Tea Tuesday: Pukka Cleanse Tea

So let’s be honest here, I haven’t been drinking a whole lot of tea recently, which explains the lack of Tea Tuesdays. I have really missed how calming drinking tea was in my daily routine and I can’t say no to the health benefits either. That being said, a new health food store recently opened in my city and their tea selection is incredible. This led to a few purchases and I can now introduce you to my new favorite tea, the Pukka Cleanse Tea.

This blend contains nettle, peppermint, fennel seed, dandelion root, licorice root and aloe vera. I love the effects of peppermint and dandelion on my health and I supposed this particular blend is made to help cleanse your system (dandelion is great for the liver). In the bag, it smells quite strongly of fennel, which is not my favorite, but once you steep it, the taste is not strong. In fact, this tea tastes mostly of peppermint and licorice with a little something else I can’t put my finger on. Personally, I like adding a bit of honey for added sweetness and benefits, but it tastes great on its own too.

Pukka makes great teas and like their other blends, the Cleanse Tea is organic and fair trade. You can both buy it on the Pukka website and see a list of stockists here. I found mine in a local health food store so keep your eyes peeled for it. 

Innisfree Calming Gel Cleanser

Well guys, I think I might have found the perfect morning cleanser. As much as I love cleansing oils in the evening, I like to use something simple and light in the morning. My latest favorite comes from one of my favorite Korean brands (surprise, surprise) and let me tell you that I am very impressed by the Innisfree Calming Gel Cleanser.

According to Innisfree, this is a low acid cleanser that soothes your skin with dandelion extract. The main reason I was drawn to this was that it contains dandelion, I know all about the amazing effects the plant can have to detoxify the body so I thought it would be interesting to use it on my skin as well. Also, it is free of sulfate surfactants, mineral oil, animal ingredients, colorant and synthetic fragrance which is great if you are looking for something a bit more natural.

I love using this in the morning, the gel is light and feels refreshing on your face, perfect to wake you up. Unlike other gel cleansers, this one does not foam or leave a residue behind when you wash it off. It has a very thin formulation and I was surprised to see I could use it to massage my face just like I would with a cleansing oil, but it is not oily at all. After each use I am left with soft, soothed, and balanced skin and it does not cause any redness on my face. Some cleansers can leave you a bit irritated in the morning, especially if you need to scrub your face to get them off. The only thing I don’t love about is the scent, it is kind of citrusy and a bit odd but don’t worry it is not strong. 

You can find the lovely Innisfree Calming Cleansing Gel on their website here. 

Tea Tuesday: Kusmi BB Detox Tea

The main reason I like to drink tea is for its known health benefits, but as with everything else, certain teas are much better for you than others. Luckily, choosing a healthier tea does not mean you have to drink something weird and grass-tasting. Kusmi makes some of my favorite teas and its BB Detox Tea is my pick for today’s Tea Tuesday.

This is the first detox tea that actually makes sense to me in terms of ingredients. This blend contains a base of green tea (antioxidants), mate, rooibos (anti-inflammatory), guarana, dandelion (detoxifies the liver) and it is flavored with a hint of grapefruit so it tastes great. The taste is quite light and sweet with a definite citrus base and I surprisingly enjoyed even though I am not typically a fan of citrus fruits. It is great to have in the morning as the grapefruit scent/taste is very uplifting and energising.

In all honesty, I have not experienced any spectacular effects from drink this, but I haven’t been drinking it daily. Kusmi does not state you should use this for a tea cleanse or a detox so it is different from other detox teas on the market. In my opinion this more like a great tea that can have health benefits over time and that contains ingredients that are known to have positive effects on the body. It can be a healthier option for your morning drink of choice and it is simply a good-tasting tea.

I have almost finished my little tin and I will purchase the larger size when it is done. Out of all the Kusmi teas I have tried, this is my favorite and the one I would recommend most. You can find the Kusmi BB Detox Tea on their website as well as in many health food/tea stores.

Disclaimer: I am not a health specialist, I just listed some of the known effects of the ingredients in this tea. Before making any substantial changes to your diet or starting a cleanse/detox you should talk with a health professional.