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Green Tea for Skin Benefits are Multi-Faceted
Recent scientific studies have indicated that green tea for skin benefits in skin care are significant and can help ward off skin cancer, the signs of aging, and many other benefits.
We all probably have heard by now that green tea for skin benefits in general are excellent for protecting our bodies against cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis, as well as aid in weight loss.
Green tea can lower our blood pressure, provide important antioxidants, and stoke our metabolism.
Green tea is derived from the leaves and buds of the tea plant Camellia sinensis. As a bit of an overachiever, green tea is both protective and corrective and available in a wide range of formulations and products for the skin.
It's impossible to walk into a cosmetics store these days without bumping into a product containing green tea. Below, you'll find some easy do it yourself style recipes to help you get acquainted with green tea as a skin care ingredient.
But what is beauty without substance? Here’s a brief recap of how green tea came to be in our lives.
One of our top selling products is our Customizable Cleansing Bar, which can include green tea if you choose that formulation.
The History of Green Tea & It's Benefits
The origination of green tea began in China tracing all the way back to 2737 B.C.
The discovery occurred by accident when the Chinese Emperor Shennong mistakenly drank water that had a dead tea leaf boiled in it. Emperor Shennong found the flavor incredibly refreshing and thus, a new beverage was created.
Green tea was primarily available to the highest tiers of Chinese society and was very expensive to purchase. It was not until the 14th century that green tea became accessible to the general public for enjoyment and medicinal purposes.
The highly-favored green tea eventually traveled West in the 19th century by European explorers. Due to its incredible flavor, it was a huge commodity and became Great Britain's national beverage, along with black tea. Soon after, green tea made its grand appearance on America when it shipped overseas with the settlers.
Fun fact: green tea was called "bullet tea" because it resembled the shape of bullets when shipped. The colonists quickly obsessed over the tea and it became so popular that Parliament imposed a Tea Tax in 1767.
As we all know from our history books, the colonists were quite upset, and the Boston Tea Party took place. As a result, 45 tons of precious green tea was dumped into the harbor.
Now onto other important matters – how does green tea improve our skin?
One of Green Tea's Superpowers: Polyphenols
Polyphenols are naturally occurring chemicals derived from plants, fruits, nuts, and vegetables. They have been proven to have many beneficial health benefits. Being widely abundant and relatively inexpensive, the use of polyphenols is highly attractive to researchers as a strategy for a cost-effective alternative to current pharmacologic therapeutics.
Tea is an important dietary source of plant polyphenols and next to water it is the second most commonly consumed beverage in the world. It is produced mainly from a single plant species Camellia sinensis.
The tea plant originated in Southeast Asia over 4,000 years ago and is currently produced in over 35 countries with China, India, Sri Lanka, and Kenya generating three-quarters of the world's production.
Green Tea for Skin Benefits
Catechins are natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and provide other benefits. Green tea contains a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).
These substances can reduce the formation of free radicals in the body, protecting cells and molecules from damage. These free radicals play a role in aging and many types of diseases.
EGCG is one of the most powerful compounds in green tea. Research has tested its ability to help treat various diseases. It appears to be one of the main compounds that gives green tea its medicinal properties.
Applying green tea and green tea extract to the skin can help protect those cells.
3 Top Green Tea for Skin Benefits
1. Protects the skin: As an antioxidant that scavenges free radicals caused by environmental stressors like UV radiation and pollution. It's a logical choice to add to any anti-aging skincare regimen to protect the skin. Green adds that EGCG has the ability to fight off DNA damage in skin cells by promoting DNA repair.
2. Minimizes signs aging: Green tea can reduce the signs of sun damage, such as hyperpigmentation, rough texture, and fine lines. It can protect the skin from inflammation, allowing it to create collagen as it normally would do, without interferences that come with being exposed to the environment and aging.
3. Reduces excess sebum: Its ability to reduce sebum coupled with its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties makes the ingredient suitable for patients suffering from acne and those with oily complexions.
Soothes the skin: Because green tea can reduce inflammation in skin, it helps tamp down conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff. It allows us to more easily control and minimize the effects of these kinds of inflammatory situations.
One of our top selling products is our Customizable Cleansing Bar, which can include green tea if you choose that formulation.
5 Easy Green Tea DIY Ideas for Skin
As a cleanser: Mix 2 T. of green tea with 1 T. of honey for a quick, nourishing, gentle cleanser.
As a toner: Pour green tea into a clean spray bottle and spritz your face anytime you need a pick me up and a gentle dose of antioxidants.
As a mask for acne prone skin: Mix 1 t. green tea leaves with 2 T. honey and apply to skin. Leave on for 20 minutes and then rinse off.
Eye care / puffy eyes: Allow two wet tea bags to cool in freezer. Apply to eyes for 10 minutes.
Facial steam treatment: 2 cups of boiled water and 1 tea bags. Place face over water and tea mixture at a comfortable distance, and drape a towel over your face to retain steam for a few minutes.
One of our top selling products is our Customizable Cleansing Bar, which can include green tea if you choose that formulation:
Conclusion
Green tea is one of our top skin care ingredients when we want to help give skin that extra edge of power to combat inflammation, acne, and the effects of aging. We love it and know you will too.
