Quick review: Anti-spot & Sebum Control 3-Step Facial Treatment by Watsons

I'm back with another quick review and this time it's for Anti-spot & Sebum Control 3-Step Facial Treatment by Watsons. 

Before I proceed with my quick review, I would like to thank my regular readers. This space hasn't been updated as frequently as I would like it to be and that's because my iPhone 6 doesn't take high-quality photos for review posts. I have A LOT of new products but my trusted camera gave up on me (stuck lens or something like that) and so I only have my iPhone with me for photo-taking. The usual food and daily photos using iPhone are fantastic, but for review posts, the iPhone is still not as stellar as the normal camera. So yes, I have slacking a lot because of that. But fret not, I'm going to buy a new camera this week!! I'm getting a Canon G7X and I'm very excited to get back on track with my blogging after my Japan trip :D 

Ok lai, review time. 

I bought the Anti-spot & Sebum Control 3-Step Facial Treatment by Watsons in Bangkok and it was definitely less than 25 baht. I think there was a sale going on hence I picked it up. It's very intriguing to me - 3 steps?! Overkill or genius? 

This is available in Singapore as well, but it's definitely much more expensive here. A quick Google search reveals that a pack of 5 will cost around S$17.50. 

I gave it a try last night and to be frank, I was more excited about the application than the results. 

Step 1: Gently apply serum over cleansed face. 

• I didn't know 3ml of product will be SO MUCH. I applied all 3ml on my face and it took me almost 10 minutes to massage the product into my skin. Super thick consistency that was initially very sticky. After close to 10 minutes, the serum wasn't so sticky and thick anymore and it gradually felt very light and refreshing on the skin. This serum is used to prepare for the melting films in step 2. 

Step 2: Gently stick melting films to the specific areas requiring treatment. 

• This can be quite tricky to apply. The melting films are really thin and if you have short nails, you may not be able to remove the melting films from the plastic base properly. My tip is that you should wash your hands after massaging the serum. Your hands would still be sticky from the serum and any attempt to remove the melting films with sticky fingers will only make it much more challenging. Start with dry fingers and the melting films should be easier to remove. This was very strange to me because I had to apply a thin layer of plastic-looking film on needed areas. But it's supposed to "melt" (hence the name) into my skin so okay lah. 

Step 3: Apply mask onto the face (over the melting films). Leave for 15-20 minutes and then remove. Gently massage face until the remaining essence is fully absorbed. No need to rinse. Discard mask after use.

• Yes, you need to apply the mask right after applying the melting films. This is the type of mask that has a denser and thicker essence. No problems with essence-dripping with this mask. Mask application was as per normal, and of course I left it on for more than 20 minutes because I always forget LOL. After mask removal, I was so surprised to find that the melting films had "melted" into my skin! I couldn't see the plasticky films anymore! Very interesting indeed. 

And this morning, I woke up with less oily face. It was quite obvious actually, and I'm very pleasantly surprised. Very solid mask from Watsons! I'm still thinking about whether I should get the 5-pack from local Singapore Watsons but a bit expensive for 5 masks hmmm. Well, definitely a great mask in all and if I do buy the 5-pack, the masks will be reserved for special pampering occasions. 

Have a great week ahead guys! :D 

DIY: Green tea and tea tree oil toner

I'm running out of my Michael Todd True Organics Lemon Toner and I don't really want to repurchase this time round. Not because it's not good, it's quite excellent actually and I'm finishing my third bottle now, but because I want to make my own toner with as few ingredients as possible. I'm also trying to make my own because toners can be expensive - I use so much at any one time because I'm using a cotton pad and it doesn't feel like I'm pouring out a lot. Hence, I need to make my own toner that's both effective and economical at the same time.

I scoured Googleland and I decided to go with this green tea and tea tree oil concoction. I have already used it for a week and it has been amazing. The only downside is I need to make a fresh batch every week - you can't keep it longer for 7 days!

Products used:

• Small spray bottle or normal bottle 
• Green tea
• 100% pure tea tree oil 

I got my spray bottle from Daiso, green tea from NTUC Fairprice and I bought the 100% pure tea tree oil from iherb.com. It will best to use 100% pure tea tree oil; the 10% - 15% mixtures won't work as well. If you have sensitive skin or you have never used tea tree oil on your face before, please PLEASE do a skin patch test first - I have a colleague who's allergic to tea tree oil and she found out the wrong way. 

