BellaSugar

Defeat Poison Ivy With Tea Tree Oil

FitSugar — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:40:56 PDT

You went for a gorgeous two-hour hike in the woods, brought back some great photos and uh-oh - you also brought back some poison ivy. When you accidentally brush up against this plant, the uroshiol oil rubs onto your skin, and can instantly create redness, raised bumps, blisters, and an insatiable itch. First and foremost, get out of the clothes you were wearing on the hike and wash the oil off your skin using soap and cold water (warm water opens your pores) to prevent the rash from spreading.

Unfortunately, now you're left with an itchy, bubbly rash. Topical creams like Calamine lotion and hydro-cortizone can keep the itchiness at bay, but when it comes to poison ivy, the quicker it heals, the better. Reach for the remedy, pure tea tree oil. It's all natural, not that expensive, and easy to find at most health food stores. Thoroughly wash and dry the affected areas. Sprinkle a few drops of the tea tree oil directly on the rash and use a Q-tip or cotton ball to spread it around. Apply a few times a day, and you should see the blisters disappearing and the rash clearing up.

Tea tree oil has antiseptic, antifungal, and drying properties, which is why it's so effective against the dreaded poison ivy. This natural remedy can also be used to treat acne, minor cuts and scrapes, athlete's foot, and yeast infections so it's great to keep a bottle in your medicine cabinet.

Source: Flickr User frotzed2

Double Duty: Zit-Zapping Concealers

Jaime Richards — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:00:00 PDT

When it comes to covering up pimples, there are a few tricks to keep in mind: use a concealer in a shade that matches your foundation, apply the product with a small precision brush (like Smashbox's #5 ($20), and lightly stipple around the edges to blend.

But if your concealer can pull a double duty and conceal and heal, to quote Ina Garten, "How good is that?" Formulated with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, sulfur, or tea tree oil, here are a few zit-zapping concealers to put pimples in their place.

http://www.bellasugar.com/How--Cover-Up-Your-Acne-804134

Make Your Own Soothing Acne-Fighting Gel

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:00:36 PDT

Gone are the days when splotchy white zit cream was the cure for the pimple blues. Gone also is the notion that you have to sacrifice using natural ingredients for chemicals in order to get the acne-zapping job done. In Sophie Uliano's new book, Do It Gorgeously, the eco expert has lots to say about how we can go DIY. Her soothing acne gel recipe is perfect for calming inflammation and preventing breakouts. It includes marigolds (which contain natural acne-blasting salicylic acid), bacteria-fighting tea tree oil, and just a dash of vodka. Get the instructions when you read more.

What Do You Know About Tea Tree Oil?

BellaSugar — Tue, 25 May 2010 09:00:00 PDT

What can you bathe in, spot-treat a pimple with, and use in a facial steamer to open up the nasal passages for better breathing? If you answered tea tree oil, you're right. But that's not all you can do with tea tree oil. From quelling dandruff to easing the itchiness of insect bites, tea tree oil can be used in a wide variety of ways - especially when it comes to cosmetics. What do you know about this multitasking essential oil? Take my quiz to find out.

Take the Quiz

You Ask, We Answer: How Can I Stop Biting My Nails?

BellaSugar — Mon, 10 May 2010 06:00:55 PDT

Not only does biting your nails expose you to unnecessary germs, it can also make nails crack and cause unnecessary wear to your teeth. There's the unsightly aspect about having raggedy, nubby nails, too. Recently, reader ldekosky asked for advice on how to stop biting her nails on the BellaSugar Q and A group in the BellaSugar Community. I think we all have bad beauty habits, but if nail-biting just happens to be one of yours, here are a few tips on how to stop nibbling. Just read more.

Tea Tree Oil Will Cure What (N)ails You

BellaSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:00:38 PDT

Earlier this year, nearly 70 percent of you told me that you bite your cuticles. I have a confession. During particularly nervous moments, I sometimes do a little chomping myself. Ack! Recently, a manicurist gave me a little talking to after discovering my dirty little secret. Her solution? Tea tree oil, an antiseptic essential oil with antibacterial benefits.

Not only does this product help heal cuts and tears when rubbed into the delicate nail bed area, it provides hydrating effects, and carries with it a clean, uplifting aroma. Added bonus? Because of its strong, slightly camphor-like smell, it won't taste all that appetizing, and that just might inhibit you from biting. Try Beauty Secrets Tea Tree Oil ($5.99) to get started on your way to obtaining those soon-to-be-gorgeous hands.

