A regular feature in detox diets, green tea is well-known for its health benefits. Becoming increasingly popular in the UK, this beverage is potent in antioxidants, which are beneficial to human health. Studies have proven that its health benefits include weight loss and disease prevention. However, it might surprise you to discover its many benefits for our skin too.
Green tea is an active ingredient in a variety of cosmetics and skincare products. It’s a great natural way to improve the appearance of your skin. While drinking green tea is beneficial to your general health, applying it to your face may provide amazing skin benefits.
What Is Green Tea?
Green tea is cultivated from the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant. Along with oolong tea, white tea, and black tea, it is an authentic tea. Green tea has a light yellow or pale green colour with an earthy taste and fragrance. It’s one of the least processed true teas, enabling the bulk of its health-promoting compounds to remain intact. Nowadays, you can find a wide range of green tea products in the UK like sweets, cakes, iced tea and frappes and smoothies.
You can utilise green tea in a variety of ways to improve your skin and hair. Green tea creams and lotions first appeared in Asian markets like China and have grown popular in the western world. Green tea extract, which is available as supplements or essential oils, is another popular alternative. Scientific research supports most formats as beneficial to skin health and the treatment of skin conditions.
Benefits Of Green Tea
Here’s what we know about green tea’s skin benefits:
#1 Anti-Ageing
Green tea’s antioxidants are effective for preventing premature ageing. One of the root causes of premature ageing is free radical damage (hyperlink to About Free Radical Damage – HOPES Huntington’s Disease Information (stanford.edu)). A poor diet, smoking, and environmental factors like pollution all contribute to the growth of these invaders. Green tea contains antioxidants that fight common signs of ageing, like free radicals that produce fine lines and wrinkles.
Epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, is a kind of antioxidant found in green tea, which has been shown in studies to help rejuvenate failing skin cells. EGCG boosts the reproduction process of skin cells, brightening dull skin.
Green tea is also high in vitamin B and vitamin E, which are essential for skin health. Vitamin B promotes collagen production, which enhances skin suppleness. Collagen is a crucial ingredient in anti-ageing treatments as it firms the skin and prevents wrinkles. Vitamin E aids in the renewal of cells, hydrating and nourishing skin.
#2 Cleanses Clogged Pores
Acne is a common skin concern, we all have the occasional blemish, but for some, acne, pimples, and spots can be a real challenge. Doctors and dermatologists recommend treatments such as oral antibiotics, steroids, or creams. Unfortunately, many treatments have undesirable side effects like dry skin, oral thrush, facial redness, and weight gain. However, green tea is an excellent acne treatment that reduces pores and prevents future outbreaks without causing significant side effects.
According to researchers, green tea is beneficial in treating acne because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea eliminates germs that can block pores and reduces swelling, making existing pimples appear less visible. It also has the advantage of being less expensive than dermatologist-recommended products.
#3 Treats Oily Skin
Green tea is infused with tannins, these are biomolecules that bind with amino acids in the body. Tannins are astringent chemicals that occur naturally in plants, they act as a skin toner to improve the skin’s appearance. They also reduce pores, making them less likely to clog with acne-causing bacteria and control sebum production, the natural oil produced by the skin. Oily skin generates an excessive amount of sebum, which clogs pores and leads to breakouts. Green tea reduces oil production in skin cells, which is the underlying cause of oily skin. Most oily skin products try to eliminate excess oil on the skin’s surface, while green tea targets the root cause by reducing oil production in the skin’s cells.
#4 Healthy Hair
Research has identified that the green tea antioxidant, EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate – Wikipedia ) helps to speed up hair growth. The antioxidant promotes hair development by stimulating skin cells in hair follicles. Polyphenols in tea also aid in cell turnover. And it promotes new hair growth and the regrowth of damaged hair follicles.
#5 Exfoliates Gently
Green tea leaves are a gentle exfoliant that you can use on the skin. The somewhat gritty texture of dried green tea leaves gently eliminates dead skin. Exfoliation aids in the removal of dead skin cells that may cause the skin to look lackluster, resulting in a more radiant look.
Tea leaves include antioxidants that aid in the removal of excess oil and dirt that can trigger breakouts.
Skin Health and Green Tea
Green tea comes in hundreds of varieties, ranging from matcha green tea powder to luxury blends like Formosa Gunpowder and Japanese Sencha Fuji. This delicious elixir has high quantities of antioxidants, tannins, and vitamins, all of which promote good health. It is simple to introduce green tea into your life for healthier, glowing skin and hair regeneration.