Green Tea

A traditional daily beverage of the East, green tea is well known for it's longevity and antioxidant power.  In  Ancient China and all over the Asian Continent, green tea has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries.  Did you know that this wonderful little tea is also a secret ingredient for beautiful skin?

Green tea contains around 200 bioactive compounds, one of which is polyphenols that in themselves contain flavoniods.  These flavonoids are a high class of antioxidants.  Green tea contains more of these antioxidants than black tea mostly due to the different way each tea is processed.  Black tea is processed in a way that allows for fermentation, while green tea avoids fermentation and retains more of it natural and powerful antioxidant prowess.

Why are antioxidants so important to the skin?