wouldn't be without it! There is a full review coming up on the blog next week.

L'oreal Elvive Extraordinary

I was really reluctant to try another oil on my hair, as my first experience, with Argan oil, was far from a success. I always found that applying it onto dry hair (as instructed) left it looking greasy after a few hours, so I was intrigued when I read some great reviews of this one, saying that it didn't weigh the hair down. I like to apply this onto wet hair before drying, and I find that it leaves my hair really nice and smooth, and not at all oily. Another winner.

Palmolive Naturals Intense Pomegranate Shower Gel

I love Palmolive shower gels - in fact, they are my favourite. They're affordable and they smell amazing - what's not to love? This is the first time I've tried this particular one, and I am hooked.

Clinique All About Eyes Serum

It's no secret that I've been on the hunt to banish dark circles and puffy eyes, and this is one of the products I have been trying out. I actually haven't used it all that much yet, but I really like the concept of the cooling rollerball applicator, so while I 'll reserve judgement on whether or not it works for now, I will say that I really enjoy using it in the mornings and feel that it really wakes up my eyes. It does seem to reduce puffiness somewhat, but as yet,  it's not a miracle worker. I've been trying out a couple of other eye products as well, so I don't think I've given this one much of a chance until now - I want to try using it on a more consistent basis and see what it can do.

Benefit Gin Zing

Another eye product I've been giving a trial run, this time on a more consistent basis, and while I was a bit disappointed the first time I used it (having heard rave reviews),  a few weeks on I can really see a difference! My eyes are much less puffy, and they actually don't look quite as dark either, although I'm not sure if that's just my imagination/wishful thinking! I'm planning to give this a thorough review once I've been using it a bit longer, so keep your eyes open for that if you are a fellow sufferer!

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer

I'd never heard of this brand before, but having seen it on a list of the top under-eye concealers along with some before and after shots, I was impressed. I actually got this from a trusted seller on Ebay and am really liking it so far. It's really thick, but it doesn't settle into any fine lines. Again, not a miracle product, but as far as concealers go, it's really quite good.

Origins Modern Friction

Touted as 'nature's gentle dermabrasion', this gently exfoliates the face and leaves it smooth and glowing. I've been using it before the Clear improvement mask and find that they work really well together.

Ren Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask

This is a really rejuvenating mask and makes my skin look really radiant the day after I've used it. Full review coming soon.

And that's the lot! I did get a lot of these products towards the second half of the month, and things like face masks, which you can't use daily, do usually take a while to show their true colours, so do feel free to pop back and  read the reviews as and when they go up if you are interested in any of these.

What's were your favourite products in October?

xx