August 3, 2017

Spearmint Tea for Hormonal Breakouts

Some of you might have seen this on my instastories, but I figured it was time to get it down in an actual blog post. Several months ago, when I was getting a facial, my esthetician (who has the nicest skin I’ve ever seen) said she swore by spearmint tea. My response “huh?! spearmint tea?”  I shouldn’t have been too surprised. I come from Russian parents who are all about natural remedies and try to avoid antibiotics like the plague, but still, I didn’t believe that something so easy could help. After my own research, apparently 1-2 cups of spearmint tea a day is more effective than any prescription remedy for hormonal acne. Not only that, but after diving further into the topic, I started to hear numerous success stories of people who said it actually stopped all of their hormonal breakouts.

In short, hormonal acne is caused by a hormone in your body called androgens. These androgens are what cause increased sebum production and more sebum leads to a higher chance of blockage, which lead to breakouts. Spearmint is proven to help reduce sebum production and the development of hormonal acne.

Of course I put her suggestion to the test and after drinking it for several weeks, my skin was clearer than it’s ever been. I kid you not! I drink 1-2 cups a day, a combo of hot and cold. Some days I do forget and I’m not crazy about it, but I drink when I remember. However, if you’re someone who suffers from severe hormonal breakouts (jawline and cheek breakouts are usually hormonal), I would try to drink several cups a day.

How I make it: For hot tea, it’s pretty self explanatory. I steep a teabag in hot water and done! During the summer months, I usually stick to iced tea. Lately, I’ve been making a big pitcher of 5-6 teabags so I have easy access. I boil a large pot of water with the teabags and after it cools down a bit, I pour into a pitcher and pop into the fridge.

Quitting Dairy:  I should also mention, that prior to drinking the tea, I eliminated dairy from my diet 80% of the time. There are days that I still indulge in pizza (let me live!), but for the most part, I eat a lot less of it. This has also contributed to clearer skin, but I do believe that drinking the tea has taken it to the next level. For example: even after I quit dairy, I would break out right before my period. Now, it rarely happens, especially when I drink a little extra when I feel it coming on.

This is the tea that I buy, but any organic, spearmint tea will do the trick! Just make sure it’s 100% spearmint and not a blend. I find mine at Whole Foods or the organic section of my supermarket.

Best of all, so many of you have been messaging me saying that you’ve incorporated this into your routine and your hormonal breakouts have dramatically reduced or have actually stopped. There are no words to express how happy this makes me!

Edited to add: if your breakouts are severe, this is not going to be a miracle cure, especially overnight. I strongly believe it will help, but you need to give it some time. Especially if there are active breakouts. As a reminder, it takes 28 days for skin-cell turnover and I find that with anything, it takes about 3 months to see a difference.

I hope this post helped answer any questions you might have! I know what it feels like to suffer from breakouts. It takes a real toll on your self-esteem, so I truly hope that this is able to help some of you. Best of all, it’s natural! You have nothing to lose.

xoxo,

Helena

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39 comments

  • La Bijoux Bella | by mia

    I always love ❤️ a good cup of tea ☕️ … this sounds very interesting and perhaps Hebert healthy too. 🙂
    Merci for sharing.

    ??LA BIJOUX BELLA ??| By Mia | A Creative Lifestyle Blog

  • Petite Paulina

    Great post, thanks for sharing that tip. I drink a lot of peppermint tea but haven’t tried spearmint. I also eliminate dairy from my diet as much as possible and find that really helps to avoid a lot of issues.

  • Briana

    I have to try! My skin always breaks out in the summer!

    Briana
    https://beyoutifulbrunette.com/

  • Mireia

    Absolutely love it!

    Mireia from TGL
    https://thegoldlipstick.com/

  • Kay Nguyen

    I’m a huge sucker for a good cup of tea! Have to try this out <3

    https://www.myblackcloset.com/

  • Kristina

    Thank you so much for sharing this information! I struggle a lot with to much androgenes in my blood and will definitely try it 🙂
    ♡Kristina
    TheKontemporary

  • Zsófia

    Dear Helena! Did you quit eating all kinds of dairy products? So you also drink coffee without milk and don’t eat cheese either? I have the same problem (hormonal breakouts) and try to reduce dairy in my diet but I’m a great cheese lover and very much fond of capucciono as well and I’m not sure how drastically I should change my diet. How long did it take for you to see the positive results once you stopped eating dairy? I’m very glad you wrote on the topic, I’ll definitely try the tea as well. 🙂

  • Rosa Vila

    I have been curious about incorporating spearmint/peppermint tea into my routine and this just confirmed it for me. Thanks so much for the post!

