Green Tea
Made from the lightly steamed fresh leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, green tea has been used for medicinal purposes in some parts of the world for thousands of years.
The benefits of green tea range from boosting brain function to promoting weight loss. But green tea doesn’t only have properties that improve the mind and body. It can also benefit the skin, which is why it’s often included as an ingredient in many types of beauty products.
Benefits of Green Tea
1. Psoriasis Treatment
Dry, flaky skin isn’t something anyone wants to deal with, but research shows that the active ingredients in green tea have great potential for fighting off skin disorders like psoriasis. A 2007 study found that an extract made from tea had the power to remove the signs of the inflammatory disease in animals, and preliminary evidence shows that it works for humans, too.
2. Reduced Inflammation
The natural antioxidants found in green tea can go a long way towards fighting inflammation. A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association of Dermatology found that the anti-inflammatory potential in green tea has the potential for fighting off a variety of skin disorders. In fact, the report notes that adding green tea to skincare products might have more benefits for skin disorders than the research currently reveals.
3. Slows Down Aging
Few people enjoy looking older, and preliminary evidence shows that the antioxidants in green tea may slow down the march of time, at least regarding your skin appearance. The catechin EGCG is especially beneficial, as research has found that it can reactivate dying skin cells. Though these benefits can only affect your outermost layer of skin, it still makes a profound difference in the formation of wrinkles and age spots caused by free radical damage.
4. Reduce Oiliness in Skin
Is green tea good for acne? The bitter, astringent taste in green tea comes from the tannins it contains. These compounds can shrink your pores and reduce your sebum (natural skin oil) production. This leads to a less oily complexion without the harshness of chemical ingredients in most commercial products. Does green tea really work for oily skin? One study found that using products with just three percent green tea extract led to a 70 percent reduction in sebum production! This means that green tea is the best tea for skin complexion benefits.
5. Better Sun Protection
As it turns out, drinking green tea might protect your skin from sun damage. Really. Drinking the equivalent of one to two cups of green tea a day can reduce the inflammation of irritation caused by too much sun exposure, likely because of the tea’s anti-inflammatory properties. Using tea topically can also make a difference, so don’t be stringy with applying a green tea-based lotion.
6. Less Acne and Blackheads
When used topically, green tea can make a profound difference in the presence of acne and blackheads.
7. Gently Exfoliates
Dried green tea leaves have a slightly abrasive texture. This means that you can use them as a homemade facial scrub to eliminate the dead, rough skin cells on your face, as well as any excess oil and pollutants that it contains.