Is there ever a season when herbal tea isn’t an excellent option? In my opinion, not really. During the spring and summertime, you can make iced herbal tea, and when it’s fall and winter, there is nothing like a warm cup of tea with a teaspoon of honey (and perhaps a bit of almond or oat milk) in it. And you know what? The truly wonderful thing about all of this is that every time you consume herbal tea because it has lots of herbs in it, it’s something that you can feel good about — from the inside out.
There really is no telling how many tea articles I’ve written for the platform over the years (you can check out a few here, here, and here), yet I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned ways that consuming herbal tea can improve your beauty goals. So today, I’m gonna do just that. Below, I’ve got 10 teas that can bring about the best in your natural looks, along with some ways that you can use tea that you may not have ever considered before.
1. Jasmine Tea for Acne
If you want a tea that helps to keep your heart in good shape (which is important for Black women since we have the highest risk for things like hypertension, strokes, heart failure, and coronary heart disease), will help to boost your brain and can lower your risks for certain cancers as well as type 2 diabetes, you definitely should sip on some jasmine tea.
As far as your skin goes, between the antioxidants in it that help to fight off free radicals in your system along with the fact that it contains anti-inflammatory properties, this is why jasmine tea can also be a great dietary addition if you’re looking for an all-natural way to keep breakouts at bay.
Beauty Tea Hack: Make a toner for your skin by steeping two tea bags in a half gallon of water for 15-20 minutes. Add a teaspoon of honey (honey contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidants that can speed up the healing process of pimples) and then let it cool. Add 5-7 drops of tea tree oil and then apply it to your skin after washing it 2-3 times a week.
2. Licorice Root Tea for Hyperpigmentation
During the cold and flu season, pretty much everyone should have some licorice root tea in one of their kitchen cupboards. That’s because it’s been proven to soothe a sore throat, it can bring relief to upper respiratory issues (including asthma-related ones) and it can help to speed up the healing process of bacterial and viral infections.
What can licorice root tea do for you on the beauty tip? Aside from being an all-natural approach to eczema, some studies say that this tea also contains phytochemical properties that can reduce hyperpigmentation. As a bonus, it’s good for preventing tooth decay, which means it can help your smile remain brilliant.
Beauty Tea Hack:Place tea bags over your eyes to reduce eye puffiness and eye circle discoloration over time.
3. White Tea to Slow Down Aging
White tea, green tea, and black tea are all related; what makes them different is how they are processed. That said, white tea is a great tea addition because it is rich in antioxidants, can help to fight off heart disease, is able to reduce free radicals and chronic inflammation, and can also help to prevent cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth, and white tea can even help you to shed a few pounds.
Something else that’s dope about white tea is it has compounds that can slow down the aging signs in your skin. That’s because white tea has chemical compounds known as polyphenols that help to keep the fibers of your skin from being damaged (especially prematurely).
Beauty Tea Hack: Steep 2-3 tea bags, then place your face over the steam so that your skin can absorb the moisture as well as the properties that are within the tea.
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4. Rooibos Tea for Hair Follicle Strength
If you like your tea to have a robust taste to it, rooibos is what you’re looking for. A tea that hails from South Africa, rooibos is bomb because it’s caffeine-free, contains the type of antioxidants that reduce free radicals and heart disease, can help to keep your blood sugar where it needs to be, and can also help with digestion-related issues.
Something else that I should mention about this particular tea is if you happen to be anemic (or borderline anemic), this tea is also a good option for you because it’s low in tannins. Since tannins can sometimes affect how your body absorbs iron, if low iron is a personal health concern, you want to select a type of tea where that won’t be an issue for you.
This tea is a nice beauty addition because it also contains ingredients that can help to soften the appearance of wrinkles; plus it has been proven to keep your hair follicles in good condition so that you can maintain more length retention.
Beauty Tea Hack:3-Ingredient Hair Tea Recipe
5. Black Tea for Hair Color Depth
Speaking of hair health, if that is what you’re after, you also need to add black tea to your collection. Let’s address some other health benefits that it brings first, though. What makes black tea different from, say, green or white tea is it goes through a pretty intense oxidation process. The end result is the kind of tea that is very dark in color and, again, is rich in antioxidants. It’s also the type of tea that is good for your heart, can help to reduce your risk of having a stroke, can increase longevity, and contains the kind of amino acids that make it easier to concentrate and be more productive throughout the day.
And just why will your hair appreciate black tea so much? Well, studies reveal that the caffeine in the tea can help to block the hormones that are directly associated with hair shedding and loss. Not only that, but if you’re looking to darken your hair color (in a subtle kind of way), black tea is an awesome all-natural hair rinse. I’ve tried it before. I’ll vouch for it in this lane.
