Review: Thursday Plantation 100% Pure Tea Tree Oil

Pimples, white heads, acne... the bane of our teens. A few lucky ones can escape them, but not most of us. Me included. Cosmetic companies make millions of dollars feeding off the insecurities of the young who are on the endless quest to achieve perfect skin.

Let's face it, there is no way we can get that perfect flawlessness that the media constantly shoves at our faces. But we try. So we buy creams and pay for expensive treatments. We lean on the promises, claims, harsh chemicals to help us.

But what if you didn't need all that? What if all you needed was time and one natural product to aid you?

It look me a while, but I found my staple for these nasty pimples.

This is a quick review for the Thursday Plantation 100% Pure Tea Tree Oil.

Tea Tree Oil is a natural antiseptic that was used mainly for first aid purposes in wars. Its healing properties caused enough of a stir for cosmetologists to consider incorporating it in skin care products - but to a certain percentage.

The product comes in a brown tinted bottle with a secure screw on/off cap. It resembles that much like an medicinal ointment in packaging. The label is green with directions on how to use it. Under the cap, there appears to be a dropper-like feature designed to dispense the clear liquid in small quantities.

The product is available in 10ml, 25ml and 50ml bottles. It bears the strong scent of tea tree. The oil is watery, hence easy to spread. It can be found in most pharmacies such as Boots. The 25ml bottle retails at AED 80 in the UAE.

Final conclusion and personal experience

I didn't discover the benefits of tea tree oil until about 2 years ago on Youtube - after which, I had gone though about five 10ml bottles of the Body Shop oil before discovering Thursday Plantation. The difference is outstanding. I was amazed at the results and haven't even finished my first bottle.

I use this on a daily basis on pimples, small cuts, reddened areas and so on. The scent is very strong and not recommend for those who have very sensitive skin or smell - opt for the Body Shop one instead. I do recommend that you mix one drop of this with your moisturizer to minimize the effect. The result is well worth it. It absorbs into the skin fairly well and doesn't contribute to any additional oiliness. I have noticed that it prevents pimples from coming to full term. In fact, in about a day or two, the pimple would have almost dried out or greatly reduced in size.

Other than the slight stinging upon applying and that the dropper that may dispense more than you'd expect, this product is clearly a goldmine. It is all natural and easily accessible. 

In conclusion, yes, I would recommend this to anyone suffering from acne or painful pimples. I would also advise to dilute it first with a cream or water to lessen the stinging effect. I have seen a greater difference in the past 3 months than I have in the last year.

Although if you wish to go natural at a cheaper expense, change your lifestyle, diet and thinking. Nothing heals better than the inside out.


-L

Review: Garnier BB Cream - Combination to Oily Skin

Every cosmetic brand out there is on a mission to perfect that one product that would make our skin look as naturally flawless as possible. Foundations, concealers, anti-aging creams, serums... the list goes on!

A recent addition to the Middle Eastern cosmetic market are the BB creams (Beauty/Blemish Balm) and CC creams (Color Correcting). BB creams are meant to be a hybrid between a moisturizer, a sunscreen and a foundation. In short, good for the skin and lightweight, but decent coverage.

As always, I'm on the hunt for something light, but pigmented to replace my concealer and liquid foundation. And, oh boy, was I jumping for joy when I realized THIS BB cream was finally being sold here.

This is a review on the Garnier Skin Naturals BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector for Combination to Oily Skin. (phew!)

The product is packaged in a rectangular box to fit the tube's elongated shape. The claims and product details are printed on the front and sides of the box.When opened, the tube is stored upright instead of on its cap. It's a normal squeeze tube with a narrow opening initially designed to dispense the cream with precise control.

The product consistency is pretty runny and the fact that the tube tip is cone-shaped does very little to halt or control the product from flowing out. On the contrary, storing the tube on its cap may result in severe leakage and loss of product.

Officially, there are 3 shades available. However, only 2 are made available in the Middle East. Light and Medium. Therefore, color-matching would be a hit and miss. The coverage ranges from medium to buildable. It applies smoothly and dries to an almost powder finish.

This Garnier BB cream comes with an additional SPF of 20 and retails for around AED 25 - 28 in the UAE.

Several reviews have stated that the product tends to oxidize (turn warmer/orange/darker) on the skin so users have been warned to be cautious.

Final conclusion and personal experience

I have to say that this product is not that bad for a drugstore brand. Upon first application, it feels incredibly light on the skin and matched rather well to my warm skin tone. It covered my hyper pigmentation fairly well although a tiny bit did peek through. It didn't sink into my pores and left my skin looking even-toned.

It dries off to a near matte finish with a slight sheen (or healthy glow). It does transfer if you rub your hands against it, so be aware. It isn't as long lasting as most foundations, but it doesn't slide off immediately either.
It is also affordable and easily accessible.

Overall, this product looks good on, applies very well and doesn't break me out whatsoever. It would be perfect on days I don't want to wear foundation and concealer. However, there is ONE reason I would not use this often.

It oxidizes.

Yep. It oxidized to a warmer, slightly orange tone on my skin. It wouldn't make a noticeable difference outdoors or during daylight. But once the lights come on and night falls, the difference is very obvious. And I personally dislike my face and neck being different colors.

Another peeve is the uncontrollable runny consistency and the packaging. I would assume this is why the tube is store on it's end rather on the cap in the box. Imagine if it were the other way around; users would encounter a huge mess upon first opening it.

In conclusion, this BB cream would work for someone who can match it. It's a great alternative to foundation. It's not a miracle product though, so don't rely on it.

And, as always, give your skin space to breathe.