Beau-Tea for Travellers - I. Green Tea

Economy is just not what it used to be. I mean, when I was a kid I loved flying ... the special seats, the tray-bound meals, the excitement of new books and toys. That cool little pin that said - hey, I might just be a pilot, too! The anticipation of new places and the potential for presents from little-seen relatives.

But flights to New Jersey didn't take 14 hours.

And my legs have grown significantly since then.

So now, by the time we reach our destination, I firmly believe I deserve some relaxing, healing treatments. And why shouldn't I? Not just because I've travelled so far, with a small child who wiggles and a partner who doesn't handle jetlag. Not because I've slept in a position that would qualify me for a job with Cirque de Soliel.

No. Because I'm alive, and I'm me, and my body deserves it.

And there's a lot to be said for ingredients you can find in your hotel room, your rented cottage, or at the breakfast buffet. Ingredients like green tea, black tea, chamomile tea or peppermint tea. Instant coffee. Sugar. Honey.

Today we'll start with green tea.

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Green Tea and Honey Face Mask

to soothe and detoxify

Green tea is great for post-flight recovery. It's full of antioxidants - so drink up! But it's also a great skin-soother, and along with honey makes a gentle but effective face mask to clean up your skin.

1 Tbs honey + 1 tsp brewed green tea

1. Make a cup of green tea and mix 1 tsp of it with the honey. Set the mixture aside. Drink your tea. Wash your face and hands.

2. When the mask mixture has cooled, use clean hands to smooth it onto your clean face - avoiding sensitive areas like your eyes. Leave on for 10 minutes or so before washing off with warm water, and patting dry. Moisturise as you normally would.

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Green Tea Toner

to gently tone skin

Green tea also acts as a gentle toner for skin.

Brewed green tea

1. Make a cup of green tea and let it cool (*you may even like to refrigerate it ... ). Use a cotton ball to smooth the cool liquid across your face and neck, avoiding sensitive areas like the eyes. No need to rinse, unless you want to. Just moisturise as usual.

You can pour the tea into a bottle and store it in the fridge for a couple of days.

Tea bags also make great single-use toner applicators.

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Green Tea Eye-Saver

to reduce swelling and discolouration around the eyes

And its skin-soothing nature and the coolness of chilled teabags makes green tea a great remedy for tired eyes.

2 cool green tea bags

1. Make two cups of green tea, and save the tea bags. Squeeze them out with a spoon and cool them in the fridge while you drink tea and read Frankie. Or that recent Gourmet Traveller you bought at the airport. When the tea bags are nice and cold, lay down on the bed with your eyes closed and place a bag over each. Rest for 10-20 minutes, preferably without a toddler jumping on you.

As always, use organic when you can. If you make use of ingredients on-hand, these beauty treatments might even be free. Otherwise? They'll cost you $0.10-$0.50 or so.

Stay tuned for the next installment ... but, in the meantime, do something nice for your body and your self. You deserve it.

Amanda xx