Origins Best Brighteners

Hi all!

I'm sure everyone knows by now but Origins are one of our favourite brands here at CSI and normally when purchasing something from them you can get a few sample size products to try.

Over Christmas when I bought a few things from John Lewis they were giving away miniature sets and so I chose the Best Brighteners set. There were a few on offer but I hadn't used the products in this set so I chose the brighteners.

I love all of the sets that Origins do but the packaging is always really cute and this one is no exception.

This set contains Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Mega Bright Skin Illuminating Cleanser, Skin Tone Correcting Serum and GinZing Eye Cream.

I've got so much love for their serums, they are so absorbent into my skin and leave it feeling so much more hydrated without overloading it at all.
I'd never tried this particular one before but it was really lovely and I would happily buy it in full size if it wasn't so expensive. That's my only problem with the serums from Origins, they're so pricey and although they do really work I just cannot justify it at the moment.

I can't really comment on its skin tone correcting properties due to it only being a 7ml sample but it was super hydrating and was a joy to use.

The cleanser was also a really lovely treat and it has now been moved to my gym bag so that I have a really nice cleanser for whenever I've done a good workout!
It's a thick white cleanser that feels really hydrating on your skin. It doesn't foam but turns to a white milk kind of consistency that make up then dissolves in. It feels really thick and luxurious and worked really well at getting my make up off. I can't say that it was particularly illuminating but my skin felt really clean and was a little brighter after use. I'd definitely buy this in the future as it felt so much of a treat.

The GinZing eye cream is a favourite product of mine and I have previously written about it here.

In short its hydrating, luminating and depuffing which is everything you could want in an eye cream really!

I love getting the opportunity to try products like this, this set was free with some purchases and it has been a great way to try products that I might not have bought otherwise. I now know that the serum is something I would love to purchase in the future (when I'm not poor!)

What's your favourite Origins product? Have you found a new favourite by trialling something that was free?

L xxx

Review: Stila One Step Illuminating Primer

Good morning! 

Hope you're all doing well. I'm currently at my first ever work conference and I'm excited, nervous and a general bag of beans about it all.

It's all paid for including meals and over nights stays by my company which is lovely and I'm going with another of the girls from work which will be good for some general bonding as I haven't been there long.

But enough of the life updates, we're here to talk about products!

Today I've got a review on a well known Stila One Step Illuminating Primer.

I love using this when I'm in a 'treat' kind of mood or for weekends and nights out.
I've had it since Christmas and have used it most weekends when going out and to events like weddings etc, which when you see pictures below of the product you can see how much I still have left!

This is one of their triple swirled serums which not only primes, brightens and illuminates the skin but also fights wrinkles and smooths fine lines.
As if that wasn't enough it also minimises pores, controls oil and generally hydrates and balances your skin.
This is just quite simply a bit of a wonder product really isn't it?!

Being a triple swirled serum it absorbs into your skin really easily which is great when I'm in a rush, nobody likes sitting around waiting for things to sink in!
The serum is compiled of three different colurs for three different purposes.

Light gold highlights the skin, the pale pink warms the complexion and 'kitten' (an infamous Stila shade) brightens and illuminates.

As mentioned previously I still have so much left of this primer considering I've had it and been using it since Christmas. You need such a small amount to cover your face as it's a serum and it looks great.



I could honestly look at this all day. Things like this will always baffle and entertain me, being a scientist I just want to know how it works and why!



You can see the primer once it has been dispensed on my hand below, it was the easiest way to show the colours, but even so they're so hard to photograph it's hard!

Both me and M are huge fans of Stila primers as we've already posted about their Color Correct serum previously. This was a great present from my mum at Christmas as she knew I'd love the illuminating one too!

It absorbs super quick, leaves a great base, illuminates my skin without being glittery and helps to keep my make up in place for the majority of the day.
In order to maximise my make up longevity I do often mix thi with Revlon's PhotoReady primer for the benefits of them both combined and it's a winning combo for me and my skin!

What's your faovurite Stila product? I've seen some beautiful palettes and blushers, which would you recommend?

L xxx