Teas offer us so many health benefits—inside and out. Some teas can reduce bad cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease, while others have antibacterial properties and can combat sleep issues. But did you know that teas are also great for our skin?
To see benefits, you can drink, apply directly to your skin, or use extracts. There are so many to choose from, and each of them works in its own unique way to keep your skin looking beautiful.
The Best Teas for Your Skin
It all starts from within. When your insides are working correctly, it shows on the outside. And most importantly, tea starts with water—the most essential part of keeping skin healthy. People have been drinking tea for thousands of years, and it’s clear why.
1. 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 bags 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.
2. Jasmine tea
Not only does it smell beautiful, jasmine tea actually has antioxidant and antibacterial properties that keep your immune system healthy [source]. It relaxes and dilates the blood vessels to bring a rich blood supply with all of its nutrients to the skin [source].
It can prevent the signs of aging, helps with healing wounds [source], and even treats skin conditions like acne [source].
3. Green tea
Green tea is also packed full of sun damage-fighting agents. Too much sun exposure can increase your risk for skin cancer and age your skin prematurely.
The catechins in green tea, like EGCG [source], are potent polyphenols that can fight free radicals and thus reduce skin damage, give protection from ultraviolet rays, and prevent wrinkle formation [source].
These powerful catechins have also been shown to revive dying skin cells and promote healthy new cells. Try this Green Tea Energy Drink for a great skin boost.
4. Rooibos
Also known as Red Bush Tea, rooibos has been used for thousands of years in South Africa and can treat a variety of skin conditions. It’s thought that the flavonoids in rooibos fight unwanted pathogens and keep eczema and acne flare-ups at bay.
This red tea even fights against the signs of aging, thanks to superoxide dismutase [source]. It has powerful antioxidants that work to neutralize free radicals [source] and slow the appearance of fine lines. Try it in this Rooibos Sun Tea.
5. Black tea
Packed with antioxidants, black tea fights also free radicals in the body (seeing a little theme here with tea?) and slows the signs of aging. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and encourages a healthy immune system due to the high caffeine levels [source], which can prevent colds and viruses that negatively affect our skin.
Next time you’re thinking about enjoying a cup of tea, try applying a cool black tea rinse directly to the face.
6. Dandelion tea
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.
7. Ginger tea
Ginger tea is full of anti-inflammatory power to aid your digestion and your skin [source]. 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.
8. 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 [source]. It is also a powerful antioxidant and inhibits bacteria [source], which can help control aging and acne.
9. White tea
White tea has even more antioxidants than green tea and has the highest catechin content! This is because it’s the least processed type of tea. It has great antibacterial properties that can fight several types of skin conditions.
Our skin contains enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), which break down the collagen in our skin and increase with age [source]. White tea prevents the increased levels of MMP from reducing the levels of collagen and elastin—both necessary for healthy skin [source].
10. Oolong tea
With benefits from both black and green teas, oolong tea really has a taste unlike other teas, but it’s full of health and beauty benefits. It can improve the color of your skin, reduce dark spots, and might even help fight sun and smoking damage [source]. This makes this tea definitely worth trying!
11. Kombucha
Kombucha tea, made from fermented black and green tea, is great for detoxifying the skin. It contains all of the antioxidants that those teas do. So it’s great for reducing fine lines and improving skin elasticity to give you a vivacious complexion.
It can even be used as a topical astringent and treatment for sunburns. The natural probiotics found in kombucha also have numerous health benefits [source].
12. Matcha
Originating from Japan, this bright green tea is rich in nutrients and known for detoxifying the skin. It contains antioxidants, chlorophyll, and catechins to help fight bacterial infections.
The amount of catechins in matcha has been shown to be much higher than what is in regular green tea [source]. Matcha powder is becoming very common to use in face masks, creams, and lotions, but you can still drink a cup or two to reap the benefits!
Try it in this easy matcha latte. Look for “ceremonial-grade” matcha for the highest health benefits.