Beauty Tea Hack:Hair Tea Rinse Recipe
6. Green Tea for Weak Tooth Enamel
Green tea just might be the most popular tea of all of these. That’s because it contains properties that do everything from helping you lose weight and boost brain power to lowering the risk of lung, breast, and ovarian cancer and increasing your days on this planet. Something else that I really like about green tea is that although it does have caffeine in it, if you happen to feel anxious, research shows that it can actually help to decrease it.
And since a radiant smile completes the look of any woman, if you want to keep your teeth’s enamel strong (which does indeed become an issue as you get older), green tea can help you out. It does this by reducing oral inflammation, strengthening your teeth, helping to prevent gum disease, and even playing a role in remineralizing teeth.
Beauty Tea Hack: DIY Matcha Mouthwash Recipe
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7. Hibiscus Tea for Nail Health
Hibiscus tea literally comes from parts of the hibiscus flower. It’s good for your system because it’s packed with antioxidants, beta-carotene, and properties that help to reduce inflammation as they fight off free radicals, too. If you’ve got some type of bacterial infection, this tea will help to heal it. Hibiscus tea is also great when it comes to helping to lower your cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
Since hibiscus tea is also full of vitamin C, it’s the kind of tea that can help keep your nails nice and strong. The connector here isvitamin C, which is a nutrient that helps to produce collagen within your system, and collagen is a protein that keeps your nails from breaking.
Beauty Tea Hack: Learn how to use a tea bag to “fix” a split nail (I’m not kidding) here.
8. Dandelion Root Tea to Detoxify
If you’ve always wondered if dandelion root tea is as literal as it sounds, the answer is yes. It is made from the dandelion weeds that grow in your yard — and yes, they can be very good for you. Dandelion tea is a good source of vitamins A, C, K, folate, calcium, and potassium. It also has antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress. If you’re looking to lower your blood pressure or blood sugar, dandelion root tea can support you there. It’s also the kind of tea that helps to strengthen your immune system, keep your bones strong, relieve constipation, and support any weight loss goals that you may have.
Beauty-wise, dandelion root tea can reduce some of the fat that is stored around your liver, which makes it a solid detoxifying tea. And when your system is “clean,” that causes your skin to experience fewer breakouts, UV damage, and premature aging — for the record, dandelion root tea is known for assisting with these three things too.
Beauty Tea Hack: 49 Tea Detox Recipes
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9. Chamomile Tea for Stress
Got digestive issues? Drink some chamomile tea. Feeling nauseated? Drink some chamomile tea. Dealing with PMS symptoms that are absolutely driving you up the wall? Drink some chamomile tea. Got some common cold symptoms that won’t seem to go away? Drink some chamomile tea. Yeah, chamomile tea is the kind of herbal tea that is “all things” on so many levels.
Since it’s also a tea that can keep your skin from becoming dehydrated, promotes sound sleep, andit can keep your stress levels at bay — yes, chamomile is another “beauty tea.”The breakdown here is stress increases inflammation, decreases oxygen levels in your body, and can damage your cells and tissues. So, the less stressed out you are, the more youthful you will appear. So yes, sis, drink up!
Beauty Tea Hack: Honey Chamomile Tea Latte Recipe
10. Passionflower for Sleep
It really is kinda wild that if you want to experience uninterrupted sleep, you should stop drinking about two hours before bedtime. At the same time, enjoying a warm cup of herbal tea can give you some of the best rest ever thanks to the amino acid known as L-Theanine that’s in it; that’s because it has the ability to tell your brain to relax and de-stress. And if that tea happens to be passionflower, even better because it also reduces pain and bodily discomfort while also elevating your melatonin levels.
And since 6-8 hours of consistent sleep helps to do things like rebuild body cells, regulate your hormones, help to prevent (premature) fine lines and wrinkles, reduce dark circles underneath your eyes, and even give your complexion a natural glow — if you want to look your best, rest. And if you need help resting, it’s passionflower to the rescue. Tonight.
Beauty Tea Hack:DIY Sleep Time Herbal Tea Recipe
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Hmph. As if you actually needed another reason to drink some herbal tea, right? And yet — here they are. So, the next time you pull out an herbal tea bag, think about how it’s not just comforting your soul, but it’s making you more beautiful too.
As you can see, yes, very much so on the literal tip.
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It's kinda wild that, in 2025, my byline will have appeared on this platform for (what?!) seven years. And yeah, when I'm not waxing poetic on here about sex, relationships and then...more sex and relationships, I am working as a certified marriage life coach, helping to birth babies (as a doula) or penning for other places (oftentimes under pen names).
As some of you know, something that I've been "threatening" to do for a few years now is write another book. Welp, October 2024 was the month that I "gave birth" to my third one: 'Inside of Me 2.0: My Story. With a 20-Year Lens'. It's fitting considering I hit a milestone during the same year.
