Fight skin cancer. Thanks to its polyphenols, there’s evidence that sipping green tea can enhance DNA repair, which in turn fights non-melanoma skin cancers caused by exposure to UV rays, according to a study published in the Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. Though there’s no specific daily recommendation for green tea, registered dietitian Elisa Zied, author of Younger Next Week, recommends 2-4 cups a day. “Drink it early in the day so the caffeine doesn’t interfere with a good night’s sleep,” she says.
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Smooth skin. If your lotion isn’t steeped in tea, you could be missing out on major moisture. In a Dermatologic Therapy study, volunteers who applied a lotion that contained a 6% concentration of green tea leaf extract to just one arm ended up one month later with markedly more hydrated skin on that side, plus more elasticity and less roughness. Try 100% Pure Jasmine Green Tea Moisturizer ($32, 100percentpure.com), which lists organic green tea high up on its ingredient roster.
Tighten under-eye bags
If you fall victim to a restless night’s sleep, tea bags can hide the evidence. Before bed, steep green or black tea bags in hot water for a few minutes before popping them in the fridge. The next morning, place the chilled pouches on your eyes for about 5 minutes and let them work their magic: Blood vessel-constricting caffeine reduces puffiness (and the bags’ cool temp compounds the fluid-reducing effect), while the inflammation-calming polyphenol EGCG helps smooth the under-eye area, explains Audrey Kunin, MD, a Kansas City, Missouri-based dermatologist and founder of Dermadoctor Skincare.
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Even tone.Kombucha tea (a fermented beverage made by adding a yeast-and-bacteria starter to sugar and black tea) improved skin’s moisture retention and elasticity and left women with more even tone and texture in a 2012 study conducted by L’Oreal’s Research and Innovation lab. Try Juara Sweet Black Tea & Rice Facial Moisturizer ($49, juaraskincare.com), which pairs the fermented wonder with vitamin E, an antioxidant proven to enhance skin tone.
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If sun exposure has you , harness tea’s soothing properties to feel better fast. Hunter recommends dropping at least a dozen green tea bags in cool-as-you-can-stand-it bathwater and immediately sliding in until skin feels calmer. “Green tea helps reduce inflammation in very inflamed skin,” she says. She suggests opting for organic green tea, like Bigelow Organic Green Tea ($22 for 240 bags, ) because “it’s grown with fewer chemicals, which is important if you’re soaking in it.” (These can also help.)
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Revive dull hair color. If your color begins to look drab between appointments, use tea to brighten its hue. Tea is mildly acidic, and it becomes even more so the longer it’s brewed. “Acidic ingredients close the hair cuticle make it look shiny and bright, since it reflects more light,” says Doug Macintosh, senior colorist at Louise O’Connor Salon in New York City. To DIY: Put six chamomile tea bags in one cup boiling water, let them steep for 15 minutes, then chill the tea in your refrigerator to use as a post-shampoo, pre-conditioner rinse once or twice a week for a subtle golden glow. One caveat: Macintosh only recommends this tea trick for blondes or brunettes with golden tones, due to chamomile’s yellow hue.
