6 Health Benefits of Green Tea for Skin

Are you drinking enough green tea?

We have all heard about the numerous benefits of drinking green tea, but with so many new superfood trends, it can be hard to keep track of what is actually effective and useful.

Here are six practical ways in which green tea can be an extremely beneficial part of your diet and routine. Put on the kettle and get to reading!

Let’s start with some background. Quality green tea is packed with antioxidants, essential amino acids and beneficial phytochemicals like polyphenols – all of which produce a number of health benefits if drunk regularly. When it comes to skin care, what you put into your body is just as important as what you put on it – and green tea has a number of health benefits for your skin, which can help to improve your complexion and even serve to delay signs of skin aging. It is also a great ingredient to include within skin care products.

Green Tea Can Slow Down Signs of Aging

Green tea contains a catechin called EGCG, which can help to limit the damage caused by free radicals and even reactivate dying skin cells! This can help to lessen the intensity of age spots and delay the onset of fine lines and wrinkles.

Green Tea Can Help to Protect Against Sun Damage

Drinking just one or two cups of green tea every day can reduce skin irritation and inflammation, which can be caused by too much sun exposure. Whilst it won’t protect you from sunburn, (you should continue to use SPF, and avoid the sun during peak periods!) it can reduce the damage caused by sunburn, by calming the skin and helping to soothe soreness and irritation. Applied topically, cool green tea also makes for a gentle after sun balm.

Green Tea Can Reduce Breakouts and Acne

Green tea has natural antimicrobial and astringent properties, as well as producing an anti-inflammatory effect that can reduce the redness and inflammation that often accompanies spots and acne. Drinking green tea regularly can help to reduce the appearance and irritation of acne breakouts, and choosing skin care products that contain green tea such as facial washes and moisturisers can all help to calm, soothe, and clear the skin.

Green Tea Can Reduce Dark Circles and Puffy Eyes

Drinking green tea can give the delicate skin around your eyes a real boost, as it helps to neutralise free radicals and stimulate cell growth to keep your eyes looking bright and fresh. Need instant relief? You can also apply green tea topically to instantly soothe sore, puffy eyes and minimize the appearance of dark circles. Soaking some cotton wool pads in chilled green tea and placing them over your eyes for a few minutes while you relax. The naturally occurring caffeine in green tea serves to shrink the blood vessels around the eyes, reducing dilation and produces a gentle tightening effect.

Green Tea Is A Natural Toner

The lightly astringent, clarifying, and nourishing properties of green tea make it one of nature’s most effective skin toners, particularly for people who suffer from oily skin or who are prone to breakouts. Used regularly, it will help to keep your skin hydrated and nourished without blocking the pores or stripping the skin of its natural oils.

A Gentle Facial Exfoliant

If you brew your own green leaf tea at home, the slightly abrasive texture of the leaves themselves makes them an excellent ingredient to use within a natural homemade facial scrub. Making up your own gentle natural exfoliant with green tea leaves can help to slough away rough skin and excess oil, while nourishing your skin and giving it a natural hit of pure antioxidants.