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Liz deSousa for BYRDIE
Quick—when you think of green tea what is the first thing you think of? Your cup of tea in the morning or a matcha latte? Well, besides your daily caffeine fix, green tea also has great benefits for the skin. We got the tea (get it?) from expert dermatologists on how you can incorporate this powerhouse ingredient into your routine, plus all the benefits, below.
Meet the Expert
- Christine Choi Kim, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles.
- Michele Green, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Manhattan.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about green tea and why your skin will love it as much as your taste buds do.
Green Tea
Type of ingredient: Antioxidant
Main benefits: Soothes and protects the skin, reduces sebum, and minimizes signs of aging.
Who should use it: In general, green tea is suitable for almost all skin types unless you have a known hypersensitivity to it, according to Kim.
How often can you use it: Green says not only is it safe to consume green tea daily, but it's also safe to use in your daily skincare routine.
Works well with: According to Kim, green tea is best used in combination with other antioxidants because they work synergistically. "Vitamin C helps to reduce degradation of Epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG, and in turn, EGCG can enhance the antioxidant effect of both Vitamins C and E," Kim explains. "There may also be enhanced skin penetration when EGCG is added to hyaluronic acid because of the latter’s strongly hydrating properties."
Don't use with: According to Kim, there are no products you must avoid when using green tea topically.
What Is Green Tea?
Green tea is a botanical derived from the leaves and buds of the tea plant Camellia sinensis. Kim explains that the active components of green tea are polyphenols (also called catechins) that are believed to benefit the skin due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. EGCG is the best-studied catechin and is used both orally and topically for its many potential health benefits. Green tea also contains caffeine and tannins, which work by shrinking blood vessels and decreasing puffiness, according to Green.
A bit of an overachiever, green tea is both protective and corrective and available in a wide range of formulations, such as cleansers, serums, moisturizers, and masks. Green says the catechins are found in the highest concentrations in fresh leaves, while Kim points out that there is a lack of standardization regarding minimal concentrations of the active polyphenol content of skincare formulations.
Kim says, as with many topical antioxidants, green tea is challenging to formulate because it is highly unstable and is easily oxidized when exposed to ambient light, and EGCG is unstable at higher temperatures and at basic pH values. Green stresses the importance of how green tea is sourced and stored (a cool, dry place is best) to maintain the maximum efficacy of the phytochemicals, which are the powerhouse of the product.
Benefits of Green Tea for Skin
"Due to its multifaceted nature, green tea has been studied as a treatment for a variety of dermatological conditions, such as acne, rosacea, psoriasis, viral warts, and even skin cancer," Kim explains. Below are the main ways green tea can improve the skin.
- Protects the skin: As an antioxidant that scavenges free radicals caused by environmental stressors like UV radiation and pollution, Kim says it's a logical choice to add to any anti-aging skin care regimen to protect the skin. Green adds that EGCG can fight off DNA damage in skin cells by promoting DNA repair.
- Minimizes signs of aging: Kim says green tea can reduce the signs of sun damage, such as hyperpigmentation, rough texture, and fine lines.
- Reduces excess sebum: Its ability to reduce sebum coupled with its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties makes the ingredient suitable for patients suffering from acne and those with oily complexions, according to Kim.
- Soothes the skin: Green says that green tea can reduce inflammation in skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff.
Green Tea for Acne
Green tea (used both topically and orally) is a powerhouse ingredient for treating acne. Studies have shown that green tea decreases oil production in the skin, one of the main causes of acne . And not only does it help decrease sebum in the skin, but thanks to its anti-inflammatory benefits, it'll help tame those painful pimples and also help with irritation and redness.
Side Effects of Green Tea
According to Kim, green tea has no known side effects, provided you do not have an allergy to it. "It is truly suitable for most all skin types unless you have a known hypersensitivity to green tea," Kim explains. "Some people who have very dry or compromised skin may need to proceed with caution."
How to Use It
The best way to use green tea as a part of your daily routine depends on the product at hand. Overall, Kim says the best skincare regimens cleanse, protect, correct, and hydrate, and she stresses the importance of using a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher every morning after your antioxidant and moisturizer. She also recommends using green tea combined with other antioxidants, which work together synergistically.
Applying vs Drinking Green Tea
According to Kim, a direct study comparing the topical vs. oral green tea benefits for the skin, specifically, has not been performed, but she does point out that the hydrophilic (water-loving) nature of EGCG limits its penetration in human skin.
Green says green tea is safe to use in your skincare products and consume daily. However, she says several ingredients should be avoided when consuming green tea internally, such as quinolone antibiotics, some birth control pills, anticoagulants, some antidepressants, phenylpropanolamine, amphetamines, and any medication that can cause liver damage. Consult your doctor to discuss any potential concerns.