Steps:

• Brew your green tea NOT in boiling water. The water needs to be 70°C - 80°C. Excessive heat will "kill" the green tea. 
• Pour around 50ml of green tea into the spray bottle and drink the rest hehe. 
• Place the spray bottle in the fridge and wait for it to cool down. 
• When the green tea has cooled down, add in 4 drops of tea tree oil. Since we are using the 100% tea tree oil, we don't need so much in one bottle. My general rule: 2 drops per 25ml. 
• Mix, mix, mix and leave it in the fridge. 
• Use whenever needed! 

Remember to throw it out after 7 days and make a brand new batch. I always note down the date of manufacture (wah like factory haha) on a label and stick it on the bottle. That way I know when I need to redo another batch! I just made a new batch today so here's a photo! Finally can use my pretty stickers from Taobao HAHA. 

Exciting times indeed! 

First Impression: The Body Shop Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream

When The Body Shop Singapore announced the launch of the Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream, I was ecstatic and so so SO eager to try it out. Seriously man, I have seen so many posts on the Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream and I wanted to have it so bad, but it wasn't available in Singapore! Now, the game has changed. Hurhurhur. 

I didn't purchase one straight away because the what-ifs controlled my impulses. What if this worked horribly? What if I get crazy breakouts? What if it's too thick? What if ... what if.... what if.... So I ended up getting a sample and oh my goodness I LOVE IT. 

Photo from The Body Shop Singapore's facebook page. 

Photo from The Body Shop Singapore's facebook page. 

The salesperson at Chinatown Point's The Body Shop wasn't very happy when I asked for a sample, but she gave me one anyway. Shade 02 was a perfect match for me and wow I'm impressed at how amazing this BB cream is!! I used the sample on 3 consecutive days and after those 3 days, I'm a true believer. 

First of all, let me begin by saying that I went for an acne facial 4 days ago, and my skin is no longer as bumpy and no longer infested with small spots. However, I had redness and scars from the first facial session, hence I still needed something legit to cover the problematic areas. 

Quick summary on why I love the Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream so much:

• The really pleasant watery consistency when you blend the BB Cream. It comes out very thick, but when you blend, it becomes more liquefied and cooling. Super shiok. 
• This has medium coverage, despite the more watery application. You don't feel like you're wearing a mask but you get problematic areas sufficiently concealed. You still need concealer if you have super ripe pimples or extreme redness, but overall the coverage is enough for lazy days. 
• No itchy, prickly sensation. I have acne-prone, oily skin and I think my skin is becoming more and more sensitive by the day. I cannot try new face products freely because I get breakouts very easily. For BB Creams, I don't usually get breakouts, but it's very often that I will get sudden strange itchy feeling on the forehead and cheeks a couple of hours after application. With this Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream, no itchiness was documented. It was AMAZING. 
• I have crazy oily skin (quite sure old readers would be really tired of me saying this over and over again haha) and this BB Cream controls oil effectively! WOW! Even after 6 hours, my skin didn't look like a disco ball. I had oily areas but nothing too severe. I actually looked like I had dewy, healthy skin? DOUBLE WOW! 

Wahlao, super awesome. Time to buy the full-sized product! Thank you The Body Shop Singapore for (finally) bringing in this miraculous product!

The Body Shop "Buy 2 Get 1 Free" Sale (June 2014)

Whenever The Body Shop has their "Buy 2 Get 1 Free" sale, I always use the opportunity to stock up on skincare necessities. 

My skincare routine can no longer do without the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion, Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion and the Tea Tree Oil. I got the below loots for S$61.80. The salesperson was very nice, she gave me some Tea Tree Oil and Vitamin E Moisture Cream samples. Actually, I think this is the first time I have ever received free samples from The Body Shop. 

She gave me 3 Tea Tree Oil samples, each with 1ml of product - pretty generous, considering that the full-sized Tea Tree Oil contains only 10ml of product! 

If you have necessities to stock up on, don't miss out this opportunity! The sale ends on 15 June 2014 and the sale does not apply to gift sets, 50ml Drops of Youth and the InstaBlur.

I now have accumulated S$10 of redeemable cash on my Perkd Love Your Body Club (The Body Shop Membership). More savings the next time! YAY!

Review: The Body Shop Tea Tree Products

Another post illustrating my emotional attachment to acne-busting products. I used to really hate my skin and really really REALLY hate going out. But you know what, I can't control the sporadic appearances of these monsters, so it's time to GET ON WITH LIFE. 

