The Beauty Benefits of Bathing in Tea

Author: Michelle Walker 25 March 2009

Have you ever loved a food or drink so much that you wish you could bathe in it?

I’m a huge fan of tea: the immune boost, the antioxidants, the warm fuzzy feeling of a hot mug on a cold night. I think my ultimate evening consists of curling up on the couch with a cup of tea and a box of cookies for dunking. In short, I truly do love tea so much that I could bathe in it…and last year, I did.

The time: early spring. The location: Lennox Head, Australia. I had the amazing opportunity to visit my sister at her work abroad location there and her camp was located just steps away from Lake Ainsworth, a freshwater lake made entirely out of tea.

Surrounded by tea trees, Lake Ainsworth’s waters absorb tannins from surrounding tree roots and fallen tea leaves, transforming the waters into a deep, dark brew. The locals believe that the water has healing properties and that a quick swim can do wonders for the skin. Personally, though my skin did feel a bit softer that day, it’s my mind that has never felt more at peace than while floating in a bath of tea.

Want to try it yourself?

If you can’t make the trip Down Under, don’t worry, just run yourself a hot bath, drop in several tea bags, lay back, and relax.

Feeling crafty?

You can also create your own concoction with loose tea leaves and dried flowers. Once it’s ready, wrap your personalized mixture in muslin or cheesecloth and you‘re ready for a long, relaxing steep.

Other drinks to soak in:

* Sake: A Geisha secret, pouring a cup full of sake into your tub is said to soften your skin and speed up your metabolism.
* Milk and Honey: Milk dissolved dead skin cells to make your skin baby soft, while honey has antibacterial properties to help heal wounds. It worked wonders for Cleopatra, so why not you?
* Red Wine: Teri Hatcher of Desperate Housewives breaks out the vino for her bath to make her skin lush and glowing…just don‘t use too much or you might stain your tub!

About the author

Michelle Walker

A girly-girl gamine, Michelle Shea Walker cannot stop searching for new and interesting ways of expressing her boundless creativity. Whether she’s acting, writing, or digitally designing, the world is full of inspiration that she simply must explore. Visit her on the web.

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13 Comments »

rkinkoph said:

This is cool! I had never heard of tea… I did read a girl’s blog that told how to make a scrub from coffee and cinnamon. It’s supposed to get rid of cellulite and make your skin radiant.

# 25 March 2009 at 7:39 pm

Insider Information On How To Buy Skin Care Products | Skin Rash Information said:

[...] Miseducated » Blog Archive » Bathing in Tea [...]

# 25 March 2009 at 11:24 pm

wendyrgould said:

Tip: If you don’t have cheesecloth/muslin, I’ve found that pantyhose work very well! ^^*

# 25 March 2009 at 11:33 pm

michelleshea (author) said:

good tip, wendy!

# 26 March 2009 at 12:12 am

wendy said:

Haha, NP!
Great article! I love tea!

# 26 March 2009 at 1:32 am

Scabies Effects on Skin | Skin Rash Information said:

[...] Miseducated » Blog Archive » Bathing in Tea [...]

# 27 March 2009 at 5:15 am

Ashley said:

I soooooo would love to do this tea bit right this second- except baby is sleeping and it’s 3am. I often wondered about doing this but thought maybe it was just weird of me to want to try. I do LOVE Epsom salt baths especially since being a mommy and having Fibromyalgia-I also love using FEW drops of tea tree oil in the tub, it smells so soothing (although an acquired smell).
I am thinking the tea and other dried goodies and oils tied pretty in muslin may just be this years homemade Christmas gifts for my ladies .

# 29 March 2009 at 7:13 am

Courtney said:

Is there any way that this will stain my skin? I’m interested in trying this but i would rather not come out looking like i have a spray tan two shades too dark! lol Plus idk if i can do this right now because i’m pregnant and i’m not sure if the caffine from the tea will be too much.

# 9 September 2009 at 6:38 pm

michelleshea (author) said:

Courtney,

I have had no problems at all with stained skin during tea baths and I am quite pale myself. What I would be most concerned about is perhaps your tub. I’ve never had tub stains be a problem either, but then again my last tub was blue so it wouldn’t have been that noticeable. If you’re really concerned about staining, I would suggest a green or herbal tea bath rather than black tea.

As for the pregnancy/caffeine question, I would think you are safe, but I am not a doctor [nor have I ever been pregnant] so perhaps you should check with your physician first.

Happy soaking!

michelle

# 9 September 2009 at 6:46 pm

Diana said:

Too bad I can’t take a bath; I only take a shower every day..:(

# 14 September 2009 at 3:34 pm

walter e. said:

it sounds cool and realaxing, if i only have bags do you recomend a certain brand?

# 19 April 2010 at 12:55 am

michelle (author) said:

any brand will do, darling. however, if you’re talking the small single-use bags, the kind that are triangular in shape [as opposed to flat and square] usually steep easier.

# 19 April 2010 at 12:40 pm