Teas offer many health benefits inside and out — but did you know that herbal teas are also great for our skin? I recommend drinking the tea to see benefits, but some can also be applied directly to your skin or used as an extract. There are so many teas that support health, and each of these herbs work in their own unique way to keep your skin looking beautiful. So what tea is good for skin? Here are some of my favorites.
Here Are 7 Teas That Contain Properties Known To Support Healthy Glowing Skin:
1. Burdock Root Tea
Burdock root is an herbal tea made from the root of the burdock plant. This ancient less-known root can support many health and skin benefits.
Whether you have dry skin, acne, eczema, or psoriasis, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in burdock root may be a great choice to promote glowing skin! The bioactive antioxidant compounds in burdock root stimulate healthy blood circulation and fight the effect of free radical damage playing a role in cell death, premature aging, autoimmune disorders, and the body’s inflammatory response.
Free radicals are harmful to healthy skin and their damaging effects accumulate with increased age, so antioxidants, like those found in the burdock root, may help reduce inflammation, and support healthy, vibrant skin as you age.
2. Chicory Tea
Fresh chicory root is composed of 70% inulin, a type of insoluble fiber that acts like a prebiotic, by feeding the beneficial bacteria in the gut. Beneficial bacteria play a role in gut health, healthy bowel movements, stabilizing blood sugar, and skin health. Chicory root is also known for aiding the absorption of minerals, such as calcium.
If you are a coffee-lover, chicory coffee is touted as a healthy alternative to the standard brew. Chicory coffee is made from the roasted and ground root. It is a caffeine-free alternative that has a flavor remarkably similar to regular coffee without all the caffeine to dehydrate your skin.
Chicory root contains beta-carotene which is known for its antioxidant and photoprotecting benefits (helping increase the skin health from sun from the inside out).
3. Fennel Tea
Fennel contains valuable minerals like zinc, calcium, and selenium. These minerals are valuable nutrients to, supporting healthy glowing skin. A study on the benefits of fennel tea found links to skin-supporting properties, such as antioxidant, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activity.
It contains many vitamins such as Vitamin A, E, C, and B, and several antioxidants. Vitamin A converts to retinol in the liver and stimulates the production of new skin cells. Vitamin B-3, or niacin, plays a role in promoting healthy new skin cells to improve skin tone and texture and may help reduce some signs of skin aging by fighting off free radicals. Vitamin C & E are potent antioxidants that can neutralize free radicals and protect the skin from damage.
4. Rooibos Tea
Rooibos tea has a sweet, nutty flavor with hints of caramel, vanilla, and smoky essence. Its health benefits are due to its high levels of health-promoting antioxidants, including aspalathin and quercetin.
Aspalathin helps balance blood sugar levels and reduces insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is associated with skin and hair issues, including acne, hyperpigmentation, skin tags, and hair loss. Rooibos tea is the only natural source of aspalathin.
Quercetin is a highly beneficial bioflavonoid indicated for possessing protective abilities against skin tissue injuries, such as age spots, spider veins, and wrinkles.
Because rooibos tea is naturally caffeine-free, low in tannins, and contains no oxalic acid, it’s an excellent alternative to coffee as well as black or green tea. Tannins and oxalic acid, natural compounds present in green and black tea, interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients and minerals that can negatively impact healthy skin function.
5. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile is a silky, soothing, delicately floral herbal tea with gentle notes of apple and mellow honey-like sweetness. It contains apigenin, an antioxidant that prevents UVB-induced skin damage. The antineoplastic properties of apigenin help prevent and reverse abnormal skin formations. Apigenin also supports a healthy skin microbiome to enhance the skin’s barrier protection ability.
Apigenin also binds to specific receptors in your brain and aids sleepiness. Getting proper beauty sleep can combat those dark circles popping up beneath your eyes and help you look and feel revitalized. Topically, you can put chamomile tea bags on your eyes to reduce the puffiness and get rid of that tired look.
Chamomile also supports proper digestion, which is extremely important for healthy skin and overall health.
6. Dandelion Tea
There are two common ways to drink dandelion tea — an infusion made of the plant’s leaves, or a roasted version made from the dandelion roots. Dandelion tea has antiseptic, packed with antioxidants and diuretic properties that can be a powerful weapon in maintaining healthy skin. The vitamin C dandelion contains a powerful antioxidant that can help rid the body of toxins, protect skin cells from damage, reduce inflammation, and speed the healing process.
Dandelions can also support a healthy digestive system by maintaining the proper bile flow and mineral absorption. Both vitamin and mineral deficiencies can lead to skin issues by breaking down a healthy microbiome, which leaves the skin vulnerable to the attack from harmful bacteria and the effect of environmental hazards.
According to research, all parts of the dandelion plant contain many natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, and regularly drinking dandelion tea could promote better health overall by reducing inflammation.
7. Green Tea
What does green tea do for your skin? Green tea is renowned for its numerous health benefits, including skin health. Rich in antioxidants, particularly catechins, green tea helps protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals. These free radicals can lead to premature aging.
In addition, green tea contains polyphenols, which have been shown to help promote a more youthful-looking and radiant complexion. Incorporating green tea into your routine can give leave your skin healthier and more resilient.
How to Brew a Delicious Skin Loving Cup of Tea:
While boiling the water, add 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of fresh or dried herb to a tea infuser. Place the tea infuser inside your mug and fill with about 8 ounces of the hot water. Allow to steep 5-15 minutes, depending on how strong you want your tea and if it contains leaves or roots. More time is needed for steeping tea roots compared to tea leaves.
Tips:
- Double the amount of herbs if you plan to make iced tea.
- Add one or more of these herbs to your daily cup of green tea.
- Infuse your drinking water with one or more of these herbs and sip on it all day long.
And here’s my delicious Coffee Substitute Recipe:
Skin-Nourishing Coffee Substitute
Miss your morning cup of coffee? No need to feel deprived with this nourishing, warm drink, but without the overstimulating, dehydrating effects of traditional caffeinated coffee. I use dandelion root with added natural vanilla, but you can add natural vanilla yourself if you like.
Servings: 6 -8-ounce servings
- 6 cups filtered water
- 1 tbsp granulated, roasted dandelion root
- 1 tbsp granulated, roasted chicory root
- 1 tbsp rooibos tea
- Unsweetened coconut milk
- In a saucepan, boil the water.
- Place the herbs in a tea ball, or loose in the water, and steep for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Strain and serve plain or with coconut milk (if using).
For a richer option, add 1/2 teaspoon organic virgin coconut oil per cup, or 1 tablespoon per pot. For a creamier latte style, combine the tea with 1/2 teaspoon organic virgin coconut oil per cup and coconut milk, to taste, in a blender. Blend for 5 to 10 seconds. For sweetness, add a dash of stevia powder or ground cinnamon. Serve warm.
Enjoy the healthy glow!
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