Origins GinZing moisturizer review: an oil-free pick-me-up for skin

Having whipped up a hoard of loyal fans and cultish followers into a frenzy, Origins GinZing Moisturizer is a much-lauded skincare buy. That's why I've put it through its paces in this dedicated review so you can work out if it's right for you, too. 

Knowing how to choose moisturizer may not seem easy to skincare novices but, having made it onto our list of the best moisturizers for dry skin, this cream is a match made in heaven for combination to oily skin types. 

The search for effective, non-comedogenic—that’s a fancy way of saying products that won’t cause pore blockages—moisturizers is a lifelong commitment for those of us with combination-to-oily skin. But that’s actually not the only reason I veer away from oil-based skincare. 

An honest review of Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer

It wasn't until my late twenties that I found out I suffer from mild rosacea. The tell-tale signs were there—flushed cheeks after a glass of red wine, blotchy skin at the gym, a heightened sensitivity to the sun. But it took visiting a dermatologist (for a different reason) to get a diagnosis. “Skin that has rosacea will feel more sensitive but often has an oily component,” Dr. Ifeoma Ejikeme, aesthetic doctor and medical director of Adonia Medical Clinic told me. “Oily products and products that clog the pores can really aggravate rosacea."

So I waved goodbye to my much-loved facial oil and embarked on a quest to establish a rosacea skincare routine, including the perfect moisturizer. That's where Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer comes in—a hybrid of glow-boosting ingredients and super-hydrating technology, that’s both light and oil-free. So, does it hydrate without irritating my skin? I put it to the test to find out.

The need-to-knows

Targets:
This moisturizer is suitable for all skin types and targets tired-looking and dull complexions in need of an intense moisture hit. 

USP:
Reviving plant extracts. Promises to keep skin hydrated for 72 hours. 

Key ingredients:
Caffeine (derived from coffee beans) to refresh and recharge, panax ginseng, a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine to boost the skin’s energy, sunflower seeds, and barley, containing essential lipids, and Hydra-Hug, Origin’s latest hydration technology.

Formula—what's in the Oil-Free Origins GinZing Gel Moisturizer?

Origins is famed for harnessing the power of plants and using natural, active ingredients to revive dull complexions, and the GinZing Energy-Boosting Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer is no exception.

It's charged with panax ginseng, a small-but-mighty perennial plant grown in the mountains of East Asia. Ginseng is an antioxidant known for its invigorating properties and has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. While this formula doesn't promise these same health benefits, it does encourage anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects—quite evident, as regular use did calm my rosacea-prone skin. 

The brand recently reworked this best-selling formula with the introduction of its “Hydra-Hug” hydration technology. The brand claims this tackles dryness at a cellular level, bridging the gap between skill cells (with a “hug”, geddit?) to lock in moisture. It also contains coffee bean extract to perk up tired skin.  

Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer packaging

Origins are well known for their bold colors and pretty fonts, making products a welcome addition to any dressing table or bathroom cabinet. GinZing is, quite fittingly, housed in a vibrant orange tub, neatly sealed up in the brand’s usual aesthetically appealing cardboard packaging.

The brand has a commitment to sustainability and it’s a big part of its ethos, so all packaging is made from largely recycled materials that have been produced by renewable energy sources.

Application—what is Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer like to use?

Early birds will rejoice at the way this energy-boosting moisturizer glides onto skin after a morning shower or early workout session, with a scent that can only be described as mood-boosting. The moisturizer’s cooling texture was a welcome reviver after an early morning wake-up call; my lackluster skin and puffy eyes felt instantly refreshed. Meanwhile the uplifting scent—orange peel, grapefruit, and spearmint oil—adds to that fresh-as-daisy, ready-to-take-on-the-world feeling. 

After ditching the oil, I’ve been careful about which products I invest in, but it’s reassuring to know there are options out there that offer lasting moisture throughout the day and night without any heaviness. I’d recommend using this cream as a morning pick-me-up and switching to something a little more heavy-duty in the evening for more nourishment overnight. Oiler skins may want to use it both day and night, however.

The verdict—is the Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Oil-Free Gel Moisturizer worth buying?

The play on words in its name comes across loud and clear, but I can confirm this formula did help to wake up my tired skin. It lives up to its namesake and if you want a moisturizer that will leave you looking like you’ve had your full eight hours of sleep, I fully recommend Origins GinZing moisturizer and all its glow-boosting properties.

As for hydration, does it really last for 72 hours? Well, I’ve never gone that long without washing my face (apart from maybe at Glastonbury back in the day), but what I can tell you is that this delicious-smelling hydrator does deliver a dewy, post-facial freshness that lasts all day. 

The zingy scent and light-as-cotton-candy texture might scream summertime, but hear me out—this is also a great moisturizer for the colder months. Thanks to its hero ingredient, panax ginseng, which is a source of niacinamide, this gel moisturizer really is a genius hydrator. Consider me impressed!