Green tea is consumed mostly in Asian countries, including India, Japan, Korea, and China but may not be as popular as black tea, which is consumed by more than 75% of tea drinkers. Like black tea, green tea comes from plants Camellia sinensis but the leaves are not fermented before steaming and drying so they stay fresh and green.
Consumption of green tea can bring many health benefits, including skin health. Green tea extract is popular in various skin care products because of its many benefits. Green tea contains various antioxidants and other nutrients. One of the most effective antioxidants in green tea is known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
Several recent studies have shown that these ingredients can help prevent heart disease and osteoporosis, lose weight, and have benefits for the skin.
What are the benefits of green tea for the face and skin? Here’s the explanation.
1. Brighten the skin
Green tea has benefits for brightening the skin. Unlike black tea, green tea contains vitamin C which is known to inhibit the production of melanin in the skin, thus helping to fight dark spots, even out skin tone, and improve skin brightness.
Green tea can help lighten dark spots and blemishes on the skin so it is good for skin care. It is gentle on the skin and can also reduce inflammation. Use green tea regularly for better skin. This powerful antioxidant blend can help you achieve a fresh and glowing skin.
2. Remove acne scars
University of Maryland Medical Center states green tea is rich in chemicals epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC) which is one of the most powerful catechin compounds. One of the side effects of acne is inflammation which can cause wounds on the skin, causing acne scars. Researchers reveal that consuming or applying green tea or green tea extract can help improve redness and irritated skin caused by acne.
3. Protects against skin cancer
Green tea contains polyphenols and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are molecules that have the ability to fight free radicals in the body that can harm the body, health, and skin, causing cell damage, including skin cancer.
According to a 2010 study in the journal Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, the antioxidant power of EGCG in green tea can help repair DNA damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun thereby helping protect you from skin cancer.
4. Fights premature aging
A 2003 study by the Medical College Of Georgia showed that the antioxidant EGCG which is abundant in green tea has the ability to rejuvenate aging skin cells.
By protecting and repairing your cells, the antioxidants in green tea can fight aging and make dull skin look healthier. Vitamin B2 in green tea can also make your skin look more youthful because it has the ability to maintain collagen levels, which can make skin firm.
5. Reduces redness and irritation
Green tea also has anti-inflammatory properties because it is high in polyphenols. The anti-inflammatory properties of green tea can help reduce skin irritation, skin redness, and swelling.
Using green tea on the skin can soothe minor cuts and burns. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, according to an article in Skinmed, green tea can be an effective remedy for many skin conditions by soothing irritation and itching caused by psoriasis, dermatitis, and rosacea, and can also help to treat keloids.
6. Treating acne
The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties in green tea can make it an effective treatment for acne and oily skin.
According to research published in the Antioxidant Journal, the polyphenols in green tea react when applied to the skin to help reduce excess oil that can cause acne.
The polyphenols in green tea also have the ability to fight infection by damaging bacterial membranes. That is, green tea can have benefits that are useful for controlling the growth of acne-causing bacteria.
7. Moisturizing skin
Green tea contains several vitamins, including vitamin E which is known to have the ability to nourish and moisturize the skin.
In one study published in the journal Dermatology and Therapy, experimental participants applied green tea extract to their forearms for 15 and 30 days. As a result, the researchers found that the participants experienced an increase in skin moisture and a decrease in rough skin.
After knowing the benefits of green tea for the face and skin, you can use green tea on the face by making the following green tea mask.
How to make a green tea mask
- Mix 1 teaspoon of green tea powder, add 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of honey to make a dough.
- If the mixture is too thick, add a few drops of water.
- To help the mask sink into the pores, clean your face before applying.
- Once your face is clean, apply the mask evenly all over your face and massage gently to remove dead skin cells and dirt from your pores.
- Leave the mask on for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
- For best results, use the mask one to three times a week.
Besides being used as a mask, green tea can be used as an eye compress to prevent wrinkles and refresh the eyes.
The caffeine in green tea has a positive effect on puffy eyes and can help keep the skin firm. Caffeine constricts the blood vessels around the eyes, which helps reduce puffiness and inflammation.
Green tea also contains so -called antioxidants flavonoid and tannin which has an anti-inflammatory effect. Tannin can help tighten the skin and expel fluids to further reduce swelling.
How to make an eye compress using green tea
- Brew two tea bags in hot water.
- Squeeze the liquid out of the tea bag.
- To use as a warm compress, wait until it cools down a bit.
- To use as a cold compress, refrigerate.
- Place the tea bag on closed eyes for up to 15 minutes.
- Repeat as often as needed.
That’s the benefits of green tea for the face and skin and how to use it. There have been many studies that prove the various benefits of green tea that can be felt so you don’t need to worry because green tea is safe to use as long as it’s not excessive.
– .
