Origins
Categories: Cosmetics & Beauty Supply, Skin Care [Edit]
Neighborhood: Harvard Square8 Brattle St
Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 868-8090
- Nearest Transit:
Harvard (Red)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- By Appointment Only: No
9 Reviews for Origins
I come in here every once in a while and often feel guilty if I don't buy anything because the salespeople are so nice. I've been offered tea (which is very good) on multiple occasions and the staff is attentive, but know when to back off and let you browse in peace.
As for the products, they're amazing and I wish I could afford more...it always smells so damn good!
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Okay so im sure the products are good, but I just feel SO guilty, SOOO guilty not buying anything. Today, actually, I went in there with one of my friends and they offered to massage my hands and use their products...so OF COURSE i said yes. WHO can turn down a HAND massage?!?! umm, not me.
SO, hand rubbed, arms massaged, smellin like a wonderfully ripe grapefruit, reality kicked in and well, CRAP, she's so freakin NICE, i HAVE to buy something. oh darn it...nervous and lookin around for the cheapest item, i finally find the $10 cream next to me.
she finishes my massage and im happy, but she PUTS the 3 products that she used to massage and moisturize into a basket. now, is that my shopping basket? is she implying that im buying it? i sure hope not. well i tell her i want that cream ($10 cream) and she puts it in the basket with the OTHER 3 things!! so REALLY, she was kinda forcing me to buy those products, which i didn't really appreciate....cuz i felt guilty enough as is.
after telling her i would only buy the cream, she kinda gave me a look. a look that said, "i massaged you for 5 minutes and youre only buying this!??!"
well, other than the terrible feeling of guilt, this place is nice. guilty, but nice. so three stars!
If anyone knows how to extract money from me, it is this company Origins. They sent me a 25% off coupon (the crafty devils), so I stopped in to buy this cream I had had my eye on, Youthtopia. Seems good so far, btw, my sensitive skin has not broken out.
As a makeup snob, I usually shun Origins, but I have had a turnaround, because MAC is drying my skin like crazy, and you know, makeup does not have to mean dolling yourself up like RuPaul or Marilyn Manson.
If you want some very pretty basic looks, their makeup (shadows in particular) has really improved from what it used to be (their colors used to behave like translucent powder, they are much better now!). Yesterday I was lucky enough to be helped by Sarah, who is in design school, so she knows a thing or two about color. She is a huge asset to anyone looking for makeup here, take advantage of it while she still works here! Since I had this coupon, I let her sit me down in the makeup chair, even though I knew it meant a certain increase in purchase amount. She picked colors to complement my blue eyes, explaing how the colors work together, and she also used products that I normally shy away from, blush and bronzer. As a former goth gal with pale pale skin, I have always been horrified by bronzer, but I have to say, I felt so pretty the rest of the day! I had been in a fashion rut, and was feeling gloomy about my looks, and she inspired my to try a few new things with my makeup. Later that evening when I was out with my fiance, he looked at me and said, you look very pretty tonight. I know I know, I'm a modern woman, too, but come on, it is nice to feel pretty and be complimented like that. Say what you will, feeling attractive boosts a depressed mood and I needed it. She sold me their foundation and I am really enjoying it, it looks great and has good coverage, and photographs well (unlike MAC which reflected flash like crazy and made me look like a geisha in every photo).
A word to the wise: these guys are under a lot of pressure to boost sales and number of items per transaction, so they will try to sell you lots and lots of stuff, which can be overwhelming if you aren't used to this. It makes a lot of people angry. Please don't be mean to them if you are in the angry camp, they are just doing their job, and as the customer it is your job to be really assertive about what you want and can spend.
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I love their variety of natural and organic skin care products. I like to walk around the store smelling everything and testing all of the trial bottles, which are numerous. You can get facials here from the sales people, and they also sell organic makeup. I wish I could buy everything in the store.
Sadly, it's horribly expensive for someone like myself!
I worked here in college. I was told to 'sell sell sell, shove (insert name of $30. product) down each customer's throat' by a manager and other higher-up sales people from this store and corporate. They were like cheerleader zombies with how urgently they wanted to get sales. They do not work on commission but on daily and monthly numbers which they take VERY (too) seriously. I have gone in a couple times since quitting 5-6 years ago and found the same fake-often sickly sweet attitude from the employees. They never could keep genuine people around too long, they just didn't ever last. I also see no need to spend $20-30 on a not so amazing body product when I can get a nicer product elsewhere and their hair products are terrible (I can not tell you how many times I heard various managers admit to the fact that they were selling crap and how marked up the prices were)
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I love origins. Ginger soufle, a perfect world, checks & Balances, Everything there rules. I went there the other day. Just for letting them wash my face I got a free normal sized cleanser. They called it a mini facial. This consists of a lather of Checks and Balances, a srub of their natural answer to exofiliation and micro dermabrasion: Modern Friction and a mask. It was really nice. They are a great company with great ingredients...and the staff is really helpful. They aren't jerks and they know their stuff. I learned this: Origins is owned by (Estee) Lauder...but the son started it. He wanted a more natural option for skin care and make-up. Estee Lauder also owns Clinique and Prescriptives?? Shocking.
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I'm still debating whether I should just quit my job and work full-time for Origins, or if I would just be better to market their products pro bono, because I believe THAT much in them.
I like to visit their flagship store in Harvard Square because their salesfolkien appear to believe THAT much in their products, as well.
The new remodel? Just doesn't seem all that radical to me. Maybe it is a bit more open, but you still have the same great products, same nicely aproned staff.
I recommend stopping into this particular shop in the late afternoon on a weekday if you are going for a demo or really want to spend your time learning about the product. Mid-day or after-work during the week and any time on the weekend is just too hectic. This shop is bumping. Of course, you may prefer a more crowded atmosphere because, while the salesfolkien are knowledgable, they can also be a bit overbearing. Some just don't let go once they know they've piqued your interest.
My personal favorite Origins products are the ones in the "Perfect World" line. The PW skin guardian has actually helped treat my eczema and, therefore, my medicine cabinet is never without it. The PW lotions are yummy but not so potent that you feel as if you've just mounted a slip n' slide of Bath and Body Works product.
One value tip: Do consider their gift packs, even for yourself. While you may not be able to justify dropping a cool $50 on skin care, you can get some great deals on their pre-packaged gift sets and also get some clever boxes and/or washcloths out of their deal. And then you can always gift your husband with the clever box/washcloth to help rationalize this splurge. Because sharing is caring, after all.
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I love origins! Lots of delicious smelling scrubs, soaps, lotions, and general personal care products. I am a stickler for non-synthetic non-artificial scents. Everything here smells natural and delicious.
The gum? The best I've ever had. Get one of those big ass gum balls from the machine, and LOVE IT.
Perfect.
A great place to shop
the products are high quality and all seem to work!!
Try the ginger souffle for a special treat
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