Spilling The Tea On Glowing Skin: How Drinking Tea Can Improve Your Skin From The Inside Out

One easy way to do this is by sipping on some good old fashioned tea. 

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Getting That Brew-tea-ful Glow 

The most basic explanation for why tea is good for your skin is because it’s hydrating. We all know that drinking enough water is vital for our overall health, but it’s especially true in regard to the appearance of your skin. Staying hydrated increases your skin’s elasticity, resulting in fewer fine lines and an overall fresher appearance. 

On top of being ultra-quenching for your skin, tea is loaded with potent antioxidants called catechins. In a nutshell, antioxidants combat free radicals – a.k.a. your skin’s worst enemy –since they speed up signs of aging. Free radicals occur naturally, but they’re also generated in the body by a poor diet and environmental factors like air pollution. By introducing more antioxidant-rich foods and beverages into your diet – like tea – you can reduce free radicals, resulting in more vibrant skin.

The good news? Every single variety of tea contains antioxidants, so your skin will get some love no matter what type is your “cup of tea.” That said, some varieties address specific skin issues better than others. Read on to see which variety will have your skin looking tea-riffic.   

Peppermint Tea for Treating Hormonal Acne 

Ever notice those little blemishes that pop up right around the time Aunt Flo pays her monthly visit? That’s a sign that your hormones may be out of whack. The menthol in peppermint tea (or spearmint, or a mint blend) has been shown to help clear up hormonal acne. Menthol helps to balance your hormones, which slows down the production of excess sebum, leaving your skin blemish-free. 

Partners Coffee Roasters Moroccan Mint Tea, $10 

Mountain Rose Herbs Mint Tea, $6

Chamomile Tea for Beauty Sleep

Embrace your inner sleeping beauty with a chamomile tea nightcap. A restful night’s sleep is a basic pillar of health, but sometimes – particularly when we’re stressed – sleep eludes us. And when that happens, the effects are written all over our face. That’s because our skin goes into repair mode when we’re snoozing, restoring itself and repairing any damage we caused during the day. If we’re not sleeping, we’re missing out on this vital time of restoration, which can lead to any number of skin concerns. 

Give your concealer a break and allow your skin to revitalize itself by sipping chamomile tea before bed. It encourages calm and relaxation for the mind and body, which helps you shift into your parasympathetic nervous system, leading to a better night’s sleep. Another way to wake up your skin? Place steeped chamomile tea bags over your eyes (after they cool, of course) to reduce puffiness. 

Art of Tea Lavender Chamomile Rose Blend, $24

Rooibos Tea for Anti-Aging

We all want to avoid signs of aging. Treating yourself to a mug of rooibos tea is an easy way to stay looking youthful. In addition to being loaded with antioxidants and zinc, rooibos tea is loaded with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). AHAs encourage skin cell turnover by loosening up the gluelike substance that binds the cells together. This results in new cell growth – meaning fresh, dewy skin for you. An extra bonus? Rooibos tea has also been shown to promote hair growth. 

Pique Rooibos Vitality Elixir, $16

White Tea for Rejuvenation

We already know that all teas contain antioxidants, but as far as non-fermented varieties go, white tea takes the cake. Additionally, research suggests that white tea may prevent the breakdown of collagen and elastin, both of which promote your skin’s elasticity. We all lose collagen and elastin in our skin as we age, so maintaining as much as possible is key to a radiant, youthful complexion. 

Pique White Peony Organic White Tea, $16

Green Tea for Reducing Inflammation 

When it comes to tea for healthy skin, it seems like green tea gets all the hype. And to be honest, it makes sense, given its almost magical ability to reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammation reduction is key to clearing up acne and strengthening sensitive skin. 

Mountain Rose Herbs Green Sunrise Tea, $10

Pique Sun Goddess Matcha, $58

Pu’er Tea for Clear Skin 

If you feel like trying something more adventurous than your average tea, give pu’er – a traditional Chinese beverage – a try. Unlike most teas, pu’er (pronounced poo-erh) is fermented, which gives it a deeper flavor and even more polyphenols than any other tea. And since it undergoes the fermentation process, it includes a multitude of gut health benefits. 

Traditionally, pu’er (or pu-erh) is sold as a disc-like cake, but Art of Tea makes a user-friendly loose-leaf variety. And tea prep truly doesn’t get any easier than the Pique Fermented Pu’er Green Tea crystals. 

Art of Tea Naked Pu-erh Tea, $26

Pique Pu’er Green Tea, $58

Quality Matters

In order to get the most benefits out of your tea – and to avoid any pesticides that could do more harm to your skin than good – try to purchase organic varieties. Keep in mind you’ll be brewing the leaves in hot water, which can cause trace amounts of pesticides to seep out of conventionally grown tea leaves, even if they’ve been rinsed before packaging. Another note on hot water exposure: Make sure you avoid plastic tea bags, which can leak out microplastics when brewing. Your best bet is to use a brand with paper tea bags. Or better yet, play it safe and switch to loose leaf. 

Closing Thoughts 

No matter which tea piques your interest, you can feel good about sipping on a drink that not only tastes good, but is aiding your body’s overall health by reducing oxidative stress. And you’ll wear the effects all over your radiant, beautifully glowing face. 

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