If you have any one essential oil in your medicine cabinet, it’s probably tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia). It may not be hip or new, but there’s a reason you see tea tree everywhere in the green beauty world: it works. Like, really works. Tea tree oil has documented antibacterial[1], antifungal,[2] and antiviral[3] properties, making it a really effective antiseptic.[4] It’s fantastic for acne: it’s as as effective as benzyl peroxide, but with fewer side effects.[5] It’s also one of the only essential oils you can apply directly to the skin (but do so carefully, as it can be drying. Which is sort of what you want on a new pimple, right?).  We love it both as a pimple spot treatment and in lower concentrations as a general antiseptic.

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Flower Child Facial Toner

Citations

[1] Harkenthal, M., et al. "Comparative study on the in vitro antibacterial activity of Australian tea tree oil, cajuput oil, niaouli oil, manuka oil, kanuka oil, and eucalyptus oil." Die Pharmazie 54.6 (1999): 460-463. http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/10399193

[2] K.A. Hammer  C.F. Carson  T.V. Riley. 2003. Antifungal activity of the components of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil. Journal of Applied Microbiology. Volume 95, Issue 4, October 2003. Pages 853-860. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2672.2003.02059.x

[3] Schnitzler, P., K. Schön, and J. Reichling. "Antiviral activity of Australian tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil against herpes simplex virus in cell culture." Die Pharmazie 56.4 (2001): 343-347.

http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/11338678

[4] S. D. Cox  C. M. Mann  J. L. Markham  H. C. Bell  J. E. Gustafson  J. R. Warmington S. G. Wyllie. 2000. The mode of antimicrobial action of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil). Journal of Applied Microbiology. Volume88, Issue1 January 2000. Pages 170-175. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2672.2000.00943.x

[5] Bassett IB, Pannowitz DL, Barnetson RS. A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne. The Medical Journal of Australia [01 Oct 1990, 153(8):455-458] http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/2145499