Summer evokes images of relaxing under an umbrella, sipping a cooling glass of iced tea. To fully reap the advantages of summer break and the maximum benefits of tea for skin and bodily health, ask yourself, “Is your iced tea glass half full or half empty?” Sip and stay awhile as we spill what you need to know about tea and how combining it with a glass half full attitude enhances skin health and overall wellness.

Benefits of Tea for Health
The benefits of tea for the body are numerous. Some teas offer more benefits than others, but any tea, sans heaping spoonfuls of sugar and excessive jitter-inducing quantities, can positively affect your health.

Benefits of Black Tea Flavorful Black Tea is bursting with more caffeine than other teas, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties and is the #1 beverage consumed worldwide—with good reason.

1. Disease prevention: Antioxidants neutralize free radical damage in the body, helping stave off chronic diseases and reducing the risk of death from various causes by 1.5%.
2. Heart health: Flavonoids, a particular type of antioxidants, are found to reduce blood pressure, obesity, triglyceride levels, and “bad” LDL cholesterol (the latter owed to specific polyphenols), reducing heart disease risk by 8%. A broad study review revealed that one cup of Black Tea per day can lower heart attack risk by 2%, with an additional study citing a 10% reduction in cardiac events. The decrease in blood pressure also positively impacts kidney health and vision.
3. Gut health: Polyphenols and antimicrobial properties in Black Tea are found to promote good bacteria growth and curb bad bacteria growth. This balancing effect improves gastrointestinal health, repairs the lining in the digestive tract, and bolsters immunity.
4. Strokes: Drinking a daily “cuppa” was found to reduce the risk of stroke by 4%, while another study showed that two cups per day lowered the risk of ischemic stroke by 16%!
5. Diabetes: Some studies show that Black Tea improves insulin sensitivity, while polyphenols in Black Tea (theaflavins and thearubigins) were found to reduce blood sugar levels, together reducing type 2 diabetes risk, obesity, and kidney failure. (Just avoid sweet tea or other pre-packaged sweetened varieties)!
6. Cancer: Polyphenols in Black Tea can impede certain types of cancer cells from developing, reducing the risk of preventable cancers, including some forms of breast, gastrointestinal, lung, oral, ovarian, and thyroid cancer.
7. Weight management: Catechins, a polyphenol from oolong tea, were linked to decreased body fat after 12 weeks of consumption.

Benefits of Green Tea
Green Tea, also known as Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, a perennial evergreen shrub native to Asia, is rich in polyphenols and antioxidants. It is also bestowed with antiseptic and anti-irritant properties. This antioxidant-rich immune system booster defends against bacteria, viruses, and inflammation and averts and repairs cellular damage. It does this by regulating a protein in genes (caspase-14) that governs the skin cell’s life cycle. The antioxidant EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) in Green Tea disrupts the inflammation cascade, inhibiting the production of inflammatory gene proteins (prostaglandin E2 and interleukin-6) and improving enzyme activity. Although much of the research on Green Tea is mixed, here are the many ways it can improve health and promote longevity:

1. Heart disease: Some studies indicate that drinking Green Tea may lower blood pressure, lipids, and other factors, reducing the risk of heart disease.
2. Cancer: Green Tea contains protective compounds shown to help inhibit various types of cancers, with endometrial cancer risk reduced by 22% with high levels of consumption.
3. Oral health: Some promising studies suggest that consuming Green Tea Extract or Green Tea can improve oral health. Again, more studies are necessary.
4. Blood sugar: Multiple studies point to Green Tea as an ally for people with type 2 diabetes, indicating a 10% reduced risk of death with daily consumption.
5. Weight management: There are also benefits of tea for weight loss. Although the net effect may be small, Green Tea combined with aerobic exercise has been found to boost your metabolic rate and help break down fat, especially in the abdomen, boosting body confidence.

Benefits of Tea for Mental Health
The benefits of tea for brain health and well-being are significant. Caffeine and the amino acid L-Theanine in Black Tea improve focus, energy, memory, and alertness, as exhibited by improved cognitive performance with mathematical calculations, etc. Additionally, as Black Tea helps reduce elevated blood sugar tied to depression and other top medical concerns, it can be an effective dietary addition, especially after a meal or snack, to promote both physical and mental wellness. Green Tea is found to help improve cognitive function, prompt more physical activity, and enhance moods. Experts laud the benefits of Green Tea matcha, a powerful, highly concentrated form boasting even higher amounts of phytochemicals than regular Green Tea. The psychoactive Caffeine, EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), and L-Theanine support our brains and moods, enhancing performance. Caffeine promotes alertness, attention, memory, and stamina, while L-Theanine encourages relaxation and calm.

A recent 2020 study also linked Green Tea with a whopping 65% reduced risk of cognitive impairment in older adults, owing to fewer Alzheimer's disease markers. But, before drinking a vat full, know that 13+ cups showed an increase in Alzheimer’s disease risk. Clearly, more studies are needed to determine precisely how much tea is indicated. The next time you need to be alert and focused, choose tea instead of sugary soda! Tea is an especially great swap if you are trying to quit an energy drink habit. Replacing either with tea is a healthful choice that your mind today and future self will thank you for!

Benefits of Herbal Tea
Think outside the tea box with herbal tea. Chamomile tea can calm your mind, while topically applied Chamomile-infused natural skin care soothes fussy complexions. Peppermint is another type of herbal tea sipped for gastrointestinal upsets, motion sickness, and headaches. You can enjoy its circulation-stimulating effects from Peppermint-derived Menthol in our stress-relieving Tension Relief Gel. So, drink herbal tea and apply these lightweight salves whenever your mind and skin are stressed and your muscles feel tired, sore, or swollen.

