5 ways to get better skin with tea tree oil

I have spent a lot of time travelling this year: first to the Bahamas for a week, then for two weeks in Mexico. When I'm in a sunny destination, I wear 60 SPF sunscreen and I always sit under an umbrella. The only time I’m really in the sun is when I do laps in the pool for half an hour; or when I’m walking from my poolside chair, restaurants or the room; or when I take dips in the ocean — which turns out to be a lot. I worry about skin cancer, of course, but I do all I can for prevention, even if I do end up a little too sun kissed here and there.

Now that I’ve been back for a few days, though, what I’m really worried about is my dry skin, which I've always had problems with and now have again thanks to all that sunshine. I’ve tried so many extra-moisturizing lotions, but I often find that they just make my skin drier.

Now, finally, I may have found something that works. A friend recently introduced me to tea tree oil, and I've been using products from an Australian line called Thursday Plantation that has hand and body lotions, face wash, lip balms, tea tree oil and antiseptic cream among many other products. Previously I've only used tea tree oil to fight off lice — I know, but it works!

I asked Thursday Plantation — whose products are all-natural and mostly organic — for five tips on how to naturally rejuvenate and relieve sunburned and dehydrated summer skin with tea tree oil, which can help with sunburns, breakouts and dry nails. Who knew this one oil could do so much?

How to get better skin with tea tree oil

1. Relieve a sunburn For immediate sunburn relief, dilute one part pure tea tree oil with 10 parts olive oil or coconut oil, and spread the mixture onto burnt skin. Tea tree oil is soothing and pain relieving, plus it reduces blistering and peeling. You can apply full-strength tea tree oil directly on your sunburn, but people with sensitive skin should stick to using it in a diluted form. To add a cooling effect, include aloe or lavender oil in the mixture. 2. Apply tea tree oil after you've been in the sun Once your skin has calmed down after some time outside, add a few drops of tea tree oil to vitamin E or aloe vera lotion and apply it to your entire body. The healing properties of tea tree oil will help rejuvenate and rehydrate your skin. Also, try using other all-natural soothing skin lotions — like their Tea Tree Hand and Body Lotion, which contains macadamia oil, witch hazel and tea tree oil.

3. Moisturize your hair and scalp Add a dash of tea tree oil to your shampoo and gently massage it into your hair and scalp when washing. It soothes scalp irritation, gets rid of dandruff, repairs hair breakage and improves follicle strength. Alternately, try using a tea tree shampoo and conditioner.

4. Fight and prevent breakouts Apply a small dab of tea tree oil to a pimple or blemish. It helps control breakouts, is non-irritating and acts rapidly. You can also add a drop to your face wash and cream for its antibacterial benefits.

5. Treat dry cuticles and nails Add a few drops of tea tree oil to a bottle of nail polish to promote nail growth, treat fungus and increase the strength and health of your nail beds. Try this Anti-fungal Solution for Nails to treat and control fungal infections of the nails and surrounding skin. The tea tree oil acts as a natural anti-fungal and antiseptic, and penetrates through your skin to reach the source of the infection.

I’ve been using these products for nearly a week, and they really seem to be working. My skin is far from dry and my lips are much more kissable!

Read more: Summer skincare 101 (tips, tricks and nutrition advice to get you glowing)