Coffee or Tea?

Fika time! Kanellbulle (Swedish cinnamon bun) with strong black coffee

Fresh Mint tea at cafe Dudok in Rotterdam

Which do you prefer: Coffee or Tea?

I choose both!

I have been a tea drinker since I was a young kid due to my Chinese heritage of going to Chinese restaurants and pairing the food with a dark blend of Chinese brewed tea. Usually its oolong tea. Its supposed to detoxify and help aid with oil and grease detoxification. I always pair Chinese food with  hot Chinese tea whether its Jasmine, Oolong, Chrysanthemum, Green tea, or White tea. It does seem like it helps with the grease. 

Lately, tea has been classified as a health drink loaded with antioxidants and anti-aging benefits.

Green Tea contains catechins which fight free radical damage. These means that if you've been out in the sun, you may be able to help reverse the effects of sun damage by drinking green tea. I would pair it with a high SPF, cool shades, and drinking green tea aprés sun. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants that is great for your skin and tons of health benefits too. I love a cold iced matcha on a hot summer day! I'm not really a fan of Starbucks but I do like this drink on a super hot day! 

Black Tea, Oolong Tea, White Tea are also high in antioxidants and provide a lot of health benefits that also translate to glowing skin! (Drink it all! :-) )

You can read more about Tea's benefits here

I am also an avid coffee drinker and started drinking coffee in my teens then stopped drinking it regularly for a number of years thinking it was bad for health then started drinking it regularly again a few years ago. The result: I lost weight really easily! (along with a slight lifestyle change and drinking more wine too ;-) )

Coffee has gotten a bad reputation but lately its being reversed by research done on coffee consumption. Researchers have found that coffee has lowered the risk for liver disease, liver cancer, heart disease, parkinson's disease, depression, type 2 diabetes, and contains loads of antioxidants to fight free radicals (Translation: premature aging!). Read more about the health benefits. 

Caffeine in skincare has been known to reduce the appearance of under-eye circles, cellulite, prevent inflammation. Read more about coffee's benefits. There are so many benefits to caffeine in consumption and in skincare so whether you're a coffee or tea drinker, incorporate it as part of your skincare routine as well as for overall health.

What's in your bathroom: Sarah

I asked a few of my female friends what they currently use as part of their skincare ritual on a daily and weekly basis. This is my friend Sarah's skincare ritual.

Skincare profile: surface oily and dry underneath, early 30s, combination, sensitive, acneic skin

"Since starting this anti aging regiment, I have much less need to do masks/exfoiliants since I am doing that practically every day. But I will use philosophy microdelivery peel every once in a while and the boscia black mask every once in a while. like...once a month or once every 2 months."

Current ritual

1) Cleanser: Bare Escentuals Purifying Facial Cleanser
She says "Non foaming cleanser that cleans deeply but doesn't strip too badly. its not as soothing as milky cleansers but its a good bridge product for the oily. I still can't cleanse with something that would leave me without that CLEAN feeling."

2) Serum: CSI Vitamin C + 12% Youth Serum
She says "Great brightener, clear serum, no orangey stuff to deal with."

3) Sunscreen: Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46
She says "Very light sunscreen-a zinc oxide based physical sunscreen, goes on clear."

OR EltaMD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41  
This one is lightly tinted

4) Moisturizer: CSI Super Hyaluronic moisturizing cream 
She says that this cream is "non greasy" and gets "no breakouts" from using it.

OR Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream
She says "for super dry days/nights which I am continually shocked I am having as I get older."

5) Eye Cream: CSI Recovery Eye Cream with Vitamin K & Arnica
This is her response to this eye cream "smells amazing. I'm pretty sure nothing really works to help eyes but this one has some vit. k for dark circles and its super soothing and moisturizing without being too heavy. No milia."

Additional Products Sarah uses:

6) Reviva labs 5% glycolic acid cream 
"nothing has done more for keeping my face smooth and bright as this cream. There is also a 10% formulation I will eventually move up to."



7) CSI multipeptide antiwrinkle serum 
"on the lines between my eyes and marionette lines. this thing works. 6 peptides, hyaluronic acid. it firms and tightens."
 


THANKS FOR SHARING SARAH!