Skin Health

Updated on – 05 Feb 2021

Tea has proven its immense benefits on our health starting from stress buster, lowering bad cholesterol, or preventing the generation of cancerous cells.

But you might not be aware of tea’s numerous benefits for your skin. You can keep your skin healthy and youthful by including tea in your daily routine.

Major benefits of Tea on your skin health are as below.

• High in antioxidants
• Hydrates skin
• Anti Aging
• Anti inflammatory
• Reduces acne
• Helps in reducing blemishes

Let’s have a look at the top 15 tea best for skin health. I have categorized them differently for better understanding. Let’s start.

Best Tea For Skin Health 

#1. Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea is suitable for those who prefer caffeine-free tea. As per the study, chamomile is effective in the treatment of eczema, wounds, ulcers and skin irritations. 

Chamomile tea helps you in moisturizing skin, healing acne scars, and reducing skin inflammation. Chamomile has antioxidants that fight against aging factors like free radicals in the skin.

You can use the tea bags after they have cooled down to remove dark circles and puffiness under the eyes. 

Along with skin benefits, chamomile tea can improve your sleep quality by reducing insomnia. It contains an antioxidant called apigenin that has been shown to fight cancer cells of breast, prostate, and even skin cancer. 

Benefits of chamomile tea

• Boosts immune system. 
• Relieves anxiety and increases sleep quality. 
• Reduces skin inflammation and acne scars. 

Cons of chamomile tea

• Some people might be allergic to chamomile. 
• Not suitable for young kids because of the pollen present in tea may cause allergies. 

#2. Calendula Tea

Calendula is a flowering plant also known as pot marigold.

Calendula tea can improve your skin health by enhancing the hydration of the skin. It also has antifungal and antimicrobial properties. 

Calendula tea is made from soaking the flowers in boiling water. The calendula extract is derived from flowers and leaves. 

Calendula tea is packed with antioxidants that reduce damage caused by free radicals on your skin preventing premature aging of the skin. Studies have determined that calendula extracts increase the production of collagen which is a necessary protein for skin cell regeneration. 

Calendula tea can be slightly bitter in taste. But it had many therapeutic properties which is why you see calendula extracts in oils, tinctures, and skincare products. 

Benefits of calendula tea

• Promotes wound healing and skin regeneration. 
• Reduces acne breakouts. 
• Reduces skin inflammation. 

Cons of calendula tea

• Some may be allergic to calendula. 
• Not recommended in pregnancy as there is a concern it might cause miscarriage. 

Also read – Best cream blush for aging skin

Best Tea For Skin And Weight Loss

#3. Green Tea

Originating in China, green tea is the most popular tea known for its high antioxidants, detoxing ability, reducing blood pressure and cholesterol. 

Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of polyphenols and catechins. Catechins reduce redness, irritations, and swelling. Antioxidants fight free radicals to prevent your skin from premature aging. 

Green tea is also an antibacterial agent used to treat acne and unclogging pores. Polyphenols in green tea damage bacterial membranes and prevent your skin from infection. 

You get a firm and youthful skin because of abundant presence of vitamin B2. Vitamin B2 plays an important role in maintaining collagen levels that improves skin hydration along with preventing skin aging.

Vitamin E in green tea acts as a moisturizer and supports the generation of new cells. 

A unique plant compound called EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) has shown promise in a study for its benefits in treating heart-related issues and metabolic health benefits that can aid in weight loss. 

Benefits of green tea

• Increases metabolism helping weight loss. 
• Regulates diabetes. 
• Antiviral and antibacterial properties. 
• Green tea helps reduce wrinkles and signs of aging. 

Cons of green tea

• Green tea contains tannins that reduce the absorption of iron and folic acid. So, avoid green tea if you are trying to conceive. 

#4. Oolong Tea 

You can count on oolong to keep your metabolism from slowing down as you lose weight thanks to abundant polyphenols.

Oolong tea contains catechins and caffeine that can induce more weight loss than tea containing only one of these components. 

Antioxidants in the tea fight against free radicals to keep your skin youthful. 

Oolong tea is made from the same plant green tea and black tea are made from. The only difference is in the way tea is processed.

Oolong tea is fermented and partially oxidized. Green tea is not oxidized and black tea is fully oxidized. 

According to a study, oolong tea can relieve eczema if consumed three times a day for six months.

Benefits of oolong tea

• Anti-bacterial and prevents acne breakouts. 
• Anti-aging property. 
• Boosts metabolism aiding in weight loss. 

Cons of oolong tea

• Fluoride in oolong tea is not good for people with thyroid conditions. 

Best Tea For Anti-aging 

#5. Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus tea is brewed with the flower petals of the hibiscus plant that can be consumed either hot or cold. Hibiscus is often referred to as the plant botox because of its excellent anti-aging benefits. 

The main advantage of hibiscus is its ability to increase the skin elasticity that gives you a youthful look. This is because of hibiscus ability to inhibit the activity of enzyme elastase which is responsible for breaking down elastin. Elastin is responsible for firmness in our skin. 

