Origins Spot Remover Acne Treatment Gel: A Review

I recently purchased the Spot Remover Acne Treatment Gel from Origins.com. This was my second time buying the product and even though I didn't love the results it brought the first time, that was 8 years ago and my skin had changed since then in terms of type and sensitivity. I chose to try the Spot Remover again for this and a few additional reasons:

First, I remembered the scent being tolerable and even pleasant. It did not have that medicinal smell so classic of acne treatment products; the kind of smell that lets everyone within four feet of you, especially if you sweat or it's raining, know that you are trying to control your acne. (That's personal!)

Secondly, Origins.com was having an incredible promotion as they usually do and for the purchase of one item I obtained 5 free sample items of my choice.

Third and most importantly, there aren't a lot of good acne spot treatments out there that you can wear during the day. The Spot Remover from Origins goes on clear and forms a relatively thin layer. Even without makeup the anti blemish treatment is inconspicuous.

The Origins Spot Remover tempted me with many pros. Sadly, though, the product disappointed me in the end and after trying it several times again I remembered more clearly why it didn't work out the first time.

The Spot Remover Acne Treatment Gel by Origins uses Salicylic Acid, Oregano and Clove Buds to heal blemishes and reduce redness. According to the online description, Origins Spot Remover sets itself apart from similar acne treatment products on the market in that it does not dry out the skin or result in flakiness.

This attribute has definitely proven true, with my combination oily and dry skin. Unfortunately, I believe that the mildness of this product is its biggest weakness. I did notice, upon initial application, the familiar sting that I've come to associate with products "you can feel working". But aside from this tingling sensation I have not identified any significant evidence that this product speeds up the healing process of my blemishes any faster than it would take for them to go away on their own.

This came as a great disappointment to me, as I had high hopes for the Spot Remover this second time around. Not to mention the fact that it's fairly pricey; a tiny 3 oz. bottle costs $12.

The packaging also has flaws. For one, the opening of the container is wide, making it impossible to use just a smidgen of the acne treatment gel for a single application. Additionally the viscosity of the liquid requires some force to get out, especially once the bottle is no longer full to the brim. I know every time I have used the spot treatment I have ended up either squeezing the container too hard or dumping it all over my index finger trying to nudge it out with gravity. This always results in an unnecessary loss and complete waste of product and each time I am conscious also of the lesser "bang for my buck" (as the saying goes) that I am getting.

Origins specializes in bath, body, skin care and hair products with an emphasis on natural ingredients. The company's slogan, "Powered by Nature. Proven by Science" fits them well. In my 10+ years of shopping at Origins Stores, I have tried and still use some excellent products, particularly those in the skin care category.

Even though the Spot Remover anti blemish and acne treatment gel didn't work well enough for me to buy it again, the experience will definitely not deter me from shopping at Origins Stores in the future. Compared to competing bath, body and skin care retail stores, Origins sells quality products that do what they promise. I just believe the Spot Remover to be an exception to the rule.