The main reason I introduced kombucha into my diet was because of my complexion. I have a mixed relationship with my skin and how I present it to the world. Despite feeling strongly about posting authentic, honest pictures on social media, I found myself excessively over-editing and adding filters to my posts online. Why? Because I was so insecure about my breakouts, which had a stronger presence on my face than my actual features. I just wanted to feel good about myself again, and filters were a temporary salve.
Our bodies are so complex, and disheartened by my growing number of breakouts, I knew I had to work out what was triggering the reaction in my skin. Commuting, artificial light and stress were all strong contenders but it turns out sometimes good gut health can be a game changer with your complexion. Who knew? At the time, I certainly didn’t.
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Eventually, when I shared my complexion woes on Instagram, I received not only the kindest, empathetic responses, but also a variety of avenues to explore to resolve the war between me and my skin. Kinesiology, allergy tests and facials, were all suggested as solutions, but as I delved deeper into Google, I realised my gut health was a likely source of my breakouts – reasonable, since I was fuelled by black coffee and veggie Percy Pigs.
In the midst of student life at the time, I was daunted by the cost of all the procedures which may not work for me, so in true thrift-style, I chose the cheapest option suggested: a health drink called kombucha, which celebrities including Mary-Kate Olsen and Orlando Bloom are said to be fans of. Honestly, I haven’t looked back.
Kombucha has been described as the elixir of life, but despite it originating in China generations ago, the fermented tea drink has been experiencing a resurgence in popularity over the past few years. It's even been described as the perfect alternative to a cheeky evening tipple.
What is kombucha?
"Kombucha is a sparkling living drink, made by fermenting tea with a culture of bacteria and yeast (similar to sourdough)", says Louise Avery, kombucha wizard and founder of L.A. Brewery. She goes on to note that it has a delicious unique flavour which is mildly sweet and tart, as well as being full of gut-friendly, live bacteria and yeasts, (plus antioxidants from the tea). And despite its funky sounding ingredients, Avery insists "the low PH of the brew prevents any bad bacteria developing which means it’s completely safe to drink".
The world of science is still catching up and studies as to the drink's effectiveness in relations to beauty and wellness are still ongoing, but what is proven is that the drink is full of probiotics (which can benefit many aspects of health such as digestion and inflammation), antioxidants and vitamins (Vitamin C & B).
Applying kombucha to skin
Dr Selena Langdon, the founder & medical director of Berkshire Aesthetics, suggests that "a healthy gut and immune system may improve the health of your skin. "The suggested benefits to the skin from the topical application of kombucha include that it may improve skin tone, combat wrinkles, detoxify (protect against oxidative stress) and hydrate the skin and improve its elasticity."
The topical benefits (when it's applied on skin) is what's led to a surge in kombucha-infused skincare. See the Fresh Kombucha Cleansing Treatment (from £19) and Youth To The People's Kombucha Power Toner (£33).
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Drinking kombucha
As for ingesting it, the good bacteria it supplies can improve gut health, which in turn influences our overall health and that of our skin. I started drinking it daily and began brewing my own at home. If you're new to kombucha, it's best to start on a lower dose of 150ml a day for a couple of weeks so your body can adjust slowly to the live cultures in the drink.
Louise suggests "those who are new to the drink might benefit from a commercial shop bought brand as these will be milder in strength than a home brew and are designed to be very drinkable, so a bottle a day can easily be consumed."
What is truly brilliant about the drink, which many call the champagne of life, is that it's super versatile and can adopt many flavours to make it suitable for most people's palate. When brewing my own, I like to add fruits – shop bought and foraged. Likewise online, you're spoilt for choice as the flavour possibilities are endless.
But, whether it is or isn't truly linked to my kombucha appreciation (we may never truly know), my complexion has cleared up significantly since I started drinking it. Besides that, it’s totally delicious, so cheers to that.
