Taking care of yourself does not mean adding new commitments to your day. Sometimes, all it takes is a good cup of tea and a few minutes for your skin. A tea & skincare ritual brings these two simple gestures together: choosing a drink you enjoy, preparing it with care, and pairing it with a simple skincare routine.
At Babingtons, in the heart of Rome, we know how tea can transform an ordinary moment into an experience to be lived and tasted slowly. Tea time has been part of our story since 1893 and continues today in our Tea Room in Piazza di Spagna. This dedication to the moment, as well as to the cup itself, can also inspire your own tea and beauty routine at home.
Which tea should you choose for your ritual?
Choosing a tea can start with the aromas you love and the time of day. Fresh and floral, intense or roasted: each variety offers a different experience. In the Babingtons selection, you can find many blends to explore according to your tastes. Tea naturally contains caffeine, so enjoy it in moderation as part of your daily routine.
Green tea: fresh and rich in antioxidants
Green tea naturally contains polyphenols, including catechins, which have antioxidant properties. Its extract is also used in various cosmetic formulations. When choosing your cup, let your taste guide you above all: the Babingtons selection of green teas includes blends with fruity, spicy and floral notes.
Black tea: intense aroma and full-bodied flavour
Black tea has a full-bodied flavour, with notes ranging from fruit to spices and roasted nuances. It contains caffeine and polyphenols, whose composition changes during the oxidation of the leaves. It is a choice for those who enjoy a tea with a distinctive character, in the morning or in the afternoon.
White tea: delicate aroma and subtle notes
White tea is made from leaves and buds that go through minimal processes. It has a smooth flavour, often fresh and floral, and to be savoured slowly. Like other teas made from Camellia sinensis, it naturally contains caffeine and polyphenols.
Oolong tea: a world of aromas to discover
In terms of processing, oolong tea falls between green and black tea. Some varieties offer floral and fruity aromas, while others have deeper, more roasted notes. Experimenting with different oolongs is a way to explore the world of tea and vary your ritual.
How do you prepare tea to accompany your skincare routine?
The water temperature and the infusion time help bring out and shape the tea's aroma and flavour. Follow the instructions for the tea you have chosen: green tea, for example, may require cooler water than black tea, and a long infusion can make the drink more bitter.
With loose-leaf tea, even measuring the leaves and watching them unfurl in the water becomes part of the experience. Choose your favourite cup and let the aroma develop: the fragrance, the colour and that first sip are already an invitation to slow down.
How can you combine tea and skincare in just a few steps?
Prepare your tea and enjoy it alongside your usual skincare routine, without adding complicated steps. You can easily follow this sequence of steps:
- Gently cleanse your face, removing make-up, sunscreen, sweat and impurities.
- Apply your usual products, such as toner, serum or treatment, following the instructions on the packaging; try to work from the lightest textures to the richer ones.
- Apply moisturiser, choosing a texture suited to your skin's needs: richer for dry skin, lighter for oily or combination skin, and simple and gentle for sensitive skin.
The tea accompanies this moment and does not need to be applied directly to the skin. Drinking tea and using a cosmetic product containing green tea extract are two different things: the first is a beverage to be enjoyed, while the second is formulated for a skin application.
When can you enjoy this moment?
The ritual can fit into your morning, in an afternoon break or in your evening. In the morning, you can choose black tea or matcha; in the afternoon, green, white or oolong tea, depending on the aroma you are looking for. All of these teas naturally contain caffeine.
In the evening, if you prefer to avoid caffeine, you can opt for a caffeine-free herbal infusion, such as chamomile or mint, and explore the Babingtons selection of herbal teas.
The seasons can also guide your choices: during the colder months, choose spicy or roasted aromas; in spring and summer, go for floral and fruity notes, or iced tea. To bring home a small taste of the city, discover the blends from the I 7 Tè di Roma collection, inspired by the places and atmosphere of the capital.
A tea and beauty routine does not have to be perfect. All you need is a drink you love, your usual rituals and a few minutes without distractions. This is the spirit of Babingtons tea time to bring into everyday life: pause, choose with care and taste the moment.