Tea tree oil is one of the most popular essential oils for its wide variety of uses and amazing benefits that are as diverse as curing a pesky pimple overnight or deep cleaning a bathroom sink. The chemicals in the oil may kill bacteria and fungus (and has been used for centuries as an antiseptic for cuts or burns), and can even reduce allergic skin reactions (aka its safe for even the most sensitive skin). Potentially the best part of the OG essential oil? It’s completely all-natural, which means you know it’s safe for your skin, your home, and even for your children. You can use it to replace a multitude of potentially harmful or unnatural products in multiple areas of your lifestyle, all in just one little bottle. And trust me, it’s a product that will not let you down.

Tea tree oil is basically the miracle do-all, and should be a staple in everything from your skincare routine, to your first aid kit, to your cleaning supplies. We talked to an expert from Thursday Plantation, our favorite company for finding the most natural oils, to find out the best ways to use the multi-faceted product, and how to know you’re getting the best quality.

 

What exactly is tea tree oil?

 

Tea Tree Oil comes from the melaleuca plant that is indigenous to Australia. It is well-known for its powerful antiseptic and antibacterial properties.

 

What are some common ways to utilize tea tree oil?

 

There are so many uses for Tea Tree Oil! Here are just a few of our favorites:

• Create a DIY all-purpose cleaner (great for countertops, yoga mats, and more)
• Use as a spot treatment to clear blemishes
• Add to shampoo to reduce dry, flaky skin
• Use as an antiseptic for cuts and scrapes
• Deter pests like pantry flies and ants
• Eliminate odors from shoes and mildewed laundry
• Use on dry cuticles
• Adding it to a diffuser for fresh smelling air

 

What are the benefits of using tea tree oil?

 

A major benefit includes knowing that you’re using a natural product. There are no additives, no crazy ingredients, no parabens or sulfates. Another benefit is that it is multi-use and budget friendly. You can get a bottle for less than $10, use it around the house, as first aid, in your beauty regimen, as a pest deterrent, the list goes on and on.

 

 

How long does it take before tea tree oil can have positive health and beauty effects?

 

Everyone is different! Some people say they apply tea tree oil to a blemish and it is gone overnight. Others say it takes a longer. It just depends on your skin and the way you use it!

 

Who could benefit from tea tree oil?

 

Moms — It’s a first aid kit in a bottle. It’s small enough to carry in your purse for when kids get cuts and scrapes.

Holistic Shoppers — For those who prefer natural products to products with a long list of ingredients, tea tree oil is it.

Budget Shoppers — This product has SO many uses, and with a small price tag.

Skincare Aficionados — Tea tree oil is great at minimizing blemishes and redness of the skin.

 

READ: 8 Ways to Use Essential Oils That You’ve Never Thought Of

 

Are there potential concerns to know before trying tea tree oil?

 

Tea tree oil is not to be ingested, only used as a topical treatment. Additionally, everyone’s skin is, of course, different. Some people can apply tea tree oil directly to their skin without issue, and other may need to mix the oil in a carrier oil like jojoba or macadamia nut oil before applying the oil.

 

What else should someone know about adding tea tree oil to their health and beauty routines?

 

There is a right way and a wrong way to bottle tea tree oil. Tea tree oil requires a dark bottle to maintain its efficiency and potency, much like beer. Light allows the oil to oxidize, which breaks down the oil and renders it ineffective. It also needs to be stored in glass instead of plastic in order to protect the quality and shelf life of the oil. Plastic will actually absorb one of the important compounds in tea tree oil, which will turn the oil rancid. 

Also, it is important to check the ingredients to ensure the tea tree oil is not diluted. There are brands out there that sell tea tree oil in a clear, plastic bottle which is a big NO! Thursday Plantation tea tree oil is 100% pure and 100% natural, sustainably sourced in Australia, where tea tree is indigenous, and is now available in the U.S.

 

SHOP THE STORY

 

The post Everything You Need to Know About Tea Tree Oil appeared first on The Everygirl.

A few months ago I shared why I made the choice to switch to a vegan diet, and the support I received from readers was amazing. Seriously, you all are the best — which is why today, I’m back and sharing my favorite vegan beauty products. To be completely honest, when I first adapted to a vegan diet I didn’t even think about how my beauty routine would have to change.

There are many reasons for following a vegan diet, but as my primary motivation was ethical, it meant my lifestyle would have change too (in other words, goodbye Italian leather shoes from J.Crew). Beauty products often times have animal-based ingredients in them and there are still many brands who test their cosmetics on animals. So as products ran out, I started to swap my old staples for vegan ones.

