Top 6 Benefits of Green Tea for Skin

We’re in a committed relationship with green tea: a superstar ingredient with major benefits for skin and health. Sure, it’s been one of the world’s most popular beverages for centuries – but it’s still relatively new to skin care and beauty.

Let’s shine a spotlight on the many green tea benefits for skin, and how to use it effectively for maximum glow.

First, let’s talk about the origins of green tea. In the 7th century, Japanese monks visiting China to study Zen Buddhism returned home with their new discovery of green tea’s wonderful healing properties. In the following centuries, drinking green tea became a staple for Japanese monks, imbuing them with energy and mental focus that enhanced their meditation.

Today, green tea has developed a shining reputation for its high levels of antioxidants. But that’s not its only star quality; green tea health benefits also include detoxing, calming inflammation, and an ability to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol.

While these impressive green tea health benefits can be enjoyed by simply drinking it, applying green tea on skin also has its perks. Let’s cover the six top reasons to use green tea for skin!

1. Green tea fights skin cancer by promoting DNA repair. It contains a powerful antioxidant called EGCG, which fights DNA damage from UV rays to prevent skin cancer. That means green tea for skin also a potent anti-aging ingredient that combats signs of premature aging when ingested or applied topically.

2. Green tea has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, thanks to its high content of polyphenols called catechins. The catechins in green tea reduce irritation, redness, and swelling. Throw on a Green Tea Water Bomb Mask for a pampering way to enjoy the benefits of green tea for skin. This intensely hydrating face mask can reduce redness and soothe the skin.

3. Green tea is a powerful antibacterial agent for treating acne and unclogging pores. Polyphenols in green tea damage bacterial membranes and fight against infection, meaning that it’s a useful tool for treating the bacterial growth that causes acne. It helps kill systemic bacterial inflammation for calm, clear skin.

4. Green tea is chock full of vitamin B2 and vitamin E, both essential for skin health. B2 plays an essential role in maintaining collagen levels for youthful skin structure and firmness. Vitamin E supports new skin cell growth and also acts as an intense hydrator for dry or imbalanced skin.

5. Caffeine and tannins in green tea help shrink blood vessels around the eyes, making it a miracle for treating puffy eyes and dark circles. Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream is packed with green tea and coffee, for powerful skin depuffing and brightening action.

6. The benefits of green tea for skin expand to your hair, too! Green tea leaf fibers are proven to stimulate hair growth, as catechins and polyphenols stimulate cell turnover in hair follicles. We feature green tea fiber in our celebrated Green Tea Fiber Brow Builder, which fans cheekily refer to as “hair extensions for your eyebrows.”

Antioxidants are a powerful piece in the anti-aging puzzle, because they work to reduce inflammation and free radicals that accelerate skin aging. Green tea is a particularly valuable ingredient when it comes to antioxidants, because it contains EGCG: a compound that counters the effects of pollution, sun damage, and chemicals.

To reap the benefits of green tea for skin, stick to a targeted skin care routine to powerfully counteract cellular damage, and reinforce your skin’s natural ability to defend itself. We’ve laid out a green tea routine to get you started! And if you want to reap the benefits of green tea for the skin on your whole body, check out our guide on how to make a matcha bath!

Step 1: Cleanse

When it comes to cleansing with green tea, you have lots of options. The key benefit from them all is a blend of redness control, toning power, and removal of environmental impurities. Check out your options for green tea cleansers:

• Matcha Cleansing Balm | Ideal for removing heavy makeup, sunscreen, or debris. This concentrated formula is made with matcha green tea, meaning it will help with redness while the added benefit of being extra gentle for dry, sunburned, or sensitive skin.

• Green Tea Cloud Foam Cleanser | Ideal for light to medium cleansing, this richly foaming cleanser is one of your more hydrating options when it comes to green tea for skin. Aloe vera juice and floral hydrosols replenish thirsty skin, while green tea and white tea tone the complexion for a renewed glow.

• Matcha Oat Face Scrub | Ideal for deep cleansing or double cleansing. Scrubby texture removes deep-set debris, buffs away dry patches, and maintains a toned complexion without redness.

Step 2: Tone

Continue your skin care lineup with our Fermented Rice Water Toner, which complements the many benefits of green tea for skin. A super nutrient-dense formula combines the skin plumping properties of hyaluronic acid with antioxidants provided by sake. This is a toner that’s been specifically designed to deeply soften, nourish, and brighten your complexion. The concentration of natural ingredients helps to lessen dark spots to give you a healthier glow.

Step 3: Mask

To double down on redness reduction or antioxidant defense, it’s necessary to cycle in a green tea face mask once in a while! While our Green Tea Water Bomb Mask delivers a juicy shot of hydration and green tea benefits, our Matcha Oat Milk Nourishing Mask takes things a step further.

This ultra concentrated mask is, at its core, essentially pure matcha green tea powder. Its rich green color indicates its potency, as only the purest Japanese matcha will have a vibrant green color. Polyphenols target free radical and UV damage, while colloidal oatmeal and hyaluronic acid boost moisture in the skin. The result is a smoother, plumper complexion after every use.

Step 4: Enrich

Now it’s time for deep penetration of our star ingredient green tea, courtesy of a concentrated serum treatment! Our nutrient-dense Green Tea EGCG Concentrate Serum was designed to soften skin while defending against environmental damage. This natural facial serum works overtime to target and neutralize free radicals and pollutants, which can damage the skin over time.

PRO TIP: Why do you apply serum before moisturizer? The molecules are smaller than a moisturizer, so your serum can easily penetrate deeper layers of your skin, helping to hydrate and protect more effectively.

Step 5: Moisturize

Finish your full green tea for skin care routine with a kiss of moisture. The best-selling Green Tea EGCG Concentrate Cream harnesses green tea oil, yerba mate, olive squalane, and rooibos tea to counteract sun damage and toxins. Its medium weight texture makes it popular for pretty much any skin type, and a light herbal scent keeps skin and senses refreshed.

Interested in more beauty tips for soothing sun damage or tackling signs of aging? Check out the following beauty blogs for more tips:

• All About Aging and Mature Skin

• Tips for Managing Melasma

• How Is Pollution Damaging Your Skin?

• One Anti-Aging Serum to Rule Them All

• Identifying the Signs of Sun Damage

• Our Go-To Anti-Aging Facial