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A sip of warm water flavoured with green tea leaves refreshes the mind. It is not uncommon today to get the option of green tea when one is offered to choose between the beverages tea and coffee.
This could be because of the rise in aware of the benefits of green tea. But what is lesser known is that the same benefits work magically for the skin too.
“Green tea is now increasingly being used in skincare. A number of creams and lotions contain green tea as an ingredient for it is potent anti-oxidant qualities that help reduce fine lines,” says Dolly Kumar, director, GAIA (that offers health solutions). The expert informs that “There are instances where people use chilled green tea bags as eye packs for a soothing, cooling effect for tired eyes.
Some people also freeze freshly brewed green tea as ice cubes and use them as a toner for better skin elasticity and improved skin health.” It has been discovered in some cases that people experience less skin breakouts and acne after including green tea as a beverage in their daily routine.
Being rich in antioxidants, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties green tea is attracting experts to come up with beauty products containing green tea. “The benefit is that it keeps a check on the harmful effects of the UV rays of the sun have on the skin. The potent anti-oxidants help fight damage due to free radicals which cause premature ageing,” says Dr Blossom Kochhar, chairperson of Blossom Group of Companies. “Green tea has a variety of beneficial properties and can be easily incorporated in beauty products to enhance results. A wash with a shampoo that has green tea extracts improves the shine and lustre of the hair whereas using its extracts in products for the skin reduces puffiness.
Not only this, green tea can be used even in toothpastes to impart freshness, curb mouth odour and help prevent plaque-forming microbes.” Thus a green tea face pack plays a major role in bringing instant radiance and glow to the skin. “Since green tea helps tighten the skin, making a green tea facial scrub out of the used tea can be very good for the face,” suggests Aakriti Kochar, beauty and make up expert at Oriflame India directing, “Mix green tea with granulated sugar and water and you have an exfoliating scrub. This natural scrub gives you an incredible glow that lasts for days.” Even a facial with green tea and yoghurt can be tried at home. Aakriti Kochar says, “All one needs to do is, steep a green teabag in boiling water. Cool the green tea leaves and then scrub your face with them slightly. Make sure the leaves are not hot enough to burn your face. Spread a dollop of full-fat plain yogurt over your face, massaging it and distributing it evenly across one’s face.” Needless to say, this will leave you with a supple and glowing skin.
The experts vouch for the astringent properties of green tea that make it extremely efficient in solving beauty concerns of people who have oily skin or scalp. But it is important to ensure before buying a beauty product with green tea extracts that “the product does not contain sulphate or other preservatives,” warns Aakriti Kochar. Blossom Kochhar points out that there “should be no artificial preservatives”.