Green Tea for the Skin and Body -- Helpful or Hype?

I'm hooked on green tea. Every day along with reading and journaling that's how I start my day -- with several cups of hot green tea. Yes I've got my favorite brand and I make sure to always bring it along when I travel.

Not only do I love drinking green tea, but I also love adding it to skin and hair care products. But does it actually offer benefits or is it just hype? Is it just one of those ingredients that looks good on a label or is it actually doing something?

Research suggests that YES green tea is not only beneficial to drink, but it also offers a variety of benefits in skincare.

According to WebMD, the catechin content of green tea is one of the major benefits. Catechin antioxidants, according to WebMD "fight and may even prevent cell damage". Green tea supports blood flow, may help support healthy cholesterol, and according to WebMD "helped prevent a range of heart-related issues, from high blood pressure to congestive heart failure." Catechins also offer anti-inflammatory benefits.

Green tea also supports brain health. One Swiss studied revealed that green tea drinkers had greater activity in the working-memory area of their brains. Green tea may also be beneficial against preventing brain plaques linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Some evidence suggests epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in addition to anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, may aid in supporting metabolism and weight loss. WebMd states some evidence suggests that EGCG may help you drop a few pounds, while other studies show no effect.

And what about skincare? Yes those lovely catechins are fantastic for the skin as well! They have been shown to help neutralize free radicals which makes green tea an excellent addition to anti-aging skin care products.

In addition to ECGC and catechin, the most studied catechins in green tea include gallocatechin, epicatechin, epigallcatechin, and epicatechingallate (whew!).

There is evidence that green tea can help protect the skin against UV radiation (but please note -- it's not a substitute for sunscreen!)

Green tea is also a source of methylxanthines, which promote a a vasodilator response -- or a widening of the blood vessels in the body. These compounds are also thought to prevent lipid accumulation.

So by using green tea extract the thought is the catechins and methylxanthides can help in neutralizing damaging free radicals, protect the skin from UVB, and prevent a loss of the skin's firmness and elasticity.

So much along the lines of eating your fruits and vegetables, exercising, and hydrating, green tea helps support wellness. It's not a magic potion or great reverser of skin damage, but it can certainly help aid the health of the skin and body with its many nourishing compounds.

I use green tea extract in both skin and hair care formulations, and would like to incorporate it into some scrubs to help with those pesky, lumpy areas that can pop up on the belly, glutes, and thighs.

Are you a fan of green tea? Are there any green tea products you wish ABT would carry?

Love to hear your thoughts!

Aromatic blessings,

Tricia

References:

WebMD Website, Health Benefits of Green Tea, accessed on July 14, 2021 from: https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/health-benefits-of-green-tea