Green tea can be the single most ingredient that does what it promises. It’s a gentle antioxidant that helps with anything from acne to signs of aging. That’s why it needs a place in your skincare routine no matter your skin type. If you don’t know how to incorporate it into your routine, below is everything you need to know about how green tea benefits your skin and the best green tea-infused skincare products.
What is Green Tea in Skincare?
Green tea is derived from the leaves of the plant Camellia Sinensis and is used in skincare mainly as an antioxidant. Green tea is rich in several compounds such as epigallocatechin gallate, and catechins, which are collectively called polyphenols. It’s also rich in caffeine and amino acids. That’s why green tea helps with a variety of skin concerns.
Benefits of Green Tea For Skin
It reduces signs of aging.
Green tea works by neutralizing free radicals caused by UV exposure. It reduces signs of aging like wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. It’s majorly anti-aging in that it protects important proteins like collagen and elastin.
It reduces redness.
Green tea is anti-inflammatory, meaning that it reduces and prevents redness and irritation. That’s why it’s commonly formulated in skincare products for people with sensitive skin and rosacea.
It helps with acne.
Because green tea is anti-bacterial, and it-inflammatory, and minimizes excess oil, green tea helps reduce acne as well.
It reduces puffiness.
Because of its rich compounds, green tea works like an astringent as well. That’s how it also helps reduce the look of puffy eyes and under-eye bags.
It’s gentle.
Most active ingredients used for anti-aging are equally irritating. But green tea is incredibly gentle on the skin and can be used even if you have sensitive skin.
How to Use Green Tea in Your Routine
Green tea is not a very expensive ingredient on its own. It can be found in almost all skincare products. But when you’re dealing with a multi-tasker like this, it’s best to look for targeted products.
As green tea helps with anything from acne to aging, look for green tea products that are more targeted toward your skin concerns.
For example, if you want to use green tea for acne, look for products that also contain other anti-bacterial ingredients.
If you want to use it on sensitive skin that’s prone to redness, look for calming green tea products that also contain other soothers.
Similarly, if you want to use green tea for its anti-aging benefits, look for serums and creams that have additional antioxidants.
Best Green Tea Skincare Products
From serums and creams to masks and cleansers, below are the best green tea skincare products.
1. Amorepacific Vintage Single Extract Essence
This is an absolute treat for the skin. This highly anti-aging essence is going to replace your daily anti-aging serum. The Korean essence is pure green tea to infuse the skin with antioxidants. The essence helps undo the skin damage from free radicals and promotes a healthier and softer complexion. If you want a super potent and minimal product, this is the best green tea serum/essence out there.
Key Ingredients: Green tea
Key Benefits: Minimizes signs of aging, brightens
Suitable For: All skin types
Size: 2.37 oz/70 ml
2. Herbal Dynamics Beauty Revitage Antioxidant Transforming Night Cream
This is an amazing night cream powered by green tea in addition to vitamins E and A. The organic formulation contains hydrating squalane as well as soothing chamomile and cucumber. Plus, it has niacinamide to improve the skin barrier and enhance moisture retention. Nourishing watermelon and apple extracts make the night cream an antioxidant-packed treatment for night-long skincare. The cream moisturizes and erases free radical damage on the skin.
Key Ingredients: Green tea, squalane, niacinamide
Key Benefits: Moisturizes, supports skin barrier, calms skin
Suitable For: All skin types
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Cruelty-free
3. Replenix Redness Reducing Triple AOX Cream
This is a superlight daily moisturizing cream that’s suitable for all skin types. It’s free of irritants but full of antioxidants. The cream hydrates with squalane and hyaluronic acid. To double the effects of green tea, it has resveratrol. It’s another potent antioxidant that also brightens the skin. The lotion keeps the skin soft and plump and protects it against daily skin stressors like UV and pollution. If you’re not into anti-aging creams that contain irritating active ingredients, this can be your new anti-wrinkle cream.
