The Best Teas for a Healthy Complexion
If you’ve ever wondered about a natural way to enhance the health of your complexion, look no further than delicious and enjoyable teas. The average American spends over $3,000 each year on their skincare regimen, but beyond expensive products and elaborate nighttime routines, many teas contain powerful compounds that can nourish your skin and create a healthy, glowing complexion. The key to tea’s positive impact on the skin lies in its ability to address particular skin concerns, such as acne, inflammation, eczema, and more. In this blog, we will dive into which teas offer which benefits and the science behind why that is.
- Teas with Anti-inflammatory Properties
- Teas for Dry Skin
- Detoxifying Teas
- Skin-soothing Teas
- Antioxidant Protection
Teas with Anti-inflammatory Properties
Certain teas offer anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce redness, calm irritation, and promote a more balanced complexion.
Green tea in particular is known for its high content of catechins, which offer potent anti-inflammatory effects. The catechin epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, in green tea has the potential to inhibit the activity of enzymes that contribute to skin inflammation.
Learn More: The Magic of Green Tea
Chamomile tea has been used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory, and it can play a big role in skincare and complexion. This tea contains compounds like chamazulene and bisabolol that have soothing effects on the skin. Chamomile is particularly beneficial for those who have sensitive or acne-prone skin.
You Should Try: Japanese Cherry, Organic Chamomile
Teas for Dry Skin
While tea won’t solve all of your dry skin problems, incorporating specific teas into your routine can provide additional hydration and nourishment.
Oolong tea contains antioxidants that help retain moisture and enhance skin elasticity. Consistent consumption is shown to enhance overall hydration and help with the appearance of dry skin.
Some teas can even be used topically, such as rooibos tea. In addition to offering hydrating benefits when consumed, you can also use rooibos as a topical rinse to alleviate symptoms caused by dry skin.
You Should Try: Lemon Basil Oolong, Orange Cream Rooibos
Detoxifying Teas
“Detox” is a loose term and can have many meanings, but when it comes to tea for your skin we are talking about eliminating potential toxins that contribute to common skin problems.
Teas that are rich in antioxidants, such as green teas and white teas can help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body. These free radicals are notorious for contributing to skin damage and aging. Adding green and white teas to your diet can reduce oxidative stress and support the body’s natural detoxification process.
Cleansing properties are also apparent in certain herbal teas. While tea alone won’t completely change the appearance of your skin, incorporating them into a well-balanced diet can help with the overall detoxification process and make a difference in your skin.
You Should Try: White Orchard Iced Tea, Organic Peppermint
Skin-soothing Teas
Tea can help the skin in other ways besides simply drinking it. In fact, applying warm tea bags or using tea-infused products can have an extremely soothing effect.
Black tea contains natural astringent properties that can help tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of pores when applied topically. This gives the skin a smoother, more even texture and can help decrease redness and itching.
You Should Try: 901 of a Kind, Black Currant Decaf
Antioxidant Protection
While antioxidant content can vary depending on quality, preparation method, and brewing time, most teas offer some kind of antioxidant protection.
Matcha is a type of green tea that comes in powdered form. Since it’s made from shade-grown leaves, its antioxidant content is enhanced. When you consume matcha, you’re consuming the entire leaf, maximizing your intake of its antioxidants.
You Should Try: Main Street Matcha
Shop My Cup of Tea
Want to learn more about how you can incorporate tea into your skincare routine? Head over to Youtube where Bretta discusses some common conditions you can use tea to combat. While you're at it, check out our She Steeps Series for more tea fun.
My Cup of Tea is a non-profit in Memphis, TN that serves as an office, packing hub, retail store, and place of refuge for the women of Orange Mound. Our mission is to provide women in our community with the tools they need to thrive. We import the highest quality tea from tea estates and gardens in the Far East where they are weighed, re-formatted, and packaged for sale by the women who work here. Your purchase of our teas or other products opens a pathway for positive change and upward mobility for the courageous women who create them. Learn more about our story here.