How To Use Tea Tree Oil for Acne – 5 Amazing Ways

Tea tree essential oil is held in high esteem when it comes to healing acne prone skin. We shall explore how to use tea tree oil for acne in 5 easy and effective ways!  

Native to Australia, tea tree leaves were crushed and used as a medicine by the Aboriginals. Ever since it was a mandatory ingredient in first aid kits of World War II Soldiers, tea tree oil is referred to as a full medicine cabinet in a bottle.

For skin care, tea tree is a powerful disinfectant which wipes out bacteria, fungi and germs lingering on the skin. That’s why it’s very good for fighting acne – it kills acne-causing bacteria which irritates skin and causes more pimples to form. 

Research Showing that Tea Tree Oil is Effective for Acne 

• According to a study published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venerology and Leprology in 2007, 60 participants with mild to moderate acne where treated with either a gel containing 5% tea tree oil or a placebo for 45 days. Results showed that tea tree oil was more effective than the placebo in reducing the severity of acne as well as the total number of acne lesions on the skin.

• Another earlier study discovered that both 5% tea-tree oil and 5% benzoyl peroxide had a significant effect in improving the patients’ acne by reducing the number of inflamed and non-inflamed lesions (open and closed comedones). Even though benzoyl peroxide may be a faster treatment than the natural remedy of tea tree, fewer side were experienced by patients treated with tea-tree oil.

How To Use Tea Tree Oil For Acne

1. Effective Tea Tree Oil Spot Treatment

Tea tree oil is one of the few essential oils that can be used directly on a small part of the skin without diluting it first. 

You can put a drop of tea tree essential oil (where to get it) on a Q-tip, cotton ball or even clean finger-tip and dab on your blemishes. 

Apply it after cleansing, drying, toning and moisturizing your face. It’s best done at night time though you can do a spot treatment twice a day after washing your face. 

2. Purifying Tea Tree Oil Face Wash

Another way to get the benefits of tea tree oil for acne is by incorporating tea tree oil into your face wash – simply add 5-10 dorps into 8 oz of face wash and shake well before use. 

Alternatively, try your hand at making a DIY cleansing and purifying tea tree oil face wash.

Here’s what you need:

What you need

Directions

1. Begin by pouring the distilled water, liquid castile soap and jojoba oil into a Pyrex measuring cup. Mix well with a small whisk.
2. Next add 10 drops of tea tree essential oil and whisk again until well combined. 
3. Carefully pour your DIY tea tree oil face wash into a soap dispenser bottle.
4. To use, press two pumps of the face wash onto clean palms, rub them together to form a lather and gently rub on to your wet face with your eyes shut. 
5. Rinse with warm water and then splash your face with cold water. 
6. Pat dry with soft towel then apply toner and moisturizer. See: DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Toner and Homemade Hemp Seed Oil Face Cream
7. Use twice a day.

3. Tea Tree Oil Face Mask for Acne 

Face masks come in handy when trying to deep clean acne prone skin and also calming down angry red acne. Tea tree oil is a wonderful ingredient in face masks designed to treat acne. Check out this DIY tea tree oil face mask for acne: 

What you need

*you need to use a non-metal mixing bowl and spoon because metal reacts with the ions in clay and neutralizes them which makes the clay ineffective. Use plastic, ceramic, glass or silicone.

• 1 tablespoon of bentonite clay (where to get it)
• ½ to 1 tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar (where to get it)
• 1 teaspoon of raw honey (where to get it)
• 1-2 drops of tea tree essential oil (where to get it)
• Small non-metal mixing bowl and spoon (where to get it)

Directions 

1. In a small mixing bowl, dump in 1 tablespoon of bentonite clay then add ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and mix till you get a smooth paste. Now add 1 teaspoon of organic honey and 1-2 drops of tea tree essential oil. Mix well with a spoon.
2. Apply using clean fingertips on your clean and dry face. 
3. Let it sit for 10 minutes then rinse off with warm water. 
4. When every bit of the mask is rinsed, splash your face with cold water.
5. Pat dry, tone and moisturize your face. 
6. Repeat once a week.

4. Tea Tree Oil Acne Serum

A tea tree oil acne serum is a potent treatment for healing acne of all sizes and causes. It helps dry up acne by sucking up extra oils on the skin, disinfect pores, kill acne-causing bacteria and prevent further pimples from popping up. 

This tea tree oil acne serum contains argan oil, a light non-pore clogging oil suitable for acne, rosehip seed oil which helps fade away existing acne scars and black seed oil, known to deeply nourish skin and repair discoloration. 

