The Incredible Benefits of Tea Tree Oil in Skincare and Haircare

For decades, tea tree oil has been one of our favorite botanical ingredients at Desert Essence. Cleansing and clarifying, this potent powerhouse is incredibly versatile to keep around the house for boosting your skincare and haircare routines. 

Understanding Tea Tree Oil

What Is Tea Tree Oil?

Tea tree oil comes from steaming the leaves of the tea tree plant (Melaleuca alternifolia), a tall shrub native to Australia. At Desert Essence, we ensure that our tea tree is grown and harvested with sustainable practices in mind. Additionally, we don’t use chemicals in the steam distillation process to extract the oil. Our 100% Australian Tea Tree Oil, Eco-Harvest Tea Tree Oil and Organic Tea Tree Oil are all made a little differently — learn more about them by visiting our FAQ page.

History and Origins

Thousands of years ago, the Indigenous Australians used tea tree oil for antiseptic and medicinal purposes. By the 1920s, the use of tea tree became more widespread as scientists explored its cleansing properties — it even became a mainstay in first aid kits. Today, this potent botanical exists in everything from body washes to ointments.

Composition and Properties

Tea tree oil is cleansing and clarifying, touting antiseptic properties. Although tea tree oil consists of over 100 compounds, the most important ones to know are terpinen-4-ol for potency and cineole for irritancy. Desert Essence’s cruelty-free tea tree oil features 38% or more terpinen-4-ol, which is well above industry averages. We also keep our cineole levels under 3%, which, on the flip side, is well below industry averages.

Pure Cleansing Power 

To harness tea tree oil’s pure cleansing power, you can keep a bottle of it handy to dilute as needed. Tea tree oil is great for breaking down oils and buildup on the face and scalp, which makes it a go-to ingredient in personal care. Plus, it’s convenient for boosting laundry freshness, repelling insects and cleaning household surfaces. 

Tea Tree Oil in Skin Care

Due to its antiseptic properties, tea tree oil can be helpful for soothing blemishes, oiliness and skin irritation in the realm of skin care. While you can dilute tea tree oil with water and apply it to your skin, you can also find it incorporated into ready-to-use skincare formulas. For a daily refresh, cleanse your skin with Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash or Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Facial Cleansing Pads — both gently remove impurities without a drying effect. 

To relieve bites, burns and other irritations, we also love Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Relief Spray, which also contains calming botanicals such as chamomile and horsetail. To soothe dryness and other skin irritations, ointments, such as Desert Essence Manuka Oil & Tea Tree Oil Therapeutic Skin Ointment and Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Skin Ointment, provide skin with nourishment and rehydration. 

Tea Tree Oil in Hair Care

Is tea tree oil good for hair? Yup — tea tree oil benefits for hair care are plentiful. But exactly what does tea tree oil do for hair? Tea tree oil is especially beneficial for cleansing and clarifying the scalp, as it balances your scalp’s pH without stripping it of its emollients. As such, it can be helpful for managing flakes. When you use tea tree oil for hair, add a few drops of the potent oil into your shampoo. Of course, you can also pick up ready-to-use tea tree hair products. If you’re on the lookout for a cruelty-free tea tree shampoo, our favorite is Desert Essence Tea Tree Replenishing Shampoo, and we also recommend pairing it with Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Replenishing Conditioner.

Whether you start with a bottle of pure oil or pick up a tea tree-infused product, experience the cleansing potential of this botanical for yourself.

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