A Month with The Body Shop's Tea Tree Skincare Range

Hey lovelies!

It's skincare talk again. I have mentioned before my fixation on taking care of my skin better. I began focusing on skincare last year because I have been dealing with my troubled skin for more than a decade now and I just want to clear my skin as much as I can (afford) because I am very tired of using concealer and hiding my skin. I have experimented with different brands and products and I have shared the good ones and some bad ones. Even though I have tried good ones, I'm still looking for those that suit my skin better. I am still willing to try products that look promising.

I was approached by someone from The Body Shop and asked me if I was willing to try and review their Tea Tree range. This line is catered for those with blemished skin like me so I immediately agreed to do it. I have tried almost all of the products from the line but not at the same time. I have mostly good reviews on them so what more if I use them altogether right?

So for the past month, I have been using these products from The Body Shop...

What you can expect from these six products are the cooling sensation that feels so refreshing on skin. The tea tree scent also gives you that very clean feeling (I dunno if you like the tea tree scent but I'm just a fan of it). Anyway, I will show you later what my bare face looked like every week, but before that, here are the products and my quick thoughts about them:

 Tea Tree Squeaky-Clean Scrub (review here)

Tea Tree Cool and Creamy Wash (review here)

These are the products I use to cleanse my face. I use the scrub twice-thrice a week every morning while for other days, I use the cool and creamy wash.

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner

I use this twice a day, every morning and evening. I love this toner because it feels so refreshing! Whenever I use this, I feel like my skin is super clean. After cleansing and then applying this, when I look at my cotton pad, it shows how well the products clean your face after a long day of wearing makeup. 

For those pesky zits, I use the Tea Tree Oil to help tame the inflammation and quickly get rid of the pimples. Even though it's categorized as oil, it doesn't feel oily. It has a very thin consistency, it gets absorbed by skin fast, and it has a cooling sensation! I use this every night.

Of course we can't forget about moisturization. Even if I have oily skin, it's important to hydrate the skin, especially at night. This Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion feels so light on skin and it feels so cool! I use this twice a day, morning and night.

 For my makeup, my base is the Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream (review here) then I just add some concealer and powder on top (I prefer a mineral powder for extra coverage).

And now, for the best part of the post, the pictures of my face after every week of using the products. Here you'll see how effective the products are on my skin...

Excuse my horrible makeup-less makeup. I am doing this for the honest-to-goodness review (you better appreciate this because it took all my courage to post these). Haha!

WEEK 1:

Dark spots are very visible and you can also see new pimples and their redness. :P

 WEEK 2:

 Barely any difference but less redness on the pimples.

WEEK 3:

Barely any redness and dark spots are starting to clear. I still get some small zits here and there though.

WEEK 4:

Dark spots are significantly lighter! Yay!

For the whole month I used these, my skin felt very hydrated even if I was focusing on getting rid of my blemishes. From the pictures, you can see how my skin got better. It didn't improve in an instant. It took time to see the difference but I am happy that it looks better now, especially since I have been stressed lately and lack sleep. I actually feel better when it's skincare time because after a long day, I can refresh my face with the products... I really love the cooling factor!!

And that is my report regarding the one month progress of my skin using The Body Shop Tea Tree Range.

What are your thoughts about the products?

Cheers,

DAWN

My Current Facial Skincare Part 1 : Ciracle and The Body Shop

Hello everyone!

I've been investing on skincare lately since I am now in my mid 20's. I have not been very attentive to my skin when I was in my teens and... well... I was not gifted with flawless skin too. I have oily, acne-prone skin with enlarged pores.

Before, I was just satisfied with whatever I find "affordable" in the market that also looked interesting at the same time. I wasn't picky enough in what I apply on my skin. Of course I still follow the golden rule: Cleanse, Tone and Moisturize! But I just go for what I thought was good enough.

But one day I just thought that maybe I should stop spending so much on makeup alone and use my money for my skincare more. Better skin means you also look better without makeup on and it makes the face a great canvas when you apply some. And with better skin means lesser amount of concealer and foundation! Haha! Less is more in that case.

