Review | The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser

My experience with primers hasn't been a wholly positive one so far. I'm yet to come across a primer that feels totally comfortable on my skin and keeps shine at bay for longer than an hour or so, and I really dislike the plastic-y texture of many primers I've tried in the past. I suffer from break-outs and blemishes quite frequently and the thought of layering on another product between moisturiser and foundation hasn't always appealed to me, as rightly or wrongly, it sort of feels like I'm overloading my skin with product. But I've read good things about The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser (£7.50) and as it's targeted towards blemish prone skin I thought I'd give it a go. What with the intense temperatures we're experiencing at the moment in London I'm desperate for something to lock my make-up into place!

The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser, £7.50, 30ml

Packaged in a sleek green tube, this fits nicely in my make-up bag without taking up too much room. Although not actually labelled a 'primer' in the product title, it does state on the tube that the Pore Minimiser 'smooths, primes and instantly matifies', which makes it a full blown primer in my book! It has a lovely smooth texture, not at all plastic-y but more of a refreshing cream gel consistency. It smells of soothing tea tree, which I love, and has a slight yellow-green tint to it which, thankfully, doesn't show on the skin at all!

Blob of Tea Tree Pore Minimiser 

Blob fully blended 

I love how cooling it feels on the skin when first applied; it really feels like it's calming my face and it does instantly mattify and create a smoother appearance, blurring pores and blemishes well. Rather than feeling clogging or greasy it feels extremely refreshing and very light weight, and it dries really quickly which is a definite plus. I hate it when primers sit on the skin with a greasy, 'sliding around' feeling for ages after applying. I feel as if this primer is doing good things for my skin with it's antibacterial tea tree goodness, and it works as a brilliant base for make-up. Foundation glides on easily without drying or caking, as does my favourite liquid concealer. 

The question is, does it work? Does it maintain a shine free complexion? Gah! This is where I have mixed feelings, as everything about the application of the Tea Tree Pore Minimiser is perfect! Unfortunately I haven't noticed a huge difference in the longevity of my usual foundations/BB creams. Usually I use Maxfactor's Face Finity 3 in 1 primer, foundation and concealer, which doesn't budge all day, even in the current hot weather, with or without using the Tea Tree primer underneath. But when I substitute Maxfactor for the more lightweight Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation or Maybelline Dream Pure BB cream my base does start to slide after three or four hours having used The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser underneath. I have to use shine control blotting papers and pressed powder to lock in a matt look and I usually end up retouching a couple of times throughout the day, especially my shine prone chin and forehead. 

It's such a shame as I absolutely love everything else about The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser! It's without a doubt my favourite primer in terms of application. From the texture to the cooling sensation to the scent to the immediate matifying and smoothing effect, I really wish this did boost my make-up's longevity a little more. To be fair, it doesn't actually claim to deliver a long lasting base as such, but rather describes itself as being an 'ideal base for make-up', which technically it is. I just wish the effects lasted longer *sobs* However, because of all its other plus points, and especially because it contains spot busting tea tree oil, I'm going to keep on using it regardless of it's unfortunate inability to keep me shine free all day. It just feels so comfortable on the skin and I really like how soothing it is. My break-outs have reduced in redness and my skin feels super soft having been using it every morning for the past week or so. With products like this it always feel like my little beauty loving heart is breaking a little! I'm sure I'll repurchase The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser in the future but I can't help but wish it delivered a little bit more...

Is there a product you love but that doesn't quite do all you'd like it to do? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Browse The Body Shop here

Summer haul time!

I'm really loving the current weather we're having at the moment! I'm usually much more of a winter person but I grew so sick and tired of having to layer up every time I left the house that I'm fully embracing the heat and sunshine this week. I've even ventured out in shorts for the first time in about ten years, and I must say it felt quite liberating! Up until now I've always felt way too shy to get my legs out, even though I do actually like my legs a lot... Just in the comfort of my own home when in little PJ shorts. But I sucked it up, bought some £5 denim short shorts from Primark and now you can't get me out of them! 

As I was lounging in the garden this afternoon I thought it would be nice to write up a beauty haul post featuring some of the products I've been enjoying using recently. The sunshine provided some good lighting for photos and who doesn't love a haul post? 

