Beauteaful Skin

A cup of tea makes everything better, even your skin. A staple drink renowned for its calming and energising benefits, tea is increasingly gaining popularity in skincare thanks to its active ingredients.

From black to green, oolong, matcha and non-caffeinated varieties including rooibos, lavender, jasmine and dandelion among many others, there's a wide array of options available.

Cold brew infusions allow even non-tea drinkers to enjoy tea. During the heatwaves of this past summer, I enjoyed cold brews infused with hibiscus, rosehip and peppermint for hydration. Aside from sipping, I also used peppermint tea as a cooling mist and hibiscus and rosehip tea to soothe the occasional rash. In fact, I credit my glowing skin in part to the tea ingredients in my skincare routine.

Tea is potent in antioxidants, phytochemicals such as polyphenols, and vitamins and minerals.

Phytochemicals in tea play a vital role in maintaining the beauty of your skin, whether consumed or applied topically.

Caffeine, a potent antioxidant, promotes skin circulation, tightens the skin and shields it from harmful UV rays.

Tannins found in black tea are naturally antimicrobial and help reduce breakouts.

Flavanols such as myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol protect the skin and possess anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties.

Catechins, phenolic compounds found in tea, lower inflammation, improve blood circulation and fight free radical damage. An active catechin in green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), is present in green tea-infused skincare products, slowing down ageing and minimising breakouts by limiting sebum production.

L-theanine, responsible for the relaxation after drinking tea, occurs naturally in black and green teas. It hydrates the skin by permeating it, retaining water and reducing skin irritation.

AHAs found in rooibos tea gently exfoliate the skin when applied and activate superoxide dismutase, enhancing youthful skin.

Tea also contains essential minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium, which hydrate and strengthen the skin's moisture barrier. Zinc is restorative, while manganese, rich in all teas, stimulates the amino acid prolinase, which synthesizes collagen to enhance skin suppleness. It also fuels the skin's microcirculation, improving texture and natural tone. Choline promotes lipid metabolism in the skin, preventing excessive oiliness and dryness.

Tea is rich in vitamins as well. Vitamin A, an exfoliant, improves the skin's tone and texture while combatting hyperpigmentation. Vitamin C prevents sun damage, reduces wrinkles, dark spots and acne. Vitamin B1 is essential for skin regeneration, while vitamin B5 attracts and preserves moisture for skin elasticity. Vitamin B6 helps prevent oily skin spots through sebum reduction.

Here are some tips on how to care for your skin with tea…

Soak

Steep two tea bags in a bathtub and soak up the benefits.

Scrub

Remove toxins, reduce age spots, pigmentation and fine lines by mixing the contents of a green or oolong tea bag with coconut, olive or jojoba oil, then apply and leave for 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water.

Mask

For velvety skin, mix matcha, cinnamon, honey and boiled water. Apply gently, leave for 20 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

Chill

Apply chilled black tea bags directly to your eyes to allow the caffeine to reduce puffiness. For tired eyes, use chamomile tea bags and rooibos for fine lines. Avoid using warm teabags, as this can worsen swelling.

Tone

Splash brewed, cooled and refrigerated tea onto your face for a quick pick-me-up. 

Some of My Favourite Tea Tips

• Use cooled peppermint or spearmint tea for hormonal acne.
• Lemongrass tea is antibacterial and prevents blemishes. Steep, cool and apply regularly with a cotton ball or as a toning mist.
• Kombucha tea, fermented and rich in probiotics, is antibacterial, exfoliates and brightens the skin.
• Moisturise with calendula tea extracts to condition your skin.