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! :)
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