L-R: I Love... Coconut & Cream bubble bath & shower creme, Palmer's Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze,
Ultra Dry anti-perspirant, The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil. 

As soon as summer hits I crave coconut scented goodies, and I found this giant bottle of I Love... Coconut & Cream bubble bath & shower creme in Superdrug for only £2.05. My obsession with coconut is partly due to the discovery of an absolutely amazing hair treatment sold in Sardegna. It comes in a HUGE (and I mean HUGE) white tub with a big yellow/green lid depending on whether you go for the coconut version or the herb version. It smells absolutely delicious and makes your hair feel super soft, a real treat after spending all day at the beach. My fiance's mum is from Cagliari and she introduced me to it when I first went to Sardegna five or six summers ago. The scent of coconut instantly reminds me of Cagliari and happy memories, so purchasing this I Love... Coconut & Cream cream product was a no-brainer. It smells scrummy and should last a while. 

Last summer I became ever so slightly obsessed with Palmer's Natural Bronze Body Lotion and as it was on sale for half price in Boots (£2.67), and as the sun is shining, I thought I'd stock up. Out of all the gradual tans I've used this one gives the deepest colour in just one application. It's also very moisturising and has the famous Palmer's chocolaty cocoa butter scent- delicious! I've noticed that with the recent re-branded bottle there also seems to be much less of a fake tan scent which is brilliant, as after a few hours I used to be able to detect a subtle fake tan smell. Good work Palmer's! I usually apply this on alternate days, exfoliating and using a rich body cream on the 'off' days. You do have to be a bit careful around the ankles, knees and elbows though, or it can gather slightly and become darker than everywhere else. I'm really pale, as in 'mozzarella' pale as my Italian step-family like to remind me, and this is by far the best gradual tan to use when I want to go from milk bottle to tanned in record time. 

Everyone needs a good deodorant to see them through the summer, and this Sure Ultra Dry anti-perspirant spray (£2.10 at Boots) is really good at keeping me fresh and dry on sticky summer days. I absolutely hate deodorants that claim to keep you dry all day and do anything but (Garnier, I'm looking at you!) Sure's range not only smell lovely but also deliver great protection against sweat. Not the most exciting beauty item, granted, but an essential non the less! Sure and Dove have recently repackaged their cans, releasing 75ml 'compressed' bottles that claim to provide the same amount of sprays as their old 150ml cans, meaning less packaging, which is not only environmentally friendly but also handbag friendly!

I've been reaching for my little glass bottle of The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil to soothe my summer skin woes, as unfortunately the heat has caused my skin to break out even more than usual over the past week or so. This feels so cooling on spots and it really helps reduce redness without drying out the skin. As it's an oil it feels soothing and moisturising yet at the same time it works wonders at reducing spot size overnight when applied in the evening after cleansing. I love the 'clean' smell of tea tree, although it is quite strong and it does linger after applying. This little bottle (10ml) lasts ages and costs £7. 

L-R: Sleek Face Form 'Fair', MUA Blusher 'Cupcake', Seventeen Stay Time Concealer 'Extra Fair'

I've read so many positive reviews of Sleek's Face Form palette ('Fair', £9.99 at Superdrug) that I decided to give it a go and see what all the fuss is about. I haven't really experimented much at contouring as such, but I have used the matt powder as a bronzer to add a sun kissed glow to my cheeks, nose, temples and jawline. It works well and has a nice matt finish which I tend to prefer in a bronzer. I've also used the shimmer highlighter on my cheekbones and brow bone, and the coral blush on my cheeks. To be fair I've only been using this for the past two or three days, so I'm still new to it... But I'm not overly impressed as of yet. I usually love Sleek blushers as they're generally so pigmented and have an excellent colour payoff, but this coral colour seems to take a while to build up properly on my cheeks. As mentioned above, I'm naturally very pale, so usually blushers show up instantly, but this one takes some time to get going. I love the shimmery orange coral colour and it swatches very vibrantly on my hand when using my fingers, but I haven't yet mastered how best to make it work on my face. I'm going to keep using it though as I love the trio of colours and it's such a summery collection. Perhaps practice makes perfect?

