Tea Tree Therapy's Antiseptic Solution with Tea Tree Oil and Lavender

Tea Tree Therapy Antiseptic Solution can be used as an all over body toner and provides soothing relief to minor skin irritations. Its natural antiseptics properties and in relieving minor infections.

Moisten a cotton cloth, gently apply to face and neck. May be used as a nail soak by adding 3 drops of pure Tea Tree Oil to 1 oz. Antiseptic Solution. Soak for 1-2 minutes. Avoid contact with the eyes.

My Skin Type: Combination skin.

Product Description: This is a very light toner/astringent; like any toners, it comes out thinly, almost like water, but has a very refreshing feel on the face. Smells kind of strong, but not unpleasantly so.

Results: Seems effective in helping the face stay clean, but does not really shrink pores (which I have a huge problem with). It easily dries out the face, which wasn't good either. I liked the feel and smell of it though, so I'd still recommend it!

What I Did: Always works best if you dribble a little on after cleansing. I focused most of it on my oily areas, like the T-zone, chin, forehead, and I don't put any of it on my cheeks because they tend to be dry. Rub moisturizer on after applying!

Doctor Li's Deep Pore Refining Milk Cleanser

[The description is entirely in Chinese, and I couldn't find it online, so I translated this with my limited knowledge of Chinese myself.]

Cleanses deeply and cures skin problems, the product is able to scrub off old dead cells, and helps clear acne and blackheads, your skin will feel silkier.

Once you have wetted your face, take the amount you need and gently rub in circular motions (avoid eye area and other weaker spots), focusing on the nose and the areas where the blackheads are most noticeable. Use water to rinse clean. Use product 2-3 times if acne is severe.

My Skin Type: Combination skin.

Product Description: The word "milk" is a misrepresentation. Though product is white, it isn't creamy and slick; it acts more of a scrub, with beads in there. Not an appealing smell, but not strong either - smells a little like rice, actually.

Results: I couldn't tell if I was satisfied with this product or not. It's really a very gentle cleanser - probably good for sensitive skin. The week I used it, I was breaking out a lot due to stress, and the product didn't really help my acne. I'm pretty sure it cleaned my skin, but it really didn't seem to refine my pores either - they stayed the same size. Also, there was the fact that while the brand isn't really unknown, this product was - I bought it in a supermarket in Shenzhen, China. Maybe there was a reason it's not popular. I don't think it's very good for acne-prone skin.

What I Did: I used this cleanser twice everyday, once in the morning, once at night. I rubbed the grains thoroughly over my face, massaging them in.

Mandom Grapefruit Facial Wash

Mandom Grapefruit Facial Wash is a light lemon color facial cleanser that contains Grapefruit Extract and Scrubs.

Contains natural grapefruit extracts that is able to remove oil from skin. Scrub type that is able to remove sebum deep inside pores. Refreshing with fruity fragrance. Contains high vitamin C and fruit acid for skin balancing.

Apply on face and massage gently, avoiding contact with eyes. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm or tap water.

My Skin Type: Combination of oily and dry.

Product Description: Comes out a light green/yellow color. Has a very strong smell, not necessarily unpleasant though. Not exactly a fruity smell either, more minty than anything. Inside substance are small grains. Smooth texture aside from grains.

Results: I am satisfied with this facial cleanser! It stings your entire face a little the first time you put it on, but it's more of a strong tingling feeling than actual pain, and it fades away very quickly, leaving only a refreshing feeling behind. I later found out that this is a product for men's skin, which would explain the sting, but since I can't read Japanese and I hadn't known that earlier and it still worked well, I decided to still go on using it anyway. It really does help with acne, I think. Might leave skin feeling a little tight and dry, but still does the job!

What I Did: There is no need to put a lot in your palms at once - in fact, you'd probably regret that, seeing as it stings if you put a lot on at once. Just a small dime-sized glob is good enough. And I also massaged it in, to get the product to really do its work. Wash it off quickly, and the stinging should fade quickly.

Apothary's Firm Deal Face & Body Mask with Clarifying Clay & Firming Copper

Smooth thin layer over face and body, allow 15 minutes to dry, then rinse.

