Tea Tree Oil in Skincare: What It Is and How to Use It Gently

Tea tree oil is one of the best-known botanical ingredients in skincare. You will find it in cleansers, gels, spot products and body washes. It is also an ingredient that is easy to overdo. Here is what tea tree oil is, how it shows up in skincare, and how to use it gently.

What is tea tree oil?

Tea tree oil is an essential oil steam-distilled from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a small tree native to Australia. It is a clear to pale-yellow liquid with a fresh, herbaceous, slightly camphor-like scent that most people recognise straight away.

Like other essential oils, tea tree oil is very concentrated. In skincare it is usually blended into a base, such as a gel, cleanser or cream, at a low level rather than applied on its own.

Why people like tea tree in skincare

Tea tree oil has long been used in skincare and is popular with people who prefer botanical ingredients. In everyday use, people reach for tea tree products because they:

• Leave skin feeling fresh and clean
• Have a distinctive, invigorating scent
• Fit easily into a simple routine, especially for skin that tends to feel oily or congested
• Pair well with other botanical oils such as eucalyptus

How your skin responds depends on the product as a whole: the base, the other ingredients and how much tea tree oil it contains. This is why the finished formula matters more than any single ingredient.

How to use tea tree oil gently

Do not apply undiluted oil straight to your skin

Neat essential oil is strong. Putting undiluted tea tree oil directly on your face is one of the most common ways people end up with dry, stinging or uncomfortable skin. It is easier to choose a ready-made product that already contains tea tree oil in a balanced formula.

Patch test first

Some people are sensitive to tea tree oil, as with any essential oil. Before using a new tea tree product on your face, apply a small amount to the inner forearm or the side of your neck for a few days. If you notice redness, itching, stinging that does not settle, or a rash, wash it off and stop using it.

Start slowly

Begin with once a day. If your skin feels comfortable after a week or so, you can follow the product directions, which may mean using it morning and night.

Keep it away from your eyes

Tea tree products are for external use only. Avoid the eye area and the inside of the nose and mouth, and rinse with plenty of water if you get any in your eyes.

Store pure oil properly

If you keep a bottle of pure tea tree oil at home, close the cap tightly and store it somewhere cool and dark. Essential oils change as they age and are exposed to air and light, and older, oxidised oil is more likely to bother skin. If a bottle smells off or has been open for a long time, replace it.

Where tea tree fits in a simple routine

1. Cleanse with a mild cleanser and lukewarm water, then pat dry.
2. Apply a thin layer of your tea tree product to clean, dry skin.
3. Moisturise if your skin feels tight, especially in dry weather.
4. Protect with a broad-spectrum sunscreen in the morning.

Avoid stacking several strong products at once, such as a tea tree product, an exfoliating acid and a retinoid. Introduce one new product at a time so you can tell how your skin is responding.

Tea tree in SKLEER

Tea tree oil is one of the botanical oils in our SKLEER Natural Skin Restoration Gel. The full ingredient list is water, eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, turmeric extract, cardamom oil, caraway oil, cinnamon bark oil, glycerine, carbomer, 2-phenoxyethanol and sorbitan monooctanoate. The gel absorbs quickly, leaves no greasy or sticky residue, and is made without parabens. Apply a thin layer to clean skin and massage in gently, keeping it away from the eyes.

Because the gel combines several essential oils, the patch-test advice above applies to it too.

When to talk to a professional

If your skin concern is persistent, painful, spreading or getting worse, or if a product leaves your skin uncomfortable, see a dermatologist or talk to your doctor. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are thinking about using any essential oil product on a young child, ask your doctor or pharmacist first.

FAQ

Can I put pure tea tree oil on my face?

It is best not to apply undiluted tea tree oil directly to your face. Choose a finished product that already contains it in a balanced formula, and patch test first.

Can I use tea tree skincare every day?

Many people do, once they know their skin is comfortable with it. Start with once a day, then follow the product directions if all is well.

Why does my tea tree product smell so strong?

Tea tree oil has a naturally strong, fresh scent, and products that combine it with other essential oils such as eucalyptus will smell noticeably botanical. The scent usually fades as the product absorbs.

Shop the routine: SKLEER Gel 30ml and the 75ml 2-pack.

Try tea tree the easy way

Skip the guesswork of mixing your own. Shop SKLEER Natural Skin Restoration Gel, a lightweight, non-greasy gel with tea tree, eucalyptus and turmeric. If you want a gel made for oily-feeling areas, SKLEER Active Gel also lists tea tree oil and turmeric extract.