We know that hydration is essential for acne-prone skin. Generous water intake helps clear your complexion of skin-irritating toxins and impurities, keeping your pores fresh and clean.
But let’s face it: water is boring. It tastes like nothing! And it’s not even the best at its job. Because you know what’s even better than drinking water? Drinking TEA.
Tea is just as hydrating as water, but it brings so much more to the table: flavor, comfort, and dozens upon dozens of skin-healthy nutrients and antioxidants.
And there are so many teas to choose from, for every palate and skincare goal. Somewhere out there is a tea out there with your name on it, whether you prefer to drink your botanicals or apply them topically. (Say, with the 40+ active botanicals in Averr Aglow’s Clear Skin Kit.)
Not sure what your perfect match might be? No problem. It’s time to spill the tea with our ultimate list of 18 brews for clear skin!
1. Green Tea / Matcha
HELPS WITH: inflammation, anti-aging, detoxification, bacteria, environmental damage, immunity
No beating around the (tea) bush: green tea is one of my clear-skin beverages. It boasts multiple benefits, is easy to find, and has a pleasant, grassy flavor. It’s even good for your immune system!
Green tea’s complexion-boosting power is mainly thanks to its concentration of antioxidants. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals to prevent damage from UV rays and environmental pollutants.
Preventing this kind of damage is step 1 in a good anti-aging routine. After all, less skin damage fewer fine lines, and wrinkles.
If your skin is prone to swelling or breakouts, green tea also contains compounds that help relieve inflammation.
And at least one antioxidant in green tea has even been known to reactivate dying cells in the outer layers of human skin. Studies in this area are in their infancy, but scientists are excited by the possibilities — such as reducing scarring and improving the overall condition of our complexions.
Matcha
This Japanese form of powdered green tea is incredibly nutrient-rich. Even more, than regular green tea, matcha contains antioxidants and other compounds that make it a formidable detoxifier and the absolute enemy of bacterial infections.
Matcha tends to be thicker and more intensely flavored than other green teas, sometimes edging on bitter. For the best matcha experience, seek out high-quality “ceremonial-grade” powder.
Pro tip: My favorite way to drink matcha is in a warm and comforting matcha latte. But, alas, dairy is a known acne trigger. So if you’re trying to cultivate clearer skin, pass on the latte or try a non-dairy substitute.
2. White Tea
HELPS WITH: inflammation, bacteria, anti-aging, environmental damage>
White tea leaves are picked while still young and tender and then dried very quickly after harvesting. This minimal processing time gives the tea a very delicate flavor. And because it is the least processed variety of tea, white tea also has the purest natural benefits — such as the highest content of antioxidants and skin-defending compounds called catechins.
As in green tea, the antioxidants in white tea protect your skin cells by neutralizing damage from free radicals.
Meanwhile, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties help calm swelling and redness, making white tea a perfect fit for conditions like acne or eczema.
White tea also helps preserve your skin’s natural collagen and elastin, which keep you looking smooth and youthful.
3. Earl Grey
HELPS WITH: stress, anti-aging, and environmental damage
One of the distinguishing features of Earl Grey tea blends is the addition of bergamot oil. Good news, because bergamot is known to reduce stress and has even been used to treat depression. The smell alone can lower your anxiety, and bergamot is popular in aromatherapy.
Let bergamot work its magic for you inside AND out! Averr Aglow uses soothing bergamot oil in both our Flawless Nourishment Cream and our Clear Skin Elixir
Earl grey tea blends also contain mood-improving amino acids like L-theanine, giving your mental health an extra boost.
How does all this help your skin? Stress hormones like cortisol and CRH can contribute to acne, so lowering your anxiety levels can help prevent those stress breakouts.
The tea leaves in Earl Grey also contain our favorite skin defenders: antioxidants. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and protect your complexion from environmental damage. Take that, premature aging!
4. Rooibos
HELPS WITH: environmental damage, anti-aging, hormonal imbalance
Also called “red bush tea,” rooibos is a South African tea variety with a smooth, nutty flavor.
