Rooibos Tea: can it restore facial fat naturally?
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Introduction
Rooibos Tea is available in most health food stores and we probably all have some awareness that this tea has beneficial ingredients. In this article, we will dive a little deeper into the information that has been available for some time on the antioxidant ingredients, and will also look at some emerging research suggesting that topical application can actually help restore facial fat, which we are obviously quite excited about!
What is Rooibos Tea?
According to MedicalNewsToday, Rooibos tea is a herbal tea that comes from the fermented leaves of the Aspalathus Linearis shrub, a plant native to South Africa. It can also be known as red bush tea. It is considered to contain potent antioxidants and be supportive of skin health.
What does the science say about Rooibos Tea?
Nelson Mandela Institute have discovered a unique property of Rooibos that could potentially help protect subcutaneous fat. The study looked at the effect of Rooibos Tea on preserving fat cells, and suggested that Rooibos can protect and repair fat cells. In the study, treating aged fat cells with Rooibos helped restore healthy cell functioning, with the rate of growth and reproduction improved and cell energy levels restored.
However, it is important to note that this was an “in vitro” study, done in laboratory controlled conditions, using human cells. This means that it is not a clinical trial and no claims can be made that the same effect would be seen in real life conditions. That said, in vitro studies are at the cutting edge of science and provide vital information.
This research is important because loss of facial fat contributes significantly to aging and skin sagging; yet, it is rarely spoken about. It is far more common to hear about collagen loss and its impact on aging. Changes in facial fat can lead to loss of fat under the eyes and around the cheek bones, but increased fat in the lower face and jowl area. For adipose tissue to be healthy, it needs to be able to regenerate itself and this is why the above research is important.
Facial Fat Volume Loss
Claudia Glows speaks to Bev Sanderson, founder of Maysama about the recent research carried out by Nelson Mandela Institute.
Rooibos in your skincare
Rooibos Tea extract is included in many topical skincare products because of the antioxidants, and because it is said to contain alpha hydroxy acid, which can smooth wrinkles and improve skin texture and tone. It contains zinc, which protects against UV damage and has anti-inflammatory properties.
There also seems to be a trend of using Rooibos serums to boost the effect of LED light therapy. If you don’t know much about LED light masks, check out our article, LED Masks: a Ridiculously Easy Way to Look Younger?, as it is an evidence-based treatment which is very easy to do at home. We’re not sure how much data there is to support the claims that Rooibos Tea can improve the effects seen from LED light therapy but given that we know that it is healthy, and good for your skin, we think there is no harm in adding it to your LED light treatment.
Rooibos for your hair
The antioxidants in Rooibos Tea are polyphenols, and these are said to have a softening effect on your hair. A recommended home treatment is to steep a few good quality Rooibos teabags in boiling water, let the water cool, remove the teabags, apply the water to cover your hair entirely, and leave for thirty minutes before washing.
We would also recommend rubbing the Rooibos-infused water into the areas of your skin you would like to see improvements in, such as your face, neck, upper chest, forearms and hands.
What Rooibis products are available
Green Rooibos Pressed Serum
We are not affiliated with Maysama, the company that make this product, but we think this looks like an excellent serum. Bev Sanderson, the founder, is interviewed in the video above and you can see that her approach is evidence-based and at the cutting edge of science. At the time of writing, this product was in huge demand and temporarily sold out. We haven’t actually tried it yet but we plan to order it soon!
The extra rich genuine blend of powerful active ingredients supports skin's own repair mechanism and effectively smoothes fine lines
Conclusion
We really can’t answer whether Rooibos can restore facial fat naturally; as we said above, it has been shown to do this in lab conditions but not in clinical trials.
However, there is so much evidence to support both drinking Rooibos tea and using it topically that we think it is well worth including in your beauty routine. It is also very affordable and you can use the tea to make your own homemade infusions and creams.
The tea tastes and smells pleasant; you can drink with water only or you can add milk. We think it is a nice mid-morning treat – both tasty & healthy – a great combination!
Do you drink Rooibos Tea? Would you consider adding Rooibos-infused products to your skincare routine?