Green Tea Benefits For Glowing, Supple Skin & How To Use It In Your Routine

What exactly makes the brew so special, and how can you incorporate it into your regimen? Here, your green tea guide for the skin. Drink up! 

Another review even found that drinking green tea (or applying it topically, which we'll get into later) helped inhibit UV-damage and oxidative stress3—both of which can lead to early signs of skin aging, like hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and fragile, crepey skin. 

As for matcha, green tea's jade-colored cousin, it's just as top-notch for skin—if not more so. It's grown in the shade, and the leaves are ground into a powder once harvested, which creates a more concentrated blend with a pea-green hue. In fact, one study found that matcha contained 137 times more EGCG than green tea4. Again, make sure to buy 100% pure and organic matcha if it's available to you, but it's a worthy sip for skin. 

Behold, green tea's batch of benefits:  

"Topical use of green tea reduces sebum production5, gets rid of oiliness, and protects against acne-causing bacteria," licensed acupuncturist Antonia Balfour, LAc (who specializes in skin care), once told mbg about the best teas for acne. In fact, one study found that a topical 2% green tea lotion was an effective treatment for mild to moderate acne6. (Some even swear by the supercharged tea to get rid of a pimple overnight!)

We discussed how consuming polyphenols from green tea had a protective effect on the skin, and studies found that topical application of polyphenols can help repair skin as well, protecting it from sun damage and even reversing signs of skin aging7 (like dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles). 

Again, green tea's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties are well documented, and it's these benefits that make it so wonderful for skin brightening and repair. 

"Green tea is anti-inflammatory for skin conditions such as rosacea," notes Bailey. "I've used it in my practice for years to help control rosacea, and it works well for even the most sensitive rosacea-prone complexions. Bathing in green tea8 has also been shown to soothe atopic eczema." 

Green tea contains caffeine (28.8 mg, to be exact; 70 mg for matcha), which can constrict blood vessels in your skin when applied topically. In turn, this can reduce inflammation and the swollen skin that tends to pair with it. "That's why green tea lotions used under the eyes can help with puffiness," board-certified dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo, M.D., FAAD, once told us about using caffeine in skin care. 

Of course, you should consult a derm if you're experiencing any reactions or if you think you may be extra sensitive to the effects of caffeine (especially if you slather a green tea lotion on larger surface areas). And while green tea does have some UV-protective properties, it shouldn't ever replace proper sunscreen. 

When it comes to DIY, the world is your oyster with green tea. You can always brew your cup, let the bag cool, and place it directly on your breakout or under-eye area for a few minutes. Or you can have some more fun with it: Feel free to whip up a green tea toner (find a recipe here) or this soothing matcha-oat face mask:  

Read our full instructions here.

There are so many reasons this potent sip continues to withstand the test of time. Whether you stick to a morning matcha or use green-tea-infused products, the supercharged tea is a worthy add to your skin care routine, in some form or another.