Is Green Tea Good for the Skin?

Green tea contains various nutrients and antioxidants that are beneficial to the body. It’s used in eastern medicine as a remedy to several health issues—but is green tea good for the skin? Or should you turn to other ingredients to ease your skincare woes?

Studies claim green tea can help with skin concerns such as acne, inflammation, and oily skin. If you’ve been looking for ways to mix up your skincare routine, picking up a couple of green tea skincare products might be a good idea.

Below is a list of some of the common benefits of green tea skincare products. Keep reading to learn more!

Green tea is anti-aging

Green tea is a rich source of antioxidants that fight against free radicals that causes premature skin aging. These antioxidants are called epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG. Researchers have found that EGCG helps rejuvenate dying skin cells and boosts the production of new skin cells, giving your skin a youthful and healthy glow. 

Besides antioxidants, green tea is also a rich source of vitamins E and B. The former promotes cell regeneration and helps the skin to stay hydrated and plump. Meanwhile, the latter boosts collagen production in the body. Collagen is a compound that increases skin elasticity, preventing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines – common signs of aging.

Green tea unclogs pores

Studies show that acne is one of the most common skin conditions in the United States. Nearly 50 million Americans suffer from acne every year, most of whom are between the ages of 12 and 24. While most people take oral antibiotics to treat the condition, some people don’t react positively to medication.

Green tea has been proven to unclog pores and reduce the appearance of blackheads and breakouts. Thanks to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, green tea can be an effective treatment for acne. Plus, it costs less than buying antibiotics or snazzy face creams from the store.

Green tea exfoliates gently

Proper and regular exfoliation keeps your skin silky smooth. It removes the layers of dead skin on your body, making way for a newer and softer layer. Unfortunately, most exfoliators can be too intense for people with sensitive skin. As a result, they may suffer from red, sore, dry, and irritated skin. 

The great thing about green tea is that it’s a gentle exfoliator. Its leaves can be used to softly remove dead cells from the top layer of your skin. You won’t feel any of the painful scratching that you would with most store-bought exfoliators. Plus, the antioxidants released by the leaves will leave your skin glowing right after.

Green tea protects the skin from the sun

If you’re a regular green tea drinker, you’ll be happy to know that a cup or two of this delicious drink can help protect the skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Studies from the British Journal of Nutrition have found that drinking green tea can help reduce inflammation and redness caused by sun exposure.  Researchers found that green tea is a great source of benzoic acid, a compound used to treat burns and eczema in patients.

Containing high amounts of antioxidants, drinking tea can also help minimize the appearance of age spots caused by excessive sun exposure. Further studies show that green tea drinking may even protect you against some forms of cancer.

How to use green tea for skincare?

Apart from drinking green tea regularly, there are more direct ways to use green tea for skin care. Here are some of the ways to do it.

Apply green tea directly to your skin

To use green tea topically, you can use a store-bought cream with green tea, or simply apply green tea directly on your skin. To do that:

1. Make a cup of green tea using loose-leaf tea.
2. Let it cool to room temperature.
3. Dip a cotton ball, in green tea and softly press it on your skin.

Make a green tea face mask

Green tea is a common ingredient in commercially-made face masks. It nourishes and moisturizes the skin and improves the complexion. To make it yourself at home:

1. Add 2 teaspoons of honey into a small bowl.
2. Add 1 teaspoon of matcha powder into the bowl.
3. Mix thoroughly into a paste.
4. Apply on your face and leave it for 10-15 minutes.
5. Rinse it off with warm water.

Put green tea bags on your eyes

Putting green tea bags on your eyes contracts blood vessels, which reduces dark circles around your eyes and treats puffy eyes. Try this at home:

1. Make green tea using tea 2 bags as if you were to drink it (make two separate cups).
2. Squeeze the tea bags to remove excess liquid.
3. Refrigerate the tea bags for 10-20 minutes.
4. Put the tea bags on your eyes for 15-30 minutes.

Precautions for Using Green Tea for Skincare

Although green tea has several undeniable benefits for the skin, it doesn’t come without its fair share of disadvantages. Before you start incorporating green tea into your skincare routine, take note of the following precautions:

Green tea can cause iron deficiency

Consuming excessive amounts of green tea interferes with iron absorption. Green tea contains an organic substance called tannins that binds themselves with iron, thereby inhibiting proper iron absorption in the body.

A great way to remedy this is to put a squeeze of lemon or lime into your green tea. Citrus fruits contain high amounts of vitamin C which are known to improve iron absorption.

Green tea can cause dizziness and headaches

Contrary to popular belief, green tea contains trace amounts of caffeine that can cause dizziness and headaches if taken in excess. If you’re someone who suffers from frequent migraines, taking steps to control your green tea intake is advisable. One or two eight-ounce cups a day should be enough for you to experience the benefits green tea can have for your skin.

Green tea can cause irregular blood pressure

Excessive green tea drinking can also cause irregular blood pressure and palpitations in drinkers. Although this side effect is rare and requires further research, it’s better to be safe than sorry. As much as possible, keep your green tea consumption to a minimum and never go over a cup or two per day.

Conclusion

Green tea can provide the skin with a myriad of benefits. It can boost skin cell regeneration, slow down the aging process, and even return your skin’s smooth and youthful appearance. Nevertheless, green tea comes with its own set of disadvantages that every person should be aware of. Take note of these before you start using green tea in your skincare routine. By doing so, you’ll be able to enjoy the full benefits of green tea use.

Read how you can use green tea for weight loss next.