Best Tea for Skin: 6 Teas for Clear, Glowing Skin

The best teas for skin are green tea and oolong, rich in the antioxidant EGCG; carrot and beet blends, rich in beta-carotene and betalains; turmeric, rich in curcumin; spearmint, for hormone-related breakouts; and bamboo leaf, rich in silica for skin structure. Drunk daily, they support your skin from the inside, where serums cannot reach.

The headline study: in a 12-week randomized trial published in the Journal of Nutrition, women who drank a green tea polyphenol beverage daily had improved skin elasticity, roughness, and hydration, better blood flow to the skin, and 16 to 25% less redness after UV exposure, compared with a placebo drink. [1]

 

1. Green Tea and Oolong: Smoother, Better-Protected Skin

Green tea's catechins, especially EGCG, are among the most researched antioxidants for skin. [1] [2] Oolong shares many of them.

Find them in Lean Bloom, a Ti Kuan Yin oolong and green tea blend, and Green Zen matcha. Full guide: Green Tea for Skin.

2. Carrot and Beet: Beta-Carotene and Betalains

Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a pigment your skin stores and uses for protection from within. Research shows dietary carotenoids contribute to the skin's natural defense against sun damage. [3] Beetroot brings betalains, vivid antioxidant pigments. [4]

Find them in: Sparkling Sunrise, with carrot, beet, ginger, turmeric, pineapple and calendula. More in Beet Tea.

3. Turmeric: Calm, Even-Looking Skin

Curcumin is one of the most studied anti-inflammatory plant compounds, and a systematic review found turmeric showed benefits across a range of skin conditions. [5]

Find it in: Sparkling Sunrise. More in Turmeric Tea Benefits.

4. Calendula: The Skin Flower

Calendula's golden petals are rich in flavonoids and triterpenoids, and calendula has a long history in skin care. [6]

Find it in: Sparkling Sunrise and Lean Bloom.

5. Spearmint: For Hormonal Breakouts

Spearmint tea has research for hormone-related skin concerns. In a randomized trial of women with polycystic ovary syndrome, two cups of spearmint tea a day for a month significantly lowered free testosterone, the hormone behind many adult breakouts. [7]

Find it in: Sleep Restore, with spearmint, peppermint, and chamomile, so your skin and your sleep both benefit.

6. Bamboo Leaf: Silica for Skin Structure

Bamboo leaf is one of the richest plant sources of silica, a mineral involved in building collagen. In a randomized trial, a bioavailable silicon supplement improved skin roughness in women with sun-damaged skin. [8]

Find it in: Beauty Duo. More in Bamboo Leaf Tea.

The Glow Reset: Three Teas, One Ritual

The Glow Reset bundle, our bestseller, brings together Beauty Duo for hair and nails, Sparkling Sunrise for skin, and Lean Bloom for antioxidant oolong. Three teas, one glow routine.

Time	Tea
Morning	Lean Bloom (contains caffeine)
Afternoon	Sparkling Sunrise (caffeine-free)
Evening	Beauty Duo (caffeine-free)

Why Tea Works for Skin From the Inside

1. Antioxidants help defend skin cells from the oxidative stress caused by sun and pollution. [1]
2. Hydration: every cup counts toward the fluids your skin needs, and tea hydrates as well as water. [9]
3. Blood flow: green tea polyphenols improved microcirculation to the skin in the 12-week trial. [1]
4. Consistency: skin renews itself roughly every month, so give any tea ritual at least 8 to 12 weeks.

The Avodah Moment: Glow Is an Inside Job

Avodah means devotion and service. Most of us spend more time caring for our skin from the outside than the inside: the serums, the masks, the ten-step routine.

Add one step that works from within. Brew your cup, let it steep, and drink it slowly while your morning routine sets. The glow you are after starts with how you care for yourself, not just what you put on.

You cannot pour from an empty cup. This is where you fill yours.

Shop the Glow Reset | Shop Sparkling Sunrise | Shop Beauty Duo

More: Best Tea for Hair Growth

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best tea for skin?

Green tea and oolong for EGCG, carrot and beet blends for beta-carotene and betalains, turmeric for calm skin, spearmint for hormonal breakouts and bamboo leaf for silica.

What tea is good for clear skin?

Green tea for its EGCG and spearmint for hormone-related breakouts.

What tea gives you glowing skin?

Green tea improved skin hydration, elasticity and blood flow in a 12-week trial. Carrot and beet blends add skin-loving carotenoids and betalains.

Is tea good for acne?

Spearmint tea lowered free testosterone in a randomized trial, and green tea's EGCG is well studied for skin. Give it 8 to 12 weeks.

How long does it take for tea to improve skin?

Give it at least 8 to 12 weeks. The green tea skin trial ran for 12 weeks.

 

Your day. Your tea. Your Avodah Moment.

References

1.          Heinrich U, Moore CE, De Spirt S, Tronnier H, Stahl W. Green tea polyphenols provide photoprotection, increase microcirculation, and modulate skin properties of women. J Nutr. 2011;141(6):1202-1208.

2.          Khan N, Mukhtar H. Tea polyphenols in promotion of human health. Nutrients. 2018;11(1):39.

3.          Stahl W, Sies H. β-Carotene and other carotenoids in protection from sunlight. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012;96(5):1179S-1184S.

4.          Clifford T, Howatson G, West DJ, Stevenson EJ. The potential benefits of red beetroot supplementation in health and disease. Nutrients. 2015;7(4):2801-2822.

5.          Vaughn AR, Branum A, Sivamani RK. Effects of turmeric (Curcuma longa) on skin health: a systematic review of the clinical evidence. Phytother Res. 2016;30(8):1243-1264.

6.          Arora D, Rani A, Sharma A. A review on phytochemistry and ethnopharmacological aspects of genus Calendula. Pharmacogn Rev. 2013;7(14):179-187.

7.          Grant P. Spearmint herbal tea has significant anti-androgen effects in polycystic ovarian syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Phytother Res. 2010;24(2):186-188.

8.          Barel A, Calomme M, Timchenko A, et al. Effect of oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on skin, nails and hair in women with photodamaged skin. Arch Dermatol Res. 2005;297(4):147-153.

9.          Ruxton CHS, Hart VA. Black tea is not significantly different from water in the maintenance of normal hydration in human subjects: results from a randomised controlled trial. Br J Nutr. 2011;106(4):588-595.