Another aging sign is the hyperpigmentation and age spots due to sunburn because of excessive melanin production.

Hibiscus contains organic acids like malic acid and Citric acid that are exfoliating in nature. This helps in cell turnover resulting in a more even skin tone. 

Hibiscus is not only rich in antioxidants, but it also has an anti-inflammatory effect on your skin aiding to soothe inflamed skin. 

Benefits of hibiscus tea

• Boosts immune system. 
• Hibiscus tea helps in lowering blood pressure. 
• Maintains skin elasticity. 
• Anti-aging property. 

Cons of hibiscus tea

• Hibiscus can cause irritation in sensitive skin. 

#6. Rooibos Tea

Rooibos is an African herb that is commonly used as a tea plant. Rooibos when unfermented has a mild taste and when fermented it has a sweet taste. 

Rooibos is known for its anti-aging properties. An oxidant called superoxide dismutase is an excellent anti-aging compound that reduces wrinkles and boosts the production of new skin cells. 

Along with this, rooibos also contains alpha-hydroxy acids that promote new skin cell growth resulting in radiant skin. 

Along with rooibos contain alpha hydroxy and zinc which are important nutrients for healthy skin. These two are responsible for reducing acne, sunburn, and protecting your skin from UV rays. 

A high level of flavonoids (the main function is to act as cell cycle regulators) helps in preventing skin disorders like acne and eczema. You can directly apply rooibos on the skin to treat acne. 

Benefits rooibos tea

• Anti-aging property. 
• Boosts hair growth. 
• Relieves stress and hypertension. 
• Rooibos aids in weight loss. 

Cons of rooibos tea

• Not suitable for people with hormone-sensitive conditions. 

Best Tea For Skin Rejuvenation 

#7. Cinnamon Tea

Cinnamon is made from the inner bark of the cinnamon tree that curls into rolls when dried. The bark is grounded into a powder that can be used to make tea. 

Antioxidants play an important role in flushing off free radicals that cause damage to skin cells and might lead to long term skin disorders. 

Cinnamon tea not only helps in the removal of free radicals, study suggests cinnamon can increase Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) which is a measure of how much your body can fight off free radicals. 

In addition to this, cinnamon tea promotes collagen formation, skin elasticity making your skin look young and rejuvenated. 

Benefits of cinnamon tea

• Anti-aging property. 
• Rejuvenates skin. 
• Boosts immune system. 
• Eliminates bad breath. 

Cons of cinnamon tea

• People who take prescription drugs for regulating blood sugar levels should avoid as it might lead to very low sugar levels. (Consult with your doctor) 

#8. Jasmine White Tea

A study by BioMed Central has shown the antioxidant activity of jasmine white tea, is proven to have a positive effect on the skin. It affects the two structural proteins of skin, collagen, and elastin. 

Collagen is a connective tissue between skin cells that hold together skin cells. Elastin maintains skin elasticity to give the skin a firmness to give you a radiant young look. 

EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) can help in preventing collagen breakdown thereby helping the skin to retain its rigidness and prevent wrinkles and fine lines from appearing. 

Benefits of jasmine white tea

• Anti Aging property. 
• Reduce heart-related issues. 
• Jasmine White tea helps reduce blood sugar levels. 
• Maintains skin firmness. 

Cons of jasmine white tea

• Large amounts of consumption (more than 10 teacups) can lead to headaches and sleeplessness. 

Best Tea For Skin Acne 

#9. Spearmint Tea 

Antioxidants in spearmint tea prevent skin from oxidative damage, preventing the formation of acne. Spearmint tea is mainly preferred to treat hormonal acne that is caused due to androgens. 

Testosterone is the main androgen present in both men and women. Androgens cause increased sebum production. This can lead to excess oil and cause severe acne breakouts. 

Spearmint tea has the ability to reduce testosterone levels and hence reduce sebum production that can prevent hormonal acne breakouts. This is effective in the case of women as their testosterone cycle is linked to the menstruation cycle. 

Benefits of spearmint tea

• Spearmint helps in reducing blood sugar. 
• Fights Bacterial infection. 
• Reduce facial hair in women. 
• Reduce stress. 
• Prevents acne breakout. 

Cons of spearmint tea

• Spearmint tea can not reduce acne if you are a male due to high levels of testosterone. 
• It can interfere in iron absorption if large amounts are taken. 

#10. White Tea

White tea is known for its mild flavor and it is one of the least processed tea. Rich in antioxidants, it will help in flushing out free radicals that damage your skin. White tea also has anti-inflammatory properties that help in treating redness, eczema, and acne. 

White tea is helpful in keeping your skin rejuvenated as it contains high amounts of phenols. Phenols help in new skin cells generation and retaining skin firmness for a young radiant look. 

You can use white tea directly to help relieve inflammation on the skin.

You first have to boil white tea bags in water and let the solution cool down. Then soak cotton balls in the solution and gently rub on the inflamed skin.