Beyond that, Pumas and lip gloss are still my faves along with sweatshirts and tees that have a pro-Black message on them. I've also started really getting into big ass unique handbags and I'm always gonna have a signature scent that ain't nobody's business but my own.
As far as where to find me, I continue to be MIA on the social media front and I honestly don't know if that will ever change. Still, if you need to hit me up about something *that has nothing to do with pitching on the site (I'm gonna start ignoring those emails because...boundaries)*, hit me up at missnosipho@gmail.com. I'll do what I can. ;)
For Us, By Us: How HBCU Alumni Are Building Legacies Through Entrepreneurship
Homecoming season is here, and alumni are returning to the yard to celebrate with their friends and family at the historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that have changed their lives forever.
No matter where their life journeys have taken them, for HBCU students from near and far, returning to where it all started can invoke feelings of nostalgia, appreciation for the past, and inspiration for the future.
The seeds for these entrepreneurs were planted during their time as students at schools like Spelman, North Carolina A&T, and more, which is why xoNecole caught up with Look Good Live Well’s Ariane Turner, HBCU Buzz’s Luke Lawal and Morehouse Senior Director of Marketing and Comms and Press Secretary Jasmine Gurley to highlight the role their HBCU roots play in their work as entrepreneurs, the legacy they aim to leave behind through the work that they do, and more as a part of Hyundai’s Best In Class initiative.
On Honoring HBCU Roots To Create Something That Is For Us, By Us
Ariane Turner
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When Ariane Turner launched Look Good, Live Well, she created it with Black and brown people in mind, especially those with sensitive skin more prone to dryness and skin conditions like acne and eczema.
The Florida A&M University graduate launched her business to create something that addressed topical skin care needs and was intentional about its approach without negative terminology.
Turner shared that it is important to steer clear of language often adopted by more prominent brands, such as “banishing breakouts” or “correcting the skin,” because, in reality, Turner says there is nothing wrong with the way that our skin and bodies react to various life changes.
“I think what I have taken with me regarding my HBCU experience and translated to my entrepreneurial experience is the importance of not just networking,” Turner, the founder and CEO of Look Good, Live Well, tellls xoNecole.
“We hear that in business all the time, your network is your net worth, but family, there’s a thing at FAMU that we call FAMU-lee instead of family, and it’s very much a thing. What that taught me is the importance of not just making relationships and not just making that connection, but truly working on deepening them, and so being intentional about connecting with people initially, but staying connected and building and deepening those relationships, and that has served me tremendously in business, whether it’s being able to reach back to other classmates who I went to school with, or just networking in general.”
She adds, “I don’t come from a business background. As soon as I finished school, I continued with my entrepreneurial journey, and so there’s a lot of that traditional business act and the networking, those soft skills that I just don’t have, but I will say that just understanding how to leverage and network community and to build intentional relationships is something that has taken me far and I definitely got those roots while attending FAMU.”
On Solving A Very Specific Need For The Community
Luke Lawal Jr.
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When Luke Lawal Jr. launched HBCU Buzz, his main focus was to represent his community, using the platform to lift as they climbed by creating an outlet dedicated to celebrating the achievements and positive news affecting the 107 historically HBCUs nationwide.
By spotlighting the wonderful things that come from the HBCU community and coupling it with what he learned during his time at Bowie State University, Lawal used that knowledge to propel himself as an entrepreneur while also providing his people with accurate representation across the internet.
“The specific problem in 2011 when I started HBCU Buzz was more so around the fact that mainstream media always depict HBCUs as negative,” Lawal says. “You would only see HBCUs in the mainstream media when someone died, or the university president or someone was stepping down. It was always bad news, but they never shed light on all the wonderful things from our community."
So, I started HBCU Buzz to ensure the world saw the good things that come from our space. And they knew that HBCUs grew some of the brightest people in the world, and just trying to figure out ways to make sure our platform was a pedestal for all the students that come through our institutions.”
“The biggest goal is to continue to solve problems, continue to create brands that solve the problems of our communities, and make sure that our products, our brands, our companies, and institutions are of value and they’re helping our community,” he continues. “That they’re solving problems that propel our space forward.”
On How Being An HBCU Alum Impacts The Way One Shows Up In The World
Jasmine Gurley
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Jasmine Gurley is a proud North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University alum. She is even more delighted with her current role, which enables her to give back to current HBCU students as the Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Communications and official press secretary at Morehouse College.
“It was a formative experience where I really was able to come into my own and say yes to all the opportunities that were presented to me, and because of that, it’s been able to open the doors later in life too,” says Gurley of her experience at North Carolina A&T. “One thing I love about many HBCUs is that we are required to learn way more about African American history than you do in your typical K through 12 or even at the higher ed level."
