Hey guys! Have you ever had a bad case of dry lips? The kind that lipstick can't hide and lip balms can't soothe. Mine was just a couple of weeks ago and it was so bad I almost didn't want to attend an important event. I initially felt my upper lip roughen and it pretty much went downhill from there. Next thing I noticed, my lips were peeling and cracking painfully. I rummaged through my stuff trying to look for a lip balm and while I was at it, I found some things that I used a lot in the past but since new products came in, I totally forgot I still have them.

THE BODY SHOP: Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion

Hey everyone! I recently reviewed a product from Kiehl's that's suitable for pimple prone skin like mine. I've been planning to buy one since I ran out of samples but the hefty tag made me put it off and instead look through my stash to find anything I can use for the meantime. Luckily, I found this..

The Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion (Php 800++)

I used to rave about Tea Tree 2 years ago and how it helped me control and prevent pimple break outs. My first ever purchase was a tea tree travel set from The Body Shop containing a facial wash, toner, oil and night lotion. I eventually got the full size and one of them, the Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion, is still more than half full so I figured I could give it another try.

This comes in a 30 ml slim container with a pump dispenser. A couple of pumps is just right to cover your entire face. The texture is pretty much the same as lotion that spreads effortlessly on your face and melts easily on your skin. I love that it gives just the right amount of moisture without making you look and feel greasy. it has a hint of menthol scent which I really love because it gives you a fresh and clean feeling. I've tried this on active pimples and they don't sting at all. I feel like they dry the pimples without any visible peeling or flaking of dead skin. 

Overall, I really love this product although I don't consider it my holy grail for pimple treatment and prevention, it's still a decent moisturizer that doesn't irritate my skin or cause me more break outs. I may still consider buying one but not right after I finish one bottle. I do recommend it to everyone who's still on a look out for a good moisturizer for pimple prone skin. 

How about you, what do you think of Tea Tree? Have you tried any Tea Tree products? Do share your thoughts on the comments section below. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

♥ ♥ ♥ 

THE BODY SHOP: Tea Tree Concealer

 I've been having nasty break outs over the past couple of days and it's been driving me crazy! It first appeared near my upper lip followed by a bigger one on my chin then another one on my cheek. I'm actually used to having pimple break outs around my period but not as troublesome as this. I hate having to go out with blemishes that attract much attention, good thing I went through my stash and found myself a quick fix.

This is The Body Shop Tea Tree Concealer which I think I bought around 2 years ago when Tea Tree was at its hype. I've been using it as an eye makeup primer ever since I gave up on using concealers. Not that it's an awful product, I'm just having a hard time using it to cover pimple marks because it somehow has the tendency to accentuate rather than hide the flaws. I guess the shade doesn't really match my skin tone.

This concealer is packaged like a lip product which I love because it's so handy that you can just slip it in your pocket or purse. It's virtually scent free and has a nice creamy texture that doesn't harden over time. You can easily apply this on your skin and it blends well after patting it with your fingers. You can also top it with loose or finishing powder to even out the shade.

What's really awesome about this is I finally got it to work wonders for me this time! I'm so happy I didn't throw or give it away because it effectively concealed my unwanted pimples. It didn't cake or get oily and it lasted the entire day with just a single touch-up. Notice the images above how my scar (encircled) seemed to be hidden (arrow) after application of The Body Shop Tea Tree Concealer. The only problem I see is it only comes in 2 shades, light (01) and medium (02), good thing medium matches my skin tone. I can't recall how much I bought this but I'm pretty sure it has a reasonable tag.

Overall, I have a new found respect for this product because it really works. I am definitely making this my official concealer and will repurchase once it runs out. I do recommend it to those who are still on a hunt for a good concealer especially when dealing with pimples since tea tree also doubles as a pimple treatment because of its antibacterial properties.

♥ ♥ ♥

The Power of TEA TREE

     For the past months, after residency, I have been experiencing break outs. Maybe due to hormonal changes or stress, but whatever the reasons are behind these unwanted pimples, what's important is how to get rid of them and prevent them from dominating my face. Well, pimples aren't new to me, I have been a victim during my teen-age years. It really got worse that my mom already brought me to a dermatologist. I had my face treated and I judiciously went to the clinic for treatment and after a few months, not only did my pimples clear but I had a healthier, fairer and more radiant complexion. So since then, I became very loyal to my dermatologist's products, from facial wash, toner, moisturizer and sunblock, all things I put on my face I bought from her line of products. There were even times when I tried on new commercial products I saw on advertisements but I never got the exact same results that I get from my derma. I always ended up going back to my old routine. So for more than 10 years now, I haven't had any pimple problems until 2 months ago. I started having pimple break outs on my face so I just continued the regimen I'm used to. But it seemed endless, one pimple would break out after another. Leaving dark pigments on my skin that don't heal as fast as they used to. Maybe because I'm aging and skin regeneration is slowing down on me. I felt so helpless, as helpless as I was years ago. So I started to look for ways to treat the pimples. I bought Clean and clear pimple treatment gel which really worked but not to the point of preventing other break outs. I hate the dark pigmented areas on my face after each pimple dries out. Also, I hate the fact that I need a spot corrector to get rid of the pimple marks. So I searched the net for products that will help me find a solution to all of my concerns. The answer came just in time when I received the email update from body shop. I browsed through their line of products to find out what they offer to those with pimple problems. Tea tree was the answer I got. So I went out and bought their starter kit which by the way was on sale at that time! Here are the products I bought:

Tea tree oil starter kit, all 4 products in a cute net-like green pouch

Tea tree skin clearing facial wash, toner, oil and lotion

Tea tree skin clearing facial wash (60ml): A refreshing daily gel-based facial wash to remove excess oil.

Tea tree skin clearing toner (60ml): 

A refreshing "shake to activate" toner with mattifying powders that effectively tone the skin and remove traces of impurities to leave skin looking matte.

Tea tree oil (10ml): A naturally infused, targeted solution to help clear blemishes quickly and effectively without overdrying the skin.

Tea tree skin clearing lotion (15ml): 

A lightweight moisturising lotion that contains powders to help absorb excess oil and control shine.

     I purchased this last week and I am now on my 5th day of using the entire line and I must admit, I am very much pleased with the results I am getting. I start off with cleansing my face using the facial wash, followed by the toner. Then I use the tea tree oil, applying a small amount on the blemish using a small cotton and finish off with the lotion all over my face in upward and outward stroking motions. On the first day, I felt tingly from using the toner and the concentrated tea tree oil. It was bearable and lasted for only a few minutes. They smell like menthol when you use them which didn't bother me at all. I love the way body shop made this starter kit which is very useful and a great buy for those who are not yet sure what products to buy from the tea tree line. Well on the following days, I saw my face starting to clear up. The pimple marks were peeling off discreetly and appeared lighter. I felt a new pimple about to break out on my chin the other day, but when I applied the tea tree oil concentrate, it never appeared, as if nothing was there in the first place. Well, I have to admit that I never thought I would discover a new effective way of treating my pimple problems. I have never seen any other product that delivers what it promises. The Body shop Tea Tree line truly gives the results it promises: visibly clearer and deep cleansed skin with reduced excess oil and unclogged pores without the harsh side effects of blemish-control products. All these results from the power of Body Shop's Tea Tree.