How to Combat Skin Aging with Green Tea

When it comes to green tea, many adore its gentle aroma, unique taste, and remarkable benefits. Among these is its ability to combat aging, keeping the skin supple, luminous, and vibrant. However, harnessing green tea’s anti-aging prowess requires the right approach and technique. If you’re unsure about these, allow us to clarify for you.

Is combating skin aging with green tea effective?

Combatting skin aging with green tea is one of the highly effective beauty methods favored by Asian women. Its rich antioxidants are the key factor behind this efficacy.

Our bodies utilize oxygen to sustain life activities, while free radicals are naturally produced in this process. These radicals damage skin cells, leading to wrinkles and loss of elasticity. Fortunately, green tea’s antioxidants, particularly a group of biological compounds called polyphenols, neutralize these harmful factors.

A small group of polyphenols known as catechins (with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) being the most potent) are highly regarded for their ability to absorb free radicals, rendering them less harmful. Experts suggest supplementing with 300-400mg of polyphenols daily to reduce age spots, ensure even skin tone, and enhance protection against UV rays.

Green tea is also a natural sebum regulator, antibacterial agent, and detoxifier for the skin. Applying green tea extract topically or consuming it as a beverage can contribute to reducing the risk of skin cancer. According to the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, applying green tea to the skin before using benzoyl peroxide can enhance the skin’s protection against tumors.

When to use green tea for combating skin aging?

For those with dull, dry, or sagging skin with wrinkles, using green tea for anti-aging is exceptionally beneficial. How does green tea’s active compounds address these skin concerns?

Dull Skin:

EGCG in green tea is renowned for its highly effective skin-lightening properties by inhibiting tyrosinase. This enzyme, found in skin cells, triggers melanin production, causing skin darkening.

Increased pigmentation is also a factor in dull skin. Green tea’s anti-inflammatory and strong antioxidant properties can help eliminate hyperpigmentation by preventing excess melanin production and removing dark spots on the skin.

A 2009 scientific review demonstrated that green tea extract can reduce the appearance of skin pigmentation and mitigate the effects of sunburn by lightening affected areas.

Dry Skin:

For those seeking to improve dry skin, using green tea is worth trying. This ingredient is known to be a rich source of various vitamins and essential minerals. It contains vitamins A, E, and L-Theanine, which help moisturize and nourish the skin.

Green tea extract works well on both oily and dry skin, helping control oil while preventing dryness. Therefore, applying a green tea mask or drinking green tea daily can help you achieve soft, radiant skin.

Sagging Skin and Wrinkles:

One of the factors leading to sagging skin and wrinkles is DNA damage to cells caused by free radicals. Fortunately, with its high polyphenol concentration, green tea can provide potent antioxidant properties, combating aging caused by sunlight and reducing the likelihood of sagging and wrinkles.

Green tea also contains plenty of vitamin E and vitamin B—two essential compounds for healthy skin. Vitamin E promotes cell regeneration and hydration for the skin. Meanwhile, vitamin B participates in the natural collagen production process in the body. This is a crucial nutrient for improving sagging skin and existing wrinkles.

What other benefits does green tea have besides anti-aging?

Besides its anti-aging properties, green tea offers a range of other benefits for the skin:

• Dandruff reduction: EGCG in green tea promotes hair growth by stimulating skin cells in hair follicles. Polyphenols accelerate cell turnover, restoring damaged hair follicles.
• Treatment for oily skin: Tannins in green tea act as a natural astringent, shrinking pores and regulating sebum production.
• Effective acne treatment: Green tea’s pore-tightening and cleansing properties help eliminate blackheads, whiteheads, reduce rough spots, and pimples.
• Exfoliation: Dried green tea leaves have a gentle exfoliating texture, removing dead skin cells. Its antioxidants also help remove excess oil and dirt from the skin surface.
• Reducing eye bags and redness: Caffeine and tannins in green tea constrict blood vessels, reducing puffiness and dark circles under the eyes.
• Protecting skin from sunlight: Green tea increases the concentration of benzoic acid, an essential compound used to treat skin irritation, minimize age spots, and shield the skin from UV damage.

How to Use Green Tea to Combat Skin Aging?

Whether you have dry or oily skin, here are 6 ways to use green tea to combat skin aging as part of your daily skincare routine:

Gentle cleansing with green tea

Green tea extracts are widely used in formulating skincare products. A gentle green tea facial cleanser is one of them. The cleansing formula from green tea comes in various forms, combined with different ingredients.
To achieve the best results, choose a product suitable for your skin type. Cleansing your face twice a day, in the morning and evening, is also essential for combating skin aging.

