The Japanese culture has celebrated green tea and tea ceremonies since the ninth century. Promoting vitality, tranquillity and respect the superfood and super-trendy ingredient has made its way from the food industry into our beauty products.
With the fine line between wellness and beauty trends these days, it’s easy to mark the coloured lattes and face masks as another fad. But what if matcha green tea is the single ingredient between taking your health and beauty routine to the next level?
Did you know that matcha green tea has antioxidant capacity 137 times more powerful than regular green tea? When ingested, the powerful free radical scavenging and inflammation fighting benefits are well documented.
But did you know what those same benefits apply when matcha green tea is applied topically through skincare products infused with this superfood?
What is Matcha?
Unlike regularly brewed green tea, matcha green tea is made from grinding the tea leaves into a fine powder. This high-grade powder is then directly mixed with hot water and/or milk to create a relaxing drink, or blended with care into your skincare product of choice (our choice? Always the SEEH Skincare CLARIFY Matcha Clay Mask). This means that it is the actual leaves, rather than a diluted infusion, that come into contact with the body.
Matcha green tea contains high concentrations of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a catechin known for eliminating toxins and free radical damage, minimising oxidative stress and other causes of inflammation from the body.
Here are the top five benefits of matcha for skincare:
1. Anti-aging benefits
Free radicals are present in every body. Our body creates them to neutralised harmful bacteria and viruses. However, they also occur as a result of environmental factors such as sun exposure and pollution. If there is an over production of free radicals they can begin to attack both harmful and healthy cells in our body.
Matcha green tea, with its powerful EGCG content, work to protect the skin by neutralising excess free radicals and oxidative stresses in our systems. This minimises the accelerated appearance of aging by encouraging and stimulating the natural skin regeneration processes, including collagen and elastin production (creating volume to the skin).
2. Anti-inflammatory benefits
Green tea, and specifically matcha, has strong anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce redness, puffiness and breakouts. With regular exposure, it has been shown to improve skin conditions like rosacea, hyperpigmentation and acne, and can reduce the appearance of dark circles and other symptoms of toxic build up in the skin.
3. Brightening benefits
By reducing free radical damage, matcha green tea and the antioxidants contained within the superfood, can also inhibit the side effects of frequent exposure to environmental stressors. This includes brightening the appearance of sun spots, freckles and smoothing uneven skin tone. As discussed earlier, the anti-inflammatory response also reduces redness, blemishes and hyperpigmentation which further improves complexion evenness.
The overall effect is a brighter, more radiant and healthier appearance.
4. Oil Control benefits
Matcha green tea contains tannins, which are naturally astringent and work to shrink the appearance of pores. Tannins also regulate the skin's natural oil production. This reduces the risk of the over-production of oil, which leads to clogging pores and inflammation, which ultimately results in blemishes and/or acne.
5. Exfoliation benefits
Being in powder form, matcha green tea has a light buffing effect on the skin, which gently detoxifies and reduces congestion. Exfoliation allows you to remove the dead cells from the skin's surface that are collecting bacteria and debris from the environment, and unveil the fresh new cells from beneath. It also stimulates blood flow to the skin and helps to eliminate toxins through the lymphatic system. The deep cleansing nature of exfoliation, including the removal of bacteria and clogged pores also helps to reduce break outs, blackheads and blemishes.
Here at SEEH Skincare we recommend a two-pronged approach; drink matcha infused beverages and apply your matcha topically through your skincare. Our favourite powders for matcha lattes and smoothies include Matcha Maiden and Tropeaka. And of course we cannot go past the SEEH Skincare CLARIFY Matcha Clay Mask. The CLARIFY Matcha Clay Mask deeply detoxifies and brightens the skin, reducing the appearance of pores and minimising pigmentation and imperfections. Along with a healthy dose of matcha green tea, the mask also contains natural AHAs to gently exfoliate and brighten the complexion, while the natural minerals draw out impurities from the skin.
Thanks for reading, and for matcha more matcha loving, shop now.
Kim
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