This is how I made the switch to an entirely vegan and cruelty-free beauty routine, and the products I can’t live without:

 

Tips for Shopping Vegan

 

Know Your Ingredients

Unless you are buying super simple and natural products, most product labels are pretty hard to read. For me, it’s easiest to just look for a vegan label on the bottle, but not all brands utilize them. Keep an eye out for these common animal-based ingredients while shopping for skincare or cosmetics:

• Cochineal dye/Carmine
• Guanine
• Tallow
• Gelatin
• Lanolin
• Squalene
• Ambergris
• Collagen
• Estrogen
• Retinol

These were just a few examples, so it’s best to do further research. This list is super helpful and elaborates on how those ingredients come from animals.

 

Learn Which Brands You Can Trust

Some brands are completely vegan and wave their vegan flag loud and proud! But, some brands who don’t test any of their products on animals offer a selection of vegan products and clearly label which are which. Here is a great list of vegan beauty products and brands, but you’d be surprised at how common vegan personal hygiene products are becoming!

 

 

 

Health Food Stores Will Have Your Back

Local health food stores (Whole Foods counts!) usually have a small beauty and personal hygiene section. While “natural” ingredients are often vegan, they aren’t always. But these stores usually have great selections of simple, one-ingredient products — like tea tree oil or rosehip oil — that can be incorporated into your routine.

 

Don’t Shy Away From Store Brands

Did you know that Costco brand shampoo and condition is vegan and cruelty free? I didn’t! It’s affordable and because it’s Costco-sized, so the bottles lasts months. Trader Joe’s has been growing their beauty section as of late and many of their products are vegan too. My point? You can find vegan products at an affordable price almost anywhere.

 

 

My Favorite Vegan Products

 

Who else here is a Glossier fan? Silly question, who isn’t. I have tried and enjoyed so many of their products, but Solution takes the cake. This chemical exfoliant is gentle enough to use every day, and keeps my pores smaller, helps with oil control, keeps acne in check, and brightens my skin. It’s a one-stop shop for a ton of skin issues. Not all of their products are vegan, but they are cruelty-free and they clearly label which products are vegan to make shopping with them easier.

 

 

 

I’ve been living out of a carry-on for the past few months and my skin has been paying the price. Glossier Solution is not small enough to get past the TSA, so after a series of breakouts, I ordered a set from Herbivore Botanicals that contained smaller sizes of their Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask and Lapis Facial Oil. The combo of this gentle exfoliating mask and soothing face oil really helped get my skin back on track. I love that their products are created with natural ingredients, work really well, and feel luxurious. Their Bamboo Charcoal Cleansing Bar Soap is so convenient for travel, but I use it every day at home too.

 

Traditional makeup removers leave my skin feeling stripped and dry, but this cleansing oil gets the job done in a natural and gentle way (plus the rose scent is so soothing at the end of a long day). Not all of Monastery’s products are vegan, but they are all cruelty-free. Luckily, their natural ingredient lists are simple, so it’s easy to see which products will work for a vegan beauty routine. I’m eager to try their Pure Face Oil next so I can finish my nightly skincare routine with as much moisture as I started it with.

 

All of Tarte Cosmetics’ products are cruelty-free and they actually provide this handy list of products they offer that are vegan. I’ve only ever had good experiences with Tarte Cosmetics, especially products from the Amazonian Clay collection. Amazonian Clay Matte Waterproof Bronzer is nice because it doesn’t contain shimmer like many bronzers do, and it doesn’t have orange undertones.

 

This isn’t the most glamorous product on the list, but hey, everyone needs deodorant. The formula is made without baking soda (for all of you out there who have tried natural deodorant and ended up with rashes) and ACTUALLY works all day. It’s vegan and cruelty-free and has a light coconut smell which is refreshing, but not overwhelming. You can use code Everygirl25 for 25% off your first order.

 

 

I’ve been using this foundation on and off since high school and it provides great coverage. It does create matte skin though, so if you’re looking for a super dewy look then you may want to consider their tinted moisturizer, which I’ve also used and loved. It gives lighter coverage than the powder foundation, but you’ll definitely be glowing.

 

Are there any vegan and cruelty-free beauty products that have made their way into your routine?

The post I Made the Switch to Vegan Products—Here Are the Ones I Can’t Live Without appeared first on The Everygirl.

Beauty sleep is the stuff dreams are made of. The idea of waking up glowing with flowing locks with no more effort than counting a few sheep before you drift off is pretty appealing. But unfortunately, for most of my life, the idea of beauty sleep seemed too good to be true, and anyone who has woken up with pillow creases on their face and bedhead probably feel the same as I do.

