Matcha is currently the darling and main star of the tea world due to its rich taste and excellent nutritional benefits. Hailed as a super-food, one cup of matcha green tea a day can help you alleviate a bunch of health problems and ailments. Matcha literally translates to powdered tea and is a unique tea leaf grown traditionally in Japan. Throughout the Western world, matcha has gained popularity for its nutritional benefits. Ranging from weight-loss help to anti-aging, the magical properties of matcha make it a true elixir that promotes good health. So, does matcha help you maintain healthy skin? Here’s a look at how matcha benefits your skin.
What Makes Matcha Different?
Other traditional types of green tea require you to infuse the leaves into hot water and then drink just the water. Therefore, while taking in the tea, you get rid of the leaves and drink only the infusion. However, since matcha is powdered tea, drinking a cup of matcha tea requires you to drink the actual tea leaves. Furthermore, while traditional tea leaves are left out in the open, matcha leaves receive special care and attention. Young and tender leaves are covered and grown in the shade for around twenty days before plucking and harvesting them. The shelter they receive from the hot sun allows them to retain more chlorophyll content in their leaves. It is this extra chlorophyll that gives them a vibrant green color. Furthermore, doing so infuses the leaves with a more earthy and vibrant flavor that makes matcha taste unique and delicious.
General Benefits Of Matcha Tea
Since matcha comes from higher-quality leaves, the tea can retain most of its nutritional value. Also, the process of making matcha is very natural, helping the leaves become a potent source of nutrients, unlike regular green tea, wherein we discard the tea leaves. Matcha leaves are rich in both antioxidants and polyphenols, which help promote good heart health. It also helps in keeping cancer at bay by limiting the growth of cancerous cells. Other benefits include sugar regulation, reduction in blood pressure, and anti-aging properties. Matcha also contains
EGCG which helps in boosting metabolism, and halting cancer cell growth. However, another great benefit that matcha provides in promoting good skin health. Here’s a look at how matcha benefits the skin.
Matcha Benefits For The Skin
Matcha Benefit For Skin 1 – Fight Acne and Prevent Rosacea
Matcha can help soothe your skin, the same way it makes your digestion better. Polyphenols in matcha help in reducing inflammation and promote healing. This will go a long way in helping you heal your acne scars and also fights certain bacteria that cause rosacea.
Matcha Benefit For Skin 2 – Prevent Aging
Caffeine in matcha helps tighten the skin, which prevents the early onset of wrinkles. Furthermore, polyphenols serve as a great protective barrier against the attack of free radicals. Since free radicals attack and damage tissue, having a layer of protection against them will prevent premature aging. These free radicals also weaken the skin’s natural elasticity, which promotes the formation of wrinkles.
Matcha Benefit For Skin 3 – UV Shield
We all know that UV rays are very harmful to our skin, and as a protective measure, we all use SPF creams. However, green teas like matcha, when applied to the skin topically, helps protect the skin against UV rays.
Matcha Benefit For Skin 4 – Improve Skin Tone
Though studies do not prove that matcha can prevent hyperpigmentation, it can help you even out small inconsistencies, helping you improve your skin tone significantly.
Matcha Benefit For Skin 5 – Fight Oily Skin
Many anti-acne products end up absorbing excess oil, which can offset the natural oil balance of your skin. However, matcha can help reduce the excess production of sebum. Therefore, rather than drying out your skin, studies show that matcha can help you control and fight oily skin effectively.
Matcha Benefit For Skin 6 – Prevent Under Eye Circles
The caffeine in green and black teas will help you fight under-eye puffiness and dark circles effectively. Even using tea bags under your eyes can help you end swelling and even out your skin tone in that area.
Also, another great thing about matcha is that since it is a natural product, applying it topically does not have any side-effects. However, make sure you consult with a doctor before you start using them topically to avoid skin allergies.
Matcha Face-Mask Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 Tsp Green Tea matcha
- 1 Tablespoon Greek Yogurt / Moisturizer/ Coconut oil
Directions
- Mix together the matcha tea powder and your base
- Whisk them together till you get a green paste that this thick in consistency
- Apply onto both your face and neck
- Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes
- Wash off with normal or micellar water to reveal brighter glowing skin!
- You can even try using matcha as a toner to enhance your existing beauty regime. To do this, all you need to do is mix some of the powder with some water. Add a few drops of essential oil and fill a spray bottle with it. Every night, once you are done washing your face, use this toner to get quick results.
- Another great way to add matcha to your beauty routine is to use it as an exfoliator. Mix one tablespoon of matcha, coconut oil, and a cup of natural, organic white sugar. Use this as a natural face scrub to prevent acne and oily skin.
- To do a quick pore cleansing, mix half tablespoon of clay, matcha powder, and water and apply the face mask to your skin. Wash off after 10 minutes to leave behind glowing, oil-free, and clean skin. Matcha powder and coconut oil can also be used as an effective hydrating mask during winters to soothe dry skin.
You may or may not like tea, but there is no refusing that matcha is one brew you should ingest. If not for the taste, it helps revitalize your body with great nutrients. If anything, your skin will love you for introducing it to matcha, which is a true elixir for great skin. Do you think adding matcha to your diet has had a positive influence on your skin? What are your favorite matcha DIY face masks?
