**4.1 Black tea and skin health**

Drinking black tea benefits the skin in three ways. First, it nourishes the skin with vitamins B2, C, and E, with minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and zinc, and essential polyphenols and tannins. Second, its caffeine and some of its other chemical components can kill oral viruses, which helps prevent skin infections (and pimples). Third, black tea has been shown to reduce "mimic wrinkles" and signs of premature ageing.

Black tea can also benefit your skin with direct contact/application. For example, placing black tea bags under your eyes helps reduce puffiness and dark circles. And using black tea for herbal baths can provide an antioxidant boost for your skin and may even provide low levels of sun protection [22, 26].