Over the years, I’ve found the trick to actual beauty sleep — aside from the obvious advice to get shut eye to avoid dark circles — is in a good skin and hair routine. I’ve found some really effective products that actually work better when you’re sleeping. Who’s ready to hit the hay?

 

Skin Savers

Just like how your body needs a little R&R at night, so does your skin. Between 11pm and 4am, cell production can double, and if you’re in a deep sleep, you could see cell turnover increase by three times between the hours of 2am and 4pm. This means products that are designed to speed up skin healing — think exfoliating and brightening – work even better at night than they do in the day, (not to mention many of the stronger skincare products designed to fight acne, discoloration, and uneven texture can be too harsh to use during the day when your skin is exposed to sunscreen).

 

 

Glow Get It

Wind, indoor heaters, air conditioners, traveling, pollution — the list of what can make your skin dry goes on. Sure, your skin produces sebum in order to fight dryness, but even less is produced at night — meaning you’re at the highest risk of drying out your skin while you sleep. At night, you don’t have a protective layer of natural oils on your skin, and as a result you lose water from the skin. This is where super-moisturizing creams, oils, and masks come to the rescue.

 

 

Hair Repair

Unlike your skin, hair doesn’t heal itself on it’s own. In fact, it can’t heal at all, since there are no live cells in your hair. But, you can take some steps while sleeping to help mask some of the symptoms of damage. In fact you can wake up with smoother, cleaner-looking hair with minimal effort.

The post 10 Beauty Products That Work Better When You Sleep appeared first on The Everygirl.

In a perfect world, we’d have the time to brainstorm, plan, purchase, and rock the hell out of an amazing Halloween costume – but as a real human with real life responsibilities, I know that’s probably not going to happen. BUT you can absolutely still get in the spirit without having to make it this whole *thing* with these Halloween costumes that are pretty much just makeup! And makeup that I’m confident you’ve got lying around or use every day. We’re showing you how to do three super easy – but pretty effective – Halloween looks to pull out for that office Halloween spirit day, the party you got invited to, or just for, you know, being your spooky self.

 

Look One: Purrrrfectly Spooky Cat

Okay, so we all know a cat is not exactly the most original Halloween costume in the world. But you know what it is? Fast, easy, and freakin’ adorable. Our version is achieved with lots of liquid eyeliner and a pair of studded silver cat ears we snagged on Amazon for less than $10.

 

Watch Our Full Tutorial

 

 

You’ll Need

How to Get the Look

 

1. Start with your base ready to go. Achieve this however you normally do it — we aren’t going to tell you how to live your best base life. Finish by filling in your eyebrows or spoolie-ing them or whatever lights your eyebrow fire.

 

2. Next, apply your false lashes. I always like to do this before I do the rest of my eye makeup — your eyeshadow and eyeliner will help hide any residual glue and if your lashes make it through the rest of your makeup application, you can be reasonably assured they’ll make it through the rest of the night.

READ: 8 Steps to Gorgeous Faux Lashes

 

3. It’s eyeliner time! (It’s like Hammertime, only, you know… with eyeliner). For this look, we did a little feline flick (pun intended obviously) with our liner to get the full-on “cat” effect. Winged linger can be tricky, so be sure you have some cotton swabs and makeup remover on hand in case you need to quickly correct any mistakes.

NEED HELP? This video is amazing and so easy to follow.

 

4. After you master your wing, extend your eyeliner line past the edges of your eyes, toward your nose — on both the top and the bottom to increase the dramaaaa of the look. Let the liquid eyeliner dry, and then trace a line of white eyeliner (pencil preferred) in between the top and bottom lines.

 

5. Next up, layer neutral eyeshadows over your lids for a soft, blurred version of a smokey eye. Use as much or as little as you like — depending on how intense you want your eye look to be. Finish with a swipe of mascara.

 

6. Now that your eyes are done, grab your liquid eyeliner again and trace the outline of the tip of your nose to create a feline look. Dot each of your cheeks with the liner, then draw whiskers out from the center of the dots.

 

7. Finish with a bold red lip and your studded cat ears. You’re ready to slay — meeeeowwww!

Look Two: Sassy, Bronze-y Giraffe

This look is amazing because it looks SO MUCH harder than it actually is — meaning you’ll be showered with compliments all night while you shrug all cool like “nbd fans” … or something like that anyway. It’s all about a bronze-y face, the signature giraffe spots, and a hair look that mimics horns.

