My Favorite Teas For Beautiful Skin & Reducing Stress

When it comes to tea, my motto is: for every mood, there's a tea to match. I have several tea rituals, including an invigorating green tea in the AM (when I’m not in the mood for coffee) and a calming nighttime blend in the PM that holds deep meaning since I used to share it with my late husband. I also rotate five floral blossoms into my tea routine that are distinctly different in flavor, however all are wonderful for the skin and aid in reducing stress. You're probably already drinking a couple of them, and if you aren't you'll definitely want to start adding them to your beauty regimen after reading this guide.

Before diving in, you can definitely pick up tea blends containing these ingredients at your local grocery store, but I prefer to visit my local Indian market for the widest variety of dried blooms and leaves. This gives me control over sourcing and how much I want to use if making a blend.  

Rose Tea

Rich in anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, rose petals are a skincare powerhouse both internally and when applied topically. The antioxidant tea is great for clearing the skin and helps with acne and other skin conditions.  Bonus: if you have leftover rose tea, you can wash your face with it for soft, glowing skin. Other benefits include:

1. Reduces Wrinkles and Fine lines

Loaded with powerful antioxidants vitamins A and E, rose tea hydrates and tightens skin and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles under your eyes. 

2. Boosts Your Immune System

Drinking two cups of rose tea can help improve your immune system thanks to its high Vitamin C content. This is critical for keeping you safe from a variety of infections and health conditions, which can take a toll on your overall health, and your skin, too. 

3. Decreases Stress Levels

If you're looking to reduce stress, then sipping a cup of rose tea will definitely help.  Its calming properties can help induce sleep and balances stress and hormones by moderating your nervous system. 

Amaranth Tea

A less familiar tisane, amaranth tea is rich in Vitamin A, minerals and antioxidants. This tea is wonderful for your skin, as well as for reducing fatigue and tension and detoxifying the liver.  Amaranth comes in a number of beautiful shades of red, lilac, purple, orange and pink. 

You're probably wondering: What does amaranth tea taste like? Well, it's herbaceous and mildly sweet with a refreshing and mellow taste.  Fun fact: You know those "blooming teas?" Well, amaranth is usually the bloom used at the center of them!

Lavender Tea

Dried lavender, fields of lavender, lavender tea, lavender oil, lavender everything.  Known for its sublime fragrance and purple hue, lavender tea is exactly what you'd expect based on the scent: a sensuous, floral explosion of flavor. 

Antioxidants present in lavender can neutralize free radicals in the body, which can cause wrinkles, premature signs of aging and inflammation. So over time, lavender tea can contribute to younger looking, healthier skin. 

Other benefits include:

• Reducing stress levels
• Improving heart health
• Reducing inflammation
• Improving digestive health
• Improving sleep

Chamomile Tea

Does this tea really need an introduction? Let's just start with all of the things that chamomile tea is good for, shall we?

• Boosts immune system
• Treats insomnia and promotes sleep
• Soothes a tummy ache
• Reduces pain associated with menstruation
• Reduces stress
• Soothes symptoms of common cold, such as nasal congestions and sore throat

That list doesn't even include the many benefits chamomile has for your skin, which include:

• Treating wounds and cuts due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties
• Brightening skin
• Fading spots and scars and helps prevent acne breakouts when applied topically
• Soothing sunburn (chill the tea, soak a towel in it, and apply it to sunburned areas. 
• Reducing dark circles and puffiness under eyes. 
• Accelerating cell and tissue regeneration due to its antioxidant properties.

So now you know what these powerhouse teas can do for your general health and skin, head out to your local market and pick up the blossoms or a tea blend–lavender-chamomile is a fave of mine– and start incorporating a beautiful tea ritual into your daily routine.