5 Tasty Herbal Teas That Can Save Your Skin

Winter is coming, and I manage to ALWAYS catch that bug – but this year I have a plan, a multi-purpose plan, too. Not only does drinking herbal tea detox your body and support your immune system, it's basically a free facial! My skin gets quite dry during the winter so I have some prepping to do – other than swapping to facial oil cleansers (which I normally do in the cold season), I hear that drinking skin-enhancing teas will have you feeling and looking your best. Essentially, drinking herbal teas can help in clearing out toxins in your blood and keep your liver healthy, which can then treat skin concerns whether you suffer from eczema or adult acne. Here are some main ingredients you should look for: (Top beauty tip: Remember to drink an extra glass of water or non-caffeinated tea in between these recommendations to balance out the drying effects of caffeine, and always consult your GP if changing your diet in a major way!)

1. Rooibus: Best for Hormonal Balancing Plant-derived oestrogen, Phytoestrogen, is often used in hormone-replacement therapy. It protects the liver against the accumulation of fat which is integral in keeping issues like breakouts and flareups at bay.

2. Burdock and Yellow Dock Root: Best for Psoriasis and Eczema Many conditions related to toxic buildup in the system, including headaches, skin problems and general fatigue can be relieved by drinking crushed burdock and yellow dock root. These ingredients nourish your organs and replenish natural moisturising qualities in your body.

3. Cherry, Honey and Lychee: Best for Anti-Ageing These ingredients are a good source of beta-carotene and anthocyanins – antioxidants found in many fruits that help prevent and manage arthritis, cataracts, macular degeneration, and memory loss as well as maintain healthy hair and skin.

4. Red Clover and Milk Thistle: Best for Acne Milk thistle is a herbal product traditionally used to relieve symptoms like indigestion, but it also has wonderful abilities in diminishing scars and relieving build up of bacterial cysts. It has proven to cure people who suffer from adult acne almost instantaneously.

5. Green Tea Extract: Best for Skin Plumping Too much sun can be damaging to the skin and cause early signs of ageing. Studies have shown that drinking green tea may actually help reduce your risk of skin cancer (although you still have to wear SPF 30 daily, of course). The antioxidants prevent cell damage and can protect against sunburns and potentially long-term UV damage.

If drinking that much tea and water makes you feel a bit sick (ha!), compare prices on these online beauty buys that are packed full of herbal goodness:

•Jason's Tea Time Anti-aging Moisturising Cream from £10.17 is enriched with green tea, pro-vitamins A, C and E, is 70% organic and contains a whole host of wonderfully natural ingredients. It delivers long lasting moisture retention to fight the effects of ageing and leaves skin nourished and protected with a youthful, silky glow.

•Superfacialist's Tea Flower Purify & Refresh Facial Scrub from £8.99 will gently yet thoroughly cleanse and exfoliate your skin and reveal a clearer, more even-textured complexion. The creamy scrub is enriched with cooling Menthol, skin clearing Salicylic Acid, moisturising Grapeseed Oil and Elderflower which helps minimise the appearance of pores.

•Emma Bridgewater's Tea & Oranges Hand Lotion from £12.00 is a light, easily absorbed lotion that's made with shea butter and leaves hands soft, silky and smelling like smokey Chinese tea. With scents of orange, lemon, cardamom and coriander, Tea & Oranges is suitable for all skin types.

•J.F. Lazartigue's Tea Oil Delicate Shampoo from £35.00 treats damaged and dry hair wonderfully. The shampoo provides healing and restructuring properties with nutrients like Vitamins B and C that leave hair feeling fuller and healthy.