What Are the Best Teas for Clear Skin?

At the mere mention of tea, the idea of a piping hot cuppa comes to mind with a peaceful calming sensation overtaking the body; that is only the beginning of the endless benefits, healing properTEAs' and effects of drinking a simple cup. What about using tea on your skin?

Whilst the benefits are endless, tea has proven to be much more versatile and has been used as a face mask, hair spray and even adds value to your garden long after it has been brewed. When it comes to the benefits of tea on your skin, we have travelled the world (one cup at a time) and found the best treatments for treating acne, dark marks, skin tone issues and a host of other problems. Tea is naturally packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, as a result, it has been used in anti-ageing skincare products and creams.

Here is a list of 7 teas and their benefits on our skin (with recipes):

1. GREEN TEA

Whilst a lot of people do not enjoy drinking this flavour, you can still reap the benefits by making a Face Mask! Green tea treats dark patches under the eyes, acts as an exfoliator, brings a glow and shine to your face, and also reduces any excess secretion of sebum.

Mask Recipe: Take the contents of 1 tea bag or loose-leaf equivalent, add ½ teaspoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon of raw honey. Mix everything into a paste and then apply it with your hands onto your clean, damp skin.

As a homemade mask this can get messy, so protect your hairline and rinse it off with warm water after 10 minutes. For better results, grind the tea leaves into a fine powder before adding the rest of the ingredients.

2. BLACK TEA

This is great for ageing skin, as it contains free radicals that replenish your skin almost instantly when you splash it directly onto your face or spray it in with a spray bottle.
Simply brew your tea, then let it cool down. Put it in a spray bottle and place it in the fridge. Use it before going to bed and when you need to soothe your skin.

3. LEMONGRASS TEA

Apart from the delicious flavour, it gives off as herbal tea and as an added flavour to normal white tea, this guy is an excellent detoxifying agent. It not only cleanses your internal system but is great for getting rid of blemishes and acne. As you did with the black tea, once you brew your lemongrass tea, strain it into a spray bottle, let it cool completely and apply it to your face daily.

4. MATCHA TEA

The mere mention of this word takes you back to its origins in Japan. This tea is known to be the best source of antioxidants and chlorophyll which is great in detoxifying your skin. Matcha tea can also be used as a face mask or as a daily spray, to accomplish a spot-free and clean looking complexion.

5. KOMBUCHA/ KOMBUCHA MUSHROOM TEA

You've probably heard about this and seen many YouTube videos on how to make your own at home, but you've yet to understand why this is still a trending tea. This tea is lightly fermented and is made using Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast/ SCOBY. It detoxifies your skin (not just your digestion) and hydrates your skin, improving its elasticity. By simply drinking this tea regularly or applying it as a mask, you will be able to improve your skin tone, texture, and clarity, brighten and visibly reduce wrinkles and fine lines. When using it as a mask, let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse off with warm
water.

6. OOLONG TEA

This humble and delicious flavour contains antioxidants that help remove toxins from your skin, which is key to reducing age spots. Apart from reducing wrinkles and dark spots this tea also protects your skin from harmful UV rays from the sun. Simply mask a paste and apply it to your clean damp skin for best results.

Too much of a good thing

Yes, it's true if you have too much of anything, it can have adverse effects. The same can be said for Peppermint tea and pregnant women. As the tea does contain some properties that increase the chances of a miscarriage, pregnant women should limit their consumption or avoid this tea altogether if they have higher risk profiles. It's also not great for breastfeeding mums, there are properties and oils in the tea that can cause breathing issues in infants.

If you have an unwanted relationship with acid reflux, you should probably avoid this tea as well. Peppermint can increase your heartburn and indigestion symptoms in the case of GERD sufferers. But it's not all bad, Peppermint tea is great for treating insect bites and skin rashes, there are also anti-inflammatory agents inside that help reduce redness on the skin caused by acne. It contains a natural antiseptic that prevents the build-up of bacteria responsible for clogging up pores.

How to prepare your fresh mint leaves for tea

If you're adding fresh mint leaves to a cup/ pot of boiling water, it's best to boil your water first, let it relax for a minute/ 2, then add your leaves

to the pot. Let them sit in the pot/ cup covered for at least 5 minutes or longer before drinking. The longer you leave it to brew, the deeper the flavour will develop. Simply strain and enjoy.

Bonus:

Our tea list does not end there, if you love your herbal teas and are a fan of Rooibos, check out our previous post on all the great health benefits for your body and skin here: