Green tea isn’t just a refreshing beverage - it also possesses incredible benefits for the skin. In extract form, green tea is a skincare superhero that treats a myriad of skin concerns, from anti-aging, reducing inflammation, and treating acne. Keep reading to learn more about the power of green tea extract and how to incorporate it into your skincare routine for healthy, glowing skin!
What Is Green Tea Extract?
As the name implies, green tea extract is an ingredient extracted from green tea. Derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, green tea extract is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that work wonders for the whole body.
Polyphenols or catechins are the antioxidants found in green tea extract with big skincare benefits! These potent antioxidants can protect from free radicals, reduce inflammation, improve cardiovascular health, and treat the skin. EGCG is the most well-understood catechin, but there are many more.
Green tea extract also features caffeine and tannins found in the tea plant. These can benefit your complexion because they’re great at shrinking the look of blood vessels, leading to a more even, less puffy face over time.
You’ve probably seen the word antioxidant come up about skincare before, but it’s essential to understand what antioxidants are and why you should work them into your daily skin regimen.
What Is an Antioxidant?
Antioxidants are crucial to a radiant complexion and your body overall. Antioxidants can help support your skin cell health during exposure to free radicals, which are unstable molecules that your body sometimes produces on its own. However, free radicals can also come from environmental stressors such as UV rays from the sun, pollution, alcohol, and even smoking.
In addition to being helpful in skin care products, antioxidants can be found in a healthy, balanced diet. Fruits and vegetables are often packed with them, and if you take any all-around vitamins or supplements, they are likely enriched with antioxidants.
What Can Antioxidants Do for Your Skin?
Because antioxidants can help support your skin health during exposure to free radicals, they can be beneficial for maintaining an overall glowing complexion.
Antioxidants can also support proper skin hydration — helping you maintain a youthful-looking and radiant complexion.
Antioxidants such as green tea extract are also thought to help minimize the look of puffiness or redness and deliver softer, more even skin overall. Green tea extract may also help soothe blemishes if you have breakout-prone skin.
How Can You Add Green Tea Extract to Your Skincare Routine?
To help you get the most out of green tea extract in your skincare, let’s walk through the best morning skincare routine so that you can start every day with even, radiant skin.
Prep Your Skin
As you likely already know, it’s critical to cleanse skin to get the most out of your skincare routine. Removing makeup, oil, impurities, and dead skin cells from the skin’s surface allows your toners, serums, and other products to penetrate into the skin and get to work. Cleansing keeps breakouts at bay and can improve the overall appearance of skin.
Most professionals will recommend a gentle, oil-free cleanser to start your routine. We suggest using Prep-N-Glow® hydrating facial wipes to cleanse and hydrate your skin. Formulated with moisturizing hyaluronic acid and antioxidant super blend, these multitasking wipes cleanse, exfoliate, and nourish skin. Simply remove makeup and impurities with the smooth side, then flip over to exfoliate with the microdot side for a smooth, polished face!
Apply an Antioxidant Serum
Serums are concentrated elixirs that provide skin with potent ingredients that target your unique skin needs. If you’re hoping to harness the power of antioxidants, consider using an antioxidant serum after cleansing. We recommend applying 3-5 drops of Super Antioxidant Booster Serum onto your fingertips and massage it into clean, dry skin until fully absorbed.
Fueled by green tea extract and a blend of superfruits such as blueberries, wolfberries, and cranberries, this serum is the best way to protect your skin and address visible signs of aging, dark spots, and concerns around your skin tone. This liquid powerhouse can get you there if you’re after a head-turning glow.
Hydrate and Protect
After applying your serum, it’s time to moisturize. Choose something light enough to layer if you plan on applying makeup but not so light that you’re missing out on the hydration you need to keep your skin soft, smooth, and at its best. Aqua Gel Microcurrent Activator helps to conduct microcurrent treatment while also hydrating skin with IonPlex® and hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture for up to 24 hours.
If your face feels dry throughout the day, give yourself a spritz with Supercharged IonPlex® Facial Mist whenever you feel parched!
Lastly, applying SPF daily is crucial, even if you don’t think you’ll see much of the sun. Skincare products rich in antioxidants can boost your skin’s resistance to sun damage and symptoms, such as premature aging, but they’re no replacement for good, old-fashioned sunscreen.
Your Most Radiant Skin Yet
Green tea extract is a skincare superhero with antioxidant properties that can address a wide range of skin concerns. Whether you’re battling dark spots, taming acne, looking to turn back the clock on signs of aging, or just trying to get a more radiant glow, green tea extract is a proven method to achieve healthy, supple skin.
Sources:
Beneficial Properties of Green Tea Catechins | National Library of Medicine
Antioxidants in Dermatology | National Library of Medicine
Antioxidants from Plants Protect Against Skin Photoaging | National Library of Medicine