  • Julia

    I already heard you talking about the spearmint tea on your Instastories, but haven’t tried it yet… I suffer from hormonal breakouts for almost a year now and will definitely give it a try now! I already incorporated one litre of green tea every day into my diet, but maybe spearmint tea really is the solution… thanks for sharing! 🙂 Regarding the dairy… I love my yogurt for breakfast so much! Right now, there’s hardly no day I have no yogurt in the morning, especially when it’s so hot outside (=too hot for oatmeal). Maybe I’ll be able to reduce that too…

  • Nia

    OMG!!! This is right on time!! My hubby and I are trying to conceive and I recently stopped taking birth control. My skin is going BANANAS!!! I am trying this ASAP!!! Thank you soooooooooo much!!!

  • Rach

    I would have never thought spearmint tea would help with hormonal acne! This is so worth trying!

    http://www.rdsobsessions.com

  • Rabeyah

    This post is so helpful and well timed! I’m right in the middle of a terrible break out so I can’t wait to try this.

    Rabeyah | @rabeyahn
    http://byrabeyah.blogspot.com/

  • Kat

    This is wonderful! A homemade remedy to hormonal break outs is a must.
    xx Kat

    www satinandpeachblog.wordpress.com

  • Lavender Citrus

    This was such a helpful post. I never thought that I could use tea for this.
    I would love to hear your thoughts about my last post on how to become a minimalist.
    Visit >> http://lavendercitrus.wordpress.com

  • Adriana

    So curious about this tea! Need to try it!
    xx

    The Black Blush

  • Trendique

    Looks soooo nice and cozyy!!!! *_*

    xo Vanessa from http://www.Trendique-Magazine.com

  • Kate

    With 50 days to go until my wedding, I am SO giving this a try! I tend to break out pretty regularly along my jaw line and it’s so annoying. I searched and I think they carry this same brand you linked at our grocery store so will be checking that out today! Thanks!!

  • Sharon

    I’m going to give this a try, I wish I could cut out dairy. I eat a good amount of greek yogurt for protein and have had a hard time giving up half and half in my coffee every morning. I try to keep it just to those tow dairy products until the weekend when I usually indulge in pizza or bagels and cream cheese. Thank you for sharing!
    http://www.forthewonderer.com

  • Fatou Diaw

    I have always been suffering from hormonal acne. I am going to try this tea, now. that you so much for sharing!
    xx
    https://closettostreet.com/

  • Kasia

    I’ve been a tea drinker all my life and didn’t know the benefit of this one! I usually drink it to tame an upset stomach so good to know!

    I was told that mint tea can lower milk production when breastfeeding though so just a heads up to the nursing mama’s out there! But I’ll definitely give this a try once I wean ?

  • Rachel

    Literally went to the derm today bc of acne on my cheeks from stopping BC. I can’t wait to try this home remedy! Thank you!

  • Aishly Tromp

    Great tip! I’m very into teas but didn’t know about this one! Thanks for the advice

  • Jenny

    Helena, thank you, thank you, thank you! I’ve been quietly following the Brooklyn blonde for a while and your blog always seems to feature the things I need right at that moment in time. Definitely going to try this, starting today. All the love from Europe, x Jenny

  • Amber

    Iv’e really been suffering from what I think is hormonal acne for a few months now and I’ve tried just about everything, but I am so excited to give this a try! Thank you for the great idea!
    https://teawithbambiblog.wordpress.com/

  • Amber

    I’ve really been suffering from what I think is hormonal acne the last few months so I’m so keen to give this a try! Thanks for the idea!

  • dragon ball super

    great post, thanks!

  • Sara Morais

    This couldn’t have come in a better time… I switched birth control pills and my skin is going crazy. Do you think peppermint works the same as peppermint tea? Just asking cause it’s way much easier to find. Anyway, just ordered two packs of Tradicional Medicinals.

    • Sara Morais

      Sorry…*do you think peppermint works the same as spearmint tea?

  • T

    I suffer from terrible hormonal acne, and I bought the exact kind you buy – organic spearmint Traditional Medicinals – and it didn’t help at all. Like you, I did tons of research on it and drank several cups a day, but sadly it didn’t help. Still looking for a cure.

    • Helena

      Oh no, T! I’m so sorry to hear that!! How long have you been drinking it? 🙁

  • Amalie

    Thanks for sharing a healthy tip 🙂 Have an amazing day 🙂

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    […] found a recommendation for spearmint tea on the Brooklyn Blonde blog. I had been having hormonal acne on my chin for about 6 months. I thought it was worth a try, […]

  • Charissa

    I can’t wait to try this! I drink mint tea anyway just not quite this regularly. I’ve always struggled with hormonal acne but the only recommendation I’ve gotten from aestheticians and dermatologists is “keep up your routine” or take spironolactone!

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  • Lindsay

    I have heard this elsewhere too. Thanks for sharing. Fortunately my skin has been really clear since starting using niacinamide (in my Elta MD moisturizer) and following the double cleansing regimen you shared previously! Am now able to actually get off the antiobiotics I’ve been on for years for acne!

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