According to a study at Korea University College of Medicine, white tea has antiseptic properties against bacteria that are resistant to multiple drugs thanks to EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) present in white tea. 

Benefits of white tea

• Antibacterial property. 
• Anti-inflammatory. 
• White tea reduces heart-related issues. 

Cons of white tea

• White tea contains more caffeine, which can lead to headaches and nausea. 

Best Green Tea For Glowing Skin

#11. Matcha Tea

Matcha tea is made from the naturally dried and crushed leaves of the camellia Sinensis plant. The same plant green tea is made out of. But, the preparation of matcha tea is different from green tea. 

Leaves are not heated and the minimum processing of leaves means its nutrients and antioxidants are preserved well. 

Matcha tea is rich in catechins, a plant compound that acts as a natural antioxidant. Antioxidants help in removing free radicals that damage skin cells and cause skin diseases. 

Matcha tea is highly effective on skin because of a higher amount of catechins up to 137 times than in other types of green tea according to a study. 

Benefits of matcha tea

• Rich in antioxidants. 
• Anti-aging effects. 
• Aids in weight loss. 

Cons of matcha tea

• Matcha tea can cause nausea and headache if taken in large quantities due to caffeine content. 

#12. Black Tea

Black tea is made from the leaves of the plant Camellia Sinensis. The same plant is used to make green tea, but the processing of the leaves in a different way favors various benefits. 

Black tea is rich in antioxidants that help in fighting off free radicals in the skin. Thus reducing further skin damage. Black tea bags after letting them cool down can be used to remove puffiness below the eye area. 

The high content of polyphenols and tannins in black tea is linked to boosted production of essential skin proteins such as collagen and elastin. Combined, these two proteins help in newer skin cells and firmness giving your skin a rejuvenated glow. 

Benefits of black tea

• Reduces premature aging. 
• Anti-inflammatory. 
• Reduce puffiness. 
• Anti-bacterial. 

Cons of black tea

• Should not be taken in large quantities by pregnant and nursing mothers as it contains more caffein content that can slows down metabolism. 

Best Tea For Reducing Skin Inflammation

#13. Ginger Tea

Ginger tea contains over 50 different antioxidant compounds. Many of these compounds are known to minimize the production of cytokines that regulate various inflammatory responses. 

A study on people with diabetes over a period of 12 weeks, taking 1600mg of ginger each day has shown results of reduced fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, and reduced inflammatory blood markers. This in turn helps with skin inflammation experienced by psoriatic arthritis. 

Benefits of ginger tea

• Boosts immune system. 
• Anti-inflammatory property. 
• Aids in weight and sugar control. 
• Improves blood circulation. 

Cons of ginger tea

• Lowers blood pressure so if you are on blood pressure drugs, avoid ginger. 

#14. Holy Basil Tea

Holy basil, commonly known as tulsi, is a plant native to India. Basil tea is known to help your body counter environmental, emotional, and metabolic stress that are the root causes of inflammation reactions in the body. 

Tulsi is used to soothe skin itching, tightening the pores, skin brightening, and reducing acne marks resulting in clear vibrant skin. 

According to a study, holy basil’s compounds are known to inhibit the cox-1 and cox-2 enzymes that produce inflammatory compounds and trigger pain, swelling, and inflammation. 

Benefits of holy basil tea

• Reduces stress and anxiety. 
• Increases metabolism. 
• Reduces inflammation. 
• Lowers blood sugar. 

Cons of holy basil tea

• Not recommended for those who take prescription medicine for diabetes as 250mg of basil extract caused 18% decrease in average blood sugar. If taken, it should be adjusted with medication doses. 

#15. Turmeric Tea

Turmeric is a flowering plant with edible roots that is dried and made into a spice. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin known for the ability to reduce inflammation. 

Studies have shown turmeric can be used for treating chronic inflammatory illnesses like arthritis, joint pains. It also has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that can help in preventing the growth of fungi and bacteria in people with eczema that results in breakouts. 

Turmeric tea is rich in antioxidants and protects from molecules that can alter skin proteins and even damage DNA.

Turmeric helps to balance oxidative stress with an adequate amount of antioxidants. Oxidative stress is a condition when there is an imbalance of antioxidants and free radicals.  

Benefits of turmeric tea

• Anti-inflammatory. 
• Increases supply of antioxidants. 
• Pain relief. 
• Boosts metabolism. 

Cons of turmeric tea

• Turmeric tea can cause irritation if taken in high doses. 

Final Words

Choosing a tea depends on your skin condition and the results you want to achieve. While all the natural teas are generally safe for consumption, some might be allergic to some of the components. It is advisable to test your body’s response before committing for longer periods of usage. 

Tea’s containing caffeine need to be carefully added into your daily intake of caffeine especially if you drink coffee. A high intake of caffeine can lead to insomnia and headaches. 

If you are on prescription medicine for diabetes or blood pressure, it is advisable to limit the intake of teas that affect blood sugar levels and consult your doctor prior to consumption.