Key Ingredients: Green tea, resveratrol, caffeine
Key Benefits: Softens signs of aging
Suitable For: All skin types
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Oil-free
4. Youth To The People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser
This one is perfect if you prefer a gentle cleanser for irritated skin or a potent anti-aging cleanser. Besides green tea, it’s packed with several other antioxidants from leafy greens. It’s a great facewash to prep your skin with nourishing antioxidants before moving on to your serums and creams. The gel cleanser won’t leave your skin red or tight. With its antioxidant-rich formula, you don’t need to go for harsh and exfoliating cleansers.
Key Ingredients: Green tea, vitamin C, vitamin E
Key Benefits: Purifies skin without drying, calms
Suitable For: All skin types
Size: 8 oz/237 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free
5. True Botanicals Renew Nutrient Mist
This is a super nourishing face mist that’s as potent as a face serum. The green tea face mist also packs white and black tea extracts. It’s a full-blown polyphenol fest to infuse the skin with antioxidants with every spritz. It’ll revive lackluster skin, protect your healthy collagen and elastin, and improve your skin’s overall health. The refreshing face mist also sets your makeup. The natural formula is one of the best green tea skincare products to collect those phenolic benefits.
Key Ingredients: Green tea, black tea, kombucha
Key Benefits: Replenishes skin, prevents free radical damage
Suitable For: All skin types
Size: 1.7 oz/50 ml
Good To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free
6. Patchology Moodpatch Perk Up Eye Gels
These are gel eye masks to depuff your eyes and reduce dark circles. Plus, the eye area could also use the antioxidant benefits of green tea to soften fine lines and lift the eye area. Use the under-eye patches to wake up tired-looking eyes.
Key Ingredients: Green tea, mulberry extract, licorice root
Key Benefits: Hydrates under-eyes, reduces puffiness
Suitable For: All skin types
Size: 5 pack
7. Neogen Dermalogy Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Green Tea
These peel pads give you gentle physical exfoliation on one side and green tea serum on the other side. You slide two fingers into the peel pads and gently buff away any flakiness on the skin. And when you flip the pad, you apply green tea serum all over your skin just like you’d apply toner with a pad. In addition to green tea, the pads are also soaked in soothing aloe, antioxidant Centella Asiatica, and hydrating hyaluronic acid.
Key Ingredients: Green tea, Centella Asiatica
Key Benefits: Gently exfoliates, smooths skin texture
Suitable For: All skin types
Size: 30 pads
8. The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG
This is an amazing eye treatment to target dark circles and puffiness around the eyes. Plus, it’s the most affordable green tea serum out there! We’ve mentioned how green tea contains polyphenols like EGCG. This eye serum combines that with caffeine to better target those dark shadows under the eyes. Together, they reduce puffiness, reduce the visibility of dark circles, and give you a brighter appearance around the eyes. You can use the serum all over your face too.
Key Ingredients: Green tea, caffeine, hyaluronic acid
Key Benefits: Reduces puffy eyes, minimizes dark circles
Suitable For: All skin types
Size: 1 oz/30 ml
Good To Know: Fragrance-free, oil-free, vegan, cruelty-free
9. iS Clinical Hydra-Intensive Cooling Masque
Combining all that is antioxidant, this one is a super nourishing anti-aging face mask that doubles as a leave-on treatment. It packs green tea, resveratrol, and Centella Asiatica to protect the skin against free radicals. Additional goodies include hyaluronic acid and aloe, making the mask an amazingly rich and equally gentle treatment.
Key Ingredients: Green tea, resveratrol, Centella Asiatica
Key Benefits: Cools and calms skin, hydrates, increases radiance
Suitable For: All skin types
Size: 4 oz
So this is how green tea works in skincare and the best green tea serums and creams to get started on the trend. You can use green tea skincare products no matter your skin type and as often as twice daily. They’re that gentle! Plus, you can comfortably pair them with other ingredients such as vitamin C and retinol.
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