The year 2013 was the time that there was a drastic change on my skin. I'll be sharing 2 posts on the products that made a huge difference on the quality of my skin. The products come mainly from three brands—Ciracle, The Body Shop, and Kiehl's. But I also use facial masks from Nature Republic and Too Cool For School at least once a week. I can't give a very detailed review on each item since I use them simultaneously but I will be providing few thoughts on each and pictures of my skin to see how it changed during those times.

For the first part, I will share the products from...

Ciracle

and The Body Shop 

The Body Shop Tea Tree Cool and Creamy Wash (review here) and The Body Tea Tree Squeaky-Clean Scrub (review here)

 Been using the Cool and Creamy wash (on my second tube now) since June and the scrub for 2 months (Sept-Nov) 'til I finished it. They are suited for people that have blemished skin. Tea tree is a good antibacterial and that is why I just love these. They take care of cleaning my face and removing dead skin without drying my face. I use the wash daily while the scrub around twice a week. Read my reviews on them to know more. I've provided the links above. :)

Ciracle Vitamin Source C-20
Php 1,290.00

This made me believe how Vitamin C is so good for the skin. My face feels so smooth when I use this. I felt it instantly when I woke up the next morning after the first time I applied it. One bottle lasted 6 months.

So here are the labels on the box:

And more info from the SG website:

Ciracle Vitamin Source C-20 contains the active ingredient L-ascorbic acid, a pure and high-quality form of Vitamin C, and powerful antioxidant. Used in many skin products for its skin rejuvenating properties, Vitamin C has the remarkable ability of bringing a brighter and healthier glow to the face. Each bottle of Vitamin C Source C-20 holds 6,000mg worth of Vitamin C which is equal to 40 oranges or 120 strawberries.

Properties of Ciracle Vitamin Source C-20

• Assists in the removal of dead skin cells and blackheads
• Controls blemishes and tightens pores
• Revitalises the skin and promotes skin recovery
• Whitens and brightens skin tone
• Protects, softens and moisturises the skin
• Suitable for all skin types
• The serum comes with a syringe cap to enable precise measurements and effortless use of the product.

syringe cap

Directions

1. The initial product consists of an original cap and a separate syringe cap. To begin, unscrew and dispense of the original bottle cap and replace it with syringe cap.

2. Wash your face gently and then use a toner. Note: The serum may feel a little “gooey”. To lessen this, you can mix the serum with toner in your palm before applying it to the face.

3. Squeeze 2 - 3 drops of serum either directly on to your face or onto the back of your hand. Lightly pat it all around the face. 

4. You can use an additional amount for any dark or saggy areas. Note: First time users may feel a tingling sensation. This is normal due to the pH adjustment of the skin.

5. Apply a moisturizer. You can also continue with your daily skin care routine.

8. Refrigerate the Vitamin C-20 serum for longer-lasting freshness. 

Note from Ciracle

Because the product is highly concentrated with pure vitamin C, it is recommended to use the product as quickly as possible once opened. Vitamin C is sensitive to heat, light, and temperature. So always store it in the refrigerator even before opening the product. If you use the product during the day, remember to wear sunscreen lotion on your face since it will more likely be sensitive to sunlight after using the product. There may be residue or settlements and a change of colour present in the bottle; this is due to the high concentration of vitamin C and is perfectly normal.

Ciracle Pore Control Serum
Php 1,090.00

I actually bought this just because I was curious what Ciracle was about (I even got the Vitamin C serum for free). I'm glad I did because this really helped with my enlarged pores. You can see how on the photos at the bottom of this post. :) This lasted 6 months as well.

Labels on the box:

And more info from the main website:

I use it right after I apply the Vitamin C serum.

It also has a syringe cap.

It's clear and is absorbed pretty quickly by the skin when applied.

and the last product from Ciracle is...

Ciracle Vitamin E5 Cream
Php 1,290.00

This was a gift from Ciracle last August. How happy was I to get this because this became my daily moisturizer. It works so well with the Vitamin C serum. Using this since August. I still have 1/3 of the product left.

