The winter time is the worst for the skin. It gets cold outside, we turn on heaters, and our skin becomes dry. As there are many great products to hydrate the skin, there’s nothing better than a facial oil to keep yourself moisturised. 

Origins claim that this oil will ‘[d]elete dullness overnight with our amazing sleeping peel. First, the relaxing aromas of Neroli Valerian and Vanilla lull you into sweet sleep. Meanwhile, potent skin resurfacers plus Vitamins C and E cushioned in 8 silky plant oils including Cranberry Seed, Sage and Pomegranate release dull, dead surface cells. Radiance is restored. Skin awakens smoother, rehydrated and vibrant.’ (origins.com)

There are few promises made. Did I see all of the results? Not sure, but I still enjoy the product and let me tell you why. 

When I tried the oil, I fell for its texture. It is not your regular facial oil, it is more of dry oil, like the Nuxe’s body one. It feels lighter than a usual oil and absorbs instantly into the skin. The answer to this lies in the ingredients. Unlike your usual facial oil, this product doesn’t mainly contain a blend of oils. Instead, it contains caprylic triglyceride, dimethicone, some texture enhancers and then what we may call an actual oil – olive oil. After these, follows a list of various ingredients. It’s more of an oil product/serum rather than a facial oil. I enjoy it, nonetheless. Even though it has a light texture, I think people with dry skin will find it moisturising, too. It nourished my drier zones and didn’t make my T-zone too oily. Of course, when I use this oil, over time, sebum starts to show up a bit more than usual. This product contains squalane, which triggers my T-zone to create more oil, but it doesn’t make my face a greasy ball. 

I don’t think this product is a skin-refiner, per se. I know Origins called it a ‘skin-refining oil’, I wouldn’t call it a peel in a bottle, though. I mean a few oil extracts won’t do the same job as acids, so the name is a bit misleading. Though the oil definitely helps my skin when it’s dull. It brings out the radiance in my skin and makes it feel smooth. I think it happens thanks to the various plant extracts, e.g. from oranges and coffee beans containing caffeine, which is great for combating dull skin. 

As much as I like this oil, I know it isn’t suited for everyone. You can use it whether you’re oily or dry and it will moisturise your skin. However, if your skin is sensitive and you have for example rosacea or eczema, please, don’t go applying this oil without prior testing, because I am sure it may aggravate your skin. This product contains potentially irritating ingredients like orange and bitter orange peel oils, cinnamon leaf oil, and fragrance in the form of linalool and limonene, situated pretty high in the ingredients list. I always mention in my reviews when fragrance may be an issue. I don’t find the scent of this oil intense, but it looks like there’s a lot of fragrance added. I am not sure how the ingredients are listed, because in the USA it is not required to list ingredients in descending order according to their content in a product. Personally, I don’t have a problem with this oil and its contents; my skin is fine. I don’t have super sensitive skin, but I am also aware the are potential irritants here. If you have reactive skin, I would say skip this one. There are many other options on the market, but if you are really keen on getting this oil, then do a patch test before buying. 

Overall, it’s a decent oil. I like its texture it soaks into my skin within seconds. The oil hydrates and makes my skin more radiant. I find it very beneficial during the winter months. It’s great for everyone from oily to dry skin types. But people with sensitive skin should be careful, as there are ingredients that may cause irritation.

Ingredients: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride , Dimethicone , Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate , Octyldodecanol , Trisiloxane , Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil , Tricaprylin , Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Oil*, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil*, Ferula Galbaniflua (Galbanum) Resin Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Peel Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Valeriana Officinalis Rhizome/Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Juice, Limonene, Linalool, Citral , Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract , Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract\Extrait D’Orge , Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Extract , Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Seed Extract , Oxycoccus Palustris (Cranberry) Seed Oil , Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil , Tocopheryl Acetate , Silybum Marianum Seed Oil , Linoleic Acid , Salicylic Acid , Cholesterol , Phytosterols , Squalane , Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate , Bht * Essential Oil (origins.com)

The Origins HIGH-POTENCY NIGHT-A-MINS Skin Refining Oil retails for €43 and is available worldwide.