It’s Not Just For Sipping: Try Matcha Tea Skincare!
We’re not just drinking tea anymore, we’re using it on our skin! Read on and discover the amazing benefits of Matcha Tea for your skin.
If you’ve recently become obsessed with those milky green matcha lattes (yum!) get ready to fall in love all over again. This week we want to highlight the skin-beautifying benefits of Matcha Tea. Finely ground green tea leaves (aka matcha) have been an important part of Japanese tea ceremonies for centuries. Today, however, you can find this ingredient in drinks, desserts, and now in skincare products.
You may already be familiar with the benefits of drinking matcha tea (antioxidants, smooth energy, etc.), but using this ingredient ON your skin has some surprising benefits. Keep reading and learn all about the amazing benefits of Matcha Tea for your skin!
Matcha Tea Is Packed With Beneficial EGCG!
Matcha tea is jam-packed with beneficial compounds, which is why people have been drinking it for so long! It’s high in antioxidants, chlorophyll, amino acids, and a surprising amount of vitamins. Arguably one of the most important compounds it includes is EGCG. Short for epigallocatechin gallate, EGCG is what’s known as a catechin. These are phenolic compounds found in tea, cocoa, and even some berries. The reason catechins are so important is because they’re potent antioxidants.
Antioxidants are fabulous because they combat free radicals (those pesky little things that can cause cell damage and early signs of aging). EGCG can do a lot more than that though. It’s also been associated with reduced inflammation, a healthier metabolism, and even improved neurological function.
All of that sounds great, but if you get those benefits from drinking matcha tea, what happens when you apply it to your face?
Matcha Tea Helps Protect Skin From Sun Damage and Photoaging
The vibrant green color in matcha comes from chlorophyll. Plants require chlorophyll for photosynthesis (the process by which they transform sunlight into energy), but it has some surprising benefits for us too. Hint--it also has to do with sunlight. While we wouldn’t recommend skipping your sunscreen, the chlorophyll in matcha tea can actually absorb sunlight to help protect your skin from UV rays. It’s also full of skin-protecting antioxidants and Vitamins A, C, E, and K. If you couldn’t tell, chlorophyll is kind of an overachiever.
We’re not here to throw shade though. We STAN chlorophyll because it gives our skin access to some much-needed nutrients. All those vitamins help prevent fine lines, dark spots, and they even help your skin stay moisturized for a smoother, less rough complexion. Plus, it also helps to protect our skin from further damage by creating a barrier to block pollutants from the environment. Yes, please!
Matcha Tea Is A Powerful Anti-Inflammatory
Whether your skin is overly sensitive, prone to eczema, or if you’re dealing with skin allergies, matcha tea is great at soothing inflammation and irritation.
Green tea (the kind that’s infused into water instead of concentrated into a powder) is a powerful anti-inflammatory because of its EGCG, other compounds like kaempferol, and high levels of L-theanine. This is what helps green tea modulate inflammatory biomarkers to reduce inflammation. Since matcha tea includes the entire tea leaf, it has even MORE of these benefits!
Matcha Tea Helps Combat Acne (Even Hormonal Acne!)
While you can get many of the skin benefits of matcha tea from topical application and drinking, this is one of those benefits that’s easier with the former. Using skincare products with matcha tea helps to soothe acne-prone skin and reduce blemishes. Remember how we just mentioned EGCG? Well, we’re not done. It’s also a great anti-bacterial and an antibiotic.
Acne is primarily caused by inflammation, excess oil production, and plain ol’ bacteria. The anti-inflammatory properties of EGCG help soothe inflamed skin, and then its anti-bacterial properties REALLY get to work. Once the inflammation subsides, it’s easier for your skincare products to absorb deeply into the pores. This is particularly important for acne-prone skin where excess oil production can sometimes trap bacteria and cause breakouts.
In this case, matcha absorbs into your skin to actually reduce excess sebum production. Some studies have shown that EGCG may bind to receptors for specific hormones that regulate sebum production. This is GREAT news for anyone with hormonal acne! If you can find a matcha tea-infused product that also includes some type of gentle exfoliant, you’ll be well on your way to clean, clear, and smooth skin (Peep our Karmic Cleanse below!).
The Vitamin K in Matcha Tea Can Promote Healthier Circulation
Vitamin K is one of those unsung vitamins. We need it every day for our overall health, but it’s often overshadowed by Vitamin C or D (which are, admittedly, pretty important). Well, for every 2 grams of matcha tea there is roughly 60mcg of Vitamin K. And while the exact amount of Vitamin K you need depends on several factors, adult women usually need around 90mcg every day. But what exactly do we need it for?
When we eat Vitamin K dense foods or supplements, it helps promote wound healing, blood clotting, and it supports healthy bones. For example, if you’re deficient in Vitamin K, you may bruise easier. However, if you use topical products with Vitamin K (like products with matcha tea), you may benefit from increased circulation. The better your circulation is, the more oxygen for your skin. And trust us, you definitely want more oxygen for your skin.
Poor circulation can lead to pigmentation, dryness, acne, and an overall dull complexion. When our circulation isn’t strong, it’s harder for your skin to absorb nutrients and to rid itself of toxins and/or damaged cells. Luckily, Vitamin K can help resolve this to provide several important benefits--a brighter and smoother complexion, better product absorption, less puffy eyes, and even reduced dark undereye circles.
Matcha Curious? Try Our Karmic Cleanse!
We were so obsessed with this fabulous ingredient that we made it a MAJOR part of our Karmic Cleanse Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser. Can you blame us? We wanted a multi-functional cleanser that did it all. That means cleansing and exfoliating without stripping moisture, plus a shot of nutrition for that all-day glow. To do that, we needed an all-star team of ingredients.
To complement the absolute rockstar list of benefits in Matcha Tea, we added Fruit Enzymes and French Green Clay to rid your skin of dead cells and absorb toxins. Ground hemp stalk and CBD help to polish skin and promote balance while crushed Jade gives you and your skin a healthy hit of good vibrations. Basically, it’s the complexion-brightening, skin purifying, age-defying cleanser of our dreams!
Plus, since it’s a powder, YOU get to control the level of exfoliation. Need a deeper clean? Add less water and gently scrub. Want a more delicate experience? Add enough water until you can easily smooth the cleanser across your skin.
Try Matcha Tea For Some Much-Needed Zen
Whether you’re frothing up a vibrant Matcha Latte or smoothing on some Matcha Tea skincare, prepare to get blown away by the beautifying benefits of this phenomenal ingredient.
Don’t forget to follow us for all the latest updates. Plus, tag us in your Fifth & Root product reviews, hauls, and shelfies for a chance to be featured on one of our stories!