Tea tree oil... What gives?!?😡

Jul 6, 2016

Dana E.

I have a huge huge pimple and read everywhere that tea tree oil is great and can help reduce swelling overnight.

I went to Ulta and bought the body shop tea tree oil and applied a little bit with a Q-tip after washing my face. I woke up and nothing happened!

Am I applying it wrong? Or what's up?!

Jul 6, 2016

Jamie D.

Hey Dana! Honestly, to me it sounds like you had unrealistic expectations. I personally find tea tree to be super effective at reducing swelling and inflammation, but it typically takes a few days at least! If I get "in front" of a zit - meaning I feel it coming but it hasn't fully grown yet, then I find that tea tree can knock it down overnight. But, if you already have one that's grown to its peak (which it sounds like you do) then I think you need to give it a few more days to calm it down.

That being said - I'm not a skincare expert, but it says online that denatured alcohol is the second ingredient in that oil. I personally would think that could potentially cause more irritation in your skin.

Jul 6, 2016

Dana E.

I didn't expect it to disappear overnight just reduce in the giant swelling a bit!

I only thought that because all the reviews I read on Ulta said how it worked overnight for them, blah blah blah. Bummer. 😶

If there is denatured alcohol in it, why do you still use it?

Jul 6, 2016

Jamie D.

I don't use that particular tea tree oil! You can buy 100% pure tea tree and then dilute it with an oil, which is something I'm looking into starting.

The tea tree treatment I use currently is the Lush Grease Lightening spot treatment. It's not perfect; it does have lavender oil as well as a bit of fragrance which can be irritants. I wasn't very into skincare when I purchased it, but since they're very low on the ingredients list and I haven't experienced any negative effects I'm going to continue using it until I run out. I'm trying to be better about what I put on my skin! A lot of what I've learned has been from ladies on Beautylish!

But yeah, I've never used that particular brand of tea tree :) I'm sorry the reviews lead you astray!

Jul 6, 2016

Dana E.

Oh wow! I didn't even know that. I didn't really know where to look so I just bought that lol, thank you!

Jul 6, 2016

Jamie D.

No problem! If you do look into getting pure tea tree oil, make sure you research how to dilute it properly! Because by itself it's very powerful and could do more harm than good. I would ask Kitty K on here (she's a moderator). She always has really lovely skincare advice :)

Jul 6, 2016

Diana T.

I use that same spot treatment by the body shop and I find it works well - not overnight and especially for cystic bumps - those normally take weeks to properly heal - and tea tree CAN reduce redness and swelling but it may not be so much that you notice it from using this particular spot treatment - but I find it works well over time - did you also apply a toner and moisturizer? I don't know how effective it is on its own - but I also use their aloe toner and I usually moisturize at night with jojoba oil or my ester C moisturizer - but I agree with Jamie that I think your expectations were unrealistic from the start.

Jul 6, 2016

Dana E.

I use the Mario Badescu grapefruit cleansing lotion toner and Clinique dramatically different moisturizer.

Jul 6, 2016

Lainee I.

I use 1 drop of 100% pure tea tree oil and a little bit of coconut oil as a spot treatment and it works great, but I will agree it doesn't usually work over night. The spot could also be hormones depending on when you cycle is due🙃and those can be hard to get rid of😊hope I helped.

Jul 8, 2016

Mariana E.

Clinique has an anti-acne line. Not all products are really crazy effective but the clearing gel, used as a spot treatment is pretty rad! I've never used tea tree oil myself. I've read great things as well but I wouldn't change my Clinique gel. I only use it when I have unwanted visitors to my face as I find it could be too harsh for my whole face.