Review: The Body Shop Relaxing Lavender shower gel

I don’t shop much at The Body Shop. There are only a few things I like from there - the Tea Tree Oil face wash is fast becoming a necessity - and this shower gel is one of them.

The Lavender Body Wash by The Body Shop is one of the nicer lavender based body washes or shower gels I’ve tried.

I like the smell of lavender. It relaxes me especially if I’ve had a long day at work. So, having a nice lavender infused shower gel is really useful. The smell of lavender in this body wash from The Body Shop is strong and smells pure not powdery. I realised that pure lavender oil has a sharp but soothing smell, after purchasing a bottle of pure lavender essential oil from Australia once. It told me that those powdery smells I’d been smelling before weren’t quite 100% essential oil as claimed. Continue Reading >> Review: The Body Shop Relaxing Lavender shower gel

Review: Skincare: The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Facial Wash

During the last Body Shop sale, I picked up the Tea Tree Oil Facial Wash for a song. I’d used the Tea Tree Oil before, but never the facial wash.

It lay forgotten in my stash until a week ago when my usual cleanser had run out. So, I thought to give it a shot.

It comes in a recyclable bottle and is of a gel texture which has a green tint to it. The smell is the sharp smell of tea tree oil which is very distinctive. Some people don’t like it, but I don’t mind it.

The thing about this is that it lathers up very easily. So easily in fact that there is a tendency to over pour the gel into your palm. However, as it comes in a plastic bottle with a flip top cap and a small hole in the cap, its relatively easy to control the outflow.

Tea Tree oil works great to treat pimples and spots and is supposed to have antibacterial properties. That is good news because I’m presently nursing a bit of a breakout and as it doesn’t seem to be getting worse, maybe this cleanser is helping control it.

It seems to clean well but I only use it in the morning so there isn’t very much dirt on my face to measure its cleansing properties by. My face does not feel tight after cleansing which is good news.

I cannot remember the actual price, sorry. It might be RM25 or so for 250 ml. As you don’t use very much at all, I think its decently priced as it feels more gentle on the skin than cream cleansers do.

Pros: Fresh scent, light texture, lathers easily, good for problem skin

Cons: Might be considered pricey for some

Rating:

Essential Oils: Lavender oil

I’d been having trouble sleeping lately. I’m not quite sure why, but I don’t seem to be getting a good night’s sleep as I should, which is affecting my mood in the day, and productivity at work.

After 2 weeks of looking like a panda, with dark circles under my eyes, I was ready to throw in the towel. Then, I remembered something I used to do to help me sleep.

I’d burn some lavender oil in an aromatherapy pot. The smell of lavender relaxes me, and in time, I’m just slumbering, as I ought. It works a treat!

Lavender Oil is distilled from the lavender flower, and the musky smell is rather distinct. Some people call it the old lady smell as they associate it with little old ladies who use it liberally. It promotes relaxation, which is why you’ll see it as an ingredient in any massage oil or shower gel or anything at all that is supposed to relax your mind and body. Lavender oil can also be used to cure itches and insect bites and is one of the few essential oils that can be used directly on the skin without serious side effects.

The true essential oil is expensive, but it is usually very concentrated unlike cheaper versions that are mixed with carrier oils. I bought a bottle of essential from Australia many years ago, and its still serving me well after all these years.

All I do is drop 3-5 drops of lavender essential oil into some water in the aromatherapy pot and sit back and relax as the scent wafts around the room. Be careful though, and never leave a burning candle unattended.

Note: I’m not an expert. If in doubt, please conduct your own research for known side effects before using.

technorati tags: Lavender oil, essential oils, aromatherapy