That cup of tea you sip at the end of a long day is doing more than just helping you relax. It’s making you healthier and more beautiful. For centuries tea has been a part of beauty regimens and it’s been making a resurgence in recent years. If you’ve already got a wonderful skincare routine like emmiSKIN, drinking a cup of tea every day might just add an extra bonus, because tea has been proven to do the following:
- Slow signs of aging
- Brighten skin tone
- Improve skin elasticity
- Reduce inflammation
- Provide antioxidants for overall improved health
- Reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer
- Aid sleep, which improves overall health
- Help with weight loss
Green tea is often the one associated with health and beauty, but other teas can provide exciting benefits as well. For example:
- Black tea: This tea contains antioxidants, but not as much as other teas. It fights free radicals in the body. It slows the signs of aging and has anti-inflammatory properties.
- White tea: This tea is the least processed form, with an even greater antioxidant activity than green tea. It produces a very pale infusion with a very delicate taste. It keeps your skin looking younger by protecting it from damage. Researchers believe that the antioxidants reduce oxidative stress, which is thought to promote skin cancer, wrinkles and uneven pigmentation.
- Red Tea: Although often overlooked, red tea provides an amazing amount of benefits. Research suggests that it has double the antioxidant benefits of green tea, and, in fact, it may contain more antioxidant properties then Vitamin C, and E. It can protect the skin against environmental damage and free radicals.
Herbal teas are another option and are slightly different from the ones named above in that an herbal tea is made differently than other types. The teas mentioned above were made from a specific type of plant, whereas an herbal tea is an infusion of leaves, seeds, roots or bark, extracted in hot water. When you drink a well-steeped herbal tea, you’ll get all the plant’s benefits in an easily digestible form.
Types of herbal tea include:
- Chamomile tea: This tea helps you to get deep, restful sleep, which is vital for healthy skin. It’s full of quercetin, which protects your skin from the sun’s harmful damage.
- Jasmine tea: This tea smells great and possesses antiviral and antibacterial properties to keep your immune system healthy and eliminate free radicals in your body. Throughout history it has been known for its ability to keep those who drink it looking younger.
- Rooibos: This tea can be used to treat a variety of skin conditions. It’s believed that the flavonoids in rooibos fight unwanted pathogens and can keep eczema flare-ups at bay. In addition, it even fights against aging signs, thanks to superoxide dismutase, which neutralizes free radicals and slows the appearance of fine lines. Many beauty experts recommend it for those who dislike the flavor of green teas as a highly effective replacement.
One important word of caution here. When purchasing tea, it is important to note ingredients and how tea is processed in order to get the most benefit from it. Tea that is over-processed or does not contain high quality ingredients will provide little benefit. However, when you find a high-quality tea with little processing and quality ingredients, it’s a great way to relax every day and super charge your beauty routine at the same time. Consider trying different types and see how they increase the effectiveness of your skincare and give you a healthy glow.
