Stories of a Soap Stylist: Tea Time at Taila.Made

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to indulge in more tea.

I have done my research for the last month on different types of tea and their benefits internally and externally. My mom got me hooked on tea at an early age, tea parties . . were kinda my thing. Towards the end of college I found myself running from coffee back to tea, and post college has been a battle . . I drink both - a lot. Natural soaps pushed my interest to a natural life and has me ready to knock coffee out completely, making tea, my daily go to. After you see some of the suggested benefits you may be thinking the same way.

All of this tea-searching ;) got me thinking during my late nights in the soap studio, and one thing lead to another and yes, you guess right - I found myself adding tea to my soaps. How so, you may be thinking. Simply by replacing my usual aloe water mix with various teas, as well as incorporating a small splash during the cooking process for an extra little umph. Teas are a great way to naturally color soap and pass along a few skin loving properties that are found in teas. Did you know you could literally, brew some tea, let it cool and use it as a rinse after your shower to give your skin an extra boost? I'm all about royal skin when it comes to creating Taila.Made products. I believe if the ancient royals could use mother nature to keep their skin radiant - we can, too. You do get what you pay for when it comes to skincare. You would be surprised how effective a natural alternative can be for your skin. My face has never been so clear since using Taila.Made's Royal Rose Soap for face and body and Valentia's Vitamin C Serum.

Ok, so back to tea. Aside from my soap and serum, I have started incorporating African Rooibos Tea into my drink regimen during work. I always have a cup of green tea after my first and only cup of coffee (green tea is packed with antioxidants' anti-aging properties and can help boost metabolism when 2 or 3 cups are consumed a day). Later around noon I have a cup of Rooibos followed by another cup on my drive home about 4:30. Drinking tea makes you feel great; it can possibly also help in taming eczema and acne flare ups, so I figure it's worth a try. Look below for a few of my favorite teas and why they may be worth incorporating into your day.

Green Tea -Can reduce or even prevent free radical damage and slows down signs of aging. It’s one powerful antioxidant when used topically as well. Green tea's amazing anti-inflammatory properties can also benefit people with acne, psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea.

White Tea-Loaded with anti- antioxidants. Drinking white tea promotes healthy and radiant skin. Extracts in white tea give an anti-inflammatory effect that slows the breakdown of collagen and elastin fiber. This to keep your skin wrinkle free!

Oolong Tea-Slows down the aging process. The antioxidants called polyphenols which are present in this tea, destroy the free radicals, thereby providing relief from a spectrum of skin problems like atopic dermatitis or eczema. Regular consumption of Oolong tea diminishes wrinkles and improves the elasticity of skin.

Rooibos Tea - Traditionally used to treat asthma, allergies and other dermatological problems, this tea contains a wide array of antioxidants. Rooibos tea contains phenylpyruvic acid, which can help to improve acne, psoriasis, and eczema.

Rosehips Tea- A great source for vitamin C, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-aging properties. Rose hips have a high content of vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium and iron.

Ginger Tea- The high levels of antioxidants in this tea are great for helping our skin stay young! The antioxidants work to reverse the more visible signs of aging and this cup of goodness is rich in zinc, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins B6, C, and D.

Chamomile Tea -Chamomile has natural anti-inflammatory properties, and is wonderful for red, dry skin and eczema. Other good choices for dry skin are lavender, detox blend, and calendula herbal teas.

Burdock Root Tea -Another awesome option for anti-inflammatory properties, which can be helpful for both acne and eczema.

So, now you know the names of some awesome choices for skin teas, or you could also find an awesome 'Skin Tea' from a brand like Your Tea, which includes a bunch of awesome herbs for your skin. Now that you are familiar with my favorites, I can share my latest project/collection for Taila.Made entitled "Tea Soaps". I have created a collection to be release throughout January, of face and body soaps made for those with dry skin, acne, and eczema skin. The teas used in the soaps are wonderful when taken internally; when used in the soaps they just help create a creamier lather, add color as well as smell inspiration. I encourage you to try a soap or 2 as well as incorporate a tea from the above into your routine for about 4 -8 weeks and see if you see a difference in your skin's appearance. If Cleopatra was beautiful from Castor oil and other natural luxuries, you will be as well. Do you have a favorite skin or spirit tea? I'd love to hear about it, share below.

Taila.Made Tea Soaps 

Black Tea

Pharoah's Tea

Chammo Crown Tea