Ingredient guide
Tea tree oil
A plant oil long used in cleansers made for oily skin.
On ingredient lists: Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Tea Tree Oil
In: Acne Ease Facewash, Acne Ease Soap
What Is Tea tree oil?
Tea tree oil is an essential oil taken from the leaves of the Australian tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia. On ingredient lists it can appear as "Tea Tree Oil" or by its plant name, "Melaleuca Alternifolia".
It has a fresh, slightly medicinal smell, and it has been part of face washes and soaps for oily skin for a long time.
What It Does in Skin and Hair Care
In a face wash or soap, tea tree oil is used for oily and acne-prone skin. It gives the cleanser a fresh, clean feel, and many people with oily skin like how their face feels after washing with it.
In a rinse-off product it is on the skin for a short time and then washed away, which is a gentle way to use it every day.
How to Use Products With It
- Wet your face with lukewarm water, lather a small amount and massage for about 30 seconds.
- Rinse well and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Use morning and night. Washing more often than that usually leaves skin feeling tight, not cleaner.
- Follow with a light moisturiser, even if your skin is oily.
Tips and Cautions
- Never put pure tea tree oil straight on your skin. The amount in a cleanser is very different from a bottle of essential oil.
- Keep it away from your eyes. If lather gets in, rinse with plenty of water.
- Patch test first: put a little on the inside of your arm for a day or two before using it on your face or body.
Questions
- Can I use a tea tree face wash every day?
- Yes, a rinse-off tea tree cleanser is made for daily use, usually morning and night. If your skin starts to feel tight or dry, wash once a day and add a moisturiser.
- Is tea tree oil good for dry skin?
- Tea tree cleansers are made mainly for oily and acne-prone skin. If your skin is dry, a creamy or moisturising cleanser will usually feel more comfortable.
- Which Cosmevo products have tea tree oil?
- The products listed on this page, worked out from the ingredient lists printed on our boxes.
This page describes how tea tree oil is used in cosmetics. It is not medical advice. For a skin or scalp problem that is painful, spreading or does not settle, please see a doctor.
