A cup of tea is an ideal pick-me-up within the afternoon however do you know it’s additionally an amazing pick-me-up on your pores and skin? From combating free radicals to decreasing the looks of high-quality strains and dissolving lifeless pores and skin cells, tea has change into a preferred skincare ingredient. Learn on to seek out out whether or not this historical elixir is your pores and skin’s cup of tea. 

A Transient Historical past Of Tea 

The story of tea begins in China in 2737 BCE. Based on legend, Chinese language emperor and famend herbalist, Shen Nung, was sitting beneath a tree when some leaves from the tree blew into water that was being boiled for consuming. He determined to attempt the infusion that had unintentionally been created. The tree was a Camellia sinensis, and the ensuing drink was what we now name tea.

All conventional teas are nonetheless produced from the leaves and buds of various forms of the Camellia sinensis plant — initially from the borderlands of northern Burma and southwestern China. The distinction between teas lies in how they’re processed — whether or not they’re fermented or not, as an illustration — and this determines their oxidation ranges. Inexperienced teas usually are not oxidized in any respect, whereas black teas are very oxidized. By way of magnificence advantages, inexperienced tea and matcha are very poplular, however black tea, white tea and kombucha are additionally potent allies on your pores and skin.

What Are The Advantages Of Tea For Pores and skin?

Tea has bioactives which have been scientifically confirmed to hydrate pores and skin and defend it from getting older and environmental hurt. Antioxidant tea polysaccharides struggle free radicals and soak up and retain moisture. Tea polyphenols defend pores and skin by absorbing ultraviolet radiation and diverting it from doing epidermal harm. Polyphenols dive deep into the pores and skin, placing up roadblocks round harmful enzymes that work in opposition to the pores and skin’s “body-building” collagen and elastin. They defend your pores and skin’s hydration by boosting hyaluronic acid and their anti-inflammatory actions enhance microcirculation. So we have established that tea is your pores and skin’s greatest good friend, now we’ll spill the tea on which blends will enable you to!

Inexperienced Tea

An ideal accompaniment to sushi, inexperienced tea is grown principally in Japan. Inexperienced tea leaves are harvested, withered and steamed in order that they keep inexperienced and unoxidized. There may be an abundance of fine issues for the pores and skin in this kind of tea, particularly EGCG, a polyphonic compound that may be a powerhouse for the pores and skin. It’s identified to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It protects in opposition to the redness that UVB rays produce and is being studied for its position in therapeutic wounds and lessening scarring. EGCG additionally has a outstanding skill to get contained in the pores and skin and keep there, principally within the stratum corneum, the place it actively moisturizes and smooths pores and skin roughness and wrinkles.

Matcha Tea

One other Japanese export, matcha tea is inexperienced in coloration, however grown in a different way from common inexperienced tea. A few month earlier than harvesting, it’s coated from direct daylight to extend chlorophyll and amino acid ranges. Intensely nourishing matcha tea powder is regenerative for drained, broken pores and skin that’s low on oxygen. It additionally fights irritation and protects pores and skin from dangerous free radicals.

White Tea

Younger tea buds and leaves are harvested solely annually in early spring to make white teas like Bai Mu Dan (White Peony) and Yin Zhen Bai Hao (Silver Needle). The leaves and buds are minimally processed — not oxidized or rolled — which signifies that nothing has been bruised or twisted to wreck cell partitions and launch the plant’s juices. In addition to having robust anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, white tea extracts in skincare merchandise are believed to spice up hyaluronic acid motion for a plumper, extra hydrated-looking complexion.

Black Tea

Black tea, like pu’er from China’s Yunnan province, is probably the most oxidized of the teas as a result of it’s produced from leaves which are harvested, dried, rolled, floor and fermented. Black tea extracts are new to the skincare sport and their tannins seem to guard pores and skin from environmental harm in addition to carry out anti-bacterial, nourishing and hydrating capabilities. Different teas do this as effectively however black tea has one characteristic the others don’t: caffeine. Caffeine in pores and skin lotions stimulates microcirculation and helps cut back the look of puffiness below the eyes.

Kombucha

A by-product of black tea, kombucha is produced by fermenting black tea with sugar, yeast and micro organism. As a beverage, probiotic kombucha builds a really perfect bacterial atmosphere within the intestine that aids digestion. And it may well do one thing comparable on your pores and skin. Based on dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, kombucha “… is great for balancing the pores and skin’s microbiome by selling a wholesome ratio of fine micro organism.” That is nice in case you are vulnerable to zits or rosacea. Kombucha can be a pure exfoliant and antioxidant.

Darjeeling Tea 

Sometimes called the “Champagne of teas,” true Darjeeling is grown completely in choose tea plantations on the foothills of the Himalayas unfold throughout the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India. It’s stated that this tea grows on the highest elevation of all teas and that it’s the altitude that creates a really perfect atmosphere for the tea plant, giving these teas a singular taste and aroma. The pure antioxidant properties present in Darjeeling tea can promote wholesome pores and skin, whereas the polyphenols are identified to fight irritation.

Pineapple Tea

Another tea that’s making its identify within the magnificence world is pineapple tea! It’s made by boiling pineapple rinds, which extracts an enzyme referred to as bromelain that could be very useful for digestion, but additionally has exfoliating properties for the pores and skin — which makes pineapple tea a rising magnificence star on TikTok. Bromelain dissolves the proteins that bind collectively lifeless pores and skin cells with minimal irritation for clear, radiant pores and skin. For those who’re on the lookout for the advantages of bromelain, our Pineapple Refining Tonique is the place you’ll discover them.

Tea For Completely different Pores and skin Varieties

Dry pores and skin

Tea-infused merchandise in your every day magnificence routine can actually up your pores and skin’s sport, and there appears to be a sort of tea for each kind of downside. These with dry pores and skin that’s delicate to air pollution, cigarette smoke and the solar’s UVA and UVB rays ought to look to magnificence merchandise with extracts of hydrating inexperienced tea, white tea and oxygen-revitalizing matcha tea.

Oily Pores and skin

Oily pores and skin that’s vulnerable to zits will reply effectively to merchandise with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory extracts of matcha, kombucha or white tea that detox the pores and skin. Or attempt inexperienced tea, which is understood to scale back the manufacturing of sebum.

Mature Pores and skin 

Mature pores and skin can profit most from how black tea can plump the look of pores and skin and inexperienced tea retains moisture. White tea may even gently plump and cut back the looks of high-quality strains. Any of those varieties will fit your pores and skin to a “tea.”