Like other teas, rooibos is packing antioxidants that help prevent free radical damage and slow down premature aging.
Rooibos also comes bearing zinc, a mineral that can help preserve your skin’s youthful appearance and a Zincentially acne-triggering hormonal imbalances. Zinc is so good for your skin that it earned a feature in our list of the 99 Best Foods for Clear Skin!
5. Peppermint / Spearmint
HELPS WITH: hormonal imbalance, digestion, anti-aging, and environmental damage
If herbal teas are your jam, don’t sleep on mint. Apart from having a cool, refreshing flavor that’s equally at home in warm and cold weather, mint teas are also great for your health. Whether you go for peppermint, spearmint, or a more exotic mint variety, this group has a lot to offer.
Suffering from a hormonal imbalance? Mint teas can help balance out your raging hormones and slow your production of sebum, aka skin oil. For those of us with oily, acne-prone complexions, reducing that pore-clogging sebum is a step in the right direction.
Like more traditional teas, mint also comes loaded with antioxidants that protect your skin from free radicals and prevent premature aging.
BONUS: Mint teas are excellent home remedies for nausea and other digestive problems. This may help along your clear skin journey, as gut health and skin health are curiously intertwined.
And don’t forget the fantastic topical properties of mint! Peppermint has been shown to slow the growth of bacteria and help calm itchy skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis. We love the subtle touch of peppermint in our Rejuvenating Essence Body Polish, which helps detoxify skin and create a nourishing spa-like experience for every skin type.
6. Chamomile
HELPS WITH: sleep, stress, inflammation, environmental damage, anti-aging, bacteria
Looking to create your sleepytime tea mood? Chamomile is the answer. Renowned for its relaxing effects, chamomile brings all the cozy vibes.
Chamomile reduces acne-triggering stress hormones like cortisol and CRH. At the same time, it increases restful mood-improving hormones like serotonin and melatonin. This balance creates a feeling of calm, which can help you ease off to sleep.
Quality sleep is essential for skin health. Rest helps keep your immunity strong, prevents dark circles and under-eye bags, and can even lessen your acne flare-ups. Chamomile also reduces inflammation and has antibacterial properties. Just two more ways that it helps control your breakouts!
Last but not least, chamomile helps protect your complexion from sun damage and free radicals, thanks to antioxidants like quercetin.
Long story short? Your favorite tea to wind down with can also be your favorite tea to glow up with!
7. Jasmine
HELPS WITH: environmental damage, anti-aging, circulation, wound healing, bacteria
A very floral tea common in Chinese cuisine, jasmine tea is too perfumey for some palates. But if you’re fond of flowery teas, jasmine is a popular choice with bonus skin benefits.
Full of skin-defending antioxidants, jasmine is yet another tea ready and able to protect your complexion from environmental damage. It also has known antibacterial and wound-healing properties that can help you prevent and recover from acne breakouts.
Jasmine even encourages good circulation by relaxing and dilating blood vessels. Important! Blood flow carries vital oxygen and nutrients that keep your skin nourished, healthy, and radiant.
8. Rosehip
HELPS WITH: inflammation, environmental damage, anti-aging, dull skin
Here at Averr Aglow, we <3 rosehips! These charming fruits grow on rose bushes, resembling the adorable little lovechild of a cranberry and a radish. But they aren’t just cute — they’re also an impressive source of skin-boosting vitamins and antioxidants.
In particular, rosehips are bursting with vitamins C and E. This power combo helps boost collagen, brighten skin, and defend your complexion from free radical damage. Rosehips are also highly effective at reducing inflammation, soothing the swelling and redness oh-so-common to acne-prone skin.
For the best concentration of vitamins and minerals, you can make your tea with fresh rosehips...but they’re pretty hard to find. If fresh rosehips aren’t available, dried rosehips still pack a clear-skin punch!
Can’t get enough rosehips? Our Clear Skin Elixir includes rosehips to infuse your skin with rejuvenating vitamin C and unveil a healthy glow.
