What comes to your mind when we say green tea? Perhaps a healthy evening drink that you’re specially taking to manage your weight loss regime. We’ve always associated green tea with healthy habits and weight loss. Did you know that this aromatic beverage is also great for your skin and hair?
Yes, true.
But before we delve into the hows and whys of green tea being good for your skin and hair, let’s get some background information about this beverage.
All types of tea are made from the green leaves of tea plant that’s scientifically known as Camellia sinensis. The difference lies in the curing process. The green leaf and bud of the plant are steamed at high temperatures. This steaming process stops oxidation of the leaves and retain the green colour and its fresh and pungent aroma. The leaves are then dried in shade and packed.
This kind of curing process helps retain the levels of antioxidants, polyphenols and other nutrients present in the tea leaves. The green tea flavour is vastly different from the black tea flavour.
Drinking green tea is definitely good for your skin and hair. The best time to drink green tea for a bright and glowing skin is in the morning between 10.00 am and 11.00 am. You can swap your usual morning tea with green tea. You can also drink green tea between meals, before your exercise routine or a couple of hours before bedtime.
You can also directly apply paste or green tea extract on your skin and hair to get better and more visible results.
Benefits of green tea for skin
- Green tea contains epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a biochemical agent that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It helps fight skin infections, dermatitis and candidiasis.
- Studies have shown that drinking green tea regularly helps slow down changes on the skin due to aging.
- Vitamin B2 helps maintain the firmness of the skin.
- Vitamin E stimulates generation of new cells to make the skin soft and look young.
- Green tea also hydrates the skin and balances oil production on the skin.
- Tannic acid in tea is helpful in treating blemishes and mild sunburns.
How can you use green tea for improving skin complexion?
There are lots of masks, facials and other products that you can make at home using green tea. A few simple recipes for you.
Green tea steam facial
The secret to glowing skin is a tea facial.
You will need
2 or 3 green tea bags or equal amount of dried green tea leaves
4 cups of water
- Wash your face before you start the steam facial
- Boil water and pour in a large bowl or a steamer, if you have one
- Use an old bedsheet or a large towel to create a tent over the large bowl of steaming hot water
- Add the dried tea leaves and let it steep
- Bend over the bowl so the steam rises to your face
- Stay under the tent for about 10 minutes, if you find it difficult to breathe, stop sooner
- Gently pat your face dry with a soft cloth
Green tea toner
This natural skin toner helps maintain your skin’s natural elasticity and suppleness.
You will need
Lemon juice – 2 to 3 teaspoons
A bowl of water
One or two green tea bags or equal amount of dried green tea leaves
Vitamin E oil – 4 to 5 drops
Tea tree oil – 1 to 2 drops
- Let the tea leaves steep in the boiling water for a few minutes and let it cool
- Filter the water
- Add the remaining ingredients
- Pour it into a bottle
Green tea scrub
Don’t throw away the used tea bags or filtered green tea leaves. You can use them to prepare a homemade scrub. Dry the used tea leaves in shade and use them as a scrub to exfoliate the dead cells and remove dirt and grime from the skin. Remember to moisturise your skin after scrubbing it with tea leaves.
Green tea for skin whitening
Green tea is loaded with vitamin E, vitamin B2, antioxidants, polyphenols and plenty of nutrients. The antioxidants combat free radicals and detoxify your skin. Drinking green tea every day helps reduce skin pigmentation and the effects of the harmful UV rays. Green tea helps in skin whitening by making it healthy from the inside.
Conclusion
Green tea is rich in nutrients and antioxidants that are good for your body, hair and skin. Start drinking green tea, preferably with honey rather than sugar as a sweetener, every day. You can also use green tea to prepare skincare and hair care products at home. This natural product is good for you and the environment.