The Body Shop: Tea Tree Face Mask

Hi everyone!

Today's review is of The Body Shop's Tea Tree Face Mask. This mask is intended for blemished skin and they claim it "instantly cools and lifts away impurities." I purchases this single use size which contains enough product for one use so that I could see if I liked it before purchasing a full-size  of the face mask. The sample retails for $2.50 and contains 0.2 oz (a generous amount!) of product, and you can purchase it from Ulta and The Body Shop. A full-size of the face mask comes in a pot with 100 mL and retails for $15.50 from Ulta and The Body Shop. Right now almost everything on from The Body Shop is 40% off (with free shipping for purchases over $50) so it's a great time to try some new products and stock up on old favorites!

This face mask is one of The Body Shop's bestsellers! They describe it as leaving the "skin feeling deeply cleansed and refreshed with an instantly cooling mask that helps remove impurities and absorb excess oil while soothing and calming blemish-prone skin. Community Fair Trade tea tree oil, lemon tea tree, and tamanu oil work together to keep skin clear by helping to prevent blemishes and blackheads, and controlling excess oil. Menthol creates a cool fresh tingle that leaves skin feeling calm and refreshed." This product is 100% Vegetarian, Never Tested on Animals, Contains Community Fair Trade Ingredients, No Sulfates, No Phthalates, No GMOs, and No Triclosan. The Body Shop recommends applying this product by "Smooth a thin layer onto pat-dried skin, clean face and neck with your fingertips. Leave for 5 to 10 minutes (mask will not dry). Then rinse off with clean water and pat skin dry. Use once or twice per week, after cleansing."

This product is ideal for oily skin, but I found that it worked amazingly well on my skin. (For reference, my skin is normal to dry and I do have occasional breakouts.) I used this mask when I was experiencing lots of breakouts from a Lush face mask that I reviewed previously (Link HERE). I was amazed at how quickly my breakouts disappeared and how smooth my skin felt immediately after using this mask. It also really soothed my skin and helped reduce the irritation associated with the breakouts on my face. I think those who experience bad acne breakouts will absolutely love this mask, but I also think those people who only have occasional breakouts will also love this mask as it's incredibly soothing and helps keep your skin smooth, cleansed and blemish-free. I did notice a slight tingle when using this mask but it was actually pretty minimal, yet powerful at acne-fighting at the same time. I really liked that this mask was effective but also didn't completely dry out my skin like some blemish-fighting masks do. While it wasn't necessarily hydrating, it didn't strip my skin of its moisture.

Final Verdict:
Overall, I really loved using this face mask! It was soothing yet effective at the same time. The results were instantaneous (soft, smooth skin) yet long-term (reduced redness and breakouts) as well. I highly recommend this mask to everyone, because I truly believe it's a universally flattering mask that will help all skin types and is for people of all ages. I loved this mask so much that I have already purchased a full-sized pot of it. Definitely check this face mask out!

Have you tried any of The Body Shop's face masks? What skin concerns are you looking to fix with a face mask (i.e. - acne, redness, pores, etc.)? Please leave a comment below I would love to hear from you!

Thanks for reading!
-Meg

Lush: Ayesha Fresh Face Mask

Hi everyone,

So I recently stopped by my local Lush store and picked up a couple items which I'll be reviewing over the next couple of weeks. The first item I'm reviewing today is the Ayesha Fresh Face Mask which was recommended to me by a Lush Sales Associate when I told her I was interested in a mask for dry skin that was targeted at removing dead skin and brightening the face. I'm not entirely sure this was the best mask for me, but since this was my first visit in a long while I took her advice and bought it.

This facial mask contains 2.1 oz of product and is vegetarian and preservative-free. This mask retails for $6.95 so it's very affordable and I think you could probably get between 3 and 5 uses out of it depending on how much you apply each time. This is a "fresh" product from Lush so you have to keep it in the refrigerator and they last about 2-3 weeks. I bought mine on 10/15 and it says it expires on 11/4 so you do have to use it fairly quickly. Also, once you bring back 5 face mask pots to Lush you'll get a free facial mask so in essence buy 5 get 1 free!

Lush describes the Ayesha Fresh Face Mask as "a blend of tightening and toning ingredients to refresh tired-looking skin. We use vitamin C-rich kiwi to brighten dull spots, asparagus to nourish and absorb excess oils and honey for hydrating and soothing red areas. This fresh mask is named after the fictional priestess who discovered the secret to immortality - ten minutes with it on and you’ll see why! Dull, tired and mature skin transforms for a bright, youthful glow."

To use this face mask, cleanse your face first and pat dry, then smooth a good amount of the product all over your entire face (avoiding the eyes and mouth). You should leave the mask on for about ten minutes but make sure to not let the mask dry completely.

So first off, I didn't realize this mask was intended for mature skin until I got home and read more about it. Had I known it was I probably wouldn't have gotten it as I'm 24 years old and definitely do not have mature skin. Nonetheless, I did find that this mask left my face ultra smooth and it made my skin feel tight (in a good way). It also took away all the dead skin on my face and left me really shiny for a day or two which is what I assume they refer to as the "youthful glow".

I was also very turned off by the smell of this product. It's a very strong earthy and herbal scent. I think you have to smell it for yourself to determine if you like it or not, but be aware that it's a very strong and overpowering scent.

Results:

So first the good side of this mask! Immediately after using this mask, my skin felt very soft and I could feel that my skin was nice and tight. Additionally, my pores were pretty much nonexistent after using this mask, which is something I'm always looking for in a face mask.

Now, on the negative side, with the dead skin removed from my face, I found that my skin on my face was very shiny and it even showed through my foundation and makeup. Even more problematic than that, I experienced some MASSIVE breakouts a couple of days after using this mask. I'm not talking small breakouts, I mean large breakouts and the kind the hurt under the skin.

Final Verdict:
I liked how smooth and tight this product made my skin and face feel immediately after using it, but I hate how I had massive, painful breakouts from it. I definitely won't be finishing the pot because the breakouts just aren't worth it to me. I definitely think this would be a great product for mature skin as it does have a great lifting sensation and for those who are not prone to breakouts, as that was my biggest problem with this mask. I am curious about trying another Lush facial mask, maybe the Self-Preserving Mask of Magnamity? I like that they updated the formula of that mask so you don't need to keep it in the fridge and it will last much longer!

Have you tried any of Lush facial masks? Which ones are your favorite? Please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for reading!

PS- Sorry for not updating sooner, it's been a very busy couple of days! I'm trying to get back on track. See you all tomorrow!