Sipping a mug of tea can be super relaxing after a long day, but did you know that this herbal remedy actually has some amazing skin care benefits?
“Teas are rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties, which are beneficial for the skin in many ways,” says Dr. Debra Jaliman, MD, board-certified dermatologist in New York City and author of Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist.
Just keep in mind that if you’re drinking tea with caffeine, you shouldn’t have more than 400 milligrams a day, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The good news is that you can also reap the benefits of green tea, white tea, black tea and more by applying and using tea-infused skin care products.
Find out what some of your favorite teas can do for your complexion, along with our product picks for each. Tea time, anyone?
1. FOREO UFO Activated Masks - Green Tea (6 count)
Green tea contains lots of antioxidants, which helps protect the skin against free radicals that wreak havoc on the body, such as damaging DNA, collagen, elastic tissue and accelerating the aging process. Dr. Jaliman notes that green tea may also help protect against skin cancer—although you should always put on a broad-spectrum sunscreen before heading outside.
This colorful face mask doesn’t just look ridiculously cool, but it’s also a wonderful treatment for your skin, thanks to its green tea concentrate and squalane enriched formula. This mask works deep to alleviate puffiness and redness, boosting radiance and leaving skin fresh and healthy looking.
2. ARCONA White Tea Purifying Cleanser (3.67 oz.)
It turns out that white tea is quite the skin care superstar! “White tea contains the same types of antioxidants as green tea but in greater quantity,” says Dr. Jaliman. A 2013 study published in the journal
Bio Med Central Complementary and Alternative Medicine tested the anti-aging and antioxidant properties of more than 20 plant extracts including white tea and green tea and researchers discovered that white tea had much higher levels of antioxidants than green tea.
Washing your face might seem like a throwaway step in your daily routine, but the right cleanser can make all the difference when it comes to how your skin looks. This cleanser features an antioxidant-rich formula boosted with white and green teas—and that’s not all. It also contains cranberry enzymes to clarify, Yucca, vitamin E and aloe to help balance your complexion’s pH levels.
4. R+Co TEACUP Peacholine Kombucha Detox Rinse 6 fl. oz.
Black tea is the tea you’re probably most familiar with—think English Breakfast and Darjeeling. Just because it’s part of your everyday life doesn’t mean you should replace it with something fancier. According to a study published in the journal
Current Pharmaceutical Design, black tea contains a similar amount of polyphenols as green tea.
Formulated with fermented sweet black tea (kombucha), peach leaf, sunflower extract and vitamin E, this moisturizer offers a major boost of hydration and radiance for dry, dehydrated skin.
5. ClarityRx Take Care Daily Antioxidant Red Tea Serum (1 fl. oz.)
Like the other teas we’ve told you about here, red tea—which is more commonly called rooibos tea—also contains a variety of antioxidants, explains Dr. Jaliman. Although most
studies done on rooibos tea have been conducted on rats, the results are still promising. Researchers shared that the antioxidants found in rooibos tea are better at protecting against free radicals than some other antioxidants and that this can also help prevent inflammation.
Talk about a truly do-it-all product. Packed with red tea extract and hyaluronic acid, this serum provides free radical protection, helps fight inflammation and irritation, and soothes acne. Red tea, FTW.
6. Herbivore Botanicals Rose Hibiscus Coconut Water Hydrating Face Mist (4 oz.)
Besides its amazing aroma, hibiscus tea is good for your complexion, too. “Hibiscus tea has the ability to inhibit the activity of the enzyme elastase, which can help break down skin’s elastin,” says Dr. Jaliman. Not to mention, “It’s rich in antioxidants as well.”
Spritz your way to softer skin with this ultra-soothing facial mist. Crafted with a coconut water-based formula, this product features a whole slew of goodies like hibiscus flower petals and rose. With summer on the way, we’re all for keeping a mist on hand for a midday refresh.