Photo by Jon Fravel

How-To: "Green" Your Manicure

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 07:00:51 PST

Toluene, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate - all chemicals considered dangerous for our bodies and the environment, and yet they are still found in many nail products. Sophie Uliano is the author of Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life ($15.25), where she discusses everything from choosing an earth-friendly lipstick to preparing eco-conscious treats.
Last year, Uliano appeared on Oprah with her friend Julia Roberts to celebrate Earth Day. And now, she has some tips for greening your manicure, along with specific product suggestions she shared with me. Uliano recommends mixing up a "gorgeously green" bag to take with you to your next manicure. Find out her suggestions when you

Non-toxic polish: Try No-Miss Nail Polish ($7), which can be found at Whole Foods. Uliano also recommends Spa Ritual Nail Lacquer ($12).
Paraben-free lotion: Uliano likes SpaRitual products. Try Instinctual Moisturizing Lotion ($28) or Cuti-Quench Cuticle and Skin Conditioning Creme ($15).
Soy-based polish remover: Uliano calls Priti's Soy Nail Polish Remover ($22.50) "awesome."
Tea tree oil: For a foot and hand soak try Desert Essence Organic Tea Tree Oil ($9).

Product Review: Espa Essential Tea Tree Oil

BellaSugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:00:12 PDT

For someone like me who is constantly battling erratic pesky pimples, I've gotten to know the spot treatment market fairly well. And the newest product that I've tried and liked is called Espa Essential Tea Tree Gel ($33). This gentle botanical gel contains lemon (to detoxify), thyme (to soothe), evening primrose (to balance) and tea tree oil which helps attack bacteria and banish blemishes - all without drying out your skin.

Additionally, it is formulated with a blend of fragrant essential oils which calm break-out prone and hormonally imbalanced (aka premenstrual) skin.

I heard about ESPA from a friend and was really excited when I saw that a .54 oz travel size ($18) is available. This size is ideal since all you need is a small amount to get the job done. Simply dot a thin coat on the blemish, and you can either apply a mask over it or just let the gel dry for a few minutes before putting on your makeup. You'll notice a slightly cooling feeling and in time you'll see that area is less red and puffy and more even-toned. I've been using it for a week and I am very happy with the results. I also hear it's great for ingrown hairs, so I am going to test it out and see how it rivals my Arezoo Cream.

BellaSugar's Guide To Tea Tree Oil Products

BellaSugar — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:43:55 PDT

Tea tree oil is derived from the leaves of the melaleuca alternifolia plant which grows exclusively and in abundance in Australia. The leaves are distilled, pressed and can then be used topically or aromatically (inhaled). Tea tree oil can be found in many over-the-counter beauty, household and first aid items.

Take a look at my five-post roundup on tea tree oil for a more in-depth look at a sample of the wide variety of face, body and hair care products on the market today. I hope that you've enjoyed this series, so please let me know what you think!

Source

Product Review: Arezoo Ingrown Hair Cream

BellaSugar — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 10:54:45 PDT

Arezoo Kaviani worked at posh Mayfair salon in London for years, where she had a constant client waiting list. After much success she decided to venture out on her own. She now owns a private salon kitty-corner to the world-famous Harrods department store. Her specialties are extremely gentle waxing and facials, but she is so talented that her one-stop shop also offers a gamut of alluring body treatments.

While in London, I had the pleasure of meeting Azeroo for a bikini wax - not an easy feat, considering her schedule is jam-packed with clients that include Gwyneth Paltrow, Claudia Schiffer, Daniel Craig, Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon. I was dying to ask her if Jake comes in for a manly parts waxing or just an eyebrow shaping, but I resisted - I didn't want to put her in a compromising position or anything.

The one product she used that smelled great and cut the pain of a wax by at least half was her tea tree oil wax. She also handed me an ice cube before she began to help numb the area -it's kinda fun, actually! When we were finished, she recommended a terrific anti-ingrown hair product that I want to share with you.

Arezoo Ingrown Hair Cream contains no alcohol, but it does have tons of tea tree oil. That acts as an antiseptic and drying agent, so those nasty, itchy bumps don't form on your nether regions. It smells better than most products in its genre, and it won't thin your skin like other alcohol-based ingrown hair products do.

The cream works wonders for anywhere on the body suffering from cuts, scrapes, burns, or blemishes. Plus, men can use it as an aftershave. It costs £15, but since Arezoo has so many international clients, she's willing to ship any orders for a minimum charge of $5.