9. Ginger
HELPS WITH: inflammation, digestion, immunity
Ginger snaps. Gingerbread. Ginger...tea? That’s right. That spicy root that warms up your stir-fries and winter desserts can also be made into a healthy, skin-friendly infusion.
Ginger tea can help relieve inflammation, including painful red swelling from conditions like acne and eczema.
Like mint, ginger is also a popular home remedy for nausea and digestive problems. This has broader implications for your health and complexion thanks to a little thing called the gut-brain-skin axis. So clearing up your digestion can also help clear up your skin!
It’s even been suggested that ginger can help protect your immune system by warding off colds.
Ginger tea has a warm, comforting flavor with a little bit of a spicy edge. You can buy pre-made ginger tea bags, but you can also easily create ginger tea at home by steeping chunks of peeled ginger in boiling water.
10. Turmeric
HELPS WITH: inflammation
Turmeric has been trending for its excellent health benefits, and turmeric tea is no exception.
Turmeric is part of the ginger family, and much like ginger, it’s a potent anti-inflammatory. Turmeric is full of the antioxidant curcumin, which is said to be stronger than some anti-inflammatory drugs. Home remedy for the win!
Swelling and irritation play a huge role in skin conditions like acne and eczema. So turmeric tea’s ability to calm inflammation is an excellent way to naturally discourage flare-ups.
And if you struggle with swollen under-eye bags, rejoice! Averr Aglow uses turmeric in both our Ageless Eyes Day Cream and our Satin Eyes Night Mask to smooth and de-puff the delicate skin around your eyes. Goodbye, tired sagging. Hello, youthful glow!
Need BOTH eye creams? Give your eyes a soothing daytime AND nighttime boost with the duo in our Perfectly Fresh Eyes Kit.
Turmeric tea bags are available on the market, or you can make your mix with turmeric powder. You can also make turmeric tea from freshly grated turmeric root...If you can get your hands on it. Check out any Asian groceries in your area, to start.
11. Saffron
HELPS WITH: environmental damage, anti-aging, inflammation, blood sugar, stress
Saffron, considered the “most expensive spice in the world,” is a luxe commodity harvested from crocus flowers. You may have come across it in Indian or Mediterranean cuisine. It can also be steeped into a golden, uplifting tea.
Saffron is a known anti-inflammatory. It also includes compounds like safranal and crocin that have antidepressant and mood-improving qualities.
This is good for your mental AND physical health, skin included. Lowering your stress leads to lower levels of acne-triggering hormones like cortisol and CRH, helping to prevent breakouts before they get started.
Something similar can be said for saffron’s effect on your blood sugar. By lowering your blood sugar levels and increasing your sensitivity to sugar-regulating insulin, saffron may help nip sugar-induced breakouts in the bud.
Saffron also includes all sorts of antioxidants, helping you fight off environmental damage and maintain your naturally youthful complexion.
It’s even great topically! Saffron is one of the stellar botanicals powering the day and night creams in our Perfectly Fresh Eyes Kit. In addition to addressing fine lines and wrinkles, these creams use naturally calming ingredients like saffron and turmeric to help relieve under-eye swelling. So you can get that bright-eyed, woke-up-like look!
Ready to brew? On its own, saffron can have a strong, earthy taste that edges bitter. Many tea lovers suggest pairing it with other flavorings like lemon, cardamom, or mint. (Saffron and mint? Sounds like a recipe for clear skin success!)
12. Dandelion
HELPS WITH: environmental damage, anti-aging, immunity, detoxification, digestion
Surprise! Did you even know that you could eat dandelions? It turns out that these cheerful weeds are edible, from use in salads to old-school dandelion wine.
As for tea, you can brew an herbal infusion from dandelion petals or roots. Smoky, toasty dandelion root tea is especially full of antioxidants and immune boosters that are good for your skin (and your health in general).
Dandelion’s antioxidants help protect your skin from damage while supporting your immune system to defend against harmful bacteria like C. acnes — aka, the bacteria behind many of your breakouts.
Dandelion root tea also aids digestion and detoxification, which is a nice bonus for those of us with problem complexions. Why? Because a happy gut contributes to happy skin!