^Boy, these are some descriptions, huh? How do they get people to buy their products? My mother just bought this because it was on sale in our local supermarket...

My Skin Type: Combination-oily-dry, weird.

Product Description: Exactly as it looks, it is indeed clay, and thick at that. It's not uncomfortable as it dries, and it doesn't dry as tightly as some other masks I've used before. I don't like the smell however; it seems like they added some unnaturally sweet fragrance, and it just seems to contrast with the whole clay texture. I also don't like the smell of vanilla or chocolate, and it smelled kind of like a desert.


Results: No difference that I could see. I hardly even felt any cleaner, to be honest. It didn't have any negative side effects either, but I was a little disappointed because it felt as if I had just scrubbed myself with regular hotel soap. My skin wasn't shining any more than usual, nor was it any softer. Well, the product label didn't guarantee anything or even describe how your skin should feel afterward, so I guess this product wasn't misrepresented. Overall, I don't recommend it - a waste of time and money.

What I Did: Exactly what the instructions said. Yep, I put a layer over my body as well, just because there was so much of the product.

Naive's Pomegranate Facial Cleansing Foam

The power of botanical essence can transform your skin into the condition you ever wanted. Made of 100% botanical soap base and Glycosyl Trehalose BP for moisturizing. Removes dirt and grease from pores, leaving skin smooth and silky.

Botanical extract and elastic lather bring out the power of skin and lead your skin moist and firm. Contains Pomegranate extract for moisture. Light pomegranate scent.

Apply a small amount to dampened skin and gently massage. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

My Skin Type: Combination skin; oily around t-zone and chin but dry on cheeks.

Product Description: White, gets foamy the more you rub it on. Very nice-smelling; makes your whole face smell like fruit! Also very smooth, no grains in it.

Results: This is my favorite facial product so far; it is absolutely amazing. The smell was what first attracted me, but the first time I tried it, my skin felt so soft and silky, and the product did not dry out my skin either - in fact, it gave all the results that it guaranteed. I brought this product on a trip, and all my friends borrowed it and have since bought their own as well. I have personally also tried Peach, and while it also has a lovely scent, I believe that Pomegranate's smell is more prominent. They all work around the same level though, so I would definitely recommend it!

What I Did: The instructions are fairly straightforward; just put a small amount and massage. There is no need to apply pressure. However, the first time I tried it, I put on a huge glob and realized that it really wasn't necessary. In fact, just a small dot is enough for the entire face. The substance foams as you rub it in, so it disperses quickly. Dime-sized is more than enough.

Ayur's Shahi Ubtan Face Pack

It has been an Indian tradition since centuries to use uptan to nourish skin. Ayur Herbal puts together all the essential naturally rich products and created an uptan which increases the softness and suppleness of the face.

Take two tea spoonfuls of uptan and make a paste mixed with milk or "Ayur" rose water. Apply a thick layer of this uptan on the face and let it remain for 20 minutes. When dry rub it off the face.

Continuous use of this uptan not only makes you beautiful but also helps in removing superfluous hair from the face and body.

My Skin Type: Dry on the cheeks, but can get oily around the nose, chin, and forehead.

Product Description: Just a beige-colored powder. When mixed with milk however, purple beads start showing up, and they seemed to act as an exfoliater. Has a very distinctive herbal smell, but it doesn't cling on to the skin.

Results: I tried it once, and it was amazing! My skin did indeed feel softer, and it was moisturized in all the right places in just the right way. I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination or not, but my skin also seemed paler with a healthier glow. My pores were also significantly reduced - though that effect was only temporary, because by the end of the day, they were back to normal. Still, it was great.

What I Did:
I tried to follow the instructions as specifically as I could, seeing as this was truly an exotic product, but since they didn't specify the amount of milk, I think I put in too much. The "paste" was rather thin and runny, just like water with chunks of occasional mud in it, and I ended up dabbing it on my face rather than smearing. Even still, it worked amazingly well, and the thin paste dried up quickly and tightly anyway.

