You know that drinking certain kinds of tea can be good for your health, but did you know that some teas also have skin benefits? Teas have the capacity to keep your skin hydrated, reverse the effects of UV damage, and reduce inflammation. Herbal teas can be used to combat acne. They may not always produce dramatic results but they are well tolerated and produce far fewer side effects that regular acne medications. There are a lot of botanical blends that can have positive effects on skin!
Here are some tea recipes you can drink to improve your skin:
CHAMOMILE TEA
Chamomile has been used in traditional medicine for many centuries by healers of different cultures including the Egyptians and the Greeks. It is still used to treat the same health conditions and skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema and acne and pigmentation on skin. The active ingredients in chamomile include bisabolol, chamazulene, farnesene, flavonoids and coumarin.
How to make: Chamomile tea is prepared by steeping its dried flowers for 10 – 15 minutes. The brew must be covered during preparation to prevent the evaporation of the volatile oils present in the herb. Thereafter, the marc left of the steeped flower should be pressed to break the plant cell walls and release more of the active ingredients into the tea solution.
GREEN TEA
Too much sun can be damaging to the skin and cause early signs of aging. Studies have shown that drinking green tea may actually help reduce your risk of skin cancer! Green tea can decrease inflammation associated with aging, as well as protect against sunburns and potentially long-term UV damage. Besides, green tea keeps metabolism balanced which in turn keeps skin healthy and acne-free.
How to make: Green tea is prepared by simply steeping green tea leaves in hot water. Strain and add lemon or honey whatever you prefer. Drink two times a day.
ROOIBOS TEA
Also known as red tea, rooibos is made from a South African red bush and is caffeine-free. It contains aspalathin and nothofagin, two chemical compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties. The flavonoids in rooibos have shown to possess anti-inflammatory functions, which makes it useful for treating skin conditions like rosacea or acne. The tea is also hypoallergenic, and can help protect the skin from irritants. Rooibos tea can be used as a cleanser or a toner when applied on the skin.
How to make: Add the teabag or loose tea to your favourite cup. Pour boiling water over. Let your Rooibos tea steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, remove the tea bag or infuser. Add extras (like honey or lemon) to taste, but take a sip first – you may find you love Rooibos just as it is!
WHITE TEA
White tea is another tea for skin that you can enjoy for its mild flavour and skin benefiting qualities! White teas contain antioxidants like most other teas which help fight off the effects of the environment. However, white teas are the least processed and have the highest amount of antioxidants.
How to make: Fill the teapot with very hot pure spring water and add white tea leaves. Cover and steep tea for about 5 minutes. For stronger flavour, steep for a few minutes longer. Resteep the leaves once or twice to extract all the nutrients.