The Body Shop Tea Tree range is not new to me as I tried it out a few years ago but I found the scent a little too overpowering so I passed it over to my sister. I know many people love Tea Tree scent but I was not a fan at all. Fast forward a year or so later, an exciting parcel from Body Shop arrived which contained their improved Tea Tree range. I was a little sceptical at first because I thought I may not like the scent but I was pleasantly surprised to find it was not as overpowering as the previous version. I was sent three products from the range which include the Skin Clearing Facial Wash*, the 3-in-1 Wash, Scrub and Mask* and the Tea Tree Oil*. Incidentally, I was also breaking out around that period so these babies arrived at a really good time so I could see if they worked as effectively as they claimed.
I fell in love with the ones I was sent and purchased two other products so I could fully test the range. The two other products were the Skin Clearing Mattifying Toner and the Anti-Imperfection Daily Lotion and they work so well together. The good thing is they are very affordable and are included in the usual Body Shop discounts. I am aware that some products particularly the newer launches are excluded from discounts which is such a bummer. I was so happy when the sales assistant said the Tea Tree range was part of the discount and at that time it was 40% so it was amazing value for money. Right let me get back to the review...
Packaging
I am totally loving what Body Shop is doing with their packaging as they look so beautiful and more expensive than they actually are. I know it's silly but beautiful packaging always lure me in to purchase (and use) a product and when it is paired with good quality, it's incredible. I think the previous packaging of the Tea Tree range has always been green which is usually the colour I always see associated with Tea Tree. Body Shop opted for a deep leaf green shade which I love as it contrasts well with the white detailing on the packaging. I absolutely love the Anti-Imperfection Daily Lotion because it is a glass bottle with a pipette that works well. Honestly, anything with a pipette has my heart and I just love using it every chance I have. The Tea Tree Oil also comes in a small glass bottle with a stopper that prevents waste (as only a drop comes out as you need it). The only complaint I have is that the Tea Tree Toner and Facial Wash have almost the same packaging so it could get confusing if they are beside each other in the bathroom. I wished one had a different lid colour or anything that could distinguish it from the other. Other than that, I think the new packaging is fantastic.
Brief Overview of the Tea Tree Range
I am sure everyone knows that Tea Tree has many benefits for the skin and the body in general but it is widely known for its blemish busting properties. Tea Tree Oil is one of the world's best researched essential oils especially as it is an antibacterial. In line with the Body Shop's Enrich Not Exploit campaign, Body Shop's Tea Tree Oil is concentrated with the pure organic essential tea tree oil sustainably sourced from the foothills of Mount Kenya. I know Tea Tree can be found from many sources but when it comes from the purest and organic sources, it works even more effectively as it's not adulterated. I have tried other tea tree oils and they are not as good as the Body Shop's one based on my experience. The Body Shop Tea Tree range is designed for anyone who has oily skin and is prone to blemishes and blackheads with an aim to achieve clearer looking skin (which we all want).
Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash //Link // £5.50
I was really pleased to see this facial wash included in the Press sample they sent me. I don't think I have tried any facial wash with tea tree so this was a first for me. Body Shop describes it as a daily use wash for blemish prone skin which promises clearer skin. It is a gel formula which is my preferred formula for cleansers and my skin type. It has a medium texture and gives a good lather depending on how wet your face is. I find that when my face is just damp, it really has a good lather compared to when it is almost dripping wet. I have used it on its own and with my cleansing devices (Foreo Luna and Magnitone Bare Faced Cleansing Brush) and both ways work well but I prefer using it with my cleansing devices. It has the usual tea tree scent but it is not as intense as the other products. I find that it really helps to calm my spots and sometimes I let it sit for a while before washing it off. In terms of cleaning my skin, I would say it does a good job and it does not leave my skin feeling stripped which I am pleased about. I think many people will love this wash and it's affordable. For £5.50, you get 250 ml of product which will last a pretty long time.
Tea Tree Mattifying Toner // Link //£5.50
I was instantly drawn to this toner when I saw that it is a mattifying one because my skin is normally combination but goes crazily oily in Summer. Body Shop describe this as a refreshing toner for blemished skin to give a matte, shine-free finish. Its key ingredient is Tea Tree and one of its other ingredient is Alcohol Denat which made me a little cautious. It does smell quite intense of both ingredients but it is one that I am quite used to now so I don't notice it as such. It is recommended to give it a good shake as it has some white powder ingredient at the bottom which needs to be mixed to work well. I thought this white powder ingredient was Salicylic acid but I checked the ingredient list and it's not listed so I am going to find out what it is an update you all (if you do know, please leave a comment below). If you have active or angry blemishes, this toner will sting (for a little while) but it won't if the spots are not angry or red. I do have to say it does not dry my skin out which surprised me seeing that it had alcohol in it. However, it still manages to keep my skin quite matte which is my preferred finish especially for mornings. I used this straight for almost a month and I think it really helped clear up my skin. If you have very sensitive skin, I will suggest asking for a little sample at Body Shop first to see how well your skin can handle it. However, I will highly recommend it because it really works so well.
Tea Tree 3-in1 Wash, Scrub & Mask //Link //£8
This is also part of the newly launched Tea Tree range and I was keen to see how well it works as a wash, scrub and mask. Body Shop describes it as a clean and mean multi-tasking cleanser made with Kaolin Clay, Volcanic Minerals and Tea Tree Oil. I know it has other ingredients but I believe these are the key ones. It has some tiny granules that help with manual exfoliation but I am not a fan of manual exfoliation especially when my face is breaking out. I did try it out in the three recommended ways but I enjoyed it mostly as a mask. As a cleanser, it was actually good and the granules were not abrasive but I prefer gel formulas so I can use my cleansing devices. It is recommended not to use any cleansers with granules with a cleansing brush or the FOREO Luna. As a scrub, I actually like the way it applies and gives the skin a good exfoliation but I prefer to use chemical exfoliator rather than a physical/manual one. As a mask, this is where the beauty of this product shines through. It applies very smoothly and I add an extra layer to my cheeks which is where I tend to get spots. I leave it on for at least 15 minutes or more if I have time. When I wash it off, my skin feels quite soft with less angry spots. The Kaolin Clay and the Tea Tree Oil seem to get rid of all the gunk and infuse some antibacterial (tea tree's property) into any angry areas. I always look forward to using this mask and I even did an Insta Story with it on my face. I find it really similar to the Una Brennan Salicylic Clay Mask however the Body Shop one does not sting as much as the Una Brennan one (thank goodness for that).
Tea Tree Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution// Link //£12
Now this was the one product I really wanted to try because I had seen snippets of it on Body Shop's Instagram page as it was a new launch. It is described as a lightweight, fast absorbing serum which is infused with the Body Shop's 100% Community Trade tea tree oil. I already mentioned that it has such a beautiful packaging and I honestly can't believe it's only £12 (much less with their usual discounts). True to its description, it is a lightweight product which applies and absorbs easily. The pipette/dropper allows you dispense the right amount you need and that's my favourite detail about the packaging. Once you apply it on the skin, it sinks in really quickly but it does not disappear. It feels slightly tacky for a few seconds and moves into a demi matte finish which prepares my skin for the rest of my skincare. It's just the extra step my skin needs and I use it just like a serum (which it is although it is called a solution). I thought the tea tree scent will be intense in this product but I was pleasantly surprised that it's not as bad as I thought. Paired with the Tea Tree Oil, I found that my spots were much reduced and I was not breaking out as much despite eating a lot of cheese (my new obsession which I have reduced now). If you just want to buy one product from the range, I will highly recommend this one. I feel it will be suitable for all skin types but people with combination/oily skin will love this because of its mattifying (but not drying/stripping) properties.
But who can resist this dinky bottle? Not me though!! I love how tiny the bottle is and I love how travel friendly it is. As the name suggests, it is contains only Tea Tree Oil but not any regular one. This little bottle contains 100% Organic Tea Tree Oil sustainably sourced from the Kenyan Mountains. It is one of Body Shop's best seller and I can see why. It works so effectively and can be applied both as a spot treatment or as an all over face oil. I was very surprised to see that it does not feel like an oil at all. It feels like a water based serum that applies very smoothly to the skin. This is the one product that has the most intense smell which comes as no surprise as it's only made from Tea Tree Oil. It has a minty (peppermint-y) feel on the skin that feels quite cooling/refreshing once applied. I actually enjoy using it as an all over the face oil to treat any breakouts and prevent any future ones. It can also be used day and night but I just prefer to use it at night. Together with the Anti-Imperfection Solution, it will be quite difficult for any future spots to show up and any existing ones disappear after a sort while. Sometimes, any existing spots disappear the next day after I have applied it at night. Other times, the spots are reduced by about 75% the morning after and completely gone by the next day or so. I honestly don't mind as far as it gets cleared within two days, I am happy about that. It's a really precious bottle with a nice lid and stopper which makes travelling with it a breeze.
Where to Buy
Body Shop products can only be bought from Body Shop stores or online on their website. I never buy their products full price because they always have amazing offers and discounts which you can find on their website or if you have signed up to their emails. I paid a little over £10 for both the Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution and Tea Tree Toner. Again, I am very delighted that the range is included in their discount/offers so hurry up while there are still on.
Overall Thoughts
I really like the whole range and I have seen many good benefits from using a complete skincare regimen. The products work together to ensure the skin is blemish free, smooth and clear. I am also impressed with the range's mattifying property that I am tempted to buy the day and night lotions as a prep before my makeup. I can't even choose my favourites but if I was forced to, I would pick the Anti-Imperfection Solution, Tea Tree Oil and the 3-in-1 Wash, Mask and Scrub. That's pretty much it from me. Have you tried the Body Shop Tea Tree range?
*PR Sample + Affiliate Links used, read my full disclaimer here
