Combine tea tree and aloe vera: dilution above all else

Tea tree essential oil should never be applied undiluted to the skin. This is the first thing to know, and the most often ignored. Aloe vera gel is one of the bases that allows it to be diluted correctly.

The dilution rule

One to two drops of essential oil per ten milliliters of gel, i.e., a concentration of less than one percent. Mix in a clean, small container, and prepare a week's worth rather than a whole bottle – the mixture doesn't keep well.

Tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, produces an essential oil among the most concentrated in aromatic compounds. Like all essential oils, it is not recommended for young children, on broken skin, or during pregnancy without medical advice.

Why aloe vera gel as a base

It is aqueous, which gives it a light texture suitable for skin that doesn't like oily products. It also provides a soothing effect that compensates for the tingling sensation the essential oil can produce.

A vegetable oil would work just as well for dilution, but would make the application heavier. For blemished skin, which is the usual target for this combination, the gel is more comfortable.

Spot treatment, not over the entire face

Apply the mixture to the affected areas with a cotton swab, once a day. Twice does not double the result and dries out the treated area, which lengthens the time it takes to return to normal.

The rest of the face receives an ordinary routine: cleanse, moisturize, protect. Spreading the mixture everywhere is pointless and weakens areas that didn't need it.

The complete protocol

Cleanse in the evening with a gentle texture. Apply a moisturizer over the entire face. Wait until the skin is dry, then apply the spot treatment. In the morning, skip the spot treatment and add sunscreen.

This protocol should be evaluated after three to four weeks. It does not replace the advice of a health professional if imperfections are extensive or persistent, and this is the context in which it should be used.

Precautions and duration

Elbow crease test for two days before the first application. Stop immediately in case of redness or burning sensation. Store the mixture for a maximum of one week, away from light.

The pure essential oil, however, can be kept for several years in its original bottle. It is only the mixture with the gel that is fragile, as the water in the gel is a medium where everything eventually degrades.

What the catalog offers instead

For those who prefer an already formulated product, the purifying toner with salicylic acid targets the same issues through a better documented route, and the purifying cleansing gel with aloe vera handles the cleansing step. Neither requires dilution or special precautions.