DIY Tea Astringent Anyone?

Have you ever had days when your skin just feels blah? Perhaps you just need to refresh and rejuvenate it the natural way! I’m sure many of us have been using used store-bought astringents to cleanse and wake up tired skin but they can be way too strong.

Astringents are used to firm and tone the skin. They constrict the pores and create a protective layer of firm tissue to fight against natural elements. However, some astringents can be harsh due to their alcohol content, thus, drying the skin. So why not create your own astringent at home?

Today’s recipe uses non-drying ingredients — witch hazel, lemon juice and, don’t be surprised – tea!

Tea

Tea, as we all know is a powerful anti-oxidant and when used on our skin, it’s does its magic by refreshing the skin, softening its texture, and helping you relax. In fact, cosmetic companies have embraced teas as an ingredient in many moisturizers and cleansers! Why, tea can be found in soaps, skin fresheners, make-up and more! With its potent antioxidants called catechins, using tea in your astringent helps fight damage caused by free radicals.

Witch Hazel

Don’t be deceived by its name! Witch hazel may sound gnarly but in fact, this wonderful herbal extract is derived from the leaves and bark of Hamamelis virginiana (the witch hazel shrub) (hyperlink). Witch hazel is a common active ingredient in astringents. It is an anti-oxidant and it is used for a number of skin problems such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, blisters, insect bites, poison ivy and varicose veins. For such a useful plant, it makes us wonder: who came up with the “witch” name part?

Lemon Juice

Who doesn’t like lemon? It adds zest to our food and drinks, has an invigorating scent, it’s cheap and readily available. Lemon juice is great in clearing acne, can help reduce blemishes and scars and exfoliate your skin to gently remove dead skin cells!

Time to toss those old, skin drying astringents ladies. An all-natural astringent is what your skin needs! Enjoy!

Super Tea Astringent

Ingredients:

• 2 tea bags of your choice (we recommend chamomile for relaxation or peppermint to energize your body)
• 1/4 cup witch hazel
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1/4 cup water

Directions:

1. Boil the water and pour it over the tea bags.

2. Allow them to steep for at least an hour.

3. Once cooled, combine your cooled tea with the witch hazel and lemon juice and stir the mixture well.

4. Pour mixture into a clean bottle.

5. Apply astringent to clean skin with a cotton ball.

The Author:

greenblossoms