DIY / Natural Beauty: Top 10 Ways to use Tea Tree Oil in your Beauty Routine

Tea Tree is certainly not my favourite essential oil scent wise, but it is my favourite oil to use on a regular basis because it can be applied in so many different ways.  Here are my top 10 ways to use it in your beauty routine.

Tea Tree Oil is derived by crushing or pulping the leaves of the Malaleuca Tree, and has been used for centuries by the Aborigines in Australia.  As with most natural methods, it only began to gain popular use by the Western mainstream world in the 1970s (perhaps due to the Hippie movements of the 60s, my mum was certainly a fan!).  Since then, you can now find Tea Tree Oil almost anywhere you would purchase beauty products, with the price varying depending upon brand name, production & farming methods, purity and company ethics.  The most common way to see it is in a 10ml glass bottle as a little goes a long way - I have a larger 20ml bottle pictured above as it was on sale in Holland and Barrett and I use it a lot, especially during the summer months.

Tea Tree Oil has a unique strong, fresh scent and is famed for its natural antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.  There are countless ways to use this wonderful oil but my top 10 are below!

1. For Acne & Blemishes - Dab a drop or two directly onto blemishes or acne breakouts with a clean finger.  Alternatively use a cotton wool tip.

2.  For Dandruff - Add a couple of drops to your normal shampoo, massage into the scalp and rinse. 

3.  Oily Skin Toner - Add 10 drops to a bottle of purified water and use as a facial toner to balance oily skin.

4.  Foot Scrub - Add a few drops to sugar and use as a refreshing foot scrub for smelly feet!

5.  Insect Repellant Spray - Add 15-20 drops to half a bottle (30ml or so) of water and spritz all over to keep bugs away.

6.  Makeup Brush Cleanser - Add a couple of drops to your normal makeup brush cleanser and it'll help to kill off any bacteria that may be lurking on your brushes. 

7.  Sunburn Soother - Create a soothing lotion by mixing 1-2 drops of Tea Tree Oil with 1-2 drops of Lavender Oil and a heaped teaspoon of Coconut Oil.  Apply generously to sunburnt areas.

8.  Blisters - Breaking in a new pair of shoes?  Apply a couple of drops to purified water and dab onto the blister gently.  Repeat every few hours until it goes down. 

9. Ingrown hairs - Massage 1-2 drops directly onto the area, repeat every few hours until the infection is gone.

10.  Cold Sores -  Apply via a cotton wool tip directly to the affected area, reapplying 2-3 times daily.  Do not get it in your mouth or swallow!

Do you use Tea Tree Oil?

If so, what do you use it for?

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Be safe! Tea Tree Oil is toxic if swallowed.  It can also cause skin irritation and contact dermatitis to those who are allergic or sensitive to it, so always do a tiny skin patch test first if you've never used it before.   Keep it out of reach of pets and small children.