Why green tea is your new skincare essential
Green tea promotes weight loss and increases your energy. And it has several beauty benefits, especially when it comes to your skin and hair. Because of these distinct benefits, green tea is an ingredient found in a number of skincare products. Specifically, green tea:
1. Brightens your complexion
Green tea is known to improve your overall complexion by reducing inflammation, healing blemishes, and flushing toxins from your skin. What’s more, green tea has been found to increase skin elasticity. Research has shown that green tea rejuvenates the skin from the inside out.
2. Fades dark under-eye circles
Green tea contains powerful antioxidants and an astringent called tannins that reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffy eyes. These agents constrict blood vessels, which in turn reduce swelling and puffiness. Green tea is also rich in vitamin K, which is known to reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles as well.
3. Gives you a youthful glow
Green tea protects against signs of premature aging such as sagging, sun damage, age spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. The polyphenols found in green tea neutralize free radicals, which lead to premature aging and degradation of collagen and elastin.
4. Heals blemishes
Green tea contains catechins, antibacterial agents that help combat the bacteria responsible for blemishes. Catechins help to regulate hormones, and they can cause acne when they are imbalanced. The anti-inflammatory properties of green tea help to reduce redness and inflammation caused by acne. Research has shown that EGCG, a powerful agent in green tea, helps to treat acne by killing bacteria.
5. Tones your skin
A natural toner for your skin, green tea draws out impurities, reducing the appearance of pores and leaving your skin with a healthy glow. Green tea also hydrates your skin, which promotes overall health.
6. Promotes hair growth
Green tea isn’t just great for your skin, it also does wonders for your hair. Since green tea contains loads of antioxidants, it promotes hair growth. In fact, the catechins found in green tea help to prevent hair loss.
7. Corrects oily skin
The tannins found in green tea reduce the production of sebum, your skin’s natural oil. Most conventional treatments for oily skin simply remove the excess oil altogether, which is too harsh. Green tea offers a gentler solution to combating oily skin.
8. Exfoliates
Dried green tea leaves help to remove dead skin cells when used as an exfoliator. They also help to remove excess oil and toxins, resulting in glowing, youthful skin. Green tea leaves are only slightly abrasive, meaning they’re gentle enough to use on even sensitive skin.
9. Protects you from the sun’s UV rays
Green tea offers UV protection from the inside out. Several studies have shown that green tea protects skin while neutralizing the damage caused by UV rays. Just two cups a day of green tea can significantly reduce the inflammation and skin redness caused by sun exposure. Green tea extract, when topically applied, also offers protection against UV damage.
10. Brightens your smile
Green is not only great for your skin and hair, but it also enhances your smile when used as a homemade mouthwash. This is because the properties found in green tea reduce inflammation and kill bacteria, preventing dental cavities and gum disease. It also banishes bad breath.
Beauty-Enhancing Green Tea Recipes
These simple and effective beauty recipes that utilize green tea are sure to beautify your complexion.
• Green Tea Raw Honey Facial Mask
This facial mask purifies and moisturizes your complexion to give you glowing skin. The antioxidants found in it also combat blemishes and blotchiness. To make it, cut open an organic green tea bag, moisten the leaves, and mix with organic raw honey until you form a paste. Then apply the mixture to your face, leaving it on for 20 minutes. Finally, rinse off with cold water.
• Green Tea Rice Flour Facial Mask
This facial mask is specifically designed to reduce the appearance of blemishes and dark spots. The rice flour also absorbs excess oil. To make it, brew some organic green tea, allowing it to cool to room temperature. Then mix a few tablespoons of green tea with a few tablespoons of organic rice flower. Add some lemon juice to form a smooth paste. Apply the facial mask on your face, and let it sit for a half-hour before rinsing with cold water. Apply your favorite moisturizer afterward.
• Green Tea Sugar Scrub
This green tea sugar scrub gently exfoliates dead skin cells while infusing your skin with powerful antioxidants. To make it, brew some organic green tea and let it cool to room temperature. Then pour one cup of organic sugar in a bowl and mix with two tablespoons olive oil. Add some loose green tea as well as one cup of brewed green tea. Store the contents in a jar, and use as you would any type of exfoliating product.
Keep the glow going with LaserAway
To discover more beauty-boosting additions to your skincare routine, visit your local LaserAway. Home to a dermatologist-developed skincare line and the most diverse range of aesthetic dermatological treatments, we’re here to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.
References
- “9 Amazing Beauty Benefits Of Tea,” HuffPost, August 20, 2013.
- “25 Benefits Of Green Tea That You Should Definitely Know,” StyleCraze, April 21, 2017.
- “Beauty Benefits of Green Tea Bags,” Times of India, April 26, 2017.
- “The (Surprising!) Beauty Benefits of Green Tea,” The Beauty Gypsy, December 2, 2015.