 

Watch Our Full Tutorial

 

 

You’ll Need

 

How to Get the Look

 

1. Start with your base ready to go, eyebrows lookin’ fly, face the perfect canvas for the masterpiece that awaits it.

 

2. Add your falsies! Remember, false eyelashes take a lot of practice — and even then they can be tricky to apply. Allow yourself plenty of time for trail and error, and if they really aren’t working, feel free to ditch them and invest in an amazing eyelash curler instead. This is your lewk to do with what you will.

READ: 8 Steps to Gorgeous Faux Lashes

 

3. Create a smokey eye with different shades of brown, bronze, and neutral eyeshadows. Layer your shadows until you get a really pigmented look — you want your eyes to stand out, especially after you apply your giraffe spots! Line your eyes with black or brown eyeliner pencil (tightline for a more dramatic effect!) and add a swipe of mascara to finish.

 

4. Now it’s time to add some color to your nose — you can either achieve this by contouring or simply shading in your nose with the same eyeshadow palette you used for the previous step. It’s more about adding color to your skin than reshaping your bone structure. Take the deepest brown shadow you have and buff it around the outline of your nose — to create the effect of an animal nose. Dust bronzer across your face and then add strategic pops of a highlighter to complete the look.

READ: Secrets from a Makeup Artist: How to Contour Your Face

 

5. Time for your spots! We used old-school makeup sponges to achieve the effect. Cut them with scissors until you have a good amount of shapes, edges, and sizes to choose from. Using a liquid makeup that is a few shades darker than your skin tone, apply to the back of your hand and dip one of your sponges until it has a good layer of product on it. Then, press the coated edge of the sponge to your face, creating your first spot. Repeat until you have a cascading pattern, starting from your forehead and moving down across your cheek and neck. You can also take the pattern all over your entire face — up to you!

 

6. Finish your makeup with a swipe of a brown or beige lipstick.

 

7. Time for your hair/horns! Two ways to do this — the first is to part your hair and then create space buns on either side, basically using all your hair to create the horns (here’s an example!). If you have thicker hair — like our lovely editor, Victoria — you can part your hair down the middle and then pull a small section from each side into a pony. On the last wrap, only pull a small amount of the hair through, to create a small loop or “horn” on each side. Bobby pin in place and then liberally add hairspray.

 

 

Look Three: Saucy Pirate

Our last look is the easiest yet — you can (literally) whip out this look in less than 10 minutes. It’s perfect for those incredibly last-minute parties that inevitably pop up in October (“oh, I forgot, wear a costume!”). The base of the look is a smokey, sexy eye and a bold lip. Finish with gold hoops and a silk scarf and ahoy! there lady, you’re ready to sail the high seas or at least drink some Captain Morgan.

Watch Our Full Tutorial

 

 

You’ll Need

 

How to Get the Look

 

1. Start with your base ready to go — take the time to perfect your skin and as an extra step, spray a setting primer over your whole face to ensure maximum makeup stickage, even in sweaty circumstances.

 

2. Apply your false lashes. Try using tweezers if you’re having trouble working with the falsies with just your fingers. I always recommend buying a pack of three as well — just in case you mess up and the first (or second) pair is unusable. Another pro tip: trim the lashes to better fit your eye shape — don’t be afraid to get the scissors in there .

READ: 8 Steps to Gorgeous Faux Lashes

 

3. Create a smokey eye with shades of plum, burgundy, and wine. Think deep purples for a regal yet spooky yet pirate chic look. That’s a thing, right? Keep layering the shadows for a deeply pigmented look and drag your shadow brush underneath the eye for more drama.

READ: Secrets from a Makeup Artist: How to Create the Perfect Smokey Eye

 

4. Eyeliner is up next! Get dramatic with your black eyeliner pencil for a very pirate-y look. We tightlined both the lower and upper waterlines, then went back and built up both lines for a truly eyeliner-forward effect. Finish with a swipe of mascara.

 

5. Round out your makeup with a bold, dark lip. Choose a purple-ish shade that complements your smokey eye. And remember — there is no going over the top, this is Halloween! Choose a longwear lipstick to ensure it stays alllllll night.

 

6. Take your silk scarf and fold it in half. Then drape it over your head until the edge is resting in the middle of your forehead. Bobby pin the sides in place until you have a nice cascading effect. You can knot the scarf in the back of your head if you like, or just let the bobby pins do their work. Spray liberally with hairspray to ensure the scarf won’t budge. Add your large gold hoops (go big or go home) to complete your look.

 

 

Which look is your favorite? Do you have your Halloween costume ready to go yet? Tell us in the comments below! 

The post 3 Easy Halloween Looks You Can Do With Just Makeup appeared first on The Everygirl.