Lavender and Tea Tree Oil Spot Treatment

I've dealt with hormonal skin issues for most of my life. As a teenager, I spent a fair amount of time in a dermatologist's chair, being poked, prodded and prescribed both topical and internal magic pills. In turn, I also grew up with a mother who loved to pamper herself, and I learned how important it was to treat your skin gently and well.

These two aspects always seemed at odds with me. On one hand, my skin felt like it was being burned off by chemical treatments that never seemed to work, and on the other, I learned the luscious wonder of facial massage and how to generate a very good glow.

As I've aged, my skin woes have improved slightly, but I still battle unpredictable spots, breakouts and other cystic acne troubles that have led me to spend a fair amount of time experimenting to find the right balancing treatment. While I've found that many forms of hormonal and cystic acne must be evaluated on an internal basis, how you take care of your skin still really does matter.

I've moved to a very simple and holistic skincare routine overall, but when dealing with a particularly bothersome blemish, it's time to bring in nature's big guns: Tea Tree and Lavender.

Tea Tree oil is one of the most effective antibacterial and antiviral oils. It can be used to treat many external ailments and I'm constantly amazed by it's purifying capabilities. Lavender has wonderful adaptogenic and similar antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, and is a terrific cleansing and soothing essential oil.  Below is a recipe for a spot treatment that combines the two with an aloe vera and jojoba oil carrier combination to help heal and protect your skin. 

Lavender and Tea Tree Oil Spot Treatment

1 oz. jojoba oil

1 teaspoon aloe vera gel

7 drops tea tree essential oil

5 drops lavender essential oil

1 sterile glass dropper or roller-ball vial

Combine jojoba oil, aloe vera gel and essential oils in a sterile vial. Shake well to combine, and before each use. To use, apply directly on blemish on freshly washed skin, twice a day.

Note: Before using any essential oils on your skin, it's best to perform a patch test for sensitivity and potential allergic reactions. To do so, dab 1-2 small drops of the essential oil on your inner elbow when dry. If no reaction occurs within 24 hours, the oil is safe for skin use. 

Clearing the Air

I've always been amazed at the ability of smell to transport you to a different place and time.

Cut open a lemon, and I'm instantly taken back to the Aeolian Islands off of Sicily, where lemons the size of footballs grew outside the house. We'd climb the trees to retrieve them en masse, and brought them home where they sat in a fragrant mountain on the kitchen table, waiting to be squeezed over fish or grilled vegetables.

Freshly cut garden roses remind me of my grandmother, who was a devotee of those saintly flowers, and how they symbolized life and growth.

And, a bundle of lavender transports me home, where my mother bought the dried herb in bulk, stuffing them in simple muslin bags and tucking them in our drawers, closets and laundry baskets.

So, it should be of little surprise that one of my favorite ways to elevate mood is with scent.

In our home, we've been diffusing essential oils using a Stadler Form diffuser. Essential oils are amazingly effective at both purifying the air and delivering relaxing notes, and there are a few concoctions in particular that I love for clean and calming tones.

Cleaning Blend

10 drops eucalyptus essential oil

5 drops tea tree essential oil

3 drops lemon essential oil

2 drops sweet orange essential oil

Calming Blend

10 drops lavender essential oil

3 drops bergamot essential oil

For each blend, mix together in a dark glass bottle, keeping these proportions constant even if increased. When ready to use, fill your diffuser to the fill line with water, and add in 3-7 drops of the essential oil blend.