Benefits Green Tea for Skin & Hair

Surprising Benefits of Using Green Tea for Skin & Hair

Green tea has been around for centuries, playing an important role as a cultural staple in diets and in traditional medicine.  Chalk full of antioxidants, green tea smooth yet sharp taste heals the body from the inside out. And you don’t have to be a skincare expert to know that a diet inclusive of green tea can give you a glowing complexion. But what else can green tea do for your skin and hair?  These 7 effects of green tea may surprise you.

1. Refresh Your Hair

Remember those antioxidants that green tea is full of?  Those molecules get right to work when applied to your hair.  But whether you drink green tea full of antioxidants or use a shampoo with this free radical battling molecule, either way, your body responses by repairing damaged cells and encouraging the growth of new ones.

2. Skin Toner and Moisturizer

Green tea actively reduces inflammation and its properties resolve issues of an uneven skin tone and dry, flaky skin.  If you are experiencing redness or spots, try applying either a steeped green tea bag or a cotton ball soaked in green tea to the areas of the skin in need for about five minutes.  A quick green tea facial is a natural way to make your skin soft, smooth, and evenly toned.

3. Fights Aging Signs

Research suggests that free radicals are to blame for cell damage and things like age lines or wrinkles.  Antioxidants combat free radicals in cells and encourage newer cells to form, leaving the skin with plump, hydrated cells.  If you have age lines or wrinkles that you wish were less noticeable, drinking green tea or using green tea as a mini-facial can help make this happen.

4. Skin Complexion

Green tea can be used to promote healthy circulation, and what this means for you is a glowing complexion.  Blood circulating in the facial region helps skin cells retain their hydrated, plump look, which equates to less puffiness, less uneven redness, and a reduction of wrinkles and lines.

5. Reduce Dandruff

Dandruff is often the result of a dry or inflamed scalp, but with green tea, you can simply apply it close to your roots to reduce inflammation and help hydrate your scalp’s dry or irritated skin.  Green tea will also work to stimulate hair follicles and encourage growth. Green tea’s antioxidants fight for new growth of skin cells, helping you rid your dry scalp of its problem layer to make way for new, healthy cells.

6. Helps to Treat Acne

If you struggle with acne or frequent breakouts of blackheads or whiteheads, green tea could be the answer to your problems.  Instead of drinking it, reach for a cotton ball steeped in green tea to your trouble area for about five minutes and follow it up with a thorough rinse.  The properties of green tea, especially the epigallocatechin gallate, otherwise known as EGCG, help fight acne and prevent frustrating breakouts.

7. Helps with Dark Circles

The reduction of dark circles has much to do with the promotion of circulation and blood flow that green tea allows for.  Dark circles form when circulation is poor and blood or fluid pools beneath the eyes. Dabbing green tea in this sensitive area can minimize dark circles and bring out a healthy, even glow.

Green tea is an excellent, all-purpose solution to numerous skin and hair problems, and its popularity is not without proven results.  Regardless of consuming green tea or applying it directly to your skin or hair, you are bound to see its positive effects. While green tea is an effective tool on many common skin issues, you should contact your local dermatologist or your skin care expert on any and all skin concerns.