Shitaki, portabello, crimini — GIRL, can we just talk about my favorite mushrooms for a minute? (My favorite ones to eat.) I’ve got a small box of organic criminis waiting to be added to an omelet for lunch, yum!
None of these mushrooms have anything to do with the Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief line…but maybe that’s a good thing, because if they did we’d be here talking about truffles (mmm, truffle mac and cheese) for days.
The Mega-Mushroom line
The Origins Mega-Mushroom line is a collection of cleansers ($31 each), a toner ($34), serums ($48-73) and moisturizers ($66 each) for sensitive, dry and red, irritated skin, and, if you’re curious, no, they do not smell like mushrooms.
Essential oils
The three products I tried (the Face Cleanser, Micellar Cleanser and Soothing Treatment Lotion, which is basically a toner) smell lightly of lavender, which I guess isn’t a surprise, since lavender oil is one of the ingredients, along with other essential oils, like orange and patchouli (FYI, I’ve listed the ingredients of the products I’ve tested at the bottom of this post).
Reishi mushroom
The star ingredient, though, is a mushroom called reishi, or lingzhi mushroom, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine for healing and longevity, and it’s supposed to soothe red, sensitive skin.
I know this because Origins has this kick-@ss plant finder for all of the botanical ingredients in their products on their website.
The last time they revamped their packaging, they also revamped their entire approach to the line. Now they place plant-based ingredients front and center, kinda like Aveda does, and they list all of their ingredient on the website, which is SO helpful. It lets you get to know their products on a deeper, more practical level.
So, who’s this Dr. Weil dude, anyway?
He’s an author and celebrity doctor known for championing a healthy lifestyle and alternative medicine, and he donates the profits from the line to the non-profit Weil Foundation, which promotes integrative medicine, or the combination of alternative medical treatments alongside conventional medicine.
Moisturizing
I haven’t had any sensitive, red patches lately (knock on wood), so I can’t assess how well these work to reduce redness and sensitivity, but after steadily using them for three weeks, I can say that my combo dry/oily face is content with the high level of hydration, and the products haven’t triggered any breakouts yet.
The cleanser, toner and micellar water
I like the Face Cleanser ($31) as a first cleanse in the morning, or, a second cleanse at night, since it doesn’t remove makeup.
It’s creamy, non-foaming, removes oil and dirt, and doesn’t strip my skin or leave my cheeks feeling tight.
The Soothing Treatment Lotion ($34) is a liquid toner, and I place a few drops on a Shiseido Facial Cotton, then apply it on my face after washing with the Face Cleaner.
As for the Micellar Cleanser ($31), it’s gentle and moisturizing, but it doesn’t remove makeup, so it’s not right for me, and I think there are similar products out there that aren’t as expensive.
The take-home message
I recommend the cleanser and toner, especially if you have dry skin that craves lots of moisture, but watch out for the essential oils if you have EO sensitivities, especially to lavender, orange or patchouli.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Ingredients
- Face Cleanser —
water\aqua\eau; caprylic/capric triglyceride; butylene glycol; glycerin; olea europaea (olive) fruit oil; phenyl trimethicone; citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) oil, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, pogostemon cablin (patchouli) oil, citrus nobilis (mandarin orange) peel oil, pelargonium graveolens flower oil, boswellia carterii (olibanum) oil, limonene, linalool, citronellol,; helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil; hippophae rhamnoides extract; ganoderma lucidum (mushroom) extract; zingiber officinale (ginger) root extract; curcuma longa (turmeric) root extract; ocimum sanctum leaf extract; cordyceps sinensis extract; silybum marianum fruit extract; triticum vulgare (wheat) germ extract; hordeum vulgare (barley) extract\extrait d’orge; glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root extract; fuscoporia obliqua extract; ppg-20 methyl glucose ether; cholesterol; caprylyl glycol; bisabolol; sucrose stearate; carbomer; squalane; isostearic acid; tromethamine; cellulose; sodium dehydroacetate; phenoxyethanol- Soothing Treatment Lotion —
water\aqua\eau; butylene glycol; peg-4; citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) oil, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, pogostemon cablin (patchouli) oil, citrus nobilis (mandarin orange) peel oil, pelargonium graveolens flower oil, boswellia carterii (olibanum) oil, limonene, linalool, citronellol, geraniol; hippophae rhamnoides extract; zingiber officinale (ginger) root extract; curcuma longa (turmeric) root extract; ganoderma lucidum (reishi mushroom) extract; fuscoporia obliqua extract; cordyceps sinensis (mushroom) extract; ocimum sanctum (holy basil) leaf extract; aloe barbadensis leaf juice; helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil; silybum marianum fruit extract; sucrose; peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil; trideceth-9; glycerin; glycereth-26; sodium hyaluronate; tocotrienols; pentylene glycol; tocopherol; sodium hydroxide; squalene; elaeis guineensis (palm) oil; phytosterols; citric acid; cellulose; potassium sorbate; phenoxyethanol- Micellar Cleanser —
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Boswellia Carterii (Olibanum) Oil, Limonene, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Lycium Chinense (Wolfberry) Fruit Extract, Fuscoporia Obliqua Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum (Mushroom) Extract, Trehalose, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Hypnea Musciformis (Algae) Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Polysorbate 20, Gellidiela Acerosa (Algae) Extract, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Yeast Extract, Cetrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Cellulose, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Phenoxyethanol. Organic Essential Oils: Organic Orange Oil, Organic Mandarin Oil, Organic Patchouli Oil, Organic Geranium Oil, Organic Lavender Oil.
Sounds like a wonderful skin care line! I hope it doesn’t smell like mushrooms- wait mushrooms don’t really have a scent…or do they? ????
Hi Sissi,
Nope, no scent, they smell like lavender:
“The Origins Mega-Mushroom line is a collection of cleansers ($31 each), a toner ($34), serums ($48-73) and moisturizers ($66 each) for sensitive, dry and red, irritated skin, and, if you’re curious, no, they do not smell like mushrooms. The three products I tried (the Face Cleanser, Micellar Cleanser and Soothing Treatment Lotion, which is basically a toner) smell lightly of lavender, which I guess isn’t a surprise, since lavender oil is one of the ingredients, along with other essential oils, like orange and patchouli (FYI, I’ve listed the ingredients of the products I’ve tested at the bottom of this post).”
Oh! Lavender! I can do that! 😉
I’ve tried the toner, it’s okay, but it really doesn’t do anything for my redness (and I have a lot). I do have the mask from the line and that works fantastically! I’m interested in trying the serum at some point.
Hi Katie,
Thanks for the feedback on the redness. I’ll see if I can try the mask one of these days!
I always read Magic Mushroom when reading about this line…
Ha! Too funny.
Origins is hit or miss with me, functionally, but I do appreciate their transparency (and their products always smell nice). 🙂 Did Dr. Weil have a mushroom line before teaming up with Origins or am I dreaming?
Ya know, I don’t remember. He has a few lines with different brands… I think he donates profits of those sales to his foundation, which is also pretty cool!