In this article:
Chamomile tea is a healing herb that is replete with beneficial compounds that can help repair your skin and hair, such as terpenoids and flavonoids. It is recognized for its anti-inflammatory qualities, thanks to its chamazulene content. (1)
Using this simple natural ingredient can assist you in achieving the flawless skin you’ve always desired.
Chamomile is available in a variety of forms, including dried flower heads, infusions (tea), liquid extracts, essential oils, alcohol-based tinctures, lotions, and ointments. (2)
Beauty Benefits of Chamomile Tea
Here are the benefits of chamomile tea to your skin and hair and ways of incorporating it into your beauty routine.
1. Reduces signs of aging
Chamomile contains polyphenols and phytochemicals that exhibit strong antioxidant properties. Antioxidants protect your skin from free radicals and other environmental irritants that otherwise cause a lot of cellular damage and consequently trigger premature aging.
Chamomile is also known to speed up cell regeneration, undoing the skin damage that has already occurred and thereby minimizing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and scars.
How to use:
- Steep chamomile flowers in boiling water for 20 minutes, and allow it to cool.
- Soak a cotton ball in the chamomile extract and dab it on your face and neck.
- Wait for 10 minutes before rinsing your face and neck with cool water.
2. Helps reduce acne
Chamomile is credited with strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can soothe acne lesions, fade scars, and reduce swelling, redness, and pain. This herbal tea also helps prevent future breakouts.
How to use:
- Pour hot water over dry chamomile and let it steep for 20 minutes.
- Strain the liquid into a container.
- In a bowl, mix 2–3 tbsp of the chamomile water, 1 tbsp of honey, a few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice, and 1 egg white. If you want the mask to be milder on the skin, simply increase the proportion of chamomile water.
- Apply the mask to a clean face and let it sit for 15–20 minutes.
- Wash your face with warm water and then apply a moisturizer.
3. Gently exfoliates
Exfoliation is an important part of skin care as it removes the dead cells, sebum, and other impurities accumulated on the surface of the skin and within the skin pores. This deep-cleansing ritual helps prevent acne and gives your face a fresh glow.
However, the scrubbing action can be a little rough for people with sensitive or irritated skin. In such a case, making an all-natural DIY scrub with soothing anti-inflammatory ingredients such as chamomile can help calm your skin while also cleaning it.
How to use:
- Fill a bowl with the contents of two or three chamomile tea bags.
- Mix in a little sugar and olive oil to make a scrub.
- Apply the scrub to a clean face, and gently massage it with your fingertips, using light, circular motions for 2–3 minutes.
- Wash your face with cold water.
4. Lightens skin complexion
Chamomile tea works as a skin bleaching agent when used topically. It naturally lightens your complexion and gives you a healthy glow. When applied consistently for 2–3 weeks, chamomile tea can tighten pores, soften skin, and fade spots and acne scars.
How to use:
- Boil distilled water in a pot.
- Add 2 tbsp of dried chamomile flowers to the pot and let the mixture simmer for 7 minutes.
- Strain the tea, and to get the most extract, squeeze the flowers.
- Add 1 tbsp of honey and lemon juice to the chamomile tea, and blend all the ingredients well.
- Apply the mixture to your face and neck and leave it on for 15 minutes.
- Thoroughly rinse your face and neck with fresh water.
5. Helps treat minor cuts and wounds
Chamomile’s mild antiseptic properties, along with its antibacterial and antifungal properties, make it an excellent choice for treating minor cuts and wounds. Not only does it sanitize the injured skin, but it also helps it heal faster.
In one study, chamomile fared better than corticosteroids in promoting wound repair. (3)
How to use:
- Soak a few chamomile tea bags in warm water until it cools down to room temperature.
- Take out one bag and gently press it over your wound.
- Replace it with another bag after a few minutes.
6. Reduce dark circles
Applying chamomile under the eyes can stimulate blood circulation in the area to relieve puffiness and lighten dark circles. This remedy instantly wakes up the tired skin around your eyes and soothes any irritation in this sensitive area.
How to use:
- Dip a chamomile tea bag in hot water for 5 minutes, and then cool it for a few minutes.
- Place the tea bag under your eyes.
- After 5 minutes, properly rinse your eye area with fresh water.
7. Makes for a great hair rinse
Chamomile is great for treating hair and scalp problems. Its antimicrobial properties help eliminate scalp infections and hair lice. Plus, its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties help alleviate the scalp irritation, itching, and flaking caused by dandruff.
How to use:
- Simply steep a few chamomile tea bags in boiling water for 15 minutes.
- Let the tea cool down to room temperature.
- Use the tea to rinse your hair after shampooing and conditioning.
- Let your hair air-dry.
Note: You can pour the liquid into a spray bottle for ease of application.
Other Uses of Chamomile Tea
- It has sedative properties that improve overall sleep quality.
- It can help with skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, mild outbreaks, and pigmentation.
- It relieves digestive distress.
- Chamomile helps calm your central nervous system to reduce stress and anxiety.
Side Effects of Chamomile
People who are allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, or daisies are usually allergic to chamomile as well. Therefore, it is advised to do a patch test before using chamomile, just like you would with any other skin product/remedy, to avoid adverse reactions. (4)
Does Chamomile Tea Contain Caffeine?
Chamomile tea is made from the flowers of the chamomile herb rather than the leaves and is completely caffeine-free. This is one of the reasons chamomile tea is considered great for relaxing the mind and body and facilitating deep sleep.
Most other beverages, on the other hand, contain caffeine, which has a stimulating effect on your entire system.
Final Word
Chamomile has long been used in folk medicine across the globe by several civilizations to address a variety of ailments. This underlines its pharmacological potential and explains why this herb continues to be a popular healing agent used in cosmetics, herbal medicine, and home remedies.
Although chamomile has many different therapeutic uses to its credit, this article has mainly focused on its dermatological applications. All the beauty remedies mentioned in this article have earned acclaim, but they are not a magic cure that will make your problem go away with a single use.
In fact, a single remedy may not yield the same results for anyone: it might work better for some than others. The idea is to include these remedies into an overall wholesome beauty regimen that must be followed diligently and consistently.
- Was this article helpful?
- YES, THANKS!NOT REALLY
