September Hot or Not: The Body Shop
I shop a lot at The Body Shop in Malta and love all things beauty related, so I figured I'd do a series of posts with mini reviews of the products I tried. So here it is, a 'hot or not' list detailing which I enjoyed, which didn't work for me and which I'll be buying again.
The Body Shop: The September Purchases
This month I'll be talking about six different products (oops!) which are;
from Left to Right:
Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion,
Vitamin E Overnight Serum & Oil.
I've had plenty of time to try them all out and have some firm favourites which I'll soon be repurchasing.
The Body Shop: The Hot List
Out of the six items tried I really fell in love with 3 and will absolutely be buying them again once they run out. Read on to see which, and why!
Vitamin E Face Mist:
Although this is in the 'hot' list, I don't actually find this does anything for my skin. It claims to be an 'instantly refreshing moisture boost for all skin types...with rosewater to refresh...perfect for setting make-up'. I don't find it particularly moisturising and it doesn't set makeup to last any longer than it would normally, I simply love applying it. I love spritzing it on in the mornings after washing my face and in the evening before bed. It's especially nice when it's been in the fridge- so cooling! I have very oily skin so I wear very matte, powdery make-up; if I go a little OTT and my face is looking cakey, I do another spritz to settle it down a bit. Overall, I enjoy using this product but don't find it has any actual benefits.
Vitamin C Microdermabrasion:
I love this. It's a microdermabrasion style facial exfoliator which should be used no more than 1-2 times a week. The grains are absolutely tiny but incredibly abrasive, so cannot be used too forcefully or too often, or it will seriously irritate skin. It claims to be a 'weekly home-spa exfoliation. With vitamin C rich Amazonian camu camu and Community Fair Trade shea butter...to improve skin tone.'
It's a seriously great exfoliator. My skin needs exfoliation, if it doesn't get it, it soon begins to feel bumpy and dry (yet still super oily). Previously I've used gentler exfoliators which can be used daily, but using this once a week is just perfect. My skin is incredibly smooth to the touch and to look at. I'm very acne prone and I notice a reduced amount of blemishes when I use this 2 times a week.
Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion:
As I mentioned, my skin is super oily and acne prone, so I almost always have a spot, or a scar to contend with. The spots are usually cystic meaning they are very sore and inflamed and the scars can last for months. This product is a big help. It manages to keep breakouts under some form of control- they're less sore and don't last quite as long and scars are lasting just weeks rather than months, which is a big improvement.
The bottle states "helps improve the appearance of blemish-damaged skin...regular nightly use helps minimise the appearance of post-blemish marks and discolouration" and as far as I'm concerned it does exactly what it says on the tin. The smell is clean and soothing and it's super cooling and fresh so I love applying this as I slip between the sheets.
I actually didn't realise quite how much I loved this until a few days ago when I went to apply it and nothing came out... it was finished! My heart jumped and there was a moment of panic which sealed the deal for me- this HAS to be repurchased!
The Body Shop: The Not List
I never really hate anything that I try from The Body Shop, but sometimes there are items I just don't think are quite worth the cash, I don't see any benefits from or they just don't work for me. Read on to see which I wont be repurchasing and why!
Wild Argan Oil Body Lotion:
I really wanted to like this range as I've read such good things about it and if a hair product has Argan Oil in it, I'll love it for sure, but I just didn't fall in love. It's a perfectly good body lotion, as all The Body Shop ones are. The Argan Oil in the lotion doesn't make it at all oily or greasy, it sinks in well and keeps the skin soft all day... I just can't get into the smell. I think the scent is very 'artificial' and 'perfume' smelling. I much prefer their fruity offerings which smell delicious and linger on the skin. It's a perfectly fine body lotion, I'd just not pick it again when they have such an array of better smelling ones.
Wild Argan Oil Bubbling Bath:
Along the same kind of lines as the body lotion- this is an OK bubbly bath, just nothing exciting or exceptional. This doesn't seem to smell at all, and I like bubble baths that fill the room with aroma. It's not particularly bubbly and within 10 or so minutes, the bubbles completely disperse. Along with that, I don't feel my skin is particularly soft and touchable afterwards, as it does with other products. In my opinion you're better off with a €1.80 Imperial Leather offering which will be much bubblier, smell delicious and leave your skin super smooth.
Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil:
This is another product that I really wanted to love. I have oily skin but actually, facial oils can be incredibly beneficial. Your skin is oily because it believes it's dehydrated, so produces extra oil to compensate and this is usually made worse by the super stripping 'anti shine' products that oily skinned people use. Using the correct oil on oily skin can actually reduce the production of sebum and result in a great improvement. Unfortunately, I didn't see that with this product. I certainly didn't see an increase in oil, but no decrease, no extra moisture or replenishing going on. It certainly didn't do anything wrong for my skin, it just didn't do anything at all for it. I will probably finish the bottle as I hate waste but it's not one I'd repurchase.
I'd love to know your recommendations of things to try next from The Body Shop and do let me know if you gave any of these a go!