Green Tea + Skin = Happiness!

Green Tea or Matcha is a staple of Japanese cooking and often added to deserts used as a natural flavouring in savory dishes or supped at tea ceremonies.  It tastes great but we wanted to find out what makes is a “beauty” food.

• Antioxidants: Green tea is packed full of them with the most notable being epigallocatechin gallate which has been widely investigated for its cancer and HIV killing properties, its use as a weight loss aid and its ability to protect cells from UV.  However, it is important to note that these exciting benefits have only been found when the antioxidant was ingested rather than rubbed on the skin so for an antioxidant beauty boost drink this!
• Stimulants: Green tea is full of caffeine (in some cases it contains more than coffee), a chemical well-known for its stimulant effects.  Caffeine has been shown to work wonders on skin cancers in mice but one must remember that mice are not usually out sunbathing so human trials are required before we swap our SPF 30 for a flat white! Still this is encouraging and topically applied caffeine is often used to stimulate blood flow in the bid to reduce cellulite and give the skin a flushed look.
• Vitamins and Minerals: Green tea is also high in the skin friendly vitamins  C and E  both of which can help to fortify and strengthen the skin when applied topically.  Vitamin C is a great free radical scavenger meaning that it can act as a molecular vacuum cleaner by sucking up unwanted pollutants and the damage done by too much UV.  Vitamin E is a great skin builder and is easily absorbed as it is fat soluble. It protects the skin from within. Mineral wise green tea is rich in zinc which is an essential mineral with antioxidant properties that protect against premature ageing.

It looks like the best way to care for your skin with green tea is to drink it but then again a face mask may be fun – I am going out to grab some powdered green tea to play with. Check back for the You Tube video next week for some tips on how to indulge in a green tea facial!