The Mood & Skin Boosting Tea This Skin Care Expert Swears By

The tea is made from a flower native to Southeast Asia called Clitoria ternatea. It’s made by boiling and infusing the plant’s petals or whole flower in water before serving. It’s commonly brewed in places like Thailand, Malaysia, and is sometimes used medicinally in Ayurvedic traditions.  

And as Harper shares, she finds that “it helps with anxiety and clears the mind. It helps your nervous system. When [I first tried it] l noticed that I was so chill and my anxiety was down. Then I just started drinking it every day! I make a gallon, and just drink it throughout the day like water.”

She’s not wrong: Within the plant’s long history of medicinal use, it was seen as a memory enhancer and mood soother. And according to published research, the nutrient content is full of antioxidants like flavonoids—making the extracts to be highly antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. This, not so inconsequential for this beauty editor, can help your skin by reducing oxidative stress and neutralizing free radicals. 

Potential mood and skin benefits aside, the aesthetic is enough to turn me on to the tonic. “It’s basically a flower that’s called butterfly pea and it’s blue. When you make the tea, it actually turns blue,” she says. “Now, let’s say you want to have fun with the tea: Put a little bit of lemon in it and it actually changes the pH so it turns bright pink. It’s really fun.”