She adds, “It allowed us to have a better understanding of where we came from, and so for me, because I’m a storyteller, I’m a history person, I’m very sensitive to life in general, being able to listen to the stories and the trials that our ancestors overcame, put the battery pack in my back to say, ‘Oh nothing can stop me. Absolutely nothing can stop me. I know where I came from, so I can overcome something and try anything. And I have an obligation to be my ancestors’ wildest dreams. Simultaneously, I also have a responsibility to help others realize that greatness.
Gurley does not take her position at an HBCU, now as a leader, lightly.
“People think I’m joking when I say I’m living the dream, but I really am,” she notes. “So I wake up every day and know that the work that I do matters, no matter how hard it might be, how frustrating it may be, and challenging it. I know the ripple effect of my work, my team, and what this institution does also matter. The trajectory of Black male experiences, community, history, and then just American advancement just in general.”
On the other hand, through her business, Sankofa Public Relations, Gurley is also on a mission to uplift brands in their quest to help their respective communities. Since its inception in 2017, Sankofa PR has been on a mission to “reach back and reclaim local, national, and global communities by helping those actively working to move” various areas of the world, focusing on pushing things forward for the better.
“Through Sankofa, we’ve worked with all different types of organizational brands and individuals in several different industries, but I would think of them as mission-based,” says Gurley.
“So with that, it’s an opportunity to help people who are trying to do good in the world, and they are passionate about what they’re doing. They just need help with marketing issues, storytelling, and branding, and that’s when my expertise can come into play. Help them get to that moment where they can tell their story through me or another platform, and that’s been super fulfilling.”
Join us in celebrating HBCU excellence! Check out our Best In Class hub for inspiring stories, empowering resources, and everything you need to embrace the HBCU experience.
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If you've been on TikTok lately, then you've probably engaged with a video or two about using castor oil to get great health benefits. As someone into holistic remedies and Ayurvedic medicine, I had to see what all the hype was about.
Now, I've already had a few experiences with castor oil. Years ago, I used to apply black Jamaican castor oil to my hair and my eyebrows to help them grow.
Also, my mom has often shared with me that growing up, my grandma would make them drink a spoonful of castor oil before starting the new school year.
According to her and other people 50+, drinking castor oil prevented them from getting sick, but it has an unpleasant taste. Fast forward to the present, we're seeing many people use castor oil in a variety of ways. Read below to see how to use castor oil and its benefits.
Castor Oil Benefits
Many TikTokers using castor oil claim that it brightens the skin, can shrink fibroids and cysts, supports liver and digestion, helps with menstrual cramps, can assist with weight loss, and more.
WebMD, however, lists castor oil benefits as constipation relief, may help to induce labor, may help heal wounds, and may help with inflammation due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Castor oil is made from seeds of the castor plant and it is very thick.
How To Use Castor Oil:
Castor Oil Packs
@nikki_kk19 Castor oil pack Castor oil pack for digestion Castor oil Benefits of castor oil Is castor oil good for bloating #castoroil #castoroilbenefit #castoroilpack #castoroilpacks #castoroilforbloating
Castor oil packs are an ancient practice that claims to help aid digestion, detox the liver, keep your stomach flat, and relieve menstrual cramps, especially when used with a hot water bottle. When wearing it to bed, beware that the oil can stain your sheets.
Drink It
@maryamjhampton Replying to @Mariama Bah castor oil gives the deepest cleanse ever #health #w #castoroil
Some people are using castor oil as a full body detox. TikToker @maryamjhampton shows us how to do it.
Rub Castor Oil Into Your Navel
@drsarubala #stitch with @PilatesBodyRaven sometimes we need to add in some extra nutrients when our sleep starts to improve 🫶🏾 #periodhealth #hormones #womenshealth #hormonehealth #cortisollevels #cortisol #castoroil
One of the most talked about ways to apply castor oil is by rubbing some into your navel. Some claim that it gave them the best sleep ever, and Dr. Bala explains why. Check out what she says in the TikTok above.
Add It To Your Skincare Routine
@itsjenniva Replying to @nitril0 Answering all of your questions about using castor oil on your face. #fyp #foryoupage #castoroil #castoroilbenefit #skincare #skincareroutine #skincaretips #skincaretiktok
TikToker @itsjenniva claims using castor oil has gotten rid of dark circles and overall brighten her skin. However, she did say that her skin went through a purge after using it. Speak to your dermatologist before adding it to your skincare routine.
Side Effects
@drjencaudle Castor Oil Packs? #castoroil #castoroilbenefit #castoroilbenefits #castoroilpack #castoroilforhair #castoroilforstomach #castoroilpacksbenefits #drjencaudle #fyp #fypシ
Although castor oil is a natural product, it can have some risks. It can cause skin irritation, and if you apply too much oil on your stomach or ingest too much, it can send you running to the bathroom.
While there isn't any scientific evidence that proves most of the claims are true, that shouldn't stop you from trying these tips. But make sure to start with a small amount to ensure no irritation occurs.
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