Chamomile tea benefits for the skin

Chamomile tea is one of the most popular types of herbal teas out there. It’s made from the flowers of the chamomile plant (a herb belonging to the Asteraceae family). It has long been used in traditional medicine practices.

While many people drink this caffeine-free tea to relax before bed, it’s thought to have first been used by ancient civilisations to help heal sores on the skin.¹

Chamomile tea benefits for skin

There’s a reason why chamomile has been used for centuries as a health-boosting herbal treatment! When it comes to benefits specifically related to the skin, here’s what you need to know:

Chamomile contains heaps of antioxidants

A lot of chamomile’s potential health properties are down to the fact it contains several antioxidants. These are types of compounds which can fight off free radicals which can harm the cells.² Chamomile tea contains flavonoids, terpenoids, and polyphenols.³ These are all believed to protect the skin from environmental damage which can cause premature ageing, dryness, dark spots and other problems.⁴

Chamomile can help to calm

This daisy-like flower is thought to have natural calming properties.⁵ Because of this, it’s long been used as a topical remedy for skin health. This not only includes rashes and blemishes but also things such as puffiness around the eyes.⁶

Chamomile is cleansing

Chamomile is also thought to have some success at healing wounds. This is down to its anti-microbial abilities which allow it to get rid of bacteria which can cause infections.⁷ Due to the above benefits, you might spot chamomile as an ingredient in numerous natural skincare products.⁸ This includes items like Faith in Nature Chamomile & Aloe Vera Roll-On Deodorant and Q+A Natural Skincare Chamomile Night Cream.

How to brew chamomile tea

When it comes to making this soothing herbal beverage, you’ll have two options.⁹ Firstly, you could use a ready-made chamomile tea bag and follow the instructions on the packet to create the perfect brew. If you’re going down the homemade route, though, here’s what to do:

1. Add boiling water to a mug and allow it to cool for one minute.
2. Using a mesh infuser, steep a handful of freshly picked chamomile flowers in the water.
3. Leave for five minutes before removing the chamomile flowers.
4. Sweeten with a little honey or enjoy it on its own!

You could also use a teapot with a built-in infuser or add your chamomile flowers to a reusable mesh teabag.

Top tip: if you’re using chamomile tea bags, allow them to cool afterwards to be used as soothing eye masks. They can help bring down puffiness and help reduce the appearance of dark circles.¹⁰ Shop our full range of herbal teas to find options containing soothing chamomile. Shop Teas

Last updated: 18 December 2020