Tea Tree Oil Lotion

Using a tea tree oil lotion or cream is a great way to get an all-in-one skin care product that provides moisturizing and anti-septic properties.

Tea tree oil contains an ingredient called Terpinen 4 OL. This ingredient has been found to be effective against a variety of bacteria, fungi and viruses. You can use tea tree oil on acne and it's also great to use for dandruff.

The advantages of using these specially-formulated lotions are the moisturizing ingredients and the germ-fighting properities of tea tree oil.

You'll find a wide variety of brands that use different ingredients. Some of these specialty lotions come with almond oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E and C, aloe vera and other botanicals. You can use a tea tree oil cream for spot treatments, such as acne and other blemishes.

Bodyshop Tea Tree Lotion © The BodyShop.com

For example, here's a tea tree oil lotion from Bodyshop. It contains tea tree oil and another skin oil called Tamanu Oil from Madagascar.

Tamanu oil is from a tree native to Asian countries and is reported to have anti-inflammatory properties. Combine this with the anti-microbial properties of tea tree oil and you have great skin lotion for acne prone areas.

Make your own Tea Tree Oil Skin Lotion

You can also make your own skin lotions with tea tree oil. Simply add a few drops of tea tree oil to your skin lotion and mix well. The strength of your tea tree oil lotion will depend on how concentrated your tea tree oil is and how much you add to your skin lotion.

Making your own lotions with tea tree oil may be better than some store-bought lotions. You'll know exactly how much tea tree oil is in your lotion; you could add a certain number of drops or milliliters of tea tree oil per ounce of lotion.

Be aware of the scent of tea tree oil; adding too much tea tree oil to a mildly scented or non-scented lotion may make the lotion take on the pine-scent of tea tree oil.

Many store-bought skin lotions may not list the exact percentage of tea tree oil that's in the lotion so you'll never know the concentration or strength of tea tree oil.

How to use Tea Tree Lotions Safely

Due to the anti-septic properties of tea tree oil, there are a few important things to be aware of when using lotions containing this ingredient.

• Avoid putting the lotion near your eyes. Wash your hands before touching or rubbing your eyes with your hands; tea tree oil may cause a stinging sensation if you get any oil residue in your eyes.

• Tea tree oil lotion should not be ingested and should also not be used near mucous membranes.

• While tea tree oil is relatively safe, you should be aware of other possible side effects from tea tree oil.

Cost of Tea Tree Oil Skin Lotions

Prices can vary due to the type of ingredients used. Generally, products using organic ingredients may cost a bit more, depending on the manufacturer. However, the advantage is you're getting the benefits of using a naturally processed product on your skin.

Some of the best places to find tea tree lotions are at your local health food store. You can also find a wide variety of products on the internet. Some popular brands names are Thursday Plantation and Jason Naturals; even Body Shop has its own line of tea tree oil creams and lotions.

Here's a few tea tree oil lotions available at Amazon.com: