Ever wonder if your mask is really doing all that it can? I do and this new one from ORIGINS claims to help. Maskimizer Skin-Optimizing Mask Primer ($22/3.2oz @ sephora.com, origins.com) mist is made with a Marine Algae Complex, which hydrates and is supposed to prep the skin and enhance the mask you’re using.

Just spray some of the 3.2oz bottle over clean skin, lightly pat and then apply your mask. So did this really “enhance” or make my mask work better? From my experience, it’s hard to say. I mean, I used a Nip + Fab Soften Kale Fix Clay Mask twice with it - once using the mist beforehand and once not using it and I really didn’t notice a difference. Maybe if I did a longer trial test, I could get a better read? But when doing a controlled experiment like the aforementioned, all the factors have to remain a constant, and with the changing of the season … I’m not sure how accurate I could be.

Bottom line: Origins doesn’t seem to have any scientific study to back up their claims and it seems like if you use any kind of hydrating toner before a mask, your mask will just work better. So unless you are a die-hard masking fan, I’d give this a hard pass.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

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1. Scrub Love - LOTUS MOON Cardamom & Bamboo Polishing Cream Moisturizing Facial Scrub ($23.95/2.2 oz @ lotusmoonskincare.com) – made with good-for-skin-ingredients like bamboo stem and don’t worry, the exfoliates won’t harm your skin as this uses spherical jojoba beads to do the work.

2. Belly Love - USANA Probiotic ($27.45/14-1gram stick packs @ usana.com) - Let’s face it, if you don’t feel good on the inside, you won’t look good on the outside and it can certainly show up on your face. Probiotics help support digestion by balancing the naturally found bacteria in your gut.

3. Wrinkle Love - RODAN + FIELDS REDEFINE Acute Care Skincare for Expression Lines ($220/10 pairs @ rodanandfields.com in January 2015) – Using what they call Liquid Cone Technology, these crescent shaped patches contain Hyaluronic Acid that plump the area and the powerful Sh-Oligopeptide-1 peptide reduces the appearance of wrinkles, while increasing the skin’s firmness. And you can apply them anywhere like under the eyes, above the lips. By apply the patches three days a week (you wear them on the skin overnight) can give you up to either weeks of firm results. I used them on the outside of my eyes and could feel them, well, doing something for about the first hour I had them on before hitting the hay. 

4. Eye Love - NYAKIO Firming Eye Balm with Baobab ($45/15g @ nyakio.com) – I tend to opt out of using an eye cream in my skin care routine but in the past few months have opted in and I’m not sure if it’s this specific balm that I’m using that has made the visible difference or the fact that I started using one in the first place.

5. Serum Love - ORIGINS Plantscription Anti-Aging Power Serum ($56/1oz @ origins.com ulta.com) – I’ve always believed in the power of the serum! And this one works quickly so improve visible lines and wrinkles. This would be a nice addition to your skin care routine.

6. Face Oil Love - L’OCCITANE Divine Youth Oil ($96/1oz @ loccitane.com sephora.com) – There’s a lot of buzz on this oil from L’Occitane and deservedly so – it has 7 plant oils and enhances and plumps the skin’s natural ability to regenerate collagen and each application only calls for a few drops.  

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

When I first received ORIGINS new Super Spot Remover acne treatment gel, I thought, great, I don’t have anyone to try this out since I don’t get a lot of blemishes. But then, lo and behold, it’s like my skin heard me and cropped a few up just so I could try it out. And then a few more appeared shortly thereafter. Ok, acne Gods, I hear you. Trying it…

This one was funny – this treatment gel helped speed of the healing of two of them and on three of them, a week later, it didn’t seem to do a thing. It’s formulated with 1.5% Salicylic Acid to heal and caffeine and Red Algae to get rid of the “hello world, I have a pimple” redness. For $13.50/.3oz you really can’t go wrong and you dab a little on twice a day. This one also comes as Spot Remover Acne Treatment Pads ($26.50/60 pads) also with 1.5% Salicylic Acid, so if you want to give your skin an overall coating of SA, that might be one for you to pick up. Both @ dillards.com.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided for review purposes.

Lots of new colors and products out for the spring. Here are some stars:

ORIGINS Brush-On Color in Coral Reef ($17.50 @ origins.com)

SHU UEMURA Tri-Color Eye Pencil in Aqua Flow ($28 @ shuuemura.com) from the Rebirth Collection

BOURJOIS Dose de Nacres Mini Loose Powder Eye Shadow in #3 orange with a silver sheen ($8 @ ulta.com)

SPA RITUAL Lacquer in Plugged-In ($10 @ dermstore.com) from the Awakened Collection.

SMASHBOX Green Room Bronzer ($28 @ smashbox.com) from the Green Room Collection.
BOBBI BROWN Lip Gloss in Pink Popsicle ($19 @ sephora.com) from the Pink Raspberry Collection