Breaking out is not fun, but it happens to all of us. Whether you experience the odd pimple, monthly hormonal breakouts (hi, that’s me) or regularly deal with acne, we’ve all been through break outs and we all know how frustrating it can be. For many years, I really didn’t think there was anything I could do with my pimples. They would show themselves, I’d squeeze and pick at them, they’d hang around, and then the red mark left behind would take ages to fade. When I was learning more about skincare and in particular Korean skincare, I realised that while I couldn’t prevent my hormonal breakouts, there were products I could use to soothe the skin, reduce the redness, and help heal more quickly. When I first tried Dr Ceuracle Tea Tree Purifine 95 Essence last year, it quickly made its way into my pimple fighting kit. Here’s my full review and experiences with this one-of-a-kind essence.
What is it?
The brand description of Tea Tree Purifine 95 Essence:
“A soothing facial essence containing 95% tea tree extract to calm and sooth blemish-prone skin”.
Dr Ceuracle deems the essence suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, and you get 50ml of product in the eye-catching green dropper glass bottle. Perfectly pretty for any skincare display! The essence particularly targets those who have oily skin and seek light but deep hydration; those with sensitive skin for soothing; and those who have skin irritation. Personally, I wanted to test this to target irritation and breakouts.
95% tea tree extract is a pretty standout percentage of ingredient, and it’s certainly the star ingredient here. Tea tree leaf extract is used globally for its anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also known for being antibacterial and antifungal, which is why its widely recommended for treating acne. I used tea tree oil on my acne as a teenager with some success, so when I first started using this product, I did have high hopes. It also contains an abundance of other hydrating and soothing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid. I was excited to get stuck into this one.
How do I use it?
The essence is easy to incorporate into a routine. Personally, I usually apply it after a hydrating toner. It’s lightweight enough to be used in both a morning and evening skincare routine. Sometimes I just pat it into troubled areas and sometimes I apply it to my whole face. If my skin is experiencing multiple breakouts and a lot of sensitivity, I actually apply several layers on my whole face, before moving straight on to a gentle moisturiser.
Although the brand suggests application with either hands or a cotton pad, I would not suggest using cotton pads to apply this essence- it will soak into the pads and waste product. It’s also less environmentally friendly. Instead I dispense the liquid into my hands and gently pat into my face. Just make sure your hands are clean..!
Texture? Scent?
The texture and scent are ideal for sensitive, inflamed skin. The consistency is that of a watery type serum. It spreads very smoothly on the skin and has no heaviness or greasiness to it. A little goes quite a long way which is helpful for product longevity.
The scent really stunned me. Remember this essence contains 95% tea tree extract and yet…no tea tree scent! I really couldn’t believe it. While I personally don’t mind the scent of tea tree, I know many skincare users enjoy a fragrance-free product, and this is it. Bonus, it also doesn’t have that chemical scent that fragrance-free products sometimes produce.
Performance
Over the past year of use, I’ve observed several key results on my skin when using this essence. The first is a general calming, and for me that’s key. When I’m breaking out, my skin can become hot, irritated, and just generally uncomfortable. This all also leads to dehydration of the skin too. The essence has a very soothing, calming effect on my skin immediately upon application. The liquid feels good on the skin, soothes, and helps bring down the irritation. It also provides a decent dose of hydration, although I do still layer with a hydrating toner and moisturiser.
The most notable effect, and the reason it became a holy grail product in my pimple fighting skincare line up, is the speed at which it helps pimples reduce in size and redness. When I use this consistently during a breakout, my breakout always appears less angry and the pimples disappear much more quickly. It has made a significance difference and I haven’t found too many products that can achieve this. It also doesn’t exacerbate a breakout- there is no stinging or irritation whatsoever for my skin when I apply this.
Takeaway
The Tea Tree Purifine 95 Essence is a gem of a product! While the bottle looks very pretty on my vanity, it’s certainly not the product aesthetic that keeps bringing me back to it- it’s the results I experience. I always have the essence on hand to target pimples, but it makes a lovely daily product even if I’m not experiencing a breakout. It’s soothing, hydrating, and I’m able to use it both morning and night, so it’s an easy product to incorporate into my routine. I’ll always have a bottle of this star find in my stash!
Katherine Spowart from www.skinfullofseoul.com