What do you do when a wild pimple appear a night before an important event?
My first response (after panicking) would be to reach for my trusted tea tree essential oil. Dab it before sleep, and I usually wake up with my pimple trouble controlled. However, I later learned that tea tree oil shouldn’t be used undiluted on skin too often (It could be irritating and sensitizing over time). Mixing my beloved tea tree oil with carrier oil or aloe vera is an extra step I am willing to go through, but sometimes I just want something simpler; a ready spot treatment without having to measure and mix.
Utama Spice Acne Treatment Oil to the rescue!
I am already a long time user of Utama Spice, a natural skin care brand from Bali. In fact, my trusted tea tree essential oil, which has saved me from untimely pimple attack countless times, also comes from Utama Spice. So, when Utama Spice asked me which of their product I want to try, this Acne Treatment Oil was my first pick.
I receive this product as a gift from the brand in exchange for honest review. This, however, do not influence my opinion in any way whatsoever. Please refer to my disclosure policy for details.
Ingredients
Utama Spice Acne Treatment Oil is a concoction of plant oils as follows :
Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) seed oil, Calophyllum inophyllum (Tamanu) Seed Oil, Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil, Pogostemon cablin (patchouli) leaf oil, Curcuma longa (turmeric) root oil, Lavendula angustifolia (lavender) oil, Melia azadirachta (neem) seed oil, Boswella serrata (frankincense) gum oil
The carrier oil used is Jojoba oil, which is moisturizing and has anti-inflammatory properties. Jojoba oil is also great for acne-prone skin, since it penetrates through hair follicles without blocking the follicles. Tamanu oil is also said to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, although this needs more research.
As you can see, tea tree oil is still featured quite high in the ingredient list. Tea tree oil is widely researched as a herbal alternative to acne treatments such as benzoyl peroxide. Tea tree oil is an antioxidant and has broad antimicrobial effect against bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoal infection on skin.
In addition to tea tree oil, Utama Spice Acne Treatment Oil also features patchouli oil, which according to Utama Spice’s Practical Guide to Aromatherapy & Essential Oils, patchouli is traditionally thought to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Turmeric and Neem oils are antioxidant. It is surprisingly hard to track literatures on the skincare benefit of topically applied lavender oil, though there are a lot of research on it as potential allergen. It is also the case with frankincense oil, although it comes with clearer warning : frankincense oil might induce skin sensitization if oxidized. It is nice that this acne treatment oil comes in an opaque bottle and minimal contact with air, but keep your bottle in cool place and away from direct sunlight, just in case.
I do not find preservatives (even vitamin E/tocopherol which is usually used as preservatives in ‘natural’ products) listed in the ingredients, so…probably one of the oils also acted as preservatives, considering some of them has antioxidant properties? I don’t know, I’m not an essential oil formulation expert. I would suggest to be more at the cautious side, and use it up quick.
Experience
I use this as spot treatment, putting it on trouble area as a last step in my night skincare routine. I put it liberally, lots of scrolls until I feel that the trouble area is well-covered.
I like the metal roll on. It did a great job applying the oil evenly. It is also more hygienic and the coolness of the metal is kinda soothing, reassuring me that tomorrow I would wake up pimple free. I am kinda tempted to roll it under my eye area because it feels so…nice (don’t). Functionally, the metal roll on also acts as a barrier for excessive contact between the product and outside air, which in turns delay oxidization of the oil.
The oil itself is light and absorbed quickly (I reckon it is because of the jojoba oil). However, the herbal and leaf-y strong is quite strong and it lingers long after the oil is absorbed. The patchouli and turmeric smell is especially…remarkable, at least to my nose. I personally love it (it smells like wellness to me LOL) but I can imagine some would not like it as much as I do.
Result
It is difficult to reach the near legendary status of the tea tree oil, but I can confidently say that this is close. An unrealized pimple under my skin reduced considerably in size after applying this acne treatment oil overnight. Sometimes it does not disappear completely, but the size is reduced enough to manage whatever left with dabs of concealer.
If you have tried spot-treatment with BHA (I am talking specifically of COSRX BHA Power Liquid, which remains a staple in my skincare routine), the result is similar on me. You might favor one product to another, but it is always nice to have an option.
Since during the period of usage I did not have pustules or ‘mature’ pimples, I cannot say how it would fare on that kind of pimple. However, on “unrealized” pimples, it is quite effective!
Verdict
Do I like this acne treatment oil? Yes, it is quite effective and do not cause any adverse effect on my skin. Would I repurchase? Yes, I don’t see why not.
Please note that your mileage may vary (YMMV). Patch test just to be sure. Please be careful if you have sensitive skin and/or have shown some adverse reaction to products containing one or more oils in the ingredient list. Also, keep your bottle in cool place and away from direct sunlight
If you decided that this product is for you, you can buy this acne treatment oil at :
Utama Spice products are also available in several physical stores, the complete list of which you can find in Utama Spice Store Locator.
At the time of the writing of this review, the acne treatment oil is available in a 10 ml bottle and retails for Rp 110.000
Have you tried Utama Spice Treatment Oil? Got recommendation of other spot treatment to control pimple trouble? Please do share below 🙂