With so many serums, creams, and skincare oils on the market, sometimes it’s hard to know what is the best product to buy to really get glowing, hydrated skin. From my experience with my own skincare woes and struggles (and I’ve had many), I’ve come to realize that getting truly healthy and fresh skin comes internally first. Having hydrated, plump, and dewy skin on the outside, usually comes best when you’re properly hydrating and detoxifying on the inside. I believe that hydration is best achieved from mineral and vitamin rich sources that really keep you quenched on a deeper, cellular level. Lemon water is one of my favorite ways to achieve this, but another (and often overlooked way) is through organic teas. Tea is such an underrated way to get healthy skin, and in addition to hydration; many teas have compounds in them that can aid in proper liver, kidney, and digestive function – all keys to glowing skin. Here is The Glow Files’ guide to the best organic teas to drink to get that glow from within. 

Matcha 

Matcha comes from the camellia sinensis plant, and has a slightly nutty, rich, and umami flavor. Although it can be one of the pricier teas to buy, it is full of antioxidants, polyphenols, and the stress-reducing amino acid, L-theanine. By protecting your body against free radical damage and oxidative stress, drinking matcha can help to keep your skin youthful and healthy, as we all know how stress can wreak havoc on our complexions. Matcha also contains key vitamins and minerals, and is known to be anti-inflammatory, which can be great for fending off hormonal-related skin concerns. Matcha does have caffeine in it, but the good news is; if you are sensitive to the caffeine in coffee, matcha is a better alternative because it not only contains lower caffeine levels, but it has the added benefit of calming L-theanine to offset any jitters. My favorite way to drink matcha is iced and in latte form with coconut milk, grass-fed collagen powder, and maple syrup. 

Green Tea

Green tea, like matcha, also comes from the camellia sinensis plant, and contains high amounts of antioxidants, polyphenols, and catechins. Catechins are a special type of flavonoid that can help play a role in reducing oxidative stress and improving blood circulation and cardiovascular function. Green tea also has caffeine in it, but less than matcha. Green tea has been known to assist with proper hormone detoxification, and better microbiome and digestive health due to the potent antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that it contains. When our bodies are functioning and detoxifying properly, our skin reaps the benefits. My favorite way to drink green tea is hot with a little splash of fresh lemon juice and a dollop of raw honey to offset the bitter flavor.  

Dandelion Root Tea

Dandelion tea is your liver’s new best friend. It is a bitter herb known for centuries in the holistic community for its ability to help detoxify the liver and keep it functioning optimally. Drinking dandelion root tea can help stimulate bile flow and digestive function, which is helpful to keep everything moving properly. When our digestive system is stagnant and our liver is congested, toxins will purge through our skin causing acne flare-ups, rashes, dullness, and discoloration. The taste of dandelion tea is definitely an acquired one, but some people liken it to the earthy and bitter taste of coffee, and because of this I like to drink it hot with a splash of coconut milk. I sweeten and spice it up a little with raw honey and Ceylon cinnamon.  

Nettle Tea

Nettle tea comes from the Stinging Nettle plant, and it is one of the most mineral, vitamin, and amino acid rich teas out there. Not only is nettle tea anti-inflammatory, but it helps to reduce allergies, promote kidney and hormonal health, and can potentially help with blood sugar control; which is super helpful for proper hormone and metabolic balance. When I worked with a functional practitioner a couple of years ago, one of the main lifestyle changes that she recommended was to drink nettle tea daily. It can make a drastic difference when it comes to inflammatory and hormonal-driven skin conditions by assisting with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), excess estrogen, and adrenal gland dysfunction. The more balance that we have internally, the more our skin will thrive and glow. I drink nettle tea hot with a little bit of lemon to complement the herbaceous flavor, and to add an extra boost of skin-loving hydration.  

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

Since this tea is super helpful for hormonal and skin health, red raspberry leaf tea is truly a tea for the girls. It has been known to help with painful PMS-related symptoms, especially cramps, while easing inflammation, and boosting fertility. It is high in antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins; namely B6, which helps to boost progesterone production. Balanced hormones equal glowing skin, and this tea has so many benefits when consumed before and during your period to help prevent PMS-driven inflammation (aka hormonal acne). This tea has a very fresh and fruity taste that I love, so I drink it hot and as is.

Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus tea is the holy grail of skin-loving hydration. I’ve heard it be referred to as “nature’s Botox,” and it makes sense. It is super rich in vitamins A and C, which are crucial for skin health, tightness, elasticity, and collagen production, and it helps fight signs of premature aging from the inside out. It is another antioxidant rich tea; with the extra punch of anthocyanin, a powerful plant pigment that helps to keep skin youthful and protected from free-radical damage. This is a tea that I enjoy drinking iced since the floral and fruity notes are extra hydrating and refreshing. 

Spearmint Tea

Spearmint tea has been a popular and commonly talked about tea lately, and it’s not just hype. It’s best known these days for helping with hormonal acne that is driven by excess androgens. It helps to lower testosterone and blood sugar levels, which are both factors that are known to play a role in PCOS. In addition to hormonal benefits, spearmint tea also helps with digestive issues, as it relaxes muscles in the digestive tract, and can prevent stress-induced stomach problems. It also has antimicrobial and antibacterial compounds, and may help boost the immune system. Overgrowths of bacteria and microbes in our systems can cause various skin issues like acne and rashes, so drinking this tea can help to fight off unwanted invaders naturally. By helping to balance hormones, keeping your immune system functioning well, and keeping stress at bay, spearmint tea is literally skincare in a cup. I drink my spearmint tea hot with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and raw honey. 

Ginger Tea 

Last but definitely not least, ginger tea is another powerful skincare savior. Ginger tea is one of the most anti-inflammatory teas, and it can really help acne-sufferers out there, or anyone dealing with inflammatory skin conditions. It’s also antifungal, antibacterial, and antimicrobial, so it can help to address issues like pathogenic overgrowths, intestinal distress, and even some parasites by getting to the root of the problem. Gut health imbalances can manifest in the form of skin flare-ups that can prevent our skin from looking its best. Ginger is also a prokinetic, meaning it helps promote the movement of our digestive system. The last thing we want is still and slow-moving digestion. This just puts us at risk for toxins, excess hormones, and waste to recirculate throughout our bodies; inevitably coming out through our largest organ, our skin. Keeping properly hydrated also helps to promote this prokinetic effect. Proper digestion, elimination, and detoxification all go hand in hand, as keeping everything moving smoothly is really a key ingredient to clear, vibrant, and glowing skin. I enjoy ginger tea hot with a splash of apple cider vinegar and lemon for extra detoxifying and hydrating benefits, plus raw honey to sweeten it.

As much of a skincare junkie as I am, I’ve come to realize that my skin is always its best when I’m treating it well from the inside out. Nothing hydrates my skin more than antioxidant and nutrient rich teas that get to the root of some underlying imbalances that no serum could ever address. These powerful and skin-nourishing teas are kitchen cabinet staples that help me achieve glowing skin from within.

Xx, 

The Glow Files.