Add glow to skin and shine to hair with tea

Today, a great deal of importance is being paid to natural antioxidants.  They not only have health benefits but help delay the visible signs of ageing on skin and hair. They are called antioxidants because they prevent and retard the degeneration caused by oxidation damage. One way of taking antioxidants is by having green tea. Recently, we have heard so much about the benefits of green tea for both health and beauty. It contains polyphenols which are powerful natural antioxidants.

Apart from drinking tea, we can make teas with herbs and spices. Some of these are an integral part of Ayurveda for their many benefits like aiding digestion, warming the body, calming the nerves, helping weight loss and so on. Some help restore normal balances to the skin, adding a healthy radiance. Ayurvedic teas are made from cinnamon, clove, cumin seeds, black pepper, cardamom, fennel (saunf), nutmeg (jaiphal) and so on. Cardamom has always been known for aiding digestion and is popularly chewed after meals. Nutmeg is said to calm the nerves. Many other plant products can be added like lemongrass, mint, sweet basil, rose petals or honey.

Nowadays, different teas are available in tea bags like chamomile tea, lemon Tea and even blueberry tea. Chamomile tea helps induce relaxation and calms nerves. Take two teaspoons mint leaves, half teaspoon fennel (saunf) and very little dried ginger. Steep in a cup of boiling water. Cover and leave for five minutes. Strain and drink.

The normal tea we drink every morning can be prepared with spices and herbs like ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, basil and mint. In winter, ginger, cardamom or cloves can be added to keep the body warm. On the other hand, mint has a cooling effect. Mint and basil (tulsi) can be used together. Tea itself has several beauty benefits. It can be used for skin and hair care. Tea leaves are said to have an anti-inflammatory action. They help reduce oiliness. Tea bags can be steeped in water and applied over eyelids like eye pads. They help to reduce puffiness and add brightness to the eyes.

Green tea is a powerful skin toner, especially for oily skin, as it works as an astringent toner. In fact, green tea suits all skin types. It has anti-inflammatory properties which help control acne. It is also said to soothe sunburn. Modern research has revealed green tea has sunscreen properties. In fact, it hydrates and nourishes the skin. Since it contains powerful antioxidants, it keeps the skin healthy and adds radiance. Take half-a-cup water and boil it. Put tea leaves in a ceramic bowl. Pour hot water over it and keep for two minutes. Strain and cool the liquid. Apply on face with cotton wool to tone the skin. Leave on. Or you can dip a tea bag in a cup of hot water. Cool and use it to tone the skin. Or make the tea-water and keep in an airtight jar in the refrigerator. Use the lotion to tone and refresh the skin.

Green tea, in fact, can be used in many ways in beauty care. The tea leaves may be mixed with curd and used as a scrub. In fact, ground almonds, green tea and curd will make a good face and body scrub. It makes a useful hair tonic and remedy for scalp conditions like dandruff. Use a green tea bag and a cup of hot water to make green tea hair tonic. You can even add a little lemon juice. Apply it on scalp with cotton wool and leave on for 20 minutes. Green tea is said to help control hair loss and condition the hair as it contains vitamins C and E. It not only restores health to the hair and softens it but adds healthy shine.

Green tea can be used as a hair rinse after shampoo. Boil four to five cups of water. Put green tea leaves in a bowl and add hot water. Cool and strain. Add the juice of a lemon and use it as a last rinse after shampoo.

Soaking your fingers in green tea helps add shine to nails while tea bags, used as eye pads, help reduce puffiness and induce relaxation. It is said to help reduce stress. Steep green tea bags in hot water. Allow them to cool and use them as eye pads.