Green tea, a classic drink of Asians, is considered one of the healthiest beverages on the earth because of its numerous health benefits, like weight management and disease control. Green tea was first discovered in China by Japanese monks who found that green tea has incredible healing properties. Besides these healing properties, green tea is used for skin care because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Benefits of Green Tea for the Skin:
Drinking green tea can help maintain weight and improve the body’s metabolism. It also detoxifies and cleanses the body system. Besides, when applied to the skin, green tea can do wonders. Some of them are listed below:
1. Anti-aging:
- Good looking has become one of the priorities these days, and with ageing, the beauty on the face sheds slowly. This green tea acts as an anti-ageing product for the face and skin.
- The antioxidants in green tea contribute to cell regeneration on the face. The key ingredient in green tea, EGCG, can regenerate the dead cells on the face, thus making a face look youthful.
- Catechins, a subgroup of the biological compound called polyphenols, present in green tea, destroy the free radicals, which help slow the ageing process.
- Drinking 2-3 cups of green tea or applying it topically can show the desired results within weeks.
2. Prevents Skin Cancers:
- Sun has some harmful UV rays that damage the skin, leading to skin cancer.
- These harmful UV rays penetrate the skin layers and destroy the epithelial cells, causing melanoma or nonmelanoma skin cancer.
- As told earlier, green tea has a potent antioxidant, EGCG catechin, that protects the skin’s DNA by preventing the sun’s harmful UV rays from penetrating the skin.
- This can be achieved by drinking 2 cups of green tea regularly or applying it topically on the skin surface.
Also Read: How to Use Green Tea for Weight Loss
3. Under-Eye Benefits:
- Dark circles and puffiness underneath the eyes are one of today’s generation’s primary concerns. Dark circles are formed mainly because of lack of sleep, late-night work, etc.
- Green tea can reduce these dark circles underneath the skin. The two key ingredients, caffeine and antioxidants, help shrink the blood vessels beneath the eyes and lighten the appearance of dark circles.
- The flavonoids in green tea also reduce the dark lines and circles around the eyes.
- For this, you require two green tea bags, preferably used ones. Cool them and place the bags on your eyes for 15-20 minutes. After removal, you can observe the difference.
- For desired results, continue this regularly till the dark circles around the eyes disappear.
Read More: Benefits of Green Tea for Hair
4. Relieve Sunburns or Blemishes:
- Sunburns are the most irritating ones on the face and skin. Sunburns make you stay home during the day, hampering your daily work.
- Green tea helps in relieving sunburns and blemishes. Green tea has a special ingredient called tannic acid, which calms down the irritation on the skin.
- For this, you need green tea leaves brewed in water. Cool the brewed tea, dip a clean cloth in the tea and gently rub the dipped cloth on the affected area for half an hour.
- Alternatively, you can use green tea bags. Gently rub the wet tea bags on the defective areas to reduce irritation and redness.
5. Unclog Pores and Deal with Blackheads:
- The skin has the property of secreting excess sebum from the sebaceous glands. Because of this sebum, the skin has to deal with unclogged pores, blackheads, or whiteheads.
- Green tea helps in preventing these tiny problems. This is a natural astringent, hence removing excess sebum or oil.
- It also helps remove dirt from the open pores and tightens the cleansed pores to prevent any pollutants from entering.
- This can be achieved by applying green tea topically twice daily, and drinking one cup daily can maintain the skin.
6. Glowing Skin:
- Due to excessive pollution present, the skin gradually loses its glow. Usually, toners are used to obtain glowing skin.
- When you run out of toners, the natural remedy is green tea. Green tea, a natural astringent, helps shrink the pores, removes greasiness, and cleans it, making the skin glow.
- Take a wet and cold tea bag, rub it gently on your face for 10 minutes, and let it sit for a few minutes.
- Doing this regularly can give you glowing skin.
7. Oily Skin:
- The secretion of excess sebum from the sebaceous glands causes oily skin. This will make you look very uncomfortable and sometimes even ugly.
- Some blends of green tea are rich in natural oils, making them beneficial for oily skin. These blends contain a compound called tannins, which shrink the skin’s pores, thus reducing the secretion of sebum (oil) production.
- Applying green tea topically on the skin can help in reducing oil production. Drinking a cup of green tea is also beneficial for oily skin.
8. Psoriasis Treatment:
- Psoriasis is a condition wherein the skin cells build up and form scales and itchy, dry patches. Nobody wants to deal with such a type of skin.
- Research showed that the key ingredients in green tea could deal with skin disorders like psoriasis because of its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
9. Anti-Bacterial Properties and Treating Acne:
- Acne, who does not hate it? It is one of the common problems in youth. Many people get depressed and feel shy about coming outside because of acne.
- Green tea, a powerful anti-bacterial agent, helps in treating acne. The polyphenols in green tea cleanse the skin surface undulate the skin and fight against bacterial skin infections.
- This means that the polyphenols present in green tea reduce acne, causing bacteria to grow on the skin. Moreover, it smoothens and tones the skin.
- Drinking 2 cups of green tea regularly is advised to avoid visible acne on the face.
- Alternatively, take used tea bags and apply them topically on the skin with visible acne daily. This way, it helps in reducing unwanted acne on the skin.
10. Anti-Inflammatory Properties:
- Inflammation is the appearance of redness and irritation on the skin. This inflammation destroys the appearance of the skin and may further lead to severe skin problems.
- Polyphenols present in green tea have substantial anti-inflammatory benefits.
- Drinking green tea can increase the benzoic acid levels in the body, which is believed to treat skin irritations and conditions like eczema.
- Moreover, applying freshly brewed tea bags to the reddened skin can be beneficial and lessen the irritation.
Read More: 15 Best Green Tea Brands in the Market
Green tea, a natural herb, has several benefits, both by drinking and applying it topically on the skin’s surface. Even doctors and nutritionists suggest drinking green tea once daily to maintain body weight and glowing skin. But, when you think of applying it on the skin and around the eyes, it is better to test for allergies. Finally, if you want healthy and glowing skin, do not hesitate to use green tea as your beauty product. Also, please share the improvements you experienced on your skin after using green tea on your skin and face.
FAQ’s:
Q1. Can I Use Green Tea as a Skin Toner?
Ans: Yes, you can use green tea as your skin toner. Brew a green tea and let it cool. Take a clean cotton towel, dip it in the brewed tea, and massage gently on your face; the most effective toners you can use during the mornings and evenings.
Q2. How Can Green Tea be Used as a Face Scrub?
Ans: First, add a teaspoon of green tea leaves or a tea bag with an equal amount of your face wash. Mix it well until it looks like an exfoliating scrub. Gently apply the scrub to your face and rotate it in circular motions. Wash off thoroughly and pat dry.