Labels on the box:

More info from the SG website:

Ciracle Vitamin E5 Cream is used to help soothe the skin and protect it from external environmental factors like pollution, oxidation and damaging UV rays. Ciracle’s formula contains 5% vitamin E to protect the skin from oxidation, a major factor in visible skin ageing and dullness. It also helps to improve moisture in the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, scars and brown spots.

Properties of Vitamin E5 Cream

• Promotes moisture and skin whitening effect
• Provides skin protection and prevents skin damage
• Improves moisture and oil in the skin
• Maintains skin youthfulness with antioxidant ingredients

Directions

1. Use twice a day, morning and evening, after cleansing the face and applying toner or essence.

2. Pat gently over the whole face or dry spot area.

3. For best results, use Vitamin E after applying Vitamin C-20 Serum.

Note from Ciracle

This is an effective product for those with dry skin and works well when used before applying makeup.

I'll be posting the directions on how I use all these products together along with the products that I use from Kiehl's on the 2nd part of the post.

But just to let you see how my skin improved, check out these photos of my cheeks during the different months of 2013.

Taken March 2013

Enlarged pores, some zits and many dark scars from acne. This pretty much how my skin looked like since I reached puberty.

Somewhere around April or May 2013

It's getting a little better by this time. It was the time I got addicted to facials masks. Haha!  But the acne still has redness and I still have enlarged pores.

Taken August 2013

Been using the 2 Ciracle serums for two months by this time and one month using TBS Cool and Creamy Wash. And also started using my 1st Kiehl's product, Clearly Corrective White Skin Brightening Exfoliator, for two months as well.

Taken October 2013

Taken December 2013

This one was taken in a different lighting though. The others were taken in front of my dressing table. But check out the size of the pores throughout the months of using the products. The skin looks healthier and well-moisturized now and it feels softer too.

So I'll be ending this post for now since it's getting quite lengthy. I'll be sharing the other products in my skincare routine as well as how I use them on the 2nd part of this post so I do hope you stay tuned! :D


Cheers,
DAWN

The Body Shop Tea Tree Cool and Creamy Wash

Hey loves!

The Body Shop has a new product coming up! Lucky for me, I got the pleasure of trying it out even before its release date! :)

The Body Shop Tea Tree Cool and Creamy Wash

I received mine last Thursday and been using it to keep my skin clean and fresh!

I was excited to try this out since my skin is blemish-prone. I think this suits me so well. I've tried quite a few products from their Tea Tree line and they have performed well on me.

Read the description below if you would like to learn more on this new product:

(Just click the image to enlarge)

Here's the front and back of the product:

I prefer my facial washes in tube form since it's easier to get the product out and you can make sure that you get to finish up all everything inside.

 And of course, it contains ingredients that are included in The Body Shop's Community Fair Trade which helps different communities in various parts of the world.

On to my thoughts on this product:

It is thick and white with a slight tint of mint green but barely noticeable in my pic...

Here's a shot from the Press Release:

The scents is very... herby! If you have smelled any item from their Tea Tree Line, then that's exactly how it smells. LOL 

It doesn't foam up when you use it. You just massage it on your face and you will begin to feel the cooling sensation which is totally awesome! I love it since it makes me feel so refreshed! It's just perfect for the crazy weather in the Philippines nowadays.

After washing it off, you feel so clean and refreshed. Even when I use my toner, you don't see dirt on my cotton pad anymore. It does the job of cleaning my face after a long day!

For the 5 days I have been using it, I didn't encounter breakouts nor skin irritations. It didn't dry my skin too. I love it! I just wonder if it would work so much better if my skin care composed of more tea tree line from The Body Shop! Hmmm...

Anyway, that's all for my quick review!

The Body Shop's Tea Tree Cool and Creamy Wash will be available in stores in July 5, 2013. It's RRP is Php 395.00 only so hurry and grab one!!

Cheers,

DAWN