Ancient beauty is officially back: Jade rollers are a skin care staple, dry brushing is trending, and oil massages are on spa menus across the country. The next age-old beauty secret to enter the mainstream? Herbal teas. Both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda have been incorporating the power of tea into skincare regimens for centuries, and 5,000 years later, we are following suit.

While we love slathering on various skincare products for our blemishes, wrinkles, and other skin issues, we often forget that nourishing the skin from within plays a far larger role to how our skin looks like. Teas, when ingested, help the skin because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The best part about tea is that it is almost like a three-part self-care checklist as you are hydrating yourself; you’re soothing, detoxing, or protecting your skin; and you’re creating a positive habit that becomes a ritual. Of course, as with any skincare product, consistency is key in order to see results.

Herbal teas are the gentlest form of Herbal Medicine, and do not contain caffeine, which makes them ideal for those of us who are caffeine sensitive, insomniacs or generally want to avoid stimulants. Herbal teas are a great ally for health and beauty, as the root to these problems more often than not originates internally, and should be treated from within.

We have chosen our fav Herbal TeAs to focus on for this article:

Chamomile tea

Sleep is imperative for maintaining a glowing complexion, which may make chamomile the most popular tea for skin. When you aren’t sleeping well, your mirror will show you the effects. Next time you see dark circles creeping up, put some chamomile tea leaves (in a muslin tea bag) on your eyes to reduce the puffiness and get rid of that tired look. It’s relaxing properties also make this a great tea for red, irritated skin. And not only does chamomile promote relaxation and sleep, but it’s full of quercetin, which protects your skin from sun damage with its potent antioxidant properties.

Dandelions aren’t just weeds that take over your garden. They’re delicious in salads, make great tea, and have amazing benefits for your skin and internal organs. Dandelion root tea is full of antioxidants and immune-enhancing properties that help to keep your skin young and fresh. Best known as a great detoxifier and supporter of liver function, it can aid digestion, which also affects the appearance of skin. We literally find dandelions in the wild and make TeA from them. 

Ginger tea 

Ginger tea is full of anti-inflammatory power to aid your digestion and your skin. It’s been shown that when the digestive tract is off, skin can also suffer, and annoying dermatologic conditions can arise. Ginger also helps prevent colds, which can weaken our immune systems and affect our outer beauty.

Peppermint tea

This herb helps more than just an upset stomach. The menthol in peppermint makes this tea a great choice for oily skin by slowing oil production and encouraging cell turnover. This gets rid of dead skin cells and keeps your skin constantly glowing. It has been shown to be useful in the treatment of itchy skin conditions, such as eczema and dermatitis. It is also a powerful antioxidant and inhibits bacteria, which can help control aging and acne.

In addition to sipping teas for better skin health, science says applying them topically also results in some super beauty benefits.

Plus, making your own natural skin care products at home using tea means you won’t ever have to worry about harmful, harsh chemicals on your delicate skin.

Make your own TeA Face Steam

Face steaming is one of the simplest ways to deep clean the skin – eliminating toxins, opening pores, increasing blood circulation (bringing oxygenated blood to the surface of the skin), brightening your complexion, softening and plumping wrinkles and hydrating the skin - at the deepest layers.

Pour your chosen tea leaves into a large ceramic bowl, add some boiling water to the bowl, let the leaves brew for a few minutes and then hold your face over the steam. For best results, place a towel over your head to keep the steam from escaping. We recommend steaming your face once a week.

Make a Face Mask or Scrub with TeA

Instead of spending a fortune on face masks and pricey facial scrubs, you can use any of our herbal teas for DIY face mask or scrub.

To make a face mask: Mix your tea leaves with a touch of raw, unpasteurized honey and olive oil. Apply to your face and leave on for about 15 minutes. When time’s up, simply wipe it off with warm water and a clean towel.

To make a facial scrub: Mix your tea leaves with a bit of raw, unpasteurized honey, olive oil, and coarse sugar. The more sugar you add, the more exfoliation you’ll have. Scrub it all off, and you’ll slough away dirt, dead skin cells, and more.

So now your next step is to choose your favourite tea to sip on while you whip up a homemade tea mask, scrub, or spray. You’ll create a luxurious spa experience at home using only natural ingredients.