Several tips to avoid my mistakes:
1). Get your hair out of your face! I accidentally rubbed it into a few pieces of front hair, and they ended up drying uncomfortably. It's not damaging if you wash it off, but it will feel funny.
2). Do not dab/rub/smear around your eyes. It's going to be like a scrub, and you don't want to get chunks in your eyes!
3). When you rub it off, don't use water - it will be harder to get off that way. Just rub as well as you can at first, and then if you really can't get certain areas off, wash over them. Then wash over your entire face to make sure no more bits of the facial mask are remaining.

According to the package, if you use this product often, your skin will get much better - in that case, I'm going to keep using it and see what happens!

Paul Mitchell's Smoothing Style Straight Works

For all hair types. A lightweight straightening gel to help calm and relax naturally wavy and curly hair textures.

Rub a small amount into palm of hands, then apply to damp hair. Blow-dry to style.

My Hair Type: Feathery, naturally wavy-straight. I was hoping this product would get my hair to have less waves in the back and more pin-straight. I tried different variations on the instructions.

Product Description: Indeed a lightweight gel. Nothing too heavy; clear and a little thick at first, but once you rub it together in your hands and apply it, you can't feel much of it. No distinctive smell really.

Results: Not bad! My hair definitely felt softer and lighter, which was not what I was expecting, and I guess it was pretty straight too. My only objection was that my hair remained feathery sometimes and even got a little thicker, so I wouldn't recommend it for those with thick hair already! But you don't need a straightener once you use this, so that could be less damaging too.

^Without a straightener. Just apply the product and blowdry!

What I Did:

I followed the instructions. First, after taking a shower, I towel-dried my hair partially until it was just damp and not soaking wet. Then I rubbed a dime-size amount into the palm of my hands, and applied them only to the mid-length to ends of my hair. The remaining, I put on my bangs. Then I took a blowdryer and dried my hair the standard way.

But then I decided to try other ways to see which way the product would work better, and I can say this: the instructions, I believe, were not the best way to use the product. So here's what I came up with...

-The Best Method: Applying it in my hair (from ear-level down) while it was still wet, then brushing it out and letting it air-dry. I unexpectedly got no frizz, which was nice, and a really soft texture to it too! Warning: I didn't really move around while letting it dry though. That was probably a major factor.

-The Worst Method: That would have to be when I blow-dried my hair until it was about 75-90% dry, and then applying drops of the gel on places that could be more straight. Then I blow-dried it completely. At first, my hair seemed fine, but when I stepped out, it got a little... big. Meaning more feathery on the ends, more frizz on the top. Not good.

A Checklist

So this is my first post! :) I'm not really sure where I'm going to go with this, but I know I have fun buying any new, interesting things I find in a local supermarket, so I guess I just wanted to record my reactions to these products and how they work, etc.

So here's how this will work. I'm going to test each product out for about two weeks, and then I'll update how it was, answering the following questions:
-Did it fulfill its promised objective?
-Did it have any other side effects?
-Should you try it out?

Skin products I plan on experimenting:
-Kracie Naive's Pomegranate Facial Cleansing Foam (from Japan)
-Desert Essence's Gentle Stimulating Facial Scrub (from the United States)
-Tea Tree Therapy's Antiseptic Solution with Tea Tree Oil and Lavender (from the United States)
-Eskinol Naturals' Avocado Facial Cleanser (from the Philippines)
-Doctor Li's Deep Pore Refining Facial Cleanser (from China)
-Mentholatum Acnes U's Oil Free Moisturizer (from China)
-Mandom's Grapefruit Facial Wash (from Japan)

For my skin, my daily regime is simply to wash my face twice: once in the morning, before school (I take a shower) and again before I go to sleep - if it's a cleanser or a toner. If it's a moisturizer or a mask, I'll use it only once a day.

Now for hair products:
-Garnier Fructis' XXL Volume Root Booster (from the United States)
-istyle's "i want it smooth" Hot Iron Spray (from the United States)
-Paul Mitchell's Straight Works Smoothing Style (from the United States)
-Dep's Conditioning Hair Mask (from China)

I take a shower in the morning and will only apply hair products during school days, because I'm simply too lazy. But I'll record if my hair is of different texture, how long the product lasts throughout the day, etc.

I hope this works out! It's just a side project I'm doing for fun, really, but who knows - I may add on other things as I go along!