Medicinal tea
Many moms go right for hot tea with lemon and honey as a tried and true home remedy for that seasonal cold or sore throat. And the health benefits of drinking tea, especially green tea, have long been touted. White tea is thought to be the most effective tea in fighting various forms of cancer thanks to its high level of antioxidants. It’s also a good source of fluoride, catechins and tannins that can strengthen teeth, fight plaque, and increase resistance to acid and sugar. Green tea is exceptionally high in flavonoids that help boost heart health by lowering bad cholesterol and reducing blood clotting. Research has shown it also lowers blood pressure, triglycerides and total cholesterol, and may prevent liver, breast, prostate and colorectal cancers. Oolong tea contains l-theanine, an amino acid that reduces anxiety, increases alertness and attention, and is thought to help prevent cognitive diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Oolong tea and black tea are both high in polyphenols linked to reducing inflammation, preventing cancer growth and decreasing the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
Coffee, on the other hand, initially got a bad rap, because of its higher caffeine content. Caffeine isn’t all bad, however, it causes the release of dopamine, making your brain active and sharper. It also increases stamina and muscle performance, decreases appetite to aids weight loss, improves memory, and effectively treats headaches. Coffee contains antioxidants known as phenolic acids which increase resistance of LDL cholesterol to oxidation, reducing your risk of heart disease. Research has also shown that coffee may offer some protection against Parkinson's disease, Type 2 diabetes, liver disease and liver cancer, heart attack and stroke.
Coffee scrub
Drinking these delicious beverages is not the only way your body can benefit from them. Coffee and tea are also excellent additions to your skincare and hair treatments because, whether ingested or absorbed through the skin, the antioxidants found in them protect against free radicals and harmful pollutants. The flavonoids called catechins in tea naturally reduce inflammation, improve blood circulation, and combat aging. Tea also has cooling properties, making it an excellent skin soother. The caffeine in coffee, black and green tea also increases blood flow and decreases inflammation to make your skin glow. Coffee ground extracts have been shown to be useful for reducing wrinkles, preventing water loss and slowing down collagen loss when used topically.
Here are some ways you can add coffee and tea to your beauty routine:
Healthy Hair
Hair rinse
The antioxidants and caffeine in black tea and coffee make them great treatments for your hair and scalp. To strengthen and invigorate hair, prevent breakage, stimulate growth, and stop your tresses from shedding, brew some black tea or a strong pot of coffee and let it cool. Use it as a rinse after your shampoo. Note that tea and coffee may stain the hair, which can be an added bonus as a natural dye for brunettes, but may be problematic for blondes. If you use a fragrant tea, you can spray it into your hair to cleanse your scalp, making your hair look lustrous.
Treatment with Tea Bags
The caffeine in tea helps shrink blood vessels underneath the skin and eliminate dark circles around the eye. Tannins in tea help reduce puffiness. Simply wet two tea bags and place them on your eyes for five to ten minutes. Use regularly for reduced puffy eyes and dark circles. Tannic acid also works to reduce redness in sunburns and blemishes. You can apply wet tea bags directly to the affected areas or brew tea and apply with a towel/cloth after it cools. Leave on skin for up 30 minutes. Tea’s astringent properties make it an excellent toner. Use a wet tea bag to wipe over your face to remove excess oils or keep it feeling clean, then follow with a clean towel. To alleviate the sting of dry, chapped lips, soak green tea bags in warm water and rub over lips to soothe any burning sensation and add hydration.
Tea leaves and pot
Mask Magic
Take things a step further with a white tea mask. Because white tea is the least processed, it has additional antioxidants and nutrients that help purify and enrich the skin. To make a mask, brew a pot of white tea and separate the leaves from the actual brew. Then blend the damp tea leaves in a blender to create a thick paste. When the paste is cool; apply the mask and leave on for 15-30 minutes. Rinse, moisturize, and see how your skin glows!
Herbs at Work
To remove excess oil, jasmine tea works well and also has anti-microbial properties. When applied to oily, acne prone skin, it combats pimple-causing bacteria and helps balance the skin's pH level. Brew jasmine tea and allow to cool, then apply to face with a cloth. To soothe skin that’s excessively irritated and inflamed, chamomile tea is the perfect remedy. It’s alleviating itchy rashes or dry, flaky patches of redness on the skin. Apply chamomile tea bags to your face regularly for maximum benefits.
Scrub Away
Coffee makes an excellent face and body scrub. It clears all the dirt and dead cells from the skin and boosts cell regeneration. Use a coffee scrub to exfoliate your skin and get rid of cellulite, redness and discoloring, and to help prevent premature aging. The scrub will also remove puffiness from around your eyes and tighten your pores, leaving you with a healthy natural glow. Green tea scrubs are also popular.
Coffee face scrub
Here are 3 moisturizing scrub recipes using coffee and tea perfect for winter skin.
Winter Skin Saver
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. coffee grounds
2 Tbsp. shea butter
3 Tbsp. sea salt
¼ c. coconut oil
8-10 drops peppermint oil
Directions:
Melt coconut oil and mix in shea butter. Add other ingredients and blend. Apply mixture to your face and body and scrub gently. Rinse and pat dry.
Coffee Sugar Scrub
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. coffee grounds
1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1 tsp. olive oil
Directions:
Place all ingredients in a glass bowl and mix well. Use to scrub your face and body in the shower. Rinse and pat dry. Store the unused portion in a glass jar and use within a month.
Green Tea Sugar Scrub
Ingredients:
1 c. granulated sugar
1/8 c. coconut oil
1/8 c. brewed green tea (cooled)
1 Tbsp. local honey
Contents of 1 unbrewed green tea bag
Directions:
Combine all ingredients, adding green tea little by little, stirring as you pour, and mix well. Texture should resemble wet sand. Apply approximately a tablespoon to your hands before gently rubbing onto face and or body. Rinse with warm water. Place remainder in an airtight container and use weekly to refresh skin.