What you need

• 1 tbsp argan oil (where to get it)
• 1 tbsp rosehip seed oil (where to get it) 
• ½ tbsp black seed oil (where to get it)
• 15 drops tea tree essential oil (where to get it)
• Small funnel (where to get it)
• 2 oz amber glass dropper bottle (where to get it)

Directions 

1. Using a small funnel, pour 1 tablespoon each of argan oil and rosehip seed oil. Next, pour ½ tablespoon of black seed oil. 
2. Finally, carefully add 15 measured drops of tea tree essential oil. 
3. Seal the amber dropper bottle and tilt it up and down to combine all ingredients without creating air bubbles. Air bubbles make the serum oxidize faster by creating pockets of oxygen. 
4. To use, place 3 drops on your face then gently rub in the serum. You can use this under moisturizer, right after toning. 
5. Use twice a day or just once at night time before bed. 

5. Tea Tree Oil Face Cream 

Another great tip on how to use tea tree oil for acne is making a tea tree oil face cream. You can whip one up in a jiffy and it won’t be greasy and weigh heavy your skin. That’s because we shall be using water-based ingredients including rose water. 

This tea tree oil face cream also contains shea butter, a plant butter that is known to support acne prone skin with its comedogenic (pore clogging) rating of zero.

Other ingredients include non-pore clogging hemp seed oil which is perfect for acne and lavender essential oil which soothes inflamed acne.

We shall also be using the aid of emulsifying wax NF which helps combine all ingredients together, and liquid germall plus, a preservative to preserve this homemade product.

What you need

• 1 cup 100% pure organic rose water (where to get it)
• ¼ cup hemp seed oil (where to get it)
• ¼ cup of shea butter (where to get it)
• 20 drops of tea tree essential oil (where to get it)
• 15 drops of lavender essential oil (where to get it)
• 1 tablespoon of emulsifying wax NF (where to get it)
• ¼ teaspoon of liquid germall plus *preservative (where to get it)
• 2 heat-resistant Pyrex measuring cups (where to get it)
• Wide flat bottomed pan (where to get it)
• Immersion blender (where to get it) 
• Airtight glass container for storage (where to get it)

Directions  

1. The first step is adding an inch level of water in a wide flat bottomed pan. Simmer over medium low heat. 
2. Pour the water ingredient: rose water into a small heat resistant measuring cup and place the cup in the simmering water. 
3. In another heat-resistant glass measuring cup, add the oil ingredients: hemp seed oil, shea butter and emulsifying wax NF and place the cup in the simmering water as well. 
4. Heat both the parts for 20 – 30 minutes. Make sure that the shea butter and emulsifying wax NF melt thoroughly. 
5. When the time is up, gently pour the water ingredient into the oil ingredients. Turn off the heat and set the glass cup containing the combined ingredients on a dish towel on the counter to insulate. 
6. Using an immersion blender, blend the combined ingredients together. After 2 minutes of blending, leave the mixture to cool off for 10 minutes then come back and blend it again. 
7. Stop blending when the cream is only a little bit warmer than room temperature. 
8. Then add the liquid germall plus tea tree and lavender essential oils and mix everything together. 
9. Your DIY tea tree face cream is ready! 
10. Transfer it into a clean glass container and store in a cool dry and dark place. 
11. To use, scoop a small amount and rub on your clean face and neck. 
12. Use 1-2 times a day. 

Where to Get High Quality Tea Tree Oil For Acne

Edens Garden Tea Tree Essential Oil, 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade (Undiluted Natural/Homeopathic Aromatherapy Scented Essential Oil Singles) 10 ml

Take Care 

• Tea tree oil is an essential oil which means it is very concentrated. Do not use it on large areas of the skin without diluting it with a carrier oil such as jojoba oil or hemp seed oil before use. You can also dilute it in a heavy medium like aloe vera, face cream, honey, etc.

• Do a patch test on your inner elbow before using tea tree oil on your skin. This means dilute 2 drops of tea tree oil in 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil, say jojoba oil, then rub it on your inner elbow. Wait for 30-60 minutes. If you see no negative reaction within that time, then it’s a sign that tea tree oil is safe to use on your skin.

• Don’t use tea tree oil near your eyes. 

• Wash your hands well after handling tea tree oil as you may rub your eyes with the same hands. 

• Keep tea tree oil away from children and pets. 

I hope you learned how to use tea tree oil for acne in this article! I absolutely cannot wait for you to try these tea tree oil recipes for acne!