Speaking of blushers, I picked up one of the new shades from MUA (£1 at Superdrug) and I'm really loving it. I chose 'Cupcake', a peachy pink matt, and as the formula is so pigmented it only takes one sweep with my blusher brush to add a wash of colour to my cheeks.  I've been using it in conjunction with my Natural Collection SunTint powder (reviewed here) and together they give a lovely subtle sun kissed look.  

Seventeen's Stay Time 18 Hour Concealer is another product I've heard good things about. I've been using Collection's Lasting Perfection concealer which is my all time favourite when it comes to covering spots and blemishes, but I'm looking forward to giving this a go and seeing how it compares. I chose 'Extra Fair' and it's a perfect match for my skin tone. I snapped it up for £4.49 at Boots. 

L-R: Maybelline Super Stay 14 HR Lipstick 'Ultimate Blush', Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick '16'

Top: Maybelline Super Stay 'Ultimate Blush', Bottom: Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate '16'

I love a good lippie and the latest additions to my collection are Maybelline's Super Stay 14 HR Lipstick in 'Ultimate Blush' (£6.99 at Boots) and Rimmel's Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in '16' (£5.49 at Boots) I'm not normally a fan of lipsticks with a pearlescent finish but I was drawn to the berry pink tone of 'Ultimate Blush' when having a swatch in Boots. It's a berry pink colour with a hint of silver, which sounds a bit weird, but it looks really nice with a bit of a tan! I'm not sure about 14 hours but it lasts for at least four or five without disappearing completely, although it does leave a bit of a predominately silver shimmer after the main pink colour wears off. I don't mind reapplying as it feels comfortable to wear and isn't at all drying, and it smells like berries which is nice! Rimmel's '16' is a pink toned coral with a matt finish, and the colour pay off is pretty intense when applied straight from the tube. I smudge it in slightly with my fingertip when I want a more subtle effect. For a long lasting lipstick it feels very moisturising and creamy, and although the initial creamy feeling wears off after a while the colour stays put for a good few hours. I'm loving vibrant colours this summer and these two beauties are currently sitting at the top of my lipstick list. 

That's all for now folks, the sun is still shining and the garden is calling! I'd love to hear what products you've been using recently and if you've used any of the above. Feel free to comment below with your top picks for summer! 

The Body Shop Tea Tree Face Mask

I call this face mask the Princess Fiona mask as it goes on bright green. It certainly causes a reaction from my fiance! Combined with the medicinal tea tree scent it feels as if it's doing good things for my blemish prone skin, and it really has been making a noticeable difference. 

My chin, nose and forehead tend to get quite congested if I ignore them for too long, although recently I've been making an effort to double cleanse at night using a cleanser and muslin cloth. Once or twice a week I like to use a face mask as well to give my skin a deep clean, and this one is great at making my skin feel much smoother and soothed. 

The mask is described as being 'suitable for blemished skin' and claims to 'instantly cool and lift away impurities'. I apply it over my t-zone and it has a wonderful immediate cooling effect that calms down sore spots and blemished areas. It feels particularly soothing on my chin, the area I struggle with the most, and it really helps to calm down redness. I leave it on for ten minutes while it tingles away pleasantly. It doesn't harden so it's easy to remove; I usually use a warm muslin cloth to take it off gently before splashing my face with lukewarm water. 

It smells strongly of tea tree which I really like as it's such a refreshing scent. It has quite a thick consistency and smooths onto the skin easily, and a little goes a long way meaning the 100ml tub should last a good few months. It retails for £10 which I think is reasonable considering its effects and how long it's likely to last. I've used it about five times now and there's still lots left, as you can see in the picture above. After rinsing my skin feels softer and less inflamed, and any spots seem far less prominent. It doesn't dry out my skin which is a huge plus although I do apply a light cream afterwards. I haven't really noticed a reduction in existing blackheads but it does seem to keep potential cystic spots at bay, settling down any new ones fast. My skin feels soothed, less rough and less inflamed, which is what I look for in a face mask, and so I'll be continuing to use it regularly twice a week as part of my skincare routine. Even if I do end up looking like an ogre..! 

Weekend bargain: The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream

While having a browse in The Body Shop recently I noticed that their Vitamin E Moisture Cream was on sale at 50% off, for £4.50 (50ml); so naturally I couldn't resist checking it out. 


I used to use the Vitamin E range when I was younger but for some reason haven't tried any Body Shop face products in a while. What first appealed to me about the Moisture Cream was the smell, which is slightly floral and gentle; the light pink colour of the cream and the light pink packaging; and the light texture of the cream, which is almost more like a lotion in terms of consistency.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream 

After cleansing I applied the cream, and I realised instantly that a little goes a long way, which is brilliant- a small dot of cream spreads easily and absorbs quickly. At first touch it feels, as I've said, more like a lotion, but once massaged into the skin it feels more nourishing than I thought it would be.  


It sinks in easily, meaning I was able to apply make-up on top pretty soon after application. I think my skin needs a slightly richer cream sometimes; luckily, there is also a Vitamin E night cream in the range which I tested while in The Body Shop, and which has a thicker, balmier consistency which I'm keen to try out. 


Overall, a good bargain buy at £4.50 on sale, with a lovely smell, light easily absorbed texture and pretty pink packaging.


Until my next Body Shop spree! 


The Body Shop 50% off Vitamin E Moisture Cream, usually £9 (limited time only)

Chocoholics unite! The Body Shop Chocomania range: shower cream, body scrub, body butter & lip butter

This post should come with a warning: the following products, on purchase, may cause you to drool/want to lick yourself. Therefore I suggest having a chocolate bar close at hand when bathing with The Body Shop's new Chocomania range, in order to alleviate such cravings. Trust me, you'll need it! (Just so you know, the bottles come with a warning sign: unfit for consumption. So as much as you might want to consume them, don't!)

If you're a chocolate fan you'll most definitely appreciate the scent of Chocomania shower cream, body scrub, body butter and lip butter. Unlike some chocolate scented products produced by other brands, these actually smell like chocolate. Real, creamy, cocoa-y, buttery chocolate. Mmm. There's no other way to explain it; sweet, sugary but not sickly, warm and luxurious.

Chocomania Shower Cream 

I bought the products this morning and decided to test them out this evening. First up, the shower cream. Now don't be alarmed at the brown colour. Yes, it may seem a little bit strange at first but the smell more than makes up for the colour, especially as it really does seem as if you're bathing in chocolate sauce (in a very good way!) It lathers up excellently and has a gorgeous creamy texture. Did I mention the smell?!

I then opened the body scrub, which at first glance might also be said to look a little strange; dark brown, the colour of a baked chocolate brownie. But, oh, the smell! This is the product that smells the most authentically like a real bar of chocolate, so much so that I really did want to lick my arm and see if it tasted as good as I thought it might (I didn't though, hence the handy chocolate bar I nibbled on post-bath!)

Chocomania Body Scrub 

The scrub has a thick, gooey texture and rubs in easily, with a mixture of small and large buffers that really help slough away dead skin. It worked a treat at smoothing the tops of my arms and my sad winter feet.  

To finish I used the body butter. I've tried lots of Body Shop body butters in the past, including coconut, mango and olive, and they've all been great quality. This didn't let me down. Thick, with a balm-like texture which melts on contact with the skin, it sinks in quickly and leaves behind that scrumptious chocolate scent. It feels indulgent, a sophisticated chocolate body product rather than the cheaper ones you see on the high street. It's worth the investment if you're a die-hard chocoholic like me. 

And I just couldn't resist the matching lip butter, which shares that same delicious scent. It has a creamy texture and feels moisturising; and as it's applied to the mouth I think I can get away with giving it a few licks without anyone thinking I'm truly bonkers. Mmm. 

Chocomania lip butter 

Chocoholics unite and let me know what you think of the Chocomania range! 

Chocomania Body Scrub & Body Butter (200ml each)on offer 2 for £15 at The Body Shop (24/2/2012)

Shower Cream £4 (250ml)

Lip Butter £4 (10ml)

The Body Shop Chocomania full product range