Teabagging Your Beauty: The Unexpected Uses Of Tea For Skin And Hair
Drinking tea is a lifestyle choice, similar to joining the Hare Krishnas or some other (mostly harmless) cult.
Tea isn't just a beverage: It's a nonaddictive substance that somehow still manages to drive a proselytizing school of dedicated believers.
True tea lovers can't sip on a steaming mug of oolong without sharing its health benefits, the temperature it's best served at and what stores serve the best leaves.
However, tea fanatics aren't entirely kooky. While many devout steepers might try forcing you into beliefs that don't make a lot of sense, teavangelists are actually schilling for a product that works as advertised.
Depending upon the type of tea you're consuming, we're talking about a boost in antioxidants, mild doses of caffeine and digestive aids. Green tea, in particular, is often touted as a cure-all solution for anything from weight gain to migraines.
Tea isn't just for the obsessed, however: It's also a beauty tool that's not often mentioned. A fully stocked tea cabinet (yes, we have a cabinet just for our sachets) means a cure for any ill inside or outside of the body.
A Different Kind Of Herb...
There's nothing that heals a tired mind-body combo like a steaming mug of non-caffeinated tea. But, it's not just your brain that's seeing the benefits of peppermint or chamomile brew.
Peppermint tea can be used to make a DIY acne-fighting mask, which will help even out oily skin. If you're not interested in slapping wet tea bags on your face, seek out peppermint extract in products like toner to reap its benefits.
Another popular choice for winding down is chamomile tea, popularly known as one of the most versatile healing plants in existence. Scientists claim the tea might make women live longer. The herbal mix is also fantastic at soothing skin irritations like bug bites, psoriasis and eczema. To take full advantage, brew yourself a chamomile bath and soak away your skin troubles.
We Go Back To Black
For those of us who wake up like zombies in the morning, black tea -- championed by the British for centuries -- presents the perfect alternative to coffee. Paired with a little milk and sugar, the dark brew is a less-jittery version of a cup of Joe.
It also works as a soak for sore feet at the end of the day. Real Beauty Spot recommends filling a foot bath with hot water and a few inexpensive black tea bags, letting it steep until dark and then cool. Rest your feet in the tub for a half hour or more to rid yourself of aches and foot odor.
Beach got you feeling burnt, not turnt? After too much time in the sun, apply a cold, brewed black tea compress to the most sensitive areas. The tea contains plant compounds called tannins that help to speed the healing process.
The O.G. Green Tea
Of all the types of tea, green is often considered the most versatile. Its caffeine levels fall under those of black tea, so it won't have the same effect as coffee, and high levels of antioxidants make it an easy choice for maintaining a high-functioning body. On social media and fitness blogs, trainers often tout the beverage as the one-stop-sip to boosting metabolism and reducing bloating.
After a sleepless night, use brewed green tea bags instead of an expensive under-eye cream to rid yourself of puffiness and purple circles. According to LiveStrong, the tannins in the tea shrink oversized blood vessels, returning evenness to the delicate skin, while the tea's caffeine works on bringing down swollen skin.
When you have an extra hour on the weekend, try applying the same idea to your face by mixing a few teaspoons of green tea powder into your favorite face mask. The addition will boost your glow while helping minimize facial puffiness.