Benefits Of Tea for Skin
The benefits of tea for face care and body care go well beyond drinking it, as applying its extracts topically greatly enhances the skin's appearance.

Benefits of Green Tea for Skin:
This protective, skin-repairing, and soothing active provides antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. The benefits of Green Tea Extract lie in its ability to neutralize damaging free radicals, bacteria, microbes, redness, and irritation. Skincare products with Green Tea soothe, calm, and repair while preventing germs and infections from spreading—assets ideal for symptoms of sensitivity, rosacea, and breakouts.

Benefits of Black Tea for Skin:
Black Tea is brimming with vitamins and minerals, including Vitamins B, C, and E, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc, Polyphenols, and Tannins. Pevonia uses Kombucha derived from fermented Black Tea in the CleanRefresh™ Foaming Oil Cleanser and Lumafirm® Collection. This fungus or mushroom grown from fermented sweet Black Tea arises from the combination of Yeast and Saccharomyces/Xylinum, a bacterium known for its pro-health B vitamins, enzymes, and repairing acids. Scientific research shows that Black Tea Ferment, or Kombucha, increases a specific enzyme (G3PDH), which stimulates fat storage and facilitates lipo-filling. The resulting plumping effect combined with smoothing, illuminating, and moisturizing Lactic Acid improves skin radiance by 23-43% and delivers taut, tighter-looking skin.

Skincare Routine with Tea
Can’t get enough tea? People love to debate the benefits of Black Tea vs Green Tea, but why not alternate drinking and applying the two to hedge your bets for better skin health and overall wellness? So, select the tea of your choosing and try this tea-lightful, Black and Green Tea-infused clean beauty routine to settle the score:

Step 1: Cleanse with the CleanRefresh™ Foaming Oil Cleanser, RS2 Gentle Cleanser, or Aqua-Gel Foaming Cleanser For Men.

Step 2: Tone with the Hyaluronic Acid HydraMist™, RS2 Gentle Lotion, or Micro-Retinol® Essential Toner.

Step 3:

1. Face Care: Apply the RS2 Concentrate or a thin layer of the multi-tasking Soothing After-Shave Balm or After Sun Soothing Gel.
2. Eye Care: Tap the Power Repair® Eye Contour or Pevonia Lumafirm® Eye Contour gently around the eyes.

Step 4: Moisturize with the RS2 Care Cream or Lumafirm® Repair Cream - Lift & Glow.

Step 5: Moisturize your body with the Pevonia Lumafirm® Body Moisturizer, apply the Collagen Hand Cream twice daily to your hands, and repeat after washing.

Weekly Care: Apply the Ageless Skin Collagen Mask once or twice weekly. You can also use it as an overnight sleep mask.

For Breakouts: Substitute the ProCorrective® Clear-Control Line for Steps 1, 3, and 4. This collection contains Tea Tree from the Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf. Although it isn’t an actual tea, our skincare products with Tea Tree had to be included since they have “tea” in the name! Tea Tree has naturally powerful antiseptic and antiviral properties, which is why it is extensively used in these products for acne-prone skin (and our natural foot cream!) to help control bacteria and fungal growth.

Half Glass Full Mindset
Your mentality plays a powerful role in your wellness, which includes your skin! To look and feel your best, complement your new, healthy skincare routine with an attitude adjustment. After all, how can you receive all the benefits of tea if you’re stressed out? While you brew a cup of tea, let’s steep a bit on the glass half full meaning. The phrase “glass half full” is a hope-filled expression that describes a positive attitude where one sees the good side of a situation instead of the bad side. It embodies an optimistic perspective on life that can color every situation you encounter. Not a glass half full person? Even the most pessimistic can take some measures to improve their outlook. Here’s how to have a glass half full attitude:

1. Find something you are grateful for—anything or anyone!
2. Actively and intentionally decide to focus on the positive. This means stopping yourself whenever you notice your mind becoming negative and trying to find the “silver lining.”
3. Begin the day with an injection of positivity—read daily meditation books, say affirmations, and pray to prevent your glass-half-empty mindset from gaining momentum.
4. Surround yourself with positive people whenever possible.
5. If you wake up “on the wrong side of the bed” every day, allow yourself a short and sweet journal dump of negativity to expel it quickly. Then, make way for an input of good.
6. Act as if. When your mindset plummets, ask yourself how a half glass full person would act and try that on for size. Studies show that even just smiling can change our attitude. This doesn’t mean you deny feelings that need to be processed but watch allowing them to dominate your entire life.

Teatime for Beauty & Wellness
While drinking hot tea is beneficial, there is nothing like taking a break with a cool, refreshing glass of iced tea. Sure, cracking open a soda or energy drink is fast, but tea is relatively quick and easy to make. Step 1: Boil water.

Step 2: Brew the tea.

1. For tea bags, add the tea bag to your favorite mug, then fill it with hot water.
2. For loose-leaf tea, add the recommended amount of tea leaves into a strainer, with extra if you like extra-strong tea.

Step 3: Steep the tea for 3–5 minutes, longer if you prefer a more robust flavor.

Step 4: Remove the tea bag or strainer from the water and enjoy!

Step 5: To increase enjoyment, sweeten your tea with liquid stevia and make it creamy with a lower-fat or plant based milk or creamer.

If you are new to tea, keep trying different varieties to find one that works for you!
Note: Although some recommend hot or warm tea for maximum benefit, cold tea is better for those with rosacea.