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Make Your Own Beauty Tea — Yes, Beauty Tea

001_janelle-jones-refinery29-tea-140728-127Photographed by Janelle Jones; Styled by Ali Nardi; Recipes by R.L. Linden & Co.
Is there anything as comforting as curling up with a cup of tea after a long, stressful day? Whether it's hot or iced, sipped or used as a steam, tea is actually more than just a refreshing drink. It has a whole host of beauty benefits, thanks to its reliance on dried herbs and flowers. Which is exactly why Colorado-based natural beauty brand R.L. Linden & Co. has an entire section of its shop dedicated to these brews.
"We live in such a high-stress time, and as much as our insides get stressed, our body's exterior gets stressed," says Robin King, who founded R.L. Linden & Co. with her partner Lynn Till. "The teas are a great way to heal what's happening externally in a more natural way." The company's tea blends are great for just about everything, whether it's clearing skin, adding shine to your hair, or just aiding you in getting some sleep.
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But, instead of going out and guessing which store-bought teas will give you the most bang for your buck, you can easily DIY your own. King and Till have shared the recipes for four of their more popular tea blends for you to mix up at home. All you've got to do is get your hands on some dried herbs and flowers, which are super easy to come by online, and something to strain them in.
Ahead, find the recipes for the best beauty teas. Some are drunk, and others are used as a topical part of your beauty routine, but all four teas will help you feel a bit more beautiful — in a totally all-natural way. Ingredients are given in parts, which, depending on how much tea you want, can be any type of measurement you'd like. But, if you're a newbie, start out with one part equaling one tablespoon. One taste (or steam or rinse) of these teas and you may never go back to plain, old Lipton again.
002_janelle-jones-refinery29-tea-140728-145Photographed by Janelle Jones; Styled by Ali Nardi; Recipes by R.L. Linden & Co.

DaySteam Believer
While the smell of the lemon balm and lavender may have you jonesing for a sip, this isn't a tea for drinking. Instead, steep your tea and use it as a facial steam. "It's great for skin that gets oily in the summer due to sun exposure or sunscreen," says Till. "The astringent qualities in the comfrey, white willow, and yarrow help counteract that oiliness." You could also brew this tea, put it in a spray bottle, and use it as a toner. Just make sure to refrigerate and re-brew every two days.

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Ingredients
2 parts oatstraw
2 parts lemon balm
2 parts calendula
2 parts comfrey leaf
2 parts white willow
1 part yarrow
1 part lavender
1 part thyme

Instructions
1. Mix all of the ingredients together in a resealable bag.

2. In a large bowl, sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of tea. Pour simmering water over the herbs.
3. Make sure your skin is freshly cleaned. Hover your head over the bowl, and then cover your head and the bowl with a large towel. Steam your skin for 10 to 15 minutes before following with a treatment mask of your choice.
004_janelle-jones-refinery29-tea-140728-068Photographed by Janelle Jones; Styled by Ali Nardi; Recipes by R.L. Linden & Co.

Spectacular Views
We all know the importance of beauty sleep, but sometimes getting it in can be a bit tough. So, King and Till mixed up this relaxing concoction that can not only help you sleep but also has some good-for-you ingredients. "Horesetail is high in silica, which helps with hair and nail growth, and dandelion leaf is a non-potassium-depleting diuretic that helps clean the liver and helps to prevent hormonal acne," Till says. Just a heads-up, though: This tea does contain licorice root, which isn't great for people with high blood pressure. Feel free to omit that guy. Your tea will still taste delicious.

Ingredients
12 parts linden leaf and flower
1 part passionflower
6 parts skullcap
6 parts rose clover
6 parts rose petals
4 parts dandelion leaf
2 parts jasmine flowers
2 parts horsetail
2 parts licorice root
1 part rose hips

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Instructions
1. Mix all of the ingredients in a resealable bag.

2. Add two cups of water over two tablespoons of herbs in whatever straining device you choose. (King and Till suggest a French press for the easiest brew.) Let steep for 10 to 15 minutes before straining.
3. Enjoy two cups of this light, grassy blend nightly, about 30 minutes before you would like to fall asleep. King and Till love it with some raw honey.
003_janelle-jones-refinery29-tea-140728-090Photographed by Janelle Jones; Styled by Ali Nardi; Recipes by R.L. Linden & Co.

Walking On Sunshine
No 'poo ladies, you're going to love this one. This nutrient-packed hair rinse strengthens, cleanses, and aids in hair growth. "The peppermint is cooling, especially in the summer, and the rosemary increases circulation to help that hair grow," King says. "There's also marshmallow and comfrey root to help lock in moisture." Lemon peel adds a seriously healthy dose of shine. King and Till suggest using this with your apple cider vinegar to help combat the smell, but you can also use it as a rinse in conjunction with your regular shampoo and conditioner.

Ingredients
20 parts nettle
8 parts calendula
6 parts peppermint
6 parts rosemary
3 parts marshmallow root
3 parts lemon peel
2 parts lavender
1 part comfrey root

Instructions
1. Combine all of the ingredients in a resealable bag.

2. In a large saucepan, bring approximately half a gallon of water to a boil with a pinch of sea salt.
3. Stir in one cup of herbs until everything is mixed well and all plant material is wet. Turn off the heat, and cover your pot with a lid.
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4. Let the water stand for 15 minutes. Strain well.
5. For serious shine, let the mixture cool and then pop it in the fridge until cold. Rinse clean and conditioned hair with this cold infusion.
001_janelle-jones-refinery29-tea-140728-127Photographed by Janelle Jones; Styled by Ali Nardi; Recipes by R.L. Linden & Co.

Peek-A-Boo
Look, we've all had those mornings where we aren't feeling our best. Whether we've got a cold, allergies, or a slight hangover, our eyes can go puffy and make us look a little worse for wear. That's where Peek-A-Boo comes in. "It can be used as an external eye compress, like we describe here, but it can also be drunk," Till says. "Chamomile is a strong anti-inflammatory, and hibiscus is astringent without being too drying." If you plan on drinking this instead of putting it on your eyes, you can add in some peppermint to help settle your stomach.

Ingredients
21 parts chamomile
13 parts rose
9 parts jasmine
4 parts elderflowers
4 parts fennel
3 parts hibiscus

Instructions
1. Combine all ingredients in a resealable bag.

2. Pour two cups of boiling water over 2 tablespoons of herbs in a French press or other straining device. Let steep for 15 minutes.
3. Strain very well, ensuring that no plant material is floating around in the resulting infusion. (You may have to strain a couple of times.) Add a small pinch of sea salt.
4. Pour into old-school ice-cube trays and freeze. Once this is frozen, pop it out of the molds and store in the freezer in a marked Ziploc bag.
5. On mornings when you need to look your best but just aren't feeling it, take out a Peek-A-Boo ice cube and massage circles around your eyes, focusing on your under-eyes. You can also wrap the cubes in a thin cloth and use as an eye compress when you're lying down.


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