Spearmint and blemish-prone skin: what do we know so far?

Short answer: spearmint (Mentha spicata) is a type of mint you might know from mint tea and chewing gum. Researchers became interested in it because of androgens: hormones that signal your oil glands to produce sebum. In two small studies, women drank spearmint tea twice a day, and their free testosterone levels were lower afterwards. The studies were small and looked at hormones, not skin. Clear+ contains 200 mg of spearmint extract per day.

You may have seen the claim: "spearmint tea for your skin". On TikTok and Instagram, people drink it by the litre. But what actually is spearmint? Why does it come up in conversations about blemish-prone skin? And what does the research really tell us? Here’s a straightforward look at the evidence. No hype, but no dismissing it either.

What is spearmint?

Spearmint is a plant in the mint family. Its scientific name is Mentha spicata. It’s the mint often used in fresh mint tea, including Moroccan mint tea, and the flavour you’ll recognise in many chewing gums.

Spearmint looks like peppermint, but there’s a clear difference. Peppermint contains a lot of menthol, which gives it that cool, sharp taste. Spearmint has much less menthol. Its flavour comes mainly from a compound called carvone, making it milder and slightly sweet.

People have used spearmint for generations in food, tea and traditional medicine, including in the Middle East and Southern Europe.

What’s in spearmint?

A spearmint leaf contains hundreds of different compounds. The best known are:

• Carvone: the compound that gives spearmint its distinctive smell and flavour.
• Rosmarinic acid: a plant compound also found in rosemary, sage and lemon balm.
• Flavonoids: a large group of plant compounds also found in fruit, vegetables and tea.

The amount of each compound in a leaf varies by plant, season and drying method. That means every cup of tea varies too.

How spearmint became a topic in skin research

In a village in south-west Turkey, many people drank mint tea every day. Doctors there heard from men who said their sex drive had decreased. They wondered whether the tea could be involved, and whether it affected testosterone.

Later research suggested that spearmint tea could lower testosterone. That made spearmint interesting for a very different reason: skin. Testosterone is an androgen. These are hormones that both men and women have, and they signal your oil glands to make more sebum. More sebum means a greater chance of clogged pores, and a clogged pore is where a spot begins. You can read more about how this works in Androgens and your skin: what are they, and what do they do to your sebum?

What the research found

Two studies are often mentioned. Both looked at women with excessive hair growth, which is also linked to androgens.

In the first study, from Turkey, 21 women drank a cup of spearmint tea twice a day for five days. Afterwards, their free testosterone was lower than before. Free testosterone is the portion that isn’t bound to a protein in your blood, so it can act directly.

The second study, from England, was slightly larger and better designed. For 30 days, 42 women drank tea twice a day: half had spearmint tea, while the other half had a different herbal tea. Both free and total testosterone fell in the spearmint group. The women also said they felt their hair growth had improved. But when doctors measured it, they saw no clear difference over that short period.

What you can and can’t take from this

These studies are interesting, and they help explain why spearmint gets so much attention. But it’s worth being clear about what they actually show:

• They were small. 21 and 42 women isn’t many. We need larger studies to be sure.
• They were short. Five and 30 days. Changes to your skin and hair can take months.
• They looked at hormones and hair growth, not spots. These studies didn’t measure whether spearmint affects your skin.
• They involved a specific group. Women with excessive hair growth, some of whom had PCOS. We don’t know whether it works the same way for everyone.

That doesn’t mean the research has no value. It shows why scientists find spearmint interesting and why they’re continuing to study it. It’s a promising plant, not a quick fix.

Tea or extract?

In the studies, the women drank ordinary spearmint tea. You can make it at home too: pour hot water over the leaves, let them steep for a few minutes, and it’s ready. The downside is that you never know exactly how much you’re getting. It depends on the leaves, how many you use and how long you steep them.

An extract is a concentrated form of the leaf. Compounds are taken from the leaf and made into a powder with a set amount per serving. That way, you get the same amount each day without making two cups of tea. With an extract, you know exactly how much you’re taking every day.

Spearmint in your kitchen

Spearmint is one of the easiest herbs to use at home. A few ideas:

• Fresh mint tea. Put a handful of fresh leaves in a glass, add hot water and leave to steep for five minutes.
• Mint water. Add a few sprigs to a jug of cold water, perhaps with a slice of cucumber or lemon. Lovely in summer.
• In your food. Spearmint works well in tabbouleh, a watermelon and feta salad, or a yoghurt dip.
• Grow your own. Mint grows almost anywhere, including in a pot on your balcony or windowsill. Give it its own pot, though: mint likes to spread.

Pure mint tea contains no caffeine, so you can drink it in the evening too.

Is spearmint safe?

Spearmint has been part of people’s diets for generations. In ordinary amounts, such as a few cups of tea a day, it’s fine for most people. No serious side effects were reported in the studies above.

A few things to bear in mind:

• Pregnant or breastfeeding? Check with your midwife or GP before taking an extract or supplement.
• Get heartburn? Mint can make it worse for some people.
• Taking medication? Ask your pharmacist whether a spearmint supplement is suitable for you.

Where Clear+ fits in

Clear+ provides 200 mg of spearmint extract per day in two capsules. So you get exactly the same amount each day. Spearmint isn’t the only ingredient in Clear+. The foundation is zinc, vitamin A and vitamin B5. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. Your body uses vitamin B5 to make and process hormones.

It’s the combination that makes Clear+ different: nutrients for your skin, plus a plant that interests scientists because of its connection to androgens. All in one product, with every amount listed on the label. Clear+ is vegan, made in the Netherlands, and every batch is independently tested by Eurofins.

Your skin is constantly renewing itself, so give it around 90 days. And because your hormones are at work every day, it’s something to keep taking daily after that, just like brushing your teeth. Read all about the formula in What’s in Clear+, and why these amounts?

I’d seen this so many times, but I was really sceptical because it costs money, and would it even help? Well, I can say YES!!! … So I’ve ordered again and I’m going to keep using it.

Elisabeth

When to see your GP first

Is your cycle very irregular? Or do you have a lot of hair growing on your chin, upper lip or stomach? PCOS could be behind it. A cup of tea or a supplement shouldn’t be your first step. See your GP to find out what’s going on.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between spearmint and peppermint?

They’re two different types of mint. Peppermint contains a lot of menthol and tastes cool and sharp. Spearmint contains little menthol and tastes milder, mainly because of the compound carvone. The studies on androgens used spearmint.

Does spearmint tea help with spots?

That hasn’t been studied. The well-known studies looked at hormones and hair growth in women, not spots. They did find lower testosterone levels, which is why scientists are interested in spearmint.

How much spearmint tea did they drink in the studies?

Two cups a day. For five days in one study and 30 days in the other.

Is spearmint suitable for men too?

Spearmint is an everyday herb for everyone. The hormone studies were only done in women. Clear+ is made for women and men.

Does spearmint tea contain caffeine?

No. Spearmint tea is a caffeine-free herbal tea, unless it’s mixed with green or black tea, as in Moroccan mint tea.

Can I drink spearmint tea while taking Clear+?

Yes, a cup of mint tea is just a drink. Do stick to the recommended daily dose of Clear+, and don’t take another supplement containing spearmint extract alongside it.

What if I’m not happy?

You can get your money back. On your first order, take Clear+ every day for 90 days, then let us know within the next 10 days. Return all the pouches and you’ll receive a refund of your purchase price, minus the cost of the return label. You’ll find the full terms in our refund policy.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Clear+ is a food supplement. A food supplement is not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.