Category — MIYU Pearls of Wisdom

 
It is funny how I did not come to appreciate the beauty, art and health benefits of tea until I got much older. Perhaps it wasn’t until my skin took a turn for the worse in my mid-20’s – during an exhilarating time working in the Big Apple and testing countless beauty products as a beauty product developer – that I re-examined my health + lifestyle habits a bit more closely. Like many 20 year olds, I took my healthy complexion for granted. After suffering from bouts of hives and eczema, I was desperate to find a solution that would return my skin back to normal. The advantage of working for other beauty brands as a product developer was that I was constantly reading and doing research about skin health. I knew that if I wanted a chance of regaining a healthy complexion back, I needed a solution that extended beyond just a topical approach. Turning back to my roots, I realized I did not have to look too far – the health beverage consumed for centuries by my ancestors was right under my nose – TEA. I found myself fascinated by all the different varieties of teas and all their associated benefits. Today, I thought I would share with you some of my early findings. Here are just some of tea’s possible health benefits, cited from a growing number of studies:
 
● reduces risks of certain cancers
● improves cardiovascular health
● helps with weight loss (lowers cholesterol)
● strengthens immune system
● and…. LAST BUT NOT LEAST — improves skin and complexion!!
 
I am a strong believer that great skin comes not only from good quality skincare, but also from a healthy lifestyle and a stress-free state-of-mind. Drinking tea, in my opinion, is an effortless way to achieve both of the latter points. Infused with vitamins, minerals and potent antioxidants, tea is one of the easiest ways to enhance your overall health.
 
Here are some of my key insights:
Spend a little more for a good quality cup of tea. While the generic tea bags that you can purchase in your local grocery store may be convenient, you will not get the full health benefits of tea if you are purchasing the mass tea bag varieties. Mass tea bag varieties typically contain older tea leaves that have already lost many of its nutritional benefits. More specifically, mass tea bags contain fannings (as opposed to full leafs), which are fine siftings leftover after larger tea leaves have been removed. While fannings allow for shorter steeping times and provide immediate and intense flavor, the flavors do not actually bloom in the same way loose leaf teas do, and as a result taste fairly flat. Good quality teas are picked from the youngest shoots, which contain the full flavor profile and contain the maximum amount of nutrients. Treat yourself to a good loose leaf tea. Note: When I created MIYU’s beauty teas, I wanted not only to use premium leaves, but I also wanted the convenience of sachets. Why choose when you can treat yourself to the luxury of both?
 
Teas contain 2 or 3 times less caffeine than coffee. I know you have heard those rumors that coffee contains less caffeine than tea, but that is simply not true. Think about it this way, have you ever felt jittery after a strong cup of coffee? I’ll bet you have never felt that way drinking tea. Tea gives you an overall lift in energy and increased mental alertness. It does not have the same heart-pounding, eye-popping, stimulating effects that a strong cup of coffee has, which can leave you with an unpleasant caffeine crash once it wears off.
 
Teas are rich in flavonoids and catechin polyphenols which have an abundance of antioxidant properties. Due to its radical-scavenging abilities, antioxidants protect against cell damage and have detoxifying effects on the body. Research has shown that regular tea drinkers (people who drink 2 or more cups a day) “have less heart disease and stroke, lower total and LDL cholesterol, and they recover from heart attacks faster” (WebMD). And of course, since antioxidants are the most sought after group of ingredients in skincare, tea may also have anti-aging benefits for the skin.
 
Select the tea for your specific concern. If you have aggravated skin, peppermint tea may be the choice for you. According to Phytotherapy Research, animals that were given peppermint demonstrated a relaxation effect in their gastrointestinal (GI) tissue [1]. Issues with your GI tract are frequently linked to problematic skin – think inflammation + breakouts! We love our de-stress mi beauty tea for this reason! If you are concerned about parched complexions, you may want to select a tea with red or green rooibos. Rooibos, an African red-bush tea, is naturally high in electrolytes, therefore helping to hydrate the body from within. Rich in flavonoids, rooibos provides incredible antioxidant activity, necessary to scavenge age-accelerating free radicals. Our hydrate mi beauty tea boasts all the benefits associated with green rooibos and the aromatic snow pear essence makes the tea unbelievably divine. Definitely one of our favourite beauty brews!
 
Drink the tea that you fancy. With so many varieties, blends and flavors, feel free to choose the tea that you enjoy. The fact of the matter is: all teas contain flavonoids and they will ALL provide you with antioxidant benefits. Let’s be real – you will not receive health benefits from something that you refuse to drink! Whether you prefer earthy, woody blends, a bouquet of fragrant florals, or a concoction of sweet, exotic fruits, make sure you select the flavors that tickle your fancy.
 
Pinkies up lovelies, and cheers to healthy, beautiful skin!
 

 
1. McKay DL, Blumberg JB. A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha Piperita L). Phytotherapy Research (serial online) 2006; June 12.

Can you believe it’s already February? We are in the worst of the winter months and if you live in a dry climate like we do, chances are, your skin is feeling it.   The snow on the east coast this year has been no joke and at this point, our complexions need all the help they can get!
 
HERE ARE 5 TIPS TO WINTERIZE YOUR BEAUTY RITUAL: 
 
1) Turn on the humidifier. And if you don’t have a humidifier, buy one. The dry heat coming through the vents is sucking all the hydration out of your skin, so make sure you combat the issue by putting some moisture back into the air.  Aim for a relative indoor humidity of about 45% to minimize dry, itchy skin.
 
2) Use a hydrating serum… after your toner, but before your moisturizer – or better yet, one of our beauty essences which take the place of both. Try to choose one that contains hyaluronic acid or sodium hyaluronate. Note that all skin types can benefit from hydration, even if you’re oily!  MIYU’s beauty essences are basically sprayable serums (read: effortless application without skimping on the nutrients).  They draw water to the skin and help your moisturizer absorb more effectively.  If you don’t like spraying products directly onto your face, try spraying into the palms of your hands, press together for a couple seconds to warm the product, then gently press into the skin.  I promise, it feels like a real treat!
 
3) Keep a hydrating mist in your purse – try our beauty essence minis. I use my hydrate mi beauty essence mini both as a toner and as a skin refresher for an instant pick-me-up throughout the day. I consider it one of my ‘do-not-leave-home-without’ items, especially when I’m flying. There’s nothing more dehydrating than being on an airplane!
 
4) If you haven’t already, switch to a slightly richer, more emollient moisturizer. Of course if your skin is oily, you need to be careful you do not choose a moisturizer that is too rich for your skin, otherwise you may breakout. If this is the case, you may find that adding the hydrating serum to your regimen is sufficient. On the other hand, if your skin is dry, make sure that you use a formula that is going to moisturize and enhance your skin’s ability to hold onto water. Try looking for moisturizers with ceramides, jojoba oil, olive oil and/or cocoa butter because these ingredients can help strengthen your skin barrier, making it more resilient to potential irritants.
 
5) Drink lots of water and/or tea. If you are worried about caffeine in teas (although the amount is minimal), opt for a caffeine-free tea like an herbal or rooibos tea – both MIYU’s hydrate mi beauty tea and de-stress mi beauty teas are caffeine-free and AMAZINGLY delicious. A sip of tea will not only warm you from within, but it will also effectively hydrate and give you a healthy dose of antioxidants.
 
Just 5 simple rules – it’s no biggie, right? And trust me, your skin will thank you! If you have additional tips to combat winter skin that you want to share, leave it in the comment section below. we would love to read them!