This month’s newsletter focuses on my favorite drink and what, hopefully, will be yours  - the magnificent tea.   Tea is fantastic for the skin.  But what tea is good for what condition?  Clearly all teas aren’t made equally.  So before you reach for that Lipton Tea Bag, check out the following teas!

Black Tea

Black tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant.  The leaves are picked then left to wither and ferment (NOT producing alcohol, however…I could hear the wheels turning in your heads from here).  The enzymes that cause the fermentation turn the leaves brown.

Black tea has less caffeine than coffee and research has shown that it provides more health benefits than the normal cup of joe.  Black tea is a good source of anti-oxidants known as flavonoids.  These flavonoids help stop the free radicals that form when we are exposed to external elements such as the sun, smoking and drinking.  By fighting the free radicals, your skin will benefit by forming fewer wrinkles, having continued pliability and an even all-over texture and color.  A special note for those of you who bruise easily, getting adequate flavonoids can help strengthen your blood vessels, which protects your body from becoming black and blue!

All right, so technically Lipton Tea falls under this category, as do most commercial non-herbal brands you find at the mega-mart. Some teas, however, offer more bang for the cup.  Try some Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Ceylon, or Lapsang Souchong for a better cuppa tea!

Green Tea

Green tea is probably the most famous tea in terms of health.  It comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant as well, but the leaves are not left to ferment.  Rather they are kept, well, green.

The polyphenols in Green Tea are called catechins.  These catechins are powerful anti-oxidants that have been shown to inhibit the growth of malignant cells throughout your body, including the skin.  If you are a sun worshipper or even a casual beachgoer, Green Tea should be a part of your daily diet.

While the taste of Green Tea can be overwhelming and odd to western palates, it only takes a few days to get used to.  There are also many flavored green teas on the market. My favorite is Celestial Seasonings Mandarin Orange Green Tea, which can be found at most grocery stores.

Burdock Root Tea

Yes, I know. What the hay is Burdock Root tea?  Burdock Root is a vegetable found in Asia. It is a known blood purifier that boosts the immune system and works magic on skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis and eczema.  The tea is also a good source of essential minerals such as chromium, iron, magnesium and potassium.  Vitamin C and the B-vitamins are also found in this tea.

Pregnant women should avoid this tea as it can, in VERY LIMITED cases, tighten the uterus.

This tea can be found at Whole Foods and other health food stores.

Chamomile Tea

Not only is Chamomile Tea famous for its ability to calm and relax the drinker, it is also outstanding for those of us suffering from dry skin.  It contains compounds that are anti-inflammatory (good for controlling the itch and redness that comes from dryness) and is fungicidal.  After you finish your tea, you can use the spent tea bag on your skin if there is a specific area that is particularly bothersome.

Those with hay fever should be cautious about using chamomile, as it is a member of the ragweed family.

Chamomile Tea can be found at every grocery store from here to Timbuktu.

As with any topical skin care treatment, it takes a little while for the effects to be noticed. General skin condition should improve in about 2 weeks if you drink 4 cups of Black or Green a day.  The more targeted skin conditions, such as acne, will show improvement after about 3 weeks (sometimes sooner).

Please read the specifics on your box of tea to learn how to properly brew the drink and if there are any contraindications with the tea!