Using Green Tea for Natural Skincare to Reduce Blemishes

Green tea is known for its numerous health benefits. This calming beverage is chock-full of antioxidants and minerals that our bodies need. In fact, one cup of green tea contains 30% of an antioxidant called polyphenol. This ingredient has been shown to prevent diseases like cancer and Parkinson's. It can also calm your nerves and boost your metabolism!

If you suffer from a skin condition, like acne, using green tea is a great way to clear things up. Many commercial acne treatments are very expensive and can be packed with a lot of extra and potentially harmful ingredients. Not only is green tea proven to be effective, but it's a great natural alternative.

Don't worry if you're not a big fan of the taste. In most cases, you don't even have to drink the tea to get its benefits! Here are just a few skin conditions that green tea can treat.

If you don't get enough sleep, it's common for dark rings to appear under your eyes. You may also experience dark circles or puffiness around the eyes due to no fault of your own. It could be caused by age, a family history, or an existing condition. Drinking green tea will naturally shrink the blood vessels around your eyes. You can also press cooled green tea bags directly under your eyes.

Our skin is covered with a layer called an acid mantle. This thin layer usually protects the skin from bacteria like viruses and blemishes. However, if your skin has a high pH balance, you're much more vulnerable to infections. Luckily, green tea can help even things out because it's filled with natural oils. All you have to do is gently rub the brewed tea water directly onto your skin.

If you have a fair or pale complexion, a day at the beach can wreak havoc on your skin! Even if you remember to apply sunblock, the sun's harmful UV rays still have to potential to irritate your face. Green tea is filled with tannic acid, which can soothe the irritation and clear up blemishes. Once you brew the leaves, simply soak a clean towel with the water and press it against the affected areas. We recommend that you leave it on for at least half an hour.

Last but not least, green tea has been shown to be a very effective natural acne treatment. Green tea is rich in epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or EGCG. This catechin, along with polyphenol, has powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Applying green tea to the skin can also decrease the production of sebum. Sebum is your body's natural moisturizer, but it also has the potential to make your skin more oily and prone to acne.

You can use green tea to treat acne in a variety of ways. Drinking a cup of green tea or dabbing your blemishes with green tea water are excellent remedies. You can also create a green tea mask by putting a small amount of brewed tea in a spray bottle. After you use your regular facial cleanser, spritz on the green tea and wait for half an hour. After this, you can rinse your face with cool water and apply moisturizer. 

The long term effects of using green tea as an acne treatment are still largely unknown. Health professionals warn that a few cups of green tea on its own likely won't clear your acne. However, when used in conjunction with other natural treatments, green tea has the potential to eliminate a lot of skin problems. Considering all its other health benefits, a cup of green tea once a day certainly can't hurt!