I should be more into the essential oils, but I’m just not. It seems like too much work?! I know I’m being a total diva here, I just haven’t made the time or prioritized getting into the essential oil craze. It would probably help me out in the anxiety department, tbh. I’ve even had friends rave about it and how it’s changed their life…and I still haven’t been inclined to try it. HOWEVER, I somehow ended up purchasing tea tree oil a few years back (I don’t even recall the reasoning now but it was to serve a very specific purpose!). I was unaware of the fact that it technically falls into the “essential oils” category, so there ya go. I suppose I succumbed to the craze unknowingly.

Long story short, this tea tree oil ended up in my bathroom cabinet somehow and I came across it recently. I thought, “hmmm, I should probably use this. But for what?”. And that my friends, resulted in me drowning into the internet abyss, searching away on how to use this oil that happened to magically appear in my vanity. Let me tell you, the use cases for this magic potion are ENDLESS. Here are a few ways I’ve been using it.

to treat acne & blackheads.

I luckily don’t break out often, but when it rains it pours. I usually get hormonal acne, so it all happens around my chin & lip area. It’s as gross as it sounds. When this happens, I mix 2-3 drops of tea tree oil with 1/4 of a teaspoon witch hazel, and apply directly on the pimples with a cotton swab. I do it once a day, but you can do it twice a day if it’s a nasty pimple!

My other skincare concern (all my life) has been blackheads. I have a combination skin, so my nose is a breeding ground for these things…HATE THEMMM. Every once in a while I mix a drop of tea tree oil into my daily cleanser to keep those bad boys under control.

to treat eczema.

In the winter months, my skin gets extremely dry, sometimes to the point where I get small eczema breakouts on my face and patches on my arms and neck. Tea tree oil actually can help with eczema, but never apply it on your skin alone (it will only make it worse!). I mix it with jojoba oil (1-2 drops of tea tree oil with 12 drops of jojoba oil) as the carrier oil, and apply to the affected areas. Be sure to test a small area first to make sure your skin doesn’t have a weird reaction! If you don’t have jojoba, you can use olive oil or coconut oil instead. You should be good to use this anywhere, just don’t put it near your eyes (I’ve never tried it but it sounds like a bad idea).

to help with cold symptoms.

I don’t get sick often, so my house isn’t always stocked with the go-to cold remedy meds. That said, the past few times I’ve come down with something, I’ve resorted to tea tree oil to help soothe my sore throat and congestion.

For sore throat, I mix 2-3 drops of tea tree oil in a warm glass of water. Then I just gargle for 20 seconds at a time, until I’ve gone through the entire glass. It totally does the trick! I like that it’s an all natural remedy – the less cough drops I consume is a win in my book. When I have a stuffy nose, I mix a few drops of tea tree oil with jojoba oil and rub it on my chest. Feels really nice and soothing and also opens up my sinuses.

as a mouthwash.

On days I’m feeling an extra refresh in the breath department (we all have our moments!), if I don’t have mouthwash handy I’ll add a 1-2 drops of tea tree oil to a small cup of water and gargle/rinse for 20-30 seconds. I feel nice & fresh afterwards, and not super peppermint-y (which is the reason I hate using mouthwash!). Also, I haven’t tried this personally, but you can add a drop of tea tree oil to your toothpaste as it helps keep your gums healthy! The benefits are never ending :).