When I diligently stick to just one cream for months on end, it must mean I like it. Well, it also means I’m lazy (I’m supposed to swap it out for something else) but in the main, I like this one enough to keep using it till it’s finished 🙂
The night cream in question is the Origins High-Potency Night-a-Mins which I’m given to understand, is an upgrade from their previous cream, also called Night-a-Mins. I’d never used the older version so I can’t tell you anything about it.
This new one however, I like. But it wasn’t always a smooth journey, which explains why I’ve taken so long with it. I had to figure out what troubled me and how I solved it 🙂
I somehow feel like the High-Potency Night-a-Mins is the night cream counterpoint to the daytime Ginzing Cream. They both sport a zesty citrus scent, which is more mellow and milder in Night-A-Mins than in Ginzing, but which is significantly present. It does seem a little strange at first getting that burst of citrus zest scent in the evening, but it dissipates and the strangeness does go away eventually.
What Origins says this night cream does is help to reboot and renew your skin while you sleep, while offering hydration. In fact, the version I have is supposed to be for those with combination-dry skin (which I do) and there is an oil-free version for those of you with combination-oily skin.
The texture of this cream is therefore a little thick and a bit heavy, but I don’t find it oily or greasy or suffocating on my skin.
What I do find instead is that it isn’t hydrating enough for me. The first couple of weeks I was using this cream, I found that I liked the scent, and texture. It was thick but not too thick and it went on my skin smoothly. While my skin did look a bit better after a week or two, it was also looking drier and I wasn’t quite sure why, until I hit upon the idea that it was due to this cream.
So what I do is blend in a drop or two of facial oil, which helps me address this problem, and helps this cream feel more comfortable on my skin. I’ve been using this for months (it’s slow going – look at how much more I have to get through!) and I’m pretty generous with my use, massaging a fairly thick layer into my skin each night to seal in all the goodness of the serums and oils underneath, so this cream will go quite a long way. My skin seems to like it. It feels comfortable, soft, and bright. But do bear in mind that I use serums and oils underneath so I will never attribute any significant change in my skin texture to just one product. It take a village, as they say.
While it does claim to make these wonderful improvements to your skin, I can’t quite say that I noticed it being significantly better than any other cream I’ve used. It’s a nice night cream, but if hydration is a concern for you then this isn’t the product you should be using. I honestly don’t think they did enough in that department despite targeting this at those of us with dry skin.
IN A NUTSHELL
The Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins cream is a night cream that comes in 2 versions for those with combination-dry skin and an oil free version for those with combination-oily skin. I quite like using this cream because it feels comfortable on my skin and over the months I’ve been using it, does seems to keep my skin looking fairly healthy and nourished. It must be said of course that I use a host of lotions, serums and oils underneath so I cannot attribute the status of my skin to this cream. But it’s been my night cream for months and I’m quite happy with it. The only fly in the ointment is that I don’t find it hydrating enough. I remedy this by adding in a few drops of facial oil but if that isn’t something you’re up to doing, then this cream will not be for you. Otherwise, it’s pretty decent as night creams go.
PROS: Feels comfortable on my skin, Seems to maintain my skin fairly well in the time I’ve been using it, Mellow citrus scent is an interesting counterpoint for a night routine
CONS: Not hydrating enough
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who wants a decent fairly basic night cream and does not have skin that is too dry
Here is the ingredient list for those interested:-
Water, Methyl Trimethicone, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polysorbate 40, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Myristyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Orange Peel Oil, Orange Flower Oil, Valerian Root Oil, Cinnamomum Cassia Lead Oil, Ferula Galbaniflua Resin Oil, Bitter Orange Peel Oil, Vanilla Fruit Extract, Orange Juice, Citral, Linalool, Limonene, Raspberry Leaf Wax, Fennel Seed Extract, Chestnut Seed Extract, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Coleus Barbatus Extract, Wheat Germ Extract, Barley Extract, Panthenol, Biotin, Folic Acid, Pantethine, Glyceryl Stearate, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Arginine, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytosterols, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Palm Oil, Salicylic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Squalene, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium PCA, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phospholipids, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocotrienols, Calcium Carbonate, Carbomer, Hexylene glycol, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol
If you are fan of Paula Begoun then you may be interested that she gave this a big fat 0 but while I accept her points and have no quarrel with her findings since I’m not scientist myself, I have to say that it works fine for my skin with no irritation and my skin does seem to like it a lot. For me, that’s really all it comes down to – does my skin like it? And that’s what I go on 🙂
Have you used this Origins night cream? Are you using anything else by Origins?
I have actually managed to get my hands on the Make A Difference + Night Cream which I’m excited about using, because I really really loved the MAD+ Day cream. I went through 2 tubs of that! Now that I’ve shared my thoughts about Night-A-Mins, I guess I finally have the excuse to move on 😉
Paris B
Origins High-Potency Night-a-Mins Price: RM115/50ml (pre-GST) Availability: Origins counters and stores
Thanks for that! I did think of venturing into Origins but maybe not this. I do need something that’s rich and thick. I love the ritual of massaging products into my skin. I do look like an oil slick when I’m done but half an hour later, my skin is nice and plumped and soft. LOVE.
Blending with oil works, but it would be a bit too much IMO. It’s nice but not nice enough to have to work at it 🙂 I always look a bit of a mess post evening skincare too but heck, it’s all worth it! 😀
Ive been looking for a night cream. Now I think I have found one. Thanks!
Hope this one will work for you! 🙂
I’ve been using the Origins Make A Difference moisturizer and serum for ages now but recently, I was given a sample of the Night-A-Mins cream which I loved due to the scent. I felt that the sample worked well enough on my skin to purchase a tub. So my new routine will be the MAD moisturizer for day and MAD serum and Night-a-Mins cream for night. Crossing my fingers it will be a working combination!
I’m crossing my fingers for you too! 😀 I got the MAD night cream recently and I’m dying to give it a go (I’m trying to finish this tub, but I’m not doing very well so might just dig into it anyway LOL!) I love the MAD day cream don’t you? It’s just amazing for my skin especially when it’s feeling a bit drier than normal!
I do hope they offer online shopping, too far to reach the brand from east Malaysia. Think of to venture to other brand which is more wallet friendly and still perform what it says. I tried thier mask before and it works for my skin, just too hazzle to re-puchase. Currently what I use is far more expensive and with GST, my wallet start to scream.
I was told previously that they might expand into online shopping but I haven’t seen any news of it yet. It’s a pity the brand isn’t easily available. Some of their products are quite good, and as you’ve pointed out, they’re missing on securing fans from East Malaysia!
Origins is one of the brands I haven’t really got into. I’ve been wanting to try their moisturizers, but gosh, so many to go through before I can buy new ones. I remember liking their cleansers and masks 🙂
Unlike many, I wasn’t crazy about their overnight mask LOL But their moisturisers are so far quite impressive. I’m told the serum isn’t bad too but they do have quite limited distribution nationwide, which is a pity!
Gotta agree that ‘it takes a village’ – lol.
Man, the Paula’s Choice reviews put me off the whole brand. Even though I bet they have a bunch of great products, the reviews are so snide and snarky, they bum me out. Also, I’m pretty sure lots of people’s skin tolerates fragrance and essential oils just fine and their noses love the smells. But no, Paula will not recognise.
Right?! I knew someone would agree with me about it taking a village 😀 No one skincare can give you that wonderful skin you are seeking! I sometimes like to see what PC says about products but I take everything said with a pinch of salt. To me, no one with their own line of products can ever be impartial about their criticism. I might actually give more credit if they didn’t have a range of products to their name!