Tea Tree Oil in Our Detox Gel and GRR Beard Oil

We use tea tree oil in two formulas, our Detox Gel and our GRR Oil Beard Oil, and in both it is part of a blend rather than the main event. In the Detox Gel it gives a light aloe gel its crisp, herbal, clean scent and a refreshed feel; in GRR Oil it joins other herbal oils to give a conditioning beard oil its cool note. Tea tree oil is strong, so in a routine it works best like this: at low strength, inside a finished formula, never straight from the bottle.

Two formulas, one leaf oil

Tea tree oil is steam-distilled from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a tree native to New South Wales in Australia. It is a thin, sharp essential oil, pale yellow to nearly colorless, with a fresh, camphor-like scent that most people recognize at once. A few drops go a long way, and it evaporates quickly.

That character is what makes it useful in small amounts. It brings a clean, herbal brightness to a formula and a refreshed feel on skin, and the rest of the formula can do the moisturizing and softening. Our Ingredient Library lists it in exactly two products.

Detox Gel: a cool gel with a clean, herbal scent

The first touch of our Detox Gel with Kalahari Melon Seed Oil is cool. It is a light, clear aloe gel that melts into skin in seconds and leaves it feeling fresh, soft and lightly hydrated, never tacky or heavy. Aloe provides the weightless, water-binding hydration. Shea butter adds a touch of cushion so skin does not feel dry or stripped. Kalahari melon seed oil, the light oil our brand is built on, is in the blend too. Tea tree oil gives the whole jar its crisp, herbal, clean scent.

The gel has a particular job in a routine. It sits between toning and moisturizing, so serums, oils and makeup that come after it glide on more easily. Smooth a thin layer over face and neck after cleansing, in the morning and at night. Skin feels clean, soft and refreshed, and looks calm and comfortable.

GRR Oil: an herbal blend for beard and skin

GRR Oil Beard Oil is a conditioning beard oil for a softer, smoother-looking beard without greasy shine. The base is jojoba, Kalahari melon seed, avocado, coconut and castor oils with squalene, which spread easily through the hair and sink in fast. Tea tree, peppermint, rosemary, green tea and hibiscus oils add a cool, herbal note and round out a formula meant for both the beard and the skin beneath it.

A few drops, warmed between the palms, are all it takes. The beard feels softer and easier to comb, and the skin underneath feels moisturized. The 1 oz bottle has a dropper, so you pour exactly what you need.

Why it stays a supporting note

Tea tree oil is one of the most talked-about plant oils, and much of that talk is about blemish-prone skin. We do not make claims of that kind for our products. In our formulas it plays a smaller, more reliable part: scent, freshness and a clean feel, carried in a base of aloe, shea and gentle oils.

There is a practical reason for keeping it small, too. Tea tree oil can cause skin reactions in some people, especially when it is old or used at high strength. Low amounts inside a cushioning formula are the comfortable way to enjoy it. We make both products by hand in our Williamsburg workshop in batches of 50 to 100, so what reaches you was made recently, which matters for an oil that changes as it ages.

Where these fit in a routine

• Morning and night, face: cleanse with a gentle wash such as our Rose Face Wash Cream, smooth on the Detox Gel, then press in The Royal Kalahari Face Serum while the gel is still fresh. Finish with sunscreen in the daytime. Our Dream Routine puts those three together.
• After washing, beard: warm a few drops of GRR Oil between your palms and work them through the beard to the skin beneath.

Questions about the tea tree in our products

Does the Rose Face Wash Cream contain tea tree oil?

No. Tea tree oil is only in the Detox Gel and GRR Oil Beard Oil. The Rose Face Wash Cream is built on rosehip seed oil, shea butter, oat, calendula and Kalahari melon seed oil.

How strongly does the Detox Gel smell of tea tree?

The scent is crisp, herbal and clean, and it stays light. The tea tree is one part of a light aloe gel, not the main ingredient.

Can I wear the Detox Gel under makeup?

Yes. It sits between toning and moisturizing, and serums, oils and makeup applied after it glide on more easily.