Towards the end of my acne life (if I may call it that?), it was quite difficult to get rid of those last ones.
Around the same time, I started learning more about different teas and their health benefits. I decided to include more antioxidant-rich and anti-inflammatory teas on a daily basis.
After being consistent for a while, I was perplexed with how powerful some of them actually were!
I really believe they helped my skin transition from ‘almost clear' to ‘completely clear'. Of course, having a nice tea by your side also makes it more likely you will stay hydrated, which is huge for clear and healthy skin!
Here are some of the best teas for clear skin that may work even better than topical acne remedies.
GREEN TEA (MATCHA)
Green tea is a very powerful acne fighter. It contains catechin called Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG). EGCG can reduce inflammation, thus alleviating swelling and redness of acne spots.
It is also dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blocker (source), which means it helps to reduce hyperkeratinization process, preventing clogged pores. Clogged pores are the first stage of acne – every acne spot starts with a small clogged pore.
Since matcha is made by grinding leaves into a powder, it is much more powerful than green tea. Just 1/2 a teaspoon of matcha powder is equivalent to an astounding 8 – 10 cups of green tea!
Important note: green tea and matcha both contain caffeine. If you know you are sensitive to it (it makes you feel jittery, anxious, etc), I would stick to caffeine-free herbal teas. If you are weaning off coffee, green tea and matcha are good replacements.
My choice: Matcha Wellness Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder
SPEARMINT
Recent research has shown that drinking spearmint tea daily can have a powerful anti-androgen effect (source), which is beneficial for acne.
If spearmint tea can reduce free testosterone levels, there would be less DHT produced, clearing up your skin and balancing its oil production.
It is important to drink it every day over a period of at least 2-3 weeks to notice a difference.
My choice: Frontier Natural Organic Spearmint Leaves
RED RASPBERRY LEAF
Red Raspberry leaf is an amazing herb for hormone balance. It helps you have more regular monthly cycles (very important for clear skin), and reducing heavy bleeding during your period.
It also helps to increase progesterone levels (especially if you are deficient), which keeps your pores clear as it reduces the action of DHT.
My choice: Frontier Natural Organic Red Raspberry Leaves
OAT STRAW
High in calcium and several other minerals, oat straw tea is a powerful herbal remedy that can nourish the body. It is high in calcium – a cup of oat straw infusion contains a whopping 300 milligrams. It also contains other minerals, protein and the spectrum of B vitamins (except vitamin B-12).
Oat straw is also high in silica, a crucial mineral for healthy and resilient skin, hair, nails and bones. It can also soothe and nourish the central nervous system, making it a good choice if you suffer from not just acne, but also anxiety and insomnia.
My choice: Certified Organic Oatstraw Tea Leaf
NETTLE
Stinging nettle supports healthy skin because it is rich in zinc, selenium and vitamins B and K. Nettle also helps to purify the blood and detoxify the liver, resulting in clearer, smoother skin. It aids in eliminating intestinal worms and parasites if present, thus reducing the systemic inflammation that fuels acne.
It is quite strong in taste, so combine it with other, more flavorful herbs for a good tasting tea.
My choice: Frontier Natural Organic Nettle Leaves
DANDELION
Dandelion tea supports liver function and digestion, both of which are essential for healthy and clear skin. Dandelion contains calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and vitamins B and C which are great for regulating hormones and protecting against free radicals.
Both dandelion root and leaves have great benefits for the skin. You can also try dandelion greens in salads!
My choice: Kiss Me Organics Dandelion Root Tea and Nature Tea Certified Organic Dandelion Dried Loose Leaves
HIBISCUS
This beautiful drink is full of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances, iron, zinc, vitamins B2, B1, A and C. It can improve your skin's elasticity and firmness, which is why it has even been named ‘The Botox Plant’!
My choice: Feel Good Company Organics Hibiscus Flowers
ROSEHIP
No one likes constipation, but did you know that it could be what's contributing to your acne? Just a tablespoon of dried and crushed rose hips steeped in boiling water can help clear up your system.
The many health benefits available from rosehips are due to the presence of vitamin C, flavonoids, carotenoids, polyphenols, catechins and other phytochemicals. It can also speed up skin healing, which helps to reduce acne scars.
I am lucky to have some handpicked by my mom and dad, which they also dry themselves. I always use it in my tea blends, it adds such a nice hint of sweetness.
CHAMOMILE
This drink is great on its own steeped in water, or for an extra delicious nighttime treat, steeped in warm non-dairy milk. Add some honey and enjoy a cup or two before bedtime. This promotes healthy sleep that will help to reduce dark circles while promoting clearer skin. There is really no better skin healer than a good night's sleep!
My choice: Froniter Natural German Chamomile Flowers
GINGER
With its incredible anti-inflammatory actions, ginger tea helps to reduce inflamed cystic acne. Providing a boost to your body's circulation, it can also help to flush out toxins from your body and leave your skin looking moisturized and glowing!
It contains around 40 antioxidant substances that prevent free radical damage and protect against aging. It also evens out the skin tone and improves elasticity.
I love making ginger tea from freshly grated ginger. I steep 1tsp of grated ginger in hot water for 10-15 minutes, adding a squeeze of lemon and some honey when it's ready to drink.
A FEW DIY TEA BLENDS YOU CAN TRY FOR CLEARER SKIN
Feel free to mix and match your teas as you like! Here are a few ideas:
Oat straw – nettle – red raspberry leaf – spearmint
Oat straw – rosehip – red raspberry leaf – hibiscus
Spearmint – rosehip – dandelion – chamomile
Nettle – chamomile
Steep your herbal teas for at least 20-30 minutes (I use a french press) and drink them hot or cold. Sometimes I even let them steep overnight (don't do this with green tea, steep it only for 3-5 min).
I really hope they will help you keep hydrated, make hydration more enjoyable, and most importantly, help you get beautiful clear skin!
In radiant skin health,
Sara
Questions! Do you drink teas regularly? Which ones?
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Hey Sara!
Love this post, wondering, does mixing teas increase there healing abilities? Or hinder at all? I usually drink those teas separately , but would make life easier to mix !
Thank you !
Thank you so much dear!:) I am not sure whether it would increase healing abilities in the sense that there is synergy (something like 1+1 =3), but you definitely get more benefits in a single cup if you combine them!:) Plus, it’s easier if you want more benefits at once.
I have learned to love tea and drink most of these! I want to try oat straw- never heard of it- and hibiscus has been on my list to try! Great ideas for mixing them ❤️