Where are all the matcha lovers! Besides being the superior drink to order wherever you go, it also offers several benefits to our health and skin! Now, you can combine your obsession for matcha, with your love for beauty. What more can you ask for than a relaxing day in, with matcha on your face and in your hand to sip! Everyone knows the secrets of what green tea and matcha can do for your body, but shockingly, most are only finding out now that it can offer the same for your skin! If you didn’t know, green tea is actually a common active ingredient that can be found in many skincare and cosmetic products. It is honestly one of the most natural methods to take care of your health and skin. So, Beauty Insider is here to spill the tea on green tea. 

The Origin of Green Tea

green tea

Green tea is a drink that many love, almost like a cult-favourite! But, green tea has actually been around way longer than you think. For over hundreds of years, Eastern cultures have been using it for medicinal purposes. Stemming from the camellia sinensis plant, green tea is usually pale green or pale yellow in shade. With an earthy aroma and flavour, it is also the least processed of teas. Thus, it is able to retain most of its compounds that are beneficial for our health. Currently, China is the world’s biggest producer of green tea, with over 480,000 tons of products every year. Since it doesn’t experience the same fermentation process as black tea, its sister from the camellia sinensis plant, it is packed with antioxidants. Green tea extracts are a popular alternative that tends to come in the form of supplements and oils. 

The Benefits of Green Tea

Honestly, nothing bad can come from drinking green tea, and incorporating it into your skincare routine. Either way, your body and skin will still benefit! So here are a few benefits that it leaves on your skin.

Anti-Ageing Properties

Green tea offers antioxidants that provide the benefits of anti-ageing. This allows it to help prevent premature ageing and fight off free radicals. Since green tea contains EGCG, a special antioxidant also known as epigallocatechin gallate has the benefit to rejuvenate skin cells that are dying. EGCG reactivates your skin cells’ reproduction process, so that your dull skin can have a vibrant glow. Aside from that it also contains vitamin B and E, which helps maintain the production of collagen and boost the regeneration of cells.

Unclog Pores

Now if you suffer from acne, then you are probably dying to get rid of it! So, why not try out some green tea? It has the benefit to act as an effective acne treatment to remove blackheads and reduce pores. All without giving you serious side effects. Even with 2%, coming from a lotion, it has the benefit of showing improvement on your skin! Since green tea contains anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, it can get rid of bacteria that clogs your pores. 

Gentle Exfoliant

Did you know that green tea can help exfoliate your skin as well? Yes! It has the benefit to help remove all the dead skin cells lingering on your skin, making it appear dull. Exfoliating your skin with matcha helps increase the new skin cell production within your skin and leave a glowing complexion. Aside from that, the abrasive texture of dried green tea leaves are a great exfoliant. Along with its antioxidants, it helps prevent breakouts and excess dirt. 

Reduces Redness & Puffiness

Since it also contains a bit of caffeine within itself, it works together with tannins to shrink blood vessels. Thus, any signs of puffiness and redness and bags under your eyes are reduced! Since caffeine offers brightening properties, it helps rejuvenate your skin, making it glow. 

Protection From The Sun

If you want to protect your skin from the harsh UV rays of the sun, topically applying it to your skin won’t work. For this, you’ll need to have a cup of green tea instead! Drinking maybe two cups of it a day can help minimise sun damage caused by UV rays. Studies have shown that by consuming it, you can reduce both inflammation and redness from sun exposure. What’s more, is that drinking mathca can also help minimise appearances of age spots and even prevent certain forms of skin cancer. 

Brightens The Skin

Compared to black, green tea actually contains vitamin C too. If you know anything about skincare and ways of brightening your skin, you know that vitamin C is a key ingredient. Thus, any skincare product that contains green tea within its ingredients list is bound to help brighten your complexion. Even if it doesn’t specifically state that there is vitamin C present, you’ll know there is because it’s hidden inside! So pay attention to those ingredient lists when purchasing your next toner or cleanser. 

Reduces Wrinkles & Fine Lines

It’s never too early to start your anti-ageing skincare routine! The earlier you start, it might just even help prevent more from appearing in the future! It also has the ability to help reduce both fine lines and wrinkles due to a plant compound called polyphenol. It contains antioxidant properties that aid in reducing these signs of ageing. If you can’t get your hands on any products containing green tea, you can even DIY your own mask at home! 

Improves Skin Texture

Do you know what retinol is for? Well, it’s a vitamin A that helps keep the top layers of your skin in tip-top shape! Not only does retinol help exfoliate the skin, but it also boosts the turnover of skin cells. Thus, retinol is considered a gold standard for both skin clearing and anti-ageing benefits. This is a product you can apply topically and it also helps improve the texture of your skin! So, don’t be sad if you can’t find retinol among the ingredients list of your favourite skincare products. It might just contain green tea instead, where the retinol is hiding! 

Evens Skin Tone

For a more even skin tone, green tea is a great ingredient to help as it contains vitamin C. As previously mentioned, vitamin C is a great brightening ingredient that everyone loves. Similarly, vitamin C is also an antioxidant that has the ability to tone your skin, and renew it so it appears beautiful! 

Balances Oiliness

For those with oily skin types, or combination skin types, you might always be looking out for skincare products that control oil. Well, green tea is one of those ingredients that have the benefit of balancing oil in your skin. With the presence of EGCG, it has the ability to help control the amount of oil your skin produces. 

Your Skin & Green Tea

Offering benefits to each of the different skin types, here are what it can do for your skin!

green tea

Oily Skin – If your skin is oily, but you aren’t a huge fan of exfoliating, green tea is a great alternative! Since it contains EGCG, a compound usually found within, it has the benefit to help control the production of oil inside your skin. Although sebum has its good days, like keeping your skin lubricated, it can end up clogging your pores. Especially for those with oily skin, and this is the perfect balance to help. 

Dry Skin – Since green tea is enriched with vitamin E, it has the benefit of hydrating your skin. With the presence of L-Theanine, an amino acid, it boosts the hydration your skin gets. 

Combination Skin – As you can already tell, green tea works wonders on both dry and oily skin. SO, it’s a no-brainer that it works on combination skin types as well!  

Sensitive Skin – Green tea is a soothing ingredient that evens out redness, so if you have sensitive skin, it’s the best you can get! 

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