Burt's Bees - Orange Essence Facial Cleanser

You may have seen my post yesterday bout Burt's Bees Citrus Facial Scrub (click here if you didn't) and how much I love it. I figured this would be along the same lines only without the exfoliating, because let's face it (pun only slightly intended), you can't exfoliate every single time you wash your face. Plus, a girl just needs variety.

Unfortunately I can't rave about this with quite the same enthusiasm as the Citrus Facial Scrub. It smells lovely, yes (though not quite as good, in my opinion) but it just doesn't quite measure up. I'm someone who hates the feeling of anything - particularly anything oily - coating my skin. I've gotten used to moisturizer, because I had to, but when I wash my face I want it to come away feeling refreshed, supple and above all, clean!

Though this did make my skin feel nice and smooth, it left an oily-feeling layer on my skin. Now, for many of you, this might not be a problem. For those with really dry skin, it might even be a plus. Just not for me. Sadly, I think this is one I'll be giving to a friend...

Ratings:
Packaging: 5/5
Product quality: 3.5/5
Worth the price? Not for me. 
Would I purchase again? No, I'm sticking with the Citrus Facial Scrub. **Update 2/6/11 - Until I have more information on whether this company can truly be called "cruelty-free" (see below) I will not be purchasing anything else from Burt's Bees.

Cruelty-Free? Appears on PETA's Cruelty-Free list, but is a subsidiary of Clorox, which appears on their list of companies that do test on animals. I am currently making enquiries as to how they can be on the cruelty-free list while their parent company is known to use animal testing.

Where to find it: Whole Foods. 

The Body Shop - Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash

I first started using The Body Shop's Tea Tree line in my teenage years to help with breakouts instead of harsh chemical options. I found the smell a little strange at first, but over time I got used to it and started to like it. My mother is an aromatherapist, so she recommended it, being familiar with the antiseptic and healing qualities of Tea Tree oil.

Now that I'm a little older (okay, a lot older) I don't have to worry about breakouts quite as much, but I do still have that wonderful hormonal week every month when the skin goes a little haywire - particularly if I'm under the weather. I always keep a little travel sized bottle of this cleanser around to use when I've got a couple of breakouts going on. I like that it makes my skin feel very refreshed and... well... clean without drying it out or making it feel like it's being pulled tight over my face. Give it a try if you have trouble with your complexion but want to stay away from harsh chemical ingredients!


Ratings:
Packaging: 5/5
Product quality: 5/5
Worth the price? I just get the travel size and it's only about $4 - and lasts me a few months at least!
Would I purchase again? Yes, over and over again! **Update 2/6/11 - Until I have more information on whether this company can truly be called "cruelty-free" (see below) I will not be purchasing anything else from The Body Shop.

Cruelty-Free? Appears on PETA's Cruelty-Free list, but is a subsidiary of L’Oréal. I am currently making enquiries as to how they can be on the cruelty-free list while their parent company is known to use animal testing.

Where to find it: The Body Shop in store or online.

LUSH - Fresh Farmacy

  

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I started using this when I was 18 and it was the first product I found that really helped to clear up my complexion while protecting my sensitive skin from drying out. It contains lavender which helps to balance sebum production in the skin (it's not like an astringent that removes oil altogether making the skin over-compensate, rather it balances the skin's natural oil production) and the calamine helps to soothe sensitive skin. This means that it's great for oily skin that is sensitive and/or acne prone as it will help reduce the look of any skin irritation.

Even cooler, as with many LUSH bars, you can purchase as much or as little as you want and it doesn't come in bulky, wasteful packaging - great for those of us who are conscious of the impact of overpackaging on the environment! The only down side for this is that because of the calamine, you really have to make sure you use a small amount of this at a time and store the piece you're using somewhere that it can dry out after use. Even better if you can use less water and form a paste with your fingers and apply that to avoid getting the entire bar wet. If you're not careful, it will eventually melt into a sludge if you keep it wet in a dish that can't drain excess moisture! For anyone who is acne prone with sensitive skin, this is worth a shot.

Ratings:
Packaging: 5/5
Product quality: 5/5
Worth the price? Definitely!
Would I purchase again? I don't really use this anymore as my skin has settled down some in my "old" age ;), but I wanted to review it as it worked wonders for me in my youth! I definitely did re-purchase back in the day.
Where to find it: LUSH in store and online.