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I recently bought some tea tree oil, and read that it needs to be diluted when applied to the face - I started out using it undiluted on a small patch of skin to test it (thank god) and found out why - so I bought some aloe vera (oil, not gel) from Whole Foods to act as a carrier. I haven't really found an effective way to mix them together, and thus far have been applying them simultaneously as a spot treatment using a q-tip (one side with tea tree oil, one side with aloe, and alternate), but it seems like there's probably a better way. Is it best to mix the two together in a tupperware or something? Or should I soak the q-tip in the aloe and then the tea tree oil (or vice versa) and apply it that way? I'm just worried that alternating sides of the q-tip is giving me more of one substance than the other, and I really don't want to be using too much tea tree oil.
So, how do you dilute your tea tree oil?
Also, do you wipe off the excess oil after you've applied it, or do you leave it to soak in/rest on your skin? Thanks!
As you have found out, never apply tea tree oil undiluted to large areas of the skin as it will burn. However, if using it as a spot treatment then apply a few drops of tea tree oil to a cotton bud and dab it directly onto the spot to be treated. The spot should try out within a day if you apply it twice a day, this is what i have done and it has always works.
If you want to dilute tea tree oil then you can use a small glass spray bottle and dilute it with water(or an oil of your choice) and you have a nice gentle face spray, but make sure you shake it before every use as oil and water don't mix. Tea tree oil that is at least 5% solution can treat acne and has been shown to be as effective as benzoyl peroxide, but it doesn't work for everyone and it works much slower.
A 5% tea tree oil solution can be made by mixing 5 parts tea tree oil to 95 parts water (e.g. 5 mL tea tree oil and 95 mL water).
If you want a simple way to use tea tree oil then just put a few drops with your moisturizer(which will act as a carrier) before you apply it to your face.
I don't actually usually dilute TTO though I sort of just wing it and make a different mixture in my palm every time. But I do use a lot of it that way unfortunately.
I don't think you need to dilute it. I've only ever used full strength tea tree oil on my skin and nothing bad has ever happened.
There are certain areas of my face that are more sensitive to undiluted tea tree oil than others - the skin on my forehead and nose isn't as sensitive as the skin on my cheeks and chin - so it's important for me to dilute it well enough that it doesn't dry me out too harshly. Thanks for all the advice so far! I've still been doing the alternating q-tip thing, so I guess I just need to find out a ratio that works best for me.
I put about 3-4 drops on a 100% cotton cosmetic pad and squirt some 100% natural T.N. Dickinson's witch hazel on the pad to apply Tea Tree oil to the affected areas of my face. It never stings and it has helped dry out the breakouts without over-drying. I would suggest starting with the least amount of drops and increase to make sure what your skin responds positively to. I just tried this one day since Tea Tree is an antiseptic and witch hazel helps with irritated skin and is a mild astringent. I figured the two together would balance each other out and give me what I was looking for.