Matcha Tea: Healthier Skin With Every Sip
Matcha is one of the healthiest beverages on earth! This powdered green tea is rich in plant compounds that act as natural antioxidants. According to scientific evidence, antioxidants help stabilize harmful free radicals, which can damage your cells and cause chronic disease. Drinking matcha can soothe the nervous system, boost energy levels, help with a hormonal imbalance, improve heart health, reduce inflammation, and assist with weight loss.
No wonder Japanese culture has embraced matcha green tea since the 12th Century – it has even more health benefits than regular green tea! The health benefits of matcha are legendary!
But did you know that matcha tea is also an excellent addition to your skincare routine? This article will explore the skin benefits of matcha green tea is the perfect drink for improved skin health, and how you can sip your way to a glowing complexion.
What is Matcha?
Matcha is a type of green tea in powder form known for its incredible health benefits. It's made from the Camellia Sinensis plant and is one of the most popular teas in Japanese culture. You get it in different grades, including culinary grade and ceremonial grade.
Although all types of green tea leaves, black and white tea, are harvested from the Camellia Sinensis plant, they're not the same. Matcha tea leaves are grown in the shade. It stops photosynthesis, so the leaves produce more chlorophyll, resulting in the vibrant green color of matcha tea. After tea growers harvest the delicate leaves, they dry the harvest and grind it into a fine powder.
Because matcha tea is a powder, you're ingesting the entire leaf when you drink matcha green tea and not just an infusion of it in hot water. It makes the antioxidant content of matcha significantly higher than other teas.
Drinking Matcha Regularly For a Healthy Complexion
A healthy complexion starts from within with a balanced diet that provides various vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and antioxidants. These all help nourish our skin cells and protect them from oxidative stress. A high antioxidant content makes matcha green tea a great drink for radiant skin.
But that's not all. Here are the top five reasons matcha green tea is so popular in products in the skincare world and with people who know that healthy, glowing skin starts from within.
#1. It Helps Fight Premature Aging From Sun Exposure
Many factors cause aging skin, including oxidative stress and sun damage. Since matcha is rich in antioxidants, it helps to neutralize free radicals that cause oxidative stress, so it fights premature aging. Too much sun exposure can accelerate the aging process because ultraviolet radiation degrades the skin cells' DNA.
The high chlorophyll content of matcha gives this green tea powder its vibrant green color. But that's not all it's good for. In plants, chlorophyll absorbs these UV rays and converts them into nutrients. When skincare products contain chlorophyll, it works more or less the same. Chlorophyll helps combat premature aging because it protects the skin from damage from the sun's UV rays.
Chlorophyll is also nutrient-rich. It is a natural detoxifier that can help reduce skin inflammation and redness. So it will help protect skin from sun damage and draw out toxins and impurities, improving its overall health and promoting a glowing complexion.
#2. Matcha Soothes Inflammation
Inflammation happens when our cells try to fight off an attack. It could occur when the body is injured, experiencing an allergic response, or fighting illness. It is generally a sign that our bodies are trying to repair a problem and return to balance.
Matcha green tea contains Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), one of matcha's many polyphenols and catechins, and a potent anti-inflammatory. The anti-inflammatory properties of EGCG in matcha green tea help skin cells fight off the damage done by environmental pollutants, help reduce redness and soothe irritated skin.
#3. It Helps With Acne
Matcha is the perfect beverage to add to your beauty routine if you struggle with acne. Three things cause acne-prone skin:
Inflammation - This is when oxidative stress causes breakouts.
Excessive sebum production - Sebum is oils and fatty acids that moisturize your skin naturally. Androgens are hormones that can cause your skin to increase sebum production. When sebum production gets out of hand, it gets trapped in our pores and can turn into acne.
The P.acnes bacteria - This is the bacteria responsible for causing acne.
Matcha's anti-inflammatory properties help soothe inflamed skin during breakouts, while the chlorophyll in matcha helps cleanse the skin and removes toxins that clog the pores. The antibacterial properties of matcha green tea leaves help fight acne-causing bacteria, and the ECGC helps prevent oily skin because it binds with androgen receptors.
Because EGCG binds with androgen receptors, the EGCG content in matcha powder can help reduce sebum and prevent oily skin.
Matcha also contains the amino acid L-theanine, a potent stress reliever. Since stress plays a role in acne breakouts, this is yet another reason why matcha tea is excellent for skin health.
#4. The Caffeine in Matcha is Great For Glowing Skin
Matcha powder contains even more caffeine than regular tea leaves. Although it is a natural stimulant, the caffeine in matcha works with L-Theanine to give you relaxed alertness for six to eight hours.
You won't get an energy crash or caffeine jitters from matcha to enjoy the incredible health and skin benefits. Caffeine can help improve circulation, making your skin look brighter and firmer.
It also helps reduce puffiness and can help reduce dark circles under the eyes. There's a good reason behind the old beauty trick of putting used tea bags on your eyes! But you don't have to do that to get all the amazing benefits for your skin. Making matcha green tea and enjoying a delicious cup of it works even better.
#5. Matcha Green Tea Promotes Blood Flow
Matcha contains various methylxanthines that help widen blood vessels and improve blood flow to the skin's surface. Caffeine is one of them, but there are more! Improved blood flow has excellent skin benefits. It helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to the skin while carrying away waste products.
With improved circulation, you'll have brighter, glowing skin. Better blood flow also promotes healing, so if you have skin damage, it could heal quicker. Adding matcha tea to your beauty routine is a healthy and tasty way to better skin health.
Besides helping with EGCG also stimulates your immune system; it can help with psoriasis, an itchy and uncomfortable skin condition where your immune system attacks the skin.
How to Use Matcha Green Tea for Healthy Skin
Now that you've learned about all the incredible benefits of matcha for your skin, let's dive into the best ways to use matcha powder for healthy skin. You can drink it or use a matcha face mask directly on your skin.
We LOVE tea - and matcha green tea is one of our favorite types. Our premium-quality matcha tea and accessories collection is the perfect way to include matcha in your daily beauty routine.
If you need a little extra tender care for your skin or simply love matcha the way we do and can't get enough of it, you can make a matcha face mask. Here are some ideas:
Mix two tablespoons of matcha powder with a tablespoon of raw honey and a tablespoon of coconut oil for an anti-aging matcha face mask. Apply the paste to your face and neck, and leave it for 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.
To get the acne-busting benefits of matcha, make your matcha mask with two tablespoons of matcha powder, a tablespoon of lemon juice, and a tablespoon of yogurt. Apply the paste to your face and neck, and leave it for 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.
To soothe dry or irritated skin, mix equal parts matcha powder and coconut oil, smooth it on, relax for 15 minutes, and then wash it off with warm water.
Mix a tablespoon of matcha powder with a quarter cup of coconut and half a cup of sugar for an exfoliating matcha face scrub. Gently scrub your face with the mixture and rinse it with warm water.
Although matcha face masks and matcha scrubs are excellent for skin health, it's always better to drink matcha tea too. Matcha powder is made by grinding up the whole leaf, so when you drink it, you consume the whole leaf and not just an infusion made by steeping the green tea leaves in hot water.
You can have matcha hot or cold or mix your prepared matcha tea into your favorite smoothie recipe. It's the best way to get all those wonderful antioxidants into your system. You'll also enjoy other incredible side effects like sustained energy, improved health, and even healthy and sustainable weight loss!
Sip Your Way to Healthy Skin
The benefits of matcha for skin health are many! It's rich in antioxidants and nutrients and contains compounds that can help you with all kinds of skin problems. From dry or irritated skin to acne-prone skin - all skin types can benefit from the incredible health benefits of matcha. It can even help with premature aging and psoriasis - AND give you a healthy glow!
Matcha contains polyphenols and catechins like ECGC, which can help reduce a hormonal imbalance that could lead to inflammation and other skin problems. It can also protect the skin from UV rays and boost blood flow. It's a phenomenal skincare product that's also a delicious beverage.
Whether you make a matcha face mask or enjoy a few cups of earthy and delicious matcha green tea as part of your daily routine, your skin will thank you for a healthy, glowing complexion!
