In the world of beauty, there are teas for just about every concern—one to make you lose weight, one to help you detox and flush out fat, one to give you clear skin and one to ward off the effects of aging (there are more, but the list would just go on and on).
Now, there are facial teas (you do them at home), which work by steeping loose tea in hot water and then placing your face over the bowl so the steam can work its magic on your skin. Annie Tevelin, founder of SkinOwl, says facial teas are trending as women are shifting from more of a rushed beauty routine to one that is more ritualized. Facial teas help correct dull, dry, congested, fatigued and aging skin thanks to the good-for-your-skin herbs—rose hip, calendula, chamomile and rosemary—that are anti-inflammatory, calming and energizing. “These teas offer a regenerative aromatherapy experience, as well as a skin treatment.”
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Because I wanted to see firsthand what all the buzz was about, I put the SkinOwl Beauty Steam: Marigold Glow ($48) to the test.
At first, we thought this was going to be a mess of epic proportions—loose tea, boiling water and steam sounds like a good plan about to go wrong. But in reality, the steam was easier to do than making a pot of pasta. I let some water boil for about 10 minutes until it got really hot and bubbly (and turned it down a bit so I wouldn’t burn myself) and added in two spoonfuls of loose tea. Then, I used a big wooden spoon to stir the mix of organic chamomile, rose, lavender, calendula, fennel, nettle and rosemary together. Next, I placed my face a few inches away from the pot and stood above it to let the steam work its magic for about five minutes.
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Not only did my kitchen smell like an English tea shop, but the steam really worked. I wasn’t doing extractions following the treatment, so it’s hard to say if it really opened up my pores (they didn’t look any bigger afterward, always a good thing!) but it definitely made my skin feel instantly softer. In fact, there were a few dry patches on my chin that weren’t there post-steam—and they stayed away for the next few days, too. Plus, my skin had this healthy glow to it that wasn’t flushed or greasy.
Facial teas may have just become my new favorite Thursday night activity!
