BODY SHOP TEA TREE SKINCARE REVIEW

We all know that getting free stuff is a pretty perk of the job...but doesn't it suck when you really don't get on with what you were sent to review? Its tough because the whole point of blogging is to give an honest review, you want to trust that people are waxing lyrical about something they really and truly, genuinely like not just because they feel obligated because they were very kindly sent it...and you don't want to be ungrateful or unnecessarily crappy.

Luckily, when i was sent some Body Shop things to try out by Natalie (thank you!!) i didn't have this dilemma at all!

I particularly like that instead of sending the same pre packaged press pack (try saying that 5 times quickly!) as every other blogger, Natalie actually asked if there was anything from The Body Shop range that i would be particularly interested to try. Now, I'll admit that the only thing i really get from The Body Shop on any kind of regular basis is the body butters - I mean with so many delicious flavours (?)/ scents (??) to choose from it would be rude not to! Oooh and my annual Christmas bath set...does anyone else get this or is it just a tradition in my house? I get the Body Shop set while the bro gets an Oor Wullie Annual. Anyone else? No...? Ok then. So anyway, back to the point, I had a root around on the website and decided that i could really give a fair review of any of the Tea Tree Oil skin care products.

If you're like me and suffer from oily skin you'll know that it sucks to be the only oil faced city slicker in a room of magnificently matte ladies. Oh to be able to actually add shimmer!

Many's the day that I've been retouching (at 11am i might add!!)in the mirror and noticed that the shine on my forehead is in itself, a mirror thus creating that endless mirror in a mirror in a mirror effect...kinda like taking a photo of someone taking a photo. Regardless of trippy forehead effects, its not nice. And just to make the situation even better, shine is often accompanied by spots. And i am not immune to them. at all.

So with all this said, i was really excited to try out The Body Shop Tea Tree Range for Oily and blemished skin to see what it could do for me!(note that 'for me' is key: what works for me might not be the same for you or a different skin type). The package arrived a little over a month ago and since then i have been well and truly putting each product through its paces! My camera has broken so i cant show you everything they sent but it was, as you know, seriously generous! Thanks Natalie!!

I think a month and a half has been sufficient time enough for me to appropriately test the products and really get a feel for them, to be able to answer the following questions: would i repurchase, are they worth the money, would i recommend them, are the formula's good, how they work...and most importantly: if they work at all!

So firstly, lets start with a couple of things that i will definitely be repurchasing:

TEA TREE OIL BLEMISH FADE NIGHT LOTION:

This product has BIG claims - "A lightweight, soothing gel crème that sinks into the skin to help improve the appearance of blemish-damaged skin, equalise oiliness and replenish moisture while you sleep" and i would certainly agree with every single word of that.

This has fast become a must have product in my make up bag. If I'm staying over at the Boy's house, this comes with me...there's a chance there would be tears before bedtime if this was forgotten. It's a really light, almost barely there creme that sinks in within the space of 30 seconds or so, but unlike most moisturisers that are super quick to sink in, i can really feel the benefits of this. Its not so much a film of moisture left on the face...more like an overall softness. Ach, i could hark on about this till the cows come home, I LOVE IT! This is the Superman to my daytime Clean and Clear Oilfree moisturiser's Clark Kent (BF will love that geeky reference).

Im not so sure what kind of effect its had on my old existing blemish marks - it could be a placebo but id swear the scar (luckily the only war wound i escaped with in my battle against acne) on my right cheek is ever so slightly less visible.

The only 'con' as far as i can see is the smell. It is VERY strongly scented...but with a strong medicinal scent like tea tree, this is expected and i don't personally find it a problem. Having said that, if you have a delicate conk this might not be for you.

I also love THE BODY SHOP TEA TREE OIL FACIAL EXFOLIATOR.

Its a great scrub for those who really like a course texture to really sloosh away that dull skin. I also love that the scrubs is a green coloured gel cremey texture that leaves me looking like the incredible hulk, (another BF pleasing geek ref. He will be pleased!), ah bathtime fun! Its not one for everyday use as it is so gritty - when i first started testing it i used daily for 4 days before i noticed the overscrubbing sting accompanied by significant redness. I have however since perfected the art of exfoliation ala BodyShop. During the week i use my regular Neutrogena exfoliator and keep this as my perfect 'Once a week, get results' product. As before, the smell is STRONG and can be a bit overpowering at first but i for one find the smell a good thing - i have lots of memories of being a teenager and slathering on Tee Tree oil direct from the bottle and knowing that i was KILLING the bacteria dead. Like Cillit Bang for the noggin.

One thing that im sooo close to loving is the TEA TREE OIL BLEMISH STICK. At only £3.90 its hard to have anything bad to say about this product. Its tiny enough to sling in your handbag and the concentrated formula make it a reassuring medicinal treatment for whenever u can feel a spot brewing under the skin. I used this recently on an 'almost' hormonal chin breakout. I caught it at the beneath the surface phase, applied in the morning, took off my make up as soon as i got home from work and applied it then and then once again before bed and it really never came to anything. What a RELIEF!!

My only criticism with this product is that i just cant stand the lipgloss style doe foot applicator. It makes me cringe at the thought of spreading and reintroducing bacteria so i use the applicator to coat a clean finger and then apply to the area. Not a huge issue but significant enough for me to just 'like' this product.

Have you tried the Tee Tree Oil Range? How did it work for you? Id love to hear whether your favourites from the range are the same/ completely different...cos that's the funny thing about skin isn't it? Everyone's completely different! HARK!