Help Clear Away Those Zits with The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil

Last summer, I started using The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil because my forehead was breaking out constantly with the heat and the sweat. I was never a fan of the Tea Tree Oil smell but it was on sale and I needed to try some alternative blemish clearing treatments, so I decided to give it another shot. The smell is still very strong  and I still don’t like it but I find my dislike of the smell outweighs the benefits.

I use this as a spot treatment at nights and sometimes in mornings on the weekends when I don’t plan to go out. The Tea Tree Oil dries my minor and small pimples as quickly as overnight and clears up within three days. I used this along with the Tea Tree Oil Night Treatment when my breakouts are a bit more severe to help smooth away the bumps and to limit and prevent scaring. For more serious breakouts I find the combination of the oil and night treatment works for me in about one week.

Although it is an oil, I don’t find it greasy at all. It absorbs quickly onto my skin. A little goes a long way and one bottle lasts me about three months. I just drip three to four drops on to a cotton ball and dab it on my blemishes. Sometimes, I would smooth it all over my forehead when I feel I need it. I know many people don’t like the packaging because they have difficulties getting the oil out, but I like the packaging because I am clumsy and I can easily spill stuff like this. I can control the flow easily by putting a cotton ball close to the mouth and easily get the amount I want without getting to much or too little.

For Your Lazy Days: The Body Shop Tea Tree Cleansing Wipes For Quick and Easy Light Makeup Removal

Above right to left: The Body Shop Tea Tree Cleansing Wipes and Tea Tree Oil Night Lotion

These wipes are from The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil skin care range and is suppose to help breakouts and unclog pores. The lemon tea tree and tea tree oil contain anti -bacterial properties are suppose to help fight blemishes and prevent new ones from forming and Tamanu oil has a soothing effect to calm irritation and redness. Unfortunately, I don’t use this regularly enough to test its effectiveness to combat breakouts and minimize pores because I only used this when I want to remove my makeup quickly and when I am wearing minimal makeup. As for blemish fighting, I find the Tea Tree Night Lotion and Tea Tree Oil Treatment more effective.

In contrast to the Tea Tree Night Lotion, I don’t find the Tea Tree Cleansing wipes as drying. I think my skin feels very soft and moisturizing after using this to remove my makeup. Of course, I would still use a toner and my regular moisturizing regime to lock in moisture. I would use this to remove light and non-waterproof makeup because I have had difficulties removing my  foundation,waterproof mascaras and MAC Fluidline liners. For waterproof makeup, I needed to use a light cleanser or MAC cleansing oil either before or afterwards to ensure my face is really clean; however, if I am just wearing the bare minimal of concealer and non-waterproof liner and mascara these Tea Tree Wipes work well. I do like these wipes because they are soothing and affordable. The scent is not as strong as the  night lotion, which I like. I would like to use these more regularly along with the Tea Tree Night Lotion and Oil Treatment to test its effectiveness for combating and preventing blemishes.

These are priced fairly well, costing about $12 CAD for 25 wipes.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Night Lotion

Above: The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Cleansing Wipes and Tea Tree Oil Night Lotion

I purchased The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Night Lotion in September and have been alternating this with my Clinque Even Better Skin Tone Corrector. Even Better in the mornings and Tea Tree Lotion at night. I quite like this lotion and find it a nice alternative to Retin-A because Retin -A gets very drying after one week. In contrast, I find the Tea Tree lotion gentler and lightweight. A little bit goes a long way, I only use between half to one pump each night and it was enough to smooth all over my face; however this lotion is a little drying, as it is suppose to clear away blemishes.

Tea Tree Lotion is a treatment, not a moisturizer and I highly recommend wearing your regular moisturizer on top. I find that this is effective in clearing my pimples and smoothing away the bumps. I have mild acne and I see results in a about one week. It even helps prevent breakouts. Although this is effective for me for clearing away the bumps, it is not as effective in lightening existing dark spots and scaring. I find Clinque Even Better Skin Tone Corrector more effective for me for scaring.

A little bit goes a long way because sometimes I only wear it on my problems areas, most notably my forehead. Sometimes I would use it all over my face. One 30mL bottle lasts me about 4 months. I like that it is pump bottle, which keeps the product sanitary and prevents contamination. The one thing I dislike is the scent because I find it strong and a bit medicinal.

The Body Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector

Above: The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector.

Alas, a posting finally. I do feel bad about going MIA for so long, as real life got in the way with school and work. My camera decided to go missing as well. I picked up the Hemp Hand Protector a few months ago during one of The Body Shop Canada’s 30th anniversary sales.

