Green tea is known for its medicinal properties and has served as a beverage worldwide for many years. However, recently, the benefits of green tea cleansing masks have taken the world of beauty by storm.
If you have heard about green tea cleansing masks lately and are wondering what benefits they offer, you are on the right page. Besides telling about this wonder ingredient for skin care, we’ll also explore how to use a green tea cleansing mask to get clear skin and other interesting details.
What is Green Tea?
Green tea is botanically called Camellia sinensis. The leaves of the plant are harvested, dried, and lightly steamed to prepare beverages that offer multiple health benefits. It is believed to be highly potent in weight management and boosting brain function.
Apart from its advantages for health, green tea is considered a useful ingredient for the skin due to its therapeutic properties. It is the reason why many skin care products now include green tea leaves as one of the components.
Benefits Of Green Tea Cleansing Masks For The Skin
Provides Protection Against Cancer
Green tea is a powerful antioxidant. The presence of polyphenols and catechins, along with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG), is believed to make green tea powerful enough to fight off free radicals in the body.
Since free radicals at high levels can harm skin and overall health, an antioxidant ensures fighting it off and keeping the body free from its excessive levels. Moreover, free radicals can cause cellular damage, which leads to diseases like cancer.
According to a study, components like EGCG can repair DNA damage due to UV rays and thus protect the skin from skin cancer (1). Thus, if you are using a green tea cleansing mask, you are doing excellent for your skin health.
Prevents Premature Skin Aging
The presence of EGCG antioxidants in green tea helps the dying skin cells rejuvenate all over again (2). Thus, it protects the cells from death and increases cell turnover, combating the signs of aging.
At the same time, green tea is a rich source of Vitamin B2, which is again a wonder agent for skin health. With the ability to maintain collagen levels in the skin, green tea makes it firm and more youthful.
Reduces Skin Inflammation And Irritation
The anti-inflammatory property of green tea is contributed by its high polyphenol content (3). Thus, if you often get irritated or inflamed skin due to sensitivity or allergic reaction, a green tea cleansing mask will work wonders. At the same time, it can provide comfort in minor cuts and burns, including sunburn.
Besides using green tea cleansing masks, dermatologists also suggest using green tea topically if you have skin issues such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and rosacea. It also helps in keloids.
Treats Acne
Green tea also possesses antibacterial properties, making it an effective remedy for acne. If you have oily skin and are prone to acne, using a green tea cleansing mask will prove highly beneficial. It reduces sebum secretion, controlling major skin issues.
The presence of polyphenols in green tea contributes to this property (4). Therefore, if you often experience acne due to bacterial growth, the use of green tea on the skin will help tremendously.
Moisturizes Skin
Green tea is rich in Vitamin E, one of the essential vitamins to keep the skin nourished and hydrated. People with dry skin can start using green tea to keep it well-moisturized.
How To Prepare A Green Tea Cleansing Mask?
Making a green tea cleansing mask is an easy, at-home procedure that doesn’t require anything outside of your kitchen ingredients.
Ingredients
- Green tea: 1 tbsp or 1 green tea bag
- Baking soda: 1 tbsp
- Honey: 1 tbsp
- Water
Steps
- Brew green tea in water or soak the green tea bag for an hour.
- Once the water cools, remove the bag from the water and strain.
- Take leaves in a mixing bowl and add baking soda and honey to form a paste.
- If the mixture seems thick, add a small quantity of water.
Application
- Cleanse the face, making the pores open to penetrate the mask.
- Apply the mask evenly and massage gently to remove dead skin cells.
- Leave the mask for at least 15 minutes.
- Rinse off with warm water.
To get the most out of this mask, apply twice or thrice in a week. You can also use green tea powder instead of leaves and add other ingredients, such as lemon juice and granulated sugar, as per your skin’s preference.
Besides making green tea cleansing masks at home, you can also find some ready-to-use masks at stores. However, before buying one, ensure that it contains skin-friendly ingredients and are:
- Safe for your skin type
- Free of artificial dye, fragrance, and parabens
- Contains 100% green tea
Are There Any Side Effects Of Green Tea Cleansing Masks?
Usually, a green tea cleansing mask is one of the safest natural ingredients with no risk for any skin type. However, if you are using it for the first time, performing a patch test is essential. Some skin types, especially sensitive skin, may respond negatively to polyphenols that lead to skin irritation.
If you experience redness, itchiness, swelling, or burning sensation, it is better to avoid using a green tea cleansing mask. While topical application can cause skin irritation, consuming green tea would be safe for almost everyone.
Conclusion
Using a green tea face mask is like doing a favor to your skin. With antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, this natural remedy works wonders for all skin types.
From combating acne and inflammation to protecting skin from premature aging, damage by UV rays, and bacterial infection, a green tea cleansing mask is a wonder agent. Either make your own at-home green tea face mask or get one from the store; start using it today for maximum benefits.
However, if you already have some skin concerns, ensure to consult with your dermatologist before starting any new product.
References
- Green tea prevents non-melanoma skin cancer by enhancing DNA repair-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3077767/
- Green Tea Linked To Skin Cell Rejuvenation-https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/04/030425071800.htm
- Anti-inflammatory Action of Green Tea- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27634207
- Green Tea and Other Tea Polyphenols: Effects on Sebum Production and Acne Vulgaris-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5384166/