13. Rosemary
HELPS WITH: inflammation, bacteria, environmental damage, anti-aging, blood sugar, stress, sleep
We are crazy tea enthusiasts, some of whom even grow our rosemary at home. So how did we never realize that rosemary tea was a thing?
Seriously, this infusion looks like the bee’s knees. Rosemary ticks all the boxes for a healthier lifestyle (and healthier skin):
- Compounds like rosmarinic acid make rosemary a gentle anti-inflammatory, perfect for acne-prone skin.
- Antimicrobial and antibacterial properties help fight off infections and heal wounds, shortening your recovery time after a nasty breakout.
- Rosemary may help control your blood sugar levels. This has dozens of positive benefits, not least of which is preventing an acne-triggering insulin spike. No, thank you, sugar breakouts!
- Antioxidants help prevent free radical damage, such as from sun exposure or environmental pollutants.
- Rosemary has even been shown to lower anxiety and improve sleep quality, keeping acne-triggering hormones like cortisol and CRH at bay.
Rosemary also likes to show its stuff as a topical ingredient. At Averr Aglow, we use rosemary in two of our favorite products: our Luminous Complexion Toner and our Satin Eyes Night Mask. Ready to unwind at the end of a long day? Let the toner balance and restore your skin while the eye mask calms and rejuvenates the delicate area around your eyes.
14. Lemon Balm
HELPS WITH: stress, digestion, inflammation
This fresh herb does exactly what a good tea ought to: helps you chill and relax.
Lemon balm, a pleasantly citrusy plant that’s actually in the mint family, has been shown to soothe anxiety and boost your mood.
If you’re prone to stress breakouts, it’s because your anxiety is ratcheting up hormones like cortisol and CRH, which then increase your oil production and lead to blocked pores. So by calming your nerves with a nice cup of lemon balm tea, you can help head off these breakouts at the pass.
Lemon balm tea may also be good for your digestion. This claim is still pending further research, but it’s certainly a promising extra benefit. (And one that may indirectly help your skin.)
To try your lemon balm infusion, simply steep fresh or dried lemon balm leaves in boiling water.
Topically, lemon balm can also help defend your skin from bacteria and inflammation for a calmer, healthier glow! Try it out in our fan-favorite, the Luminous Complexion Toner.
15. Hibiscus
HELPS WITH: dull skin, anti-aging, immunity
We love herbal teas or a good cup of Earl Grey, but sometimes the heart wants something with a fruity twist. Take things in a tropical direction with a tart, refreshing cup of hibiscus tea.
This vibrantly red brew isn’t just pretty. It’s also loaded with vitamins — especially vitamin C, one of our favorite skincare secrets. Vitamin C hits the perfect trifecta: brightening, regenerating, and protecting.
High vitamin C levels make hibiscus a perfect choice to boost your immune system, brighten your complexion, and rejuvenate your skin with a collagen boost. Throw in its selection of skin-friendly fatty acids, and we are all about that exotic hibiscus life!
16. Raspberry
HELPS WITH: inflammation, digestion, immunity
Is there anything better than a perfect, summer-ripe raspberry?
Raspberry leaf tea can help calm swelling and inflammation, which is ideal for those of us with irritable, acne-prone skin. It has even been suggested that this tea can help soothe conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
Raspberry leaf tea can also help your skin indirectly by improving your digestion and boosting your immune system with vitamin C. These two overall health benefits, while seemingly unrelated, can contribute to a clear complexion.
Vitamin C is also a skincare powerhouse. That’s why we’re delighted to include C-rich raspberry seed oil in our Flawless Nourishment Cream. This deliciously thick moisturizer will help balance and revitalize any skin type, so you can swap that dry or oily complexion for a fresh, dewy glow!
One warning for respite berry lovers: you can have too much of a good thing. Drinking an excessive amount of raspberry leaf tea can have a laxative effect. So enjoy it in moderation!
17. Cranberry
HELPS WITH: digestion, detoxification, anti-aging, environmental damage
If you like cranberry juice (with or without vodka), cranberry tea may be the fruity, clear-skin infusion for you!
