Random - Mini Shopping Trip & thoughts

Here are some of my recent purchases!

Maybelline The Falsies Mascara in very black, waterproof
-I absolutely hated this when I first got it. It smudged like crazy and weighed my lashes down. Since it has gotten a chance to dry out a bit, it helps my lashes stay defined and curled for hours (even when I fell asleep with it on!). I still think there are better mascaras out there though.

Eco tools - 6 piece kit: blush, concealer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, eyelash brushes, foundation brush (bought separately), and brush holder/pouch
-I love these soft, environmentally-friendly brushes. My favorites are the blush, concealer, and eyeliner brush. I don't really care for the other brushes.

MUFE Mat Velvet + foundation in shade 25
-Throughout my childhood, my mom has always lectured me on the importance of never using cheap face makeup because it will screw up my skin. This lecture imprinted into my brain and my face makeup usually comes in the form of a $40 price tag -.- On the bright side, Mat Velvet + does not break out my sensitive skin or make me look like a grease ball in the summer. It matches my weirdly pale skin, looks natural, and looks great in pictures. It has great coverage for my acne scars but now that the scars have faded, I've been mixing it with my Shiseido Sun Protection Cream to make a tinted moisturizer. The only thing I don't like is it can be a bit drying and if you have dry patches of skin, it will be emphasized 10 fold.

I had never heard of Origins until I watched MakeUpByTiffanyD rave about the Vitazing. I did some research and was sold on the company's philosophy on using natural ingredients in their products.

Origins Spot Remover - This was the first thing I bought from Origins and I love it so so much. Like I mentioned in a previous blog entry, when Pro-Activ didn't cut it I started using this too. There was some minor stinging upon application but I started seeing results in a matter of weeks. If I spot a pimple right away, a dab of this will make it go away by morning. It dried out pimples and shrunk them without drying out my skin (even though I was putting it on practically everywhere on my face...). I wished that it came in a bigger size because I went through this thing very quickly which isn't surprising by the way I was using it! This is my newfound miracle product.
*There is now a new Super Spot Remover that just came out recently!

Origins Vitazing (sample) - The idea of an all in one product is always nice. What is there not to love about a moisturizer that has spf, skin goody ingredients, and a magical formula that transforms to match the colour of your skin?
Firstly, the coverage isn't that great. Secondly, you run the risk of looking like an Oompa Loompa. I didn't like this.

Origins A Perfect World eye gel (sample) - This eye gel was the least memorable thing I tried. I didn't see any results whatsoever.

The second time around, I got:

Origins Out of Trouble 10 minute mask: So I thought to myself, $20 for a mask? Seriously? But when your face is breaking out into a pizza party, you become a little desperate... I can tell you now that this mask works, compared to the sulphur mask from Pro-Activ which I find does nothing for me. The texture of my skin has improved and I just can't say enough good things about this product. It also doubles up as a overnight spot treatment now that I'm out of the Spot remover. If you hate masks that crack up on you when it dries, this mask does not do that.

Origins Sensory Therapy Peace of Mind: I figured since school brings stress and headaches that I try some of this aromatherapy in a bottle. You basically rub this in on the temples, behind the earlobes, and neck - breathe deeply and find relief. I like it and the cooling sensation but it's just an okay product for me.

I got the following for free with purchase. All were 15mL samples.
Origins Starting Over Age Erasing Moisturizer with Mimosa: I really like this moisturizer. It has a nice scent and moisturizes well without leaving my skin greasy. I also like to use it as an eye cream because it doesn't give me milia.

Origins A Perfect World Antioxidant Moisturizer with Green Tea: I don't think this moisturizer does anything for me... but I will continue to use it up.

Origins Modern Friction: This is a gentle scrub that doesn't irritate acne prone skin. I'm not a fan of scrubs in general so I think it's just okay.

Lastly! I got my hands on the Maybelline Age Rewind concealer for $2.50 at Walmart. I don't understand why people like this stuff. It dries all cakey on my skin :(

I also picked up some random sunscreen - Banana Boat Baby in spf 50. It was only $5 at Winners but if you hate thick greasy sunscreens, it's best to avoid this product.

Nivea Sun Lip Care in Spf30 lipbalm - does it leave a total white cast when you slather it on? Yes! It oddly smells like licorice to me too... Despite that, what this works great for is if you have a dark lip colour that you want to tone down.

Scünci hair accessories - I spotted these at Zellers for $1 a pack and love them. The claw clips have great grip and the thin headbands are super comfortable! The hair elastics are too tight so that was disappointing.

Random - Skincare: To Proactiv or not?

My acne nightmare did not start until my first year of university. My skin was basically clear before that so I didn't know what to do except wonder, 'shouldn't acne be going away at this age instead of emerging?'

My parents freaked out. I was too stressed out over school to properly take care of my skin which made it even worse.

I went to the dermatologist who labeled it 'hormonal acne', recommended creams that didn't work, and pills that I did not feel comfortable taking even if they did clear my skin. Because of the commercials on TV, I went to the mall and bought my first set of Pro-Activ (at the time it was close to $100!). I was desperate to try anything after my confidence took a bad beating.

My first experience with Pro-Activ was a positive one. I followed the system religiously, starting out with only a night application during the first week and increasing it to twice daily like suggested. I never skipped it, even when I had to carry the whole system with me to my best friend's during sleepovers. Summer came and I could go out without any makeup on at all.

Then I began to question all the chemicals in this product. Like many users, my skin hated me when I tried to quit by exploding into breakout hell. I began to look for new products to replace the expensive system. Nothing really gave me that clear skin Proactiv had given me.

My skin was in pretty bad shape in December 2010. I work teaching an after school program and my students thought I had allergies. I'm going to be a teacher soon and that motivated me to put my best face forward =P

When I went back on Pro-Activ in December, I felt like I was at rock bottom. I wanted what it had given me three summers back - the coveted flawless skin. That's not what I got. My acne did not get better. It got worse. Things didn't get better after 3 months. The most logical thing was to quit and find something new but I wanted to use all the product up before moving on. I hate wasting stuff.

At the end of March, I started seeing noticeable results. To speed up the process I began to delve into the Origins skincare line. Their promise of natural product ingredients sounded very appealing to me. The Spot Remover was awesome! A little bit dried out pimples really quickly. I loved it!

I have clear skin now, just some scarring and hyper-pigmentation. I think they could have been preventable if I had started dealing with my acne issues sooner rather than later. It makes my life easier to have a good skincare routine then rely on makeup as my quick fix.

My verdict? I will be repurchasing this system. I don't think Pro-Activ is a miracle product but I'm glad it has worked for me (despite the delay the second time around).

FYI - I have sensitive skin. The system (Cleanser & Toner, 120mL, Repairing Lotion 60mL) lasts me a good 7 months.