Origins United State Balancing Tonic...a Refreshing non-drying toner for Oily skins
Written: Mar 15 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Effective for oily skin concerns, smells good (though this is probably subjective).
Cons: Smell too strong for some and should be marketed for those for oily skins.
The Bottom Line: Try this if you want to control shine without making drier areas worse.
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| ethereal05's Full Review: Origins United State |
Perhaps it is the fact that I recently turned 21, or maybe it's just that my usual skincare routine no longer works. A couple of months ago, I decided that I should re-think my skincare and switch to a different skincare brand if needed. Readers who have read my reviews for s couple of Clinique products know that I was an advocate of Clinique 3-step skincare. But I was 14 when I started on it and at that time, my skin was really oily. But I have different concerns now.I have noticed in the last couple of years that my cheeks are starting to feel parched. Not a good thing. If I don't do anything about it now, I may just end up with rough skin and wrinkles in a matter of years.
Why I chose Origins:
Now, being a full-time student, I don't have the means to spend on expensive skincare products but I so wanted to give myself the luxury of using a reputable, dependable brand. So after crossing off the likes of Chanel, Estee Lauder and Lancome, I was left with Clarins (which I thought was "too old"), MAC (which doesn't smell good at all) and Origins. I have heard only good things about this brand and I'm not exactly new to this since I used and loved their Never A Dull Moment cleanser. So off I went to see what Origins had to offer.
At the store...
Besides being hit by the fabulous scent at the bug, open-space counter, I immediately noticed that Origins offers skincare products for skins categorised into Oily, Combination, Dry and Sensitive. Now I do not really know what skins fall into the Combination label. Someone with Normal T-zone but dry cheeks? Someone with oily T-zone and normal cheeks? Or someone with Oily T-zone and dry cheeks? I decided that I'm the type with an oily T-zone and normal feeling cheeks that can go either way- oilier or drier. When I told the consultant my problem, she suggested I use a cleanser and toner for combination skin and use a moisturizer for oily skins. (Go gentle on cleansing and use a lighter moisturizer.)
Why United State?
I was complaining about my larger-than-average pores and I was reccommended United State Balancing Tonic. I know from experience that a toner is not an absolute beauty neccessity. But I was also aware that to make pores seem smaller, a regular routine of toner and deep-cleansing mask are musts. I have always had problems with conventional toners. If it is alcohol-free, it takes forever to dry, feels sticky and actually makes my skin oilier than if I don't use a toner. On the other hand, an alcohol-based toner tends to make my cheeks feel Sahara-dry.
The claim: "Origins state-of-the-art-exfoliator, Glucosamine, sloughs pore-clogging debris and smoothes rough spots. Laminaria de-shines T-zones without stripping. And soy protein protects moisture. Disunited dry and oily areas come comfortably together."
I was skeptical about a toner being able to balance combination skins but I was promised that this would clean up the oil on my T-zone and while it will not moisturize dry areas, it will not cause extra dryness there. I guess this is exactly what my combination-prone-to-oiliness skin needs.
The test:
I couldn't wait to try this! Thankfully, home is only a half-hour public bus ride from the mall. At home, after using Never A Dull Moment face cleanser (which removes make-up too, I whipped out the new bottle of United State. The directions are simply "after cleansing, sweep over skin with cotton ball." I usually use a cotton pad but I guess it does not matter as long you don't attempt to use bare hands. The alcohol (yes, it contains some alcohol)may just cause your fingers to peel after some uses.
Well, as noted by an epinion reviewer, this toner does come with a rather strong smell. But if you like Origins products, you should be used to such smells already! I like the fact that it has a hint of minty scent that makes it a great pick-me-up in the mornings. In any case, the smell disappears after a few seconds so it shouldn't bother most people.
United State does feel a little astringent when it first goes on but I noticed that it is not exactly as astringent as the Clinique Clarifying Lotions. For one, although it has some alcohol, it does not dry immediately but actually feels slightly moist for a minute. I don't feel like I have just used rubbing alcohol on my face!
Does it live up to all its claims?
The exfoliating function it claims is pretty mush there. My rough spots feel a tad smoother. Not your reliable AHA treatment but it is good enough coming from a toner.
It does control my T-zone shine such that my make-up can actually survive more than 5 hours without a touch-up. It certainly did not make my cheeks less dry since I still need a bit of moisturizer there once in a while. Well, the consolation is that at least they don't feel drier. I intend to keep buying this since I have yet to find a toner that de-shines and moisturizes at the same time. As I have said, I don't believe a toner can perform such a miracle.
The ingredients: (I'm leaving out the chemical names if possible...they make my eyes go crazy)
aqueous infusion of lavender, alcohol denat, witch hazel, butylene glycol, chamomile, spearmint, geranium, lavender and bergamot essential oils, green tea extract, laminaria saccharina extract, clove extract, hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed wheat protein, acetyl glucosamine, coconut acid, jojoba wax peg-120 esters, glycerin, polyquaternium-7, citric acid, disodium edta.
As any ingredient-particular person can see, there are a few irritating ingredients in here like alcohol and spearmint. I have no idea why spearmint is featured. I can't see any cosmetic benefit from its addition so I guess it is for people who are suckers for minty scents. Personally I quite like mint in any form, but I won't die without it. Well, at least chamomile (an anti-irritant) will soothe any potential irritating situations but I won't count on it.
Who can use United State Balancing Tonic:
People with combination skin prone to oiliness. People with oily T-zones and "normal" cheeks that get dry once in a while. (I think Never A Dull Moment is a perfect cleanser for my particular skin condition so if you have responded well to that, you may like United State as well.)
Who should really look elsewhere:
People with truly oily skins. Maybe Oil Refiner will be more suitable. (I have actually been warned against it for my skin type.)
People who have truly combination skins ie. shiny T-zones with cheeks that are always dry.
Skins that do respond in a bad way to mint. I know of such people out there so be careful before you take the plunge.
People who are better off with alcohol-free toners. It's better to listen to your skin. If it screams irritation when you use a toner containing alcohol, stick to an alcohol-free one. For me, I can't get by without a bit of alcohol so United State suited me perfectly. Personally, I feel that oilier skins need just a tad of alcohol to look cleaner and less greasy and to enable make-up to wear better.
People with normal or dry skins. You guys obviously don't need this. Enough said.
Amount paid:
I am not too sure how much this costs in the States. But I paid S$34 and the exchange rate is something like US$1 = S$1.7? Even with the currency value difference, it is still cheaper over there. Maybe it makes more sense to order on-line. Then again, with shipping costs added, I will have to order in bulk. For now, I will stick to going to the mall since it is not that far from home and I pass by it everyday on the way to school anyway.
Anyways, thanks for reading this review. I hope that I have done justice to this product and answered the questions that some interested people have about this.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
ethereal05
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Reviews written: 7
Trusted by: 2 members
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