Are you wondering what matcha tea skin benefits are?
I love matcha and matcha-flavored everything (including matcha-flavored Kitkats!). But recently, I’ve become very curious about how matcha tea benefits skin.
Lots of skincare products today boast about the benefits of matcha tea for your skin. Matcha is a kind of green tea from Japan, very important in Japanese culture, especially in tea ceremonies.
Green tea has been studied for its health perks for a long time, but lately, matcha has become super popular. People love drinking it and using it in cooking.
Matcha isn’t just famous for its health benefits, though. Skin experts are looking into how it can help your skin, and influencers are adding it to their skincare routines.
In this article, I’ll explain 7 matcha tea skin benefits so you can make your way to matcha good skin!
1. Matcha Fights Signs Of Ageing Caused By Sun Exposure
2. Matcha Tea Skin Benefits Include Soothing Inflamed Skin
3. Matcha Tea Benefits Skin By Reducing Acne
4. Matcha Tea Benefits Skin By Preventing Collagen Breakdown
5. Matcha Tea Promotes Healthy Skin By Decreasing Stress
6. Matcha Benefits Skin Through Hydration
7. Matcha Reduces Dark Circles And Helps Rejuvenate Skin
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The information in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The consumption and/or application of tea and/or tea-related products and their purported benefits may vary from person to person.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
What is matcha and how is it made?
So, what exactly is matcha? How is it made?
Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder made in Japan. It is made from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, as all other types of true tea.
Authentic matcha is made from the youngest, high-quality tea leaves that are grown under shade.
Shading the tea plant changes the concentration of certain compounds in the leaves and increases the chlorophyll (a green pigment that absorbs energy from the sun) in the tea leaves.
This gives matcha its vibrant green color. It also affects the flavor and aroma of the tea and creates the intense umami flavor of matcha.
After picking, the leaves are steamed. Steaming the leaves ensures that the oxidization in the tea leaves is stopped short.
Steaming preserves much of the natural color, flavor, and taste of the leaves, unlike black tea, which is completely oxidized. That’s why green tea is full of good things like antioxidants.
Then, tea makers dry and sort the leaves before grinding them into a fine powder. That’s matcha!
Green Tea Vs Matcha Tea Skin Benefits
Matcha has many of the same compounds that make green tea so great: catechins, L-theanine, chlorophyll, etc.
However, in green tea, the leaves are soaked in water and many of the beneficial compounds seep into the water which you then drink as tea.
But, in the case of matcha, the whole leaf is ground into powder form. When you prepare matcha to drink, you dissolve the powder in water/milk. So you get to ingest the entire leaf!
That’s why matcha has more antioxidants and more health benefits compared to green tea.
Here are 7 matcha tea skin benefits:
1. Matcha Fights Signs Of Ageing Caused By Sun Exposure
Matcha is high in antioxidants such as catechins, vitamins A, C, K, and B-complex. These antioxidants protect the skin against free radicals from UV rays and pollution that speed up aging.
What’s more, catechins like EGCG promote DNA repair and protect the skin from DNA damage. Matcha has 137 times more EGCG compared to green tea.
Chlorophyll is another compound that contributes to matcha tea skin benefits. It absorbs harmful UV rays and protects the skin from damage and aging caused by the sun.
Overall, matcha can help you have healthy, younger skin.
2. Matcha Tea Skin Benefits Include Soothing Inflamed Skin
Skin inflammation can be caused by stress, infection, or injury, and can in turn lead to other diseases.
The polyphenols in tea, mainly EGCG, are anti-inflammatory compounds. It can reduce redness and soothe irritated skin.
3. Matcha Tea Benefits Skin By Reducing Acne
Matcha has antibacterial properties. Therefore, matcha can help fight breakouts caused by bacteria. Matcha also reduces the production of sebum, an oily substance that can cause acne.
Chlorophyll in matcha can help get rid of toxic substances that clog pores and breakouts. The catechins in matcha also help with acne with their anti-inflammatory properties.
4. Matcha Tea Benefits Skin By Preventing Collagen Breakdown
Collagen is a protein found throughout our body and provides structure and support. Collagen makes our skin firm and tight.
As you age, the body produces less collagen making our skin saggy and wrinkly. What’s more, UV rays from the sun can speed up the breakdown of collagen.
Glycation is a process by which a sugar molecule binds to a protein, lipid, or nucleic acid. This can destroy the collagen and elastin in the skin, causing more rapid aging.
Matcha’s antioxidants can help slow down this aging process as well.
Vitamin B2 in matcha also helps maintain healthy collagen levels for young, glowing skin.
5. Matcha Tea Promotes Healthy Skin By Decreasing Stress
Stress can affect your body negatively in many ways. But it can also be bad for your skin. Stress can cause breakouts, inflammation, dark circles, and rapid aging.
A special compound called L-theanine in matcha comes to the rescue! L-theanine causes the body to relax by lowering cortisol levels (the body’s stress hormone).
Matcha has lots of L-theanine. This is why despite the caffeine boost from matcha, you don’t get the jitters you usually get from coffee.
6. Matcha Benefits Skin Through Hydration
Matcha increases collagen levels which in turn increases the skin’s ability to bind to water molecules and retain moisture.
Thus, matcha is great for giving your skin a hydration boost.
7. Matcha Reduces Dark Circles And Helps Rejuvenate Skin
Matcha has a group of compounds called methylxanthines. These include caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline.
These compounds increase blood circulation, reducing spots and dark circles and producing glowing skin.
Drinking Matcha Vs. Applying Matcha On Your Skin
While applying matcha or matcha products on your skin can certainly help your skin, drinking matcha is just a more holistic approach as it will clean your skin from the inside.
What’s more, the rest of your body will also thank you!
However, if you are not a fan of the matcha taste, you can definitely opt for applying matcha on your skin.
Here are some excellent matcha-based products for your skin:
- Teami Detox Face Mask With Matcha, Lemongrass, And Clay
- Once Upon A Tea Green Tea Matcha Facial Mud Mask
- Lily Sado Matcha Made In Heaven Green Tea Detox Mask
You can also make your own DIY matcha face masks at home. You can use both culinary and ceremonial matcha for this.
But if you’re planning to drink matcha everyday, then ceremonial matcha is the better option in terms of flavor and taste.
Here are some of the best-reviewed Matcha powders on Amazon:
These powders have been reviewed as the best matcha powders on Amazon by Meredith Mao and The Minimalist Baker:
- Kyoto Dew Matcha
- Ippodo Tea – Horai Matcha
- ORGANIC CEREMONIAL Matcha Green Tea Powder from Kagoshima JAPAN | Matcha KIMIKURA
FAQs On Matcha Tea Skin Benefits
Is it okay to drink matcha every day?
So, you’re wondering can you drink matcha every day? Yes! But, it’s important to note that it’s high in caffeine and could potentially contain traces of pesticides and other chemicals. It’s advisable to enjoy matcha in moderation, like having 1–2 cups/day.
Can matcha make your skin glow?
Could matcha give you glowing skin? Matcha can indeed contribute to brighter, glowing skin. Its many antioxidants improve blood circulation in your skin; this efficiently delivers nutrients and oxygen to your skin cells and eliminates toxins from the body.
How long should I leave matcha on my face?
How long should you keep matcha on your face? Simply leave it on for 20 minutes, then rinse it off with a damp towel. It’s advisable to cleanse your face before applying the matcha face mask.
References:
Matcha and its potential benefits: A mini-review
Natural Treatments for Rosacea
The therapeutic potential of matcha tea: A critical review on human and animal studies – ScienceDirect
Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antibacterial Potential of Different Drinks Based on Matcha Tea
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