Product Review: Cure Natural Aqua Gel

I'm probably on a never-ending quest to prevent acne, because even when my age is almost out of the calendar, I still get cystic pimples and white heads at least every month. Last week, I came across Cure when someone posted about it on Facebook. I did my research and came across reviews and the official Facebook page of the product so I can learn more about it. Eventually, I was enticed to buy the product and try it. 

Cure Natural Aqua Gel is a skincare product with activated hydrogen water that can remove dead skin cells. Marketing and promotional materials about this product claim it as the number 1 skin exfoliator in Japan. Most reviews and articles that I've read about Cure said that it's good to use if you have acne, which made me more curious about its effectiveness. 

Cure is sold in the Philippines at The Beauty Bar, in a 250g bottle with a surprisingly hefty price tag of Php1,500. However, don't worry because I think you'll really be getting your money's worth.

I bought Cure Natural Aqua Gel at The Beauty Bar in Gateway, Cubao last Friday and that night, I included it in my skincare regimen. The instructions on the bottle are in Japanese. 

But before you panic, the plastic wrapping around the bottle from the time of purchase has everything you need to know about Cure in English:

As you can see, Cure is said to be gentle and suitable for all skin types. You can use it after cleansing your face by pumping a small amount on your palm and then spreading it on your face in a circular or massaging motion for 30 seconds to a minute. When I tried it, it actually worked. It's like rubbing water on your face, except it exfoliates. I have exfoliated two nights prior to trying Cure Natural Aqua Gel for the first time, so I think that's the reason why there were only few dead skin cells that were removed from my face. At that time, I had five ginormous zits, including two cystic pimples on my face. Now here's what really amazed me: the next day, the zits shrank, and by Sunday, they were gone.

My skin appeared clearer, too, like Cure Natural Aqua Gel gave it a more attractive glow, possibly because of its effective exfoliating action. I like that it doesn't feel abrasive when you're rubbing Cure on your face, unlike other exfoliants that I've used.

Before I used Cure, it had a clip-like thing on the pump:

It's easy to remove and re-attach, making it convenient to bring Cure with you while you're on-the-go or if you'll be traveling without risking spillage or accidental pumping of the gel during transport.

Cure Natural Aqua Gel exceeded my expectations and I think it's really worth the money. The fairly large bottle looks like it can last for many months if you follow the recommended frequency of usage, which is twice a week. You can also use Cure to exfoliate your arms and your back. I already tried it on my back, and I can say that it is more effective than other exfoliants that I've used (i.e. Lulur). I'd say give it a try if you want to have better or clearer skin.

Tea Tree Oil - Best Pimple Remedy

Tea tree oil is one of the best pimple remedies I've ever tried. In fact, I have been using it to treat pimples ever since one of my uncles gave me a small bottle of tea tree oil when he came home from Australia. That was in the early 2000s.

I managed to consume up to 3 bottles of pure tea tree oil. I do not remember the brand anymore, but it had a yellow label on a very dark brown bottle, and there's a tree on it. It performed really well in getting rid of nasty pimples, especially the cystic and pus-filled ones. However, my supply of tea tree oil from Australia eventually ran out, making me rely solely on Panoxyl's Benzoyl Peroxide.

Last December, I had another case of the darn cystic pimple on the chin, which was really an eyesore because it wouldn't go away. Fortunately, while doing one of my many episodes of Christmas shopping in Trinoma, I entered The Body Shop and saw that they carried a line of products that have tea tree oil in them.

I ended up buying these two: 

They're quite pricey but really worth buying if you want a natural pimple remedy that works.

First, you wash your face with The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash. If you let the suds linger on your face, you'll have that nice cool feeling on your skin, which I liked especially during hot, humid days. After drying your skin, you can put The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil directly on the pimple and let it dry.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash

The product claims that it "Lifts pore-clogging impurities and excess oil without over-drying skin. Breakouts are minimized with regular use."

The potent ingredients of The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash include tamaru, lemon tea tree, and Community Trade organic tea tree oil. For the eco-friendly, you'll love that it the ingredients are organically grown at the foot of Mount Kenya, so no harmful pesticides and chemicals were used.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil

The product contains 15% Tea Tree Oil, which you apply directly to affected areas. It usually takes at least 3 days before you notice that large pimple shrinking, and even ads/posters on The Body Shop's stores say that. However, based on experience, it can work overnight especially if you applied it on a pimple that is just starting to grow or come out.

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil is in a tamper-proof bottle. To open it, you have to press down on the cap and then twist to open. Even the nozzle where the oil comes out requires effort from the user when you are trying to pour or shake the oil onto your finger. Just shake carefully and keep your finger capped on the nozzle while shaking the bottle until oil comes out, so you lessen spills.

But because it is oil, I do not use it during the daytime unless I don't have to leave the house. I never use it before applying makeup. Instead, I use PanOxyl Benzoyl Peroxide Acnegel. I do use The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil at night whenever I have a pimple or unwanted blemishes, or whenever I sense that a pimple is starting to grow.