Exfoliation with green tea

With used green tea bags, you can keep the tea leaves and create your own exfoliating formula. Green tea leaves combined with a bit of sugar or honey, lemon juice also help clean your pores.
To achieve the best results, exfoliate your skin only twice a week (for oily skin) or once a week (for dry skin). Lastly, don’t forget to continue moisturizing and caring for your skin.

Green tea face mask

Revitalize your skin in just a few minutes with a green tea face mask, an essential step in combating skin aging. While wearing the mask, the essence has time to deeply penetrate the epidermis layer, rejuvenating and nourishing skin cells.
To achieve the best results, apply the face mask two or three times a week. Don’t forget to choose the right anti-aging green tea mask formula for your skin.

Toning with green tea

After completing the initial steps of skin aging prevention, don’t forget to use toner before proceeding to the next steps. Green tea toner is often combined with hyaluronic acid and other caring ingredients to maximize skin hydration.

Anti-aging serum from green tea

Green tea serum helps reduce visible signs of aging such as wrinkles, fine lines, while repairing oxidative damage at the cellular level. To achieve the best results, apply the green tea anti-aging serum after using treatment products and before moisturizing.

Moisturizing with green tea

A green tea moisturizer will soothe the skin, provide moisture without increasing sebum production. This is also the final step, concluding the process of combating skin aging with green tea at night.

How to Supplement Green Tea for the Body?

Do you admire the youthful skin of Japanese women? Whether in their youth or entering middle age, their skin remains healthy. Did you know that one way to achieve this is by supplementing green tea into your daily routine?

Using Green Tea Face Masks

Applying a green tea powder face mask is a beloved anti-aging method among women. Let Love Connection suggest some green tea supplementation formulas for anti-aging face masks.

Green tea and rice powder for brightening skin:

• Create a mask mixture from 2 teaspoons of green tea powder, 1 teaspoon of rice powder, and 1 teaspoon of honey.
• Cleanse your face with warm water, then apply the mixture to your face and let it dry.
• Rinse your face with cool water, using circular motions and gentle tapping to massage.

Green tea, lemon juice, and honey for hydrating the skin:

• Make a mixture of 1 teaspoon of green tea powder, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, and 2 teaspoons of honey.
• Add 3 drops of vitamin E to the mixture, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and a sufficient amount of rose water.
• Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray it on your skin after washing your face as a toner.
• Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks and shake well before each use.

Green tea, pomegranate, aloe vera gel, and cornstarch for rejuvenating the skin:

• Create a mixture of 4 teaspoons of green tea powder, 2 teaspoons of pure pomegranate juice, 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel, and ½ teaspoon of cornstarch.
• Cleanse your face with warm water, then apply the mixture to your face and let it dry.
• Rinse your face with cool water, using circular motions and gentle tapping to massage.

Green tea, turmeric powder, and fresh milk for reducing dark spots:

• Make a face mask mixture from 2 teaspoons of green tea powder, ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder, and 1 teaspoon of fresh milk.
• You can also add 2 teaspoons of wheat flour and a little rose water to create a paste.
• Cleanse your face with warm water, then apply the mixture to your face and let it dry.
• Rinse your face with cool water, using circular motions and gentle tapping to massage.

Drinking Green Tea

Drinking green tea not only contributes to weight loss support, treating and preventing cancer, but also helps detoxify the skin, remove impurities, increase blood circulation and oxygenate blood vessels, thereby maintaining the firmness and radiance of the skin.

A 2020 study conducted on 244 middle-aged Japanese women showed that consuming high amounts of polyphenols in coffee and green tea effectively prevents pigmentation and signs of skin aging caused by sunlight.

Ways to drink green tea for anti-aging for skin and body: Brew a green tea bag or add 1-2 teaspoons of green tea leaves to boiling water. Drink it plain or mix with 1 teaspoon of honey to reduce bitterness. Adding a little lemon juice also enhances the antioxidant effect for the skin.

Note: If you are taking quinolone antibiotics, certain types of birth control pills, blood thinners, antidepressants, phenylpropanolamine, amphetamine, and liver medications, consult your doctor before drinking green tea.

Read more: When to start using anti-aging cream?

In conclusion,

It can be seen that green tea is an excellent choice for anti-aging for the skin. With high levels of antioxidants, tannins, and caffeine, this “miracle” remedy will significantly improve the health of your skin. Start incorporating green tea into your diet and daily skincare routine now to always stay youthful and full of vitality.