My hands are chronically dry, especially during the fall and winter seasons. I have heard some good things about hemp being a great moisturizing ingredient, so I gave the Hemp Hand Protector a try. I quite like the moisturizer as it it is rich but not greasy. It also absorbs into my skin very quickly, softening and moisturizing my hands for about 3-4 hours. It feels fairly light for a cream with a rich and thick texture.

The Body Shop lists the three main ingredients as:

Hemp Seed Oil, which has high concentration of essential fatty acids that repairs skin’s moisture barrier to restore moisture, smoothness and suppleness.

Allantoin, which helps relieve and soothe dry skin.

Panthenol, which improves flexibility of the nails and helps reduce flaking a breakage.

I have been using the cream on and off for a few weeks now and the only benefit I notice is that it does moisturize and soften my hands quite well. It does seem to help soothe the eczema patches on my elbows from itching like crazy. I haven’t noticed the cream strengthening my nails yet. Overall, I like this cream, but the only thing I don’t like is the scent is too grassy and woody for my taste.

The Body Shop Mini Haul

Above: Vanilla & Lime Blossom Spray; Green Tea & Lemon Spray; Tea Tree Cleansing Wipes; Tea Tree Night Treatment; and Hemp Hand Protector

The Body Shop has some great sales lately, which has enticed me to try some of their goodies. For their “Back to School,” sale they have some select products on sale: 5 products for $30. With items that cost $10 plus at regular price, it is a pretty nice deal and a perfect opportunity to try a few things. My picks include: Hemp Hand Protector 30mL; Tea Tree Cleansing 25 Wipes; Tea Tree Night Lotion; Green Tea & Lemon Body Room and Linen Spray 100mL; Vanilla & Lime Blossom Body Room and Linen Spray 100mL. I am loving both body sprays so far and I want all six of them. In addition, I have heard some good things about Tea Tree Oil treating acne. The weather here has been so hot and sticky that I am breaking out more than usual. I am trying the night treatment now and will report the results in a few weeks. Stay tuned for reviews of the goodies I picked up.

Above: Tea Tree Cleansing Wipes and Tea Tree Night Treatment

Above: Vanilla & Lime Blossom Spray and Green Tea & Lemon Spray

Above: Hemp Hand Protector

Sweet Yummy Honey Oats: The Body Shop Honey & Oat 3 in 1 Scrub Mask

Above left: Honey Oat 3 in 1 Scrub Mask

Although The Body Shop’s Honey & Oat 3 in 1 mask is a no frills basic mask, it just smells so divine! It smells of oatmeal sweetened by honey. The sweetness of the honey smells very fresh and natural. It is a cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing mask. I use this once a week after cleansing with my NARS  Skin Softening Milk Cleanser. I would wet my face; apply the mask; wait five minutes; wet my hands and massage my face, using the oats to exfoliate my skin; and lastly I rinse off the mask.

My skin feels very clean and fresh after the mask, though I will not use this alone as a cleanser because I think cleansing the properties are meant to strip off dirt and makeup residue your regular cleanser did not. As an exfoliating/scrub I find it extremely gentle but almost too gentle for my needs. If you have very sensitive skin or don’t like the sandier/grainer scrubs, the gentler oats are a nice alternative to scratchier scrubs. After exfoliating and rinsing, my skin feels very clean, soft and moisturizing; however, it doesn’t bring the same glow my MAC Volcanic Thermal Mask does. Some girls feel a light stinging with the mask, but I don’t. Although this is a very basic no thrills mask, I love how my skin feels afterwards and I just love the smell of honey!

Above: The Body Shop Honey & Oat 3 in 1 Scrub Mask

Above: The Body Shop Honey & Oat 3 in 1 Scrub Mask

Gentle on the Eyes but Too Gentle for Waterproof Mascara? Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover

Above right: Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover

The Body Shop’s Camomile Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover is one of my recent acquisitions for their 3 for $30.00 sales. When I tried this on my skin at the store, I like how pleasant it feels against my skin. The scent is subtle and comes from the ingredients itself and not from any added fragrances, making it fragrance free. It feels very creamy and moisturizing and it does not feel greasy like many waterproof eye makeup removers.

The texture is milky and creamy like a cream facial cleanser. I think it feels very moisturizing for the skin in my eye area too. I am happy to find that it easily and gently removes my eyeshadows and eyeliner, which includes my Urban Decay 24/7 liners. However, I am disappointed that I cannot for the life of me use this to remove waterproof mascara because it just won’t budge. I even saturated cotton pads and rest them on my lids for at least 30 seconds and the mascara still clings to my lashes. I needed to use my MAC Cleansing Oil to remove the remainder of the mascara.

Although I like how creamy and moisturizing the cleanser feels on my eyelids, I hate how it does not remove my mascara well. After all, it is a “waterproof” eye makeup remover, it should remover everything easily both non-waterproof and waterproof. I would still like to use the Camomile remover when I am not wearing waterproof mascara, but I would be using my stand by oil based eye makeup cleansers when I am wearing waterproof mascara.

NARS Skin Hydrating Freshening Lotion

Above: NARS Hydrating Freshening Lotion

NARS Hydrating Freshening Lotion is a toner and a exfoliater. I have been using this twice daily after cleansing and before moisturizer since February. It is a clear lightweight gel and feels very gentle on my skin. According to NARS, this lotion promotes hyrdration and renewal. Moisturizing ingredients include: Active Phytoseed Complex White Grape Seed Oil and Aloe. Since this is not a scrub and have no scrub beads it is gentle enough for me to use everyday as a toner/exfoliater. I used this daily after cleansing with my NARS Skin Softening Milk Cleanser and my skin does feel quite fresh and clean. In addition,it cleans off the residue that my cleanser did not. Though my skin feels very clean and refresh using this toner, I am not sure it does soften my skin more than it naturally is. I also like that the lotion helps absorb my moisturizer nicely, especially in the dry winter months. Like the NARS Skin Softening Milk Cleanser, I would buy this again if budget allows. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive, I believe this was about $50.00 CAD, but at least this can last me up to five months.

Great for Light Makeup: NARS Skin Softening Milk Cleanser

Being that NARS’ skin care is formulated by Shiseido, I thought this item has potential to be great because Shiseido is known for their skin care line, so I gave it a try. I bought this at a NARS counter in mid February and have been using this almost everyday for the last four months. Although this is an expensive cleanser at $50 CAD, I think I can make this cleanser last about 5 months. NARS Skin Softening Milk Cleanser is creamy and milky in texture and I find it pleasantly moisturizing.

I have always prefer creme/milk cleansers over gels because I find gels too drying on my skin, especially during the fall and winter months. The Softening Milk Cleanser leaves my skin soft and clean and I have been using this for both winter and spring months. It cleans my skin well with zero to medium makeup on my face; however, if I am wearing full makeup with foundation, waterproof mascara and eyeliner, I would need to use a cleansing oil and waterproof eye makeup remover before hand. Otherwise if I am wearing non-waterproof eye makeup and zero foundation, I can just use the milk cleanser. The cleanser is very gentle and is soap free and it doesn’t sting my eyes if I get any into my eyes. In addition, it has a wonderful light fruity scent of oranges.

As for the packaging I think it compliments the NARS image well being that it looks clean and contemporary. The rectangle shape is different and makes storage easy. I like that it is a pump bottle and I don’t have to work hard to squeeze and dump out product like tubes. One pump is enough to cleanser zero to light makeup and two pumps is enough to clean medium makeup for me. I am almost finished my bottle and I would probably buy another one if budget allows but I just wished that it is less expensive!

A Rosy Romantic Evening with Pacifica Egyptian Rose Bergamot Perfume Spray

Above: Pacifica Egyptian Rose Bergamot Perfume Spray

This is another goodie I bought from Pacifica’s website during their secret sale. I bought this perfume without smelling it because my local store did not stock this scent and I was interested in trying some rose scented perfumes. The description on the Pacifica website sounds so lovely and wonderful. With the description, I can imagine myself strolling through an exotic rose garden with a cute boy. Pacifica’s creator, Brooke Harvey-Taylor probably had romance on her mind creating this as roses are used for seduction and love in the Persian culture. She based Egyptian Rose Bergamot on an ancient Arabic perfume recipe with notes of Mediterranean Bergamot, Egyptian Rose, Amber and  Patchouli, Labdanum.

On me, the scent is exotic, spicy and warm but the rose is very subtle. I actually don’t really smell the bergamot at all on myself. At first, I find that there is a bitterness and muskiness to the scent. I thought the patchouli was much too strong and overwhelms the rose. It is almost too musky for my taste because I would have prefer the rose to be a bit stronger; but as the muskiness and spiciness dries down, the rose starts to come through making it a more feminine and floral scent.

At first I wasn’t sure if I would like this perfume because I find it too herbal and spicy but as the rose starts to come through more I start to like it better. With the rose coming through more, it smells fresher to me. Egyptian Bergamot Rose is definitely a stray from some of my sweeter scents. I imagine myself wearing this more often at night because it is warm, spicy and strong. It is definitely a more “mature” and sophisticated scent to me that I hope to grow to like more because I do like the smell of roses. This scent lasted me approximately 3-4 hours and the lasting power is the same layered with the matching body butter. Stay tuned for the review on the Egyptian Rose Bergamot Body Butter.