I know, I know, acne solutions aren’t probably something you expect to read about from me, but this one is kind of a foodie solution, and it works.
And, the truth is, from time to time, just about every is faced with some form of adult acne. It can be stress-driven, hormonally-related, food-allergy related, and, more.
I think it’s fair to say that no one likes acne. And, there are few things that are more frustrating than dealing with it as an adult.
I have a solution for you this week that is cheap, effective, all natural, and won’t bleach your clothes like a lot of OTC treatments. I wish I had known about this 20 years ago!
Are you ready for it?!
Enter…tea tree oil.
You know the smell – it’s very distinct. It turns up in a lot of hair care products and sort of gives your scalp a bit of a tingly sensation. But, did you know that tea tree oil is a strong natural antiseptic? It’s good for a lot of things, and it is incredibly effective at treating acne (and saddle sores, for those that are into cycling). However, the catch is that it’s super, super strong out of the bottle. It has to be diluted so you don’t burn your skin. Here is a little bit more about tea tree oil.
I have been keeping the following mixture pre-made up in a small container, so that when the occasion comes, I already have some ready to go. You can buy tea tree oil from Amazon, or, at a lot of health food stores. They also have it at Trader Joe’s with the personal care products. A small bottle will last a long, long time because it needs to be pretty diluted to use.
DIY Acne Treatment with Built in Moisturizer
Ingredients:
- 1 part tea tree oil
- 9 parts coconut oil
Method:
- Mix the ingredients together in a small, re-sealable container
- When needed, apply to your skin and either let soak in completely (takes a few hours), or, wait 10-20 minutes and then use a hot washcloth to remove
- This mixture is a little shiny, so, if you’re putting it on in the morning, you probably want to wash off before seeing people or applying makeup
- I like to spread this over my whole face in the evening and let it soak in completely, but it works just as well if you spot treat and then remove with a hot washcloth
- If you find your skin is tolerating the 1 part tea tree oil to 9 parts coconut oil without adverse effects, you can up the dosage of tea tree oil by 1 part (e.g, 2 parts tea tree oil, 8 parts coconut oil) until you find a solution that you can no longer tolerate, but only increase the tea tree oil by 1 part at a time, and no more frequently than once every week.
View Comments (8)
i would realy love to try this and bought the coconut oil which seems to only come in a thick white stuff in a jar. looking at it reminds of candle wax. i also bought the tea tree oil. since one is a actaul oil and the other is more like a very very paste; do i need to break down the coconut oils before mixing the two and if so what would be the bes way to do this?
Hi Rodney,
Thanks for your note – good question. Coconut oil is indeed solid below about 72 degrees F. However, when you mix it with the tea tree oil, it becomes more like a spreadable gel. The more tea tree oil you add, the more liquid-y it gets.
I mix it in a small bowl with a teaspoon. As you blend the two together, they become one mixture fairly easily. So, I just scoop out the amount of coconut oil I want, put it in the bowl, measure the tea tree oil (usually by drops) into the bowl, and mix up with a spoon. Make a small batch to start to see how well you tolerate the tea tree oil. The better you tolerate it, the more you can add.
Hope that helps – let me know how it works out for you!
Angela
hi angela, yes it was a great help. thank you very much for the information and for responding so quickly.
hi angela,
i just made a batch and the thought came to mind. ok, is there any special keeping instructions?
Hi Rodney,
I just keep it in a small airtight container (re-using an old lotion jar). At first, I just kept it in a small ziplock container — those little tiny ones for snacks. So, just anything that will keep it airtight is good!
Angela
ok great. thanks again. i will write back in a week or two to share my experience with it.
Whenever mixing essential oils with anything. Should be stored in glass containers. Like a small glass jar from the recycle bin, or something glass from whole foods. Can also buy Fractionated Coconut Oil, it is always liquid. You could mix 1 drop of tea tree and 2-3 drops of the liquid coconut oil, and then just put on your face immediately. If you want to premix, into a glass bottle, that you can buy at whole foods. I would only mix 1-2 ounces at a time.
Good call out, Anita, thank you!