Green tea is one of the healthiest drinks you can consume. This ancient Asian beverage can boost your memory and concentration, increase your energy levels, and improve your immunity. It offers numerous benefits for your skin as well, such as delaying aging, protecting against UV rays, improving skin tone, and reducing acne. Applying green tea directly to your skin can also provide many health benefits. Here’s why you should consider adding green tea to your daily skincare routine:
1. Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Green tea is rich in antioxidants that fight inflammation and bacteria. According to a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association Dermatology, green tea has anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties that can be beneficial for various skin disorders. Researchers believe that skincare products with green tea may significantly impact skin health in the future.
2. Fight the Signs of Aging
Antioxidants are crucial in combating aging, and green tea is packed with a potent class of antioxidants known as catechins. One particular catechin, EGCG, has been shown to reactivate dying skin cells, providing significant benefits to the outer skin layer. These antioxidants also help prevent free radical damage and encourage cell healing, reducing age spots, wrinkles, and sun damage.
3. Treat Oily Skin
Green tea contains tannins, which act as an astringent to shrink pores and reduce sebum production, the skin’s natural oil. Unlike harsh treatments that only remove excess oil, green tea helps to lower production, making it a better solution for oily skin. One study showed a 70% reduction in sebum production after participants used a product with 3% green tea extract for eight weeks.
4. Eliminate Acne and Blackheads
Topically applying green tea has been proven in several studies to treat mild to moderate acne. In one study, a 2% green tea lotion applied twice daily for six weeks resulted in a 58% reduction in total lesions and a 39% decrease in pimple severity. Green tea’s antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and astringent properties make it a safe and cost-effective alternative for treating acne and blackheads.
5. A Gentle Exfoliator
The slightly abrasive texture of dry green tea leaves makes for an excellent exfoliator, removing dead skin cells, excess oil, and pollutants to reveal rejuvenated skin. A homemade green tea exfoliator is an eco-friendly alternative to store-bought products that often contain harmful microbeads.
6. Added Sun Protection
Drinking green tea can protect the skin and neutralize UV ray damage. One study indicated that consuming the equivalent of two cups of green tea a day can reduce inflammation and skin redness from sun exposure. Topically applied catechin-rich emulsions also offer protection against UV-exposed skin.
7. Enjoy its Energizing Scent
Many people find green tea’s aroma uplifting and energizing, making it a great addition to your morning routine. It can also be relaxing and soothing when used in a nighttime bath.
8. Reduce Eye Puffiness
To reduce puffiness and dark circles, place cool tea bags or cotton balls dipped in cold brewed tea over your eyes for five minutes. The antioxidants and tannins in green tea help shrink blood vessels around the eye area, reducing swelling.
Green tea is also beneficial for oral hygiene and hair health. The antioxidant EGCG stimulates hair growth, while a green tea rinse can help combat dandruff and give your hair a glossy sheen. Additionally, green tea extract can be used as an effective homemade mouthwash to prevent dental cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.
11 Recipes for Using Green Tea in Your Skincare Routine
1. Green Tea and Aloe Skin Toner: Mix water, green tea, and aloe vera for a toner that tightens pores, removes toxins, reduces redness, and moisturizes the skin.
2. Green Tea and Rice Flour Face Mask for Oily Skin: This mask, made with rice flour and green tea, soaks up excess oil while reducing sebum production. Add lemon juice for its antibacterial properties.
3. Anti-Aging Green Tea and Turmeric Face Mask: Combine green tea and powdered turmeric for a powerful antioxidant mask that gives your skin a youthful glow.
4. Green Tea Bags for Puffy Eyes: Steep two green tea bags, cool them in the refrigerator, and apply to your eyes to reduce dark circles and puffiness.
5. Green Tea Sugar Scrub: Blend a green tea bag, brewed green tea, granulated sugar, and olive oil for a homemade scrub that reduces redness and leaves skin silky smooth.
6. Simple Green Tea Facial Steam: Add green tea to steaming water, cover your head with a towel, and breathe in the vapors to cleanse your pores and relieve congestion.
7. Lavender Eucalyptus Green Tea Detox Bath Salts: Combine Epsom salts, baking soda, Vitamin E oil, and essential oils for a detoxifying and soothing bath.
8. Homemade Facial Wash: Create a gentle cleanser with green tea, tea tree oil, sweet almond oil, and liquid castile soap.
9. DIY Natural Green Tea Sunscreen: Make your own mineral sunscreen using green tea to harness its UV-fighting properties.
10. Green Tea After Sun Spray: Soothe skin after sun exposure with a spray made from green tea, witch hazel, and aloe vera.
11. Soothing ‘Itchy Spray’ for Bug Bites: Relieve itching and irritation from bug bites with a spray made from green tea, plantain, and peppermint.
Where To Buy Green Tea Extract
For a high-quality green tea extract, try Matcha Green Tea Powder by KENKO. It’s made from hand-picked and stone-ground tea leaves, certified non-GMO, and free of heavy metals and pesticides, making it perfect for use on your body both inside and out.