Like many other teas here on our mega-list, cranberry tea is stocked with antioxidants. These antioxidants help protect your skin from damage and prevent the signs of aging.
And if digestion is one of your concerns, add cranberry to your shortlist right behind ginger and mint. Cranberry promotes gut health and inhibits the presence of harmful bacteria in your digestive tract, helping your body run smoothly. As we ’ 'mentioned before, healthy digestion has a secret hand in your skin’s clarity and well-being.
What about the rest of your well-being? If you’ve ever had a UTI, you’re probably acquainted with cranberry’s famous detox abilities.
In short: this tea is one to add to your rotation.
Now, if only cranberry could be used in your favorite skincare products. ...Oh wait, it CAN!
Applied topically, cranberry deposits skin-defending antioxidants and hydrating fatty acids that can help give your skin a clear, dewy finish. That’s why we use cranberry seed oil in our Rejuvenating Essence Body Polish. This gentle, spa-like exfoliating scrub delivers luxury for every skin type!
18. Kombucha
HELPS WITH: detoxification, environmental damage, anti-aging, digestion
You’ve probably heard of kombucha before, and maybe you’ve even tried it already. At first, this fermented tea could only be found at health shops. But recently, kombucha’s steady rise in popularity has earned it a place in your neighborhood grocery store.
So, why are people so wild about it?
Kombucha’s main claim to fame is its concentration of detoxifying, gut-healthy probiotics, which are valued as part of a holistic lifestyle. The idea is this: since so many of our internal systems are interconnected, taking care of one (in this case, your gut) will have body-wide health benefits. And one of those benefits can be improved clarity in your skin!
But that’s not all that kombucha can do. Because it is fermented from antioxidant-rich green and black teas, kombucha packs many antioxidants of its own. So it can help protect your complexion and prevent premature aging.
So, what’s the best way to work these teas into your routine?
There’s no hard and fast rule for how much tea to drink, but consistency will help. As with any lifestyle change, the benefits of drinking tea will manifest gradually. So one random cup of tea a month is not going to make a noticeable difference in your health or skin issues.
Once you’ve found the right tea for you, we encourage you to drink at least a cup a day. Or, if you’ve become a die-hard tea enthusiast, 3-5 cups a day will up your game! Consider making an entire pot of tea at once to encourage yourself to drink more.
And there you have it! 18 gorgeous clear skin teas, with different flavors and benefits to suit any of your needs. Expand your tea horizons, try a few new brews, and find your perfect match!
Now the drinks are covered. But what are the best foods to pair with your new favorite tea? Create your perfect clear-skin diet with the 99 Best Foods for Clear Skin.
What to Do Next? Try Averr Aglow’s Clear Skin Kit
Tired of feeling lost and confused about what you should do to get clear, smooth skin? Order the Clear Skin Kit.
The Clear Skin Kit contains products specially crafted with the perfect blend of natural ingredients that help soothe and calm red, irritated skin while also clearing up breakouts. If you struggle with sensitive acne/breakout-prone skin, hormonal acne, cystic acne, or rosacea, then you’ll be happy you found this complete routine.
Please understand, that results may vary, we’re not selling you a miracle product and would never try to position or state that you will get a true result in only a few days. In our clinical trials, most users found the most results at the 30-day and then the 56-day mark by sticking with our routine.
What is Averr Aglow®?
Averr means Truth. We have pioneered a revolutionary no-rinse cleansing routine specifically tailored to address problematic skin issues.
Hi, I’m Camille, founder of Averr Aglow, and I help adult women who are battling breakouts and acne get clear skin results like they have never seen before, even if nothing has worked for them in the past.
After battling breakouts for over 16 years, trying every skincare product under the sun, and visiting countless professionals like dermatologists, nutritionists, and hormonal doctors, I finally learned why nothing seemed to work on clearing up my skin, what truly causes breakouts and acne, and EXACTLY what to do to get clear skin results – and I want to help you do the same.
Let me help you! Read my full testimonial here.