Currently, I'm back on Doxycycline and taking my vitamin E and Bio Ace Plus supplements (please do not take these three pills TOGETHER, you will get a nausea attack). The first night I took Doxycycline pill was not a pleasant night. First of all, I had a migraine attack the entire day, then I consumed that bloody pill and I sacrificed my sleep. I spent the entire night trying to find the perfect posture in which lying down would not add pressure to my aching head. It didn't work obviously. However, after that, doxycycline pills have been really nice to me. 

My war with acne (hormonal acne, adult acne, whatever names those monsters have) is currently ongoing and I'm slowly getting used to it. So be gone acne! But it's okay if you take time to go away, just DON'T EVER COME BACK. 

I was out of moisturisers last week and I was sick of big brands promising these acne-clearing claims (obviously didn't work) so I decided to settle for a brand that has been long in the market and has relatively great reviews online - The Body Shop Tea Tree products. 

The Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion (50ml) and Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion (30ml) retail for S$29.90 each, but I got them on promotion - S$39.90 for the set. The Tea Tree Oil (10ml) retails for S$18.90, but the ever awesome Kengyang helped me purchase it at The Body Shop Warehouse Sale for S$9.90! :D

Here's the thing that I like about The Body Shop products - they don't try to blind you with definitive claims. "PIMPLES BE GONE IN 7 DAYS!", "PORE-LESS SKIN IN A WEEK!", nope, they don't do that. Of course, that doesn't mean that they have no promises at all. They do, but they don't make a promise so big that it will backfire so terribly if the promise is not fulfilled. Smart.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion is now my go-to morning moisturiser. It contains:

• Organic tea-tree oil: anti-bacterial benefits, great for blemished skin
• Tamanu oil: promote healthy-looking skin and great for moisturising
• Lemon tea tree: (why do I think of the song Lemon Tree? LOL) anti-bacterial + zesty fragrance

The product description is really quite simple, with no fancy big jargons to dazzle you:

• Hydrate
• Help clear and prevent blemishes
• Shine control
• Skin appears matte

Consistency: I really like how water-like this product is. It feels like I'm applying a gel, and then it smoothes out to a really pleasant watery consistency. No oily feeling, no sticky hands.

Fragrance: I'm still getting used to the smell. I'm alright with the smell of tea tree oil. In fact, I love the smell! However, this has an added bark-like smell to it. Perhaps from the tamanu oil? Sometimes when I'm having a headache, the smell makes it worse. But other than that, I definitely can get used to the smell.

Did it work?

• It definitely hydrates without being too over-the-top. It's great for oily skin! Also, I love how it dries so quickly. The product's gel-like consistency allows for even application, and then once it turns into this water-like texture, it get sucked in by the skin so so quickly! 
• This definitely makes my skin less oily and shiny. It's quite obvious, especially when I have my full face makeup on. Usually at around 10-11am, I will notice oiliness around my T-Zone area, but after using this product, I notice that the oiliness will appear only after lunch or so? Not a marked improvement but there's definitely an improvement!
• I'm still unable to determine if The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion helps to clear my blemishes or not. Doxycycline is actually making skin go through a purging situation now, so I still get my spots here and there, especially the jaw area. However, it's not as painful anymore, so that's good right?

Next up is The Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion. It also has become a staple in my nightly skincare routine. 

It contains the same key ingredients as the first product, but I'm guessing there are a few other products included to enable scar-fading benefits. 

So, the product aims to:

• Improve appearance of blemish-damaged skin
• Equalise oiliness
• Replenish moisture throughout the night

Packaging: This has a pump attached to it and I love it when my products have a pump. So convenient and you can control the amount that you use. Super great right! Moreover, it helps to make application more hygienic!

Consistency: The stark difference between this night lotion and the clearing lotion is the consistency of the product. The night lotion has a thicker consistency that feels kind of luxurious. It still does not feel oily or sticky at all. The gel-creme consistency is an extremely endearing one because after removing your makeup, and cleansing, your skin needs something with double the moisture to bring it back to equilibrium. This definitely does the trick!

Fragrance: This has a stronger tea tree fragrance than the clearing lotion. I quite enjoy applying this on my face - the smell calms me down!

Did it work?

• This DEFINITELY works. As above-mentioned, my skin is still purging out the toxins right now so technically I cannot judge the product on its skin-clearing properties. However, my scars are really fading! I have A LOT of acne scars and my bare skin is really unpleasant to look at. This night lotion has made everything a little bit more positive and even though I have new pimples every two days, I can see the improvement in the scars of previous pimples. So, I'm definitely sticking to this product! 
• The night lotion also provided ample moisture for my terribly damaged skin. I have a really weird skin. The oil glands are overworking, but at the same time my skin is dry at some areas. CONFUSED SKIN. This product gave my skin that boost of moisture so that I don't wake up with flaky skin. So I'm a convert!

Lastly, The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil. This is perhaps the most well-known product from The Body Shop (other than the body butters). It has won numerous awards globally and you can't mess with global recognition right? 

It does two things, and perhaps two things only:

• Help clear blemishes quickly
• Soothe blemished skin

Packaging: This is a really tiny product. 10ml only, however a little goes a long long long way. It seems a bit cuckoo to be paying almost S$20 for 10ml but hey! You don't need a lot per application, so I guess it's still affordable, especially when you compare it to high-end brands that expect more moolahs for less product.

Consistency: It's just like oil. Not oily oil, but absorbed-to-skin-very-quickly oil. Does that make sense? No. But you get the point. Ok. NEXT.

Fragrance: Lovely. Simply lovely. It's just pure unadulterated tea tree oil fragrance. I feel so calm after I apply this product!

Did it work?

• First of all, can I just say how much I love how minty (?) and cooling this product feels on the skin? It feels so nice! Double-edged sword alert though because if you have an open acne scar, applying this product will induce a sharp pain. Not long-lasting pain, but one that's enough to make you close your eyes/tear a little. 
• It's great in drying those crazy monsters up. The Tea Tree Oil is not a miracle product. It will not vanish a zit in a night. It will, however, dry it up good and within 3 days, your zit should be so dry it can detach itself (weird phrasing here but just imagine a zit drying up animation and you'll get it). Moreover, it has anti-bacterial properties! Great for the areas around the zit! 

This was such a long post, oh dear dear. I feel slightly lethargic and I need a dosage of coffee. 

At the moment, I still have pimples sprouting here and there, however, the above products are working their magic in calming my skin down. So I'm determined to continue using these products! I think I'll be repurchasing the Night Lotion when I'm out of it! Great product! 

Okay, weekend's over. Get some rest and have a good night guys! :) 

Review: DEWYTREE Tea Tree Blemish Solution Mask

This is another one of those random things you buy at Watsons while you are waiting for someone. Hurhur. I saw this stand full of masks in a lab-coat packaging, of course will catch my attention! So I decided to try one out!

The DEWYTREE Tea Tree Blemish Solution Mask retails for S$3.90 at Watsons! 

You can also get the 5-piece set at S$12.99 on Qoo10 here: http://list.qoo10.com.sg/item/DEWY-TREE-SOLUTION-MASK-PACK-5PCS/406217135

Hahaha at "which passed all sorts of complicated tests.."

I appreciate the "Dermatologist Tested" stamp. It makes me feel like I'm using something that's going to work if I do use it for a long period of time. Packaging tactics huh?

This is suitable for those with skin problems like whiteheads, blackheads and acne. Much like what I'm dealing with daily. 

Also, I was rather intrigued by the promise of a "cotton sheet mask with silky touch". Masks are masks right? What difference can the "touch" be? 

(How to Use) and Ingredients List

The moment I opened and took out the mask, I knew there was something different with the quality of the sheet. It didn't feel like cloth, and it also didn't feel like gel, it kind of feels like both. I don't really know how to express this texture, but the mask definitely lived up to the "silky touch" claim. 

Also, I think it's miraculous how this mask did not have any solution drippings. You know how irritating it is when you take out a mask, and then the liquid starts to drip everywhere? =_= This has none of that! Everything stayed compact in the mask, and when I applied it on my face, it feels like there's so so much product being absorbed into my pores. Amazing! 

However, it's really vulnerable. I was trying to separate the top and bottom half and accidentally tore the forehead area. Not a problem but just handle with care!

The mask is also extremely stretchable. No problem in getting all the air bubbles out of the mask and I actually could smooth the mask out on my entire face. Finally! 

It certainly did feel like my skin absorbed so much more product than normal masks. 

I also think that patting your skin gently with your fingers after you remove the mask is a great after-step to let your skin maximise the absorption of the product that's left over on the surface of your skin. Patting your skin helps to let your skin dry faster too! No more sticky feeling! :)

Definitely will try to purchase this mask in bulk since S$3.90 is considered quite pricey for a drugstore mask!