The idea of religiously applying a night cream each evening before I go to bed has long appealed to me. In the vintage dream world of my imagination, I would sit at an opulent vanity table and scoop something rich and unctuous from a weighty glass pot with an ornate lid. I’d massage the heavy cream deeply into my skin with perfectly manicured finger tips before retiring for the night. All this would of course be accompanied by the swooshes and swirls of my billowing silk negligee.

Yea right.

In reality, my skin wouldn’t take kindly to such a cream at all and I’d probably wake the following morning with a face full of spots. As inviting as such a ritual might seem, night creams just aren’t for me.

Or so I thought, until about 6 weeks ago when I stumbled across Origins latest offering, Night-A-Mins, while wandering aimlessly around my local House of Fraser in a desperate attempt to distract myself from my dissertation.

The cream’s promise to brighten my complexion, coupled with the fact they offer a lighter version for oily/combination skin, ensured a pot came home with me that day and, after a fair few weeks of solid use, I can safely say I’m well and truly smitten with this product.

I can certainly attest to the accuracy of the products brightening claims. I’ve been stressed and exhausted throughout the dissertation writing process, and insomnia really began to plague me towards the end. Despite this, I had countless compliments from friends and colleagues about how rested and healthy I looked. Sure, makeup helps in these situations, but I’m convinced this product makes a difference, leaving my skin smooth, plump and, well, radiant.

I love the gel-like texture of this cream, never giving me any cause to fear it would break me out. It sinks in quickly and I can see the pot will last me well as it spreads beautifully, meaning I only require a small amount for each application. Which is a good thing, as it’s certainly not the cheapest cream on the market.

My only criticism, if you can call it that, is the zingy orange scent. I understand this fragrance fits with the products brightening capabilities but I personally find it a little stimulating for something I apply right before I bed down for the night. Nonetheless, this will be a definite re-purchase for me when the pot eventually runs out.

I’ve taken to keeping my pot of Night-A-Mins on my bedside table. I cleanse and tone before I clamber into bed and then, after a few pages of a good book {currently re-reading Hemingways’s ‘A Farewell to Arms’ before I work my way through that stack of F. Scott Fitzgerald books}, I apply my Night-A-Mins, kiss Mr. LA good night {‘you smell of oranges’}, and do my best to sleep tight.

Are you a fan of night cream? Have you tried Night-A-Mins, or anything else from the Origins range? What’s your bedtime ritual?

Loveaudrey xxx