Tea is a staple in any Sri Lankan house. We drink it in the morning, serve it to house guests, have a cup when we need an afternoon pick me up! Packed with an array of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that help fight and reduce illnesses, drinking tea regularly has a lot of health and beauty benefits.

Tea not only tastes amazing but did you know that it also works wonders for your hair and skin? Read on to find out some easy DIY recipes that you could whip up using tea combined with some easily found pantry staples! Let us know if you have tried any and how it turned out! 

Green Tea and Lavender refreshing spray

March, April and May are specially very warm months in Sri Lanka, which can leave your skin feeling burnt and dry. Use this easy to make hydrating face mist to keep cool while keeping your skin hydrated. The Green tea will soothe and heal your skin while the Aloe with its anti inflammatory properties is the perfect remedy for burnt skin.

Ingredients

1 cup of brewed Green Tea

1.5 tablespoons of Aloe Vera Gel

10 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

Method

Add all the ingredients into a small spray bottle and shake well.

How to use

Spray on your face whenever necessary to rejuvenate your skin! The spray will last for one week when stored in the fridge.

Black Tea and Honey Exfoliating Mask

This simple and easy to make 4 ingredient mask is an amazing solution for keeping blemishes away and reducing premature signs of aging. The Tannins and Polyphenols in Black Tea will help speeden up the skin regeneration process while helping soothe irritated skin and reducing under eye puffiness. Honey and Lemon juice contain an array of antibacterial properties that help keep your skin glowing and radiant.

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons Black Tea

½ Cup Hot Water

2 Tablespoons Organic Honey

2 Teaspoons lemon juice

Method

Steep the tea for 3 minutes and then drain. Squeeze out as much as possible as you can out of the tea leaves. Add the leaves to a small jar and add in the Honey and Lemon. Mix well.

How to use

Tie your hair and apply the face mask to your entire face avoiding the eye and mouth. Leave on for ten minutes. Once thetime is up, gently massage and exfoliate the skin in a circular motion. Rise with warm water. Leftover mask can be stored in the fridge.

Oatmeal and Chamomile Mask

This powerhouse combination of Oatmeal and Chamomile will help keep your skin soft and moisturized with its nutrient ingredients. Oatmeal contains salicylic acid which has exfoliating properties while honey helps remove dead skin cells. Chamomile has many anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe the skin.

Ingredients

½ cup processed oats

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoons white sugar

¼ cup brewed Chamomile tea

Method

Combine Oats, Baking Soda and Honey in a bowl. Keep adding the brewed tea, little by little until you end up with a mildly thick paste. Add in the white sugar and mix well.

How to use

Wash your face and apply the mask allover. Let it rest for 5 minutes. Rinse off the mask and then apply a face moisturizer.

Black Tea Hair Treatment Oil

This easy to make hair treatment Oil will leave your hair soft, hydrated and frizz free with its combination of Black tea and Coconut Oil.

Ingredients

3 grams of loose Black Tea

250 ml of Mineral Water

1 tablespoon Coconut Oil

Method

Steep the tea in boiling water for 10minutes. Let the water cool and pour the tea water into a bottle. Add the coconut oil and shake well. Wash hair as normal then massage the Black Tea Hair treatment oil onto the scalp. Leave for 10 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.  

Green Tea and Coconut Oil Moisturizer

This amazing blend of Green Tea and Coconut Oil will leave your skin feeling smooth and nourished all daylong! Both these ingredients are rich in antioxidants helping protect your skin while minimizing fine lines and wrinkles.

Ingredients

1 Cup Coconut Oil

2 Tablespoons Green Tea

Method

Add Coconut Oil into a double boiler and heat. Stir in the Green Tea, cover and simmer on low heat for about 30 minutes. Strain the tea from the oil with a cheesecloth. Take the oil and place it in the freezer for about 20 minutes until almost solid. Use an electric mixer and whip for about 5 minutes until creamy.

How to use

Use whenever needed on your face and body! Use twice daily for best results. This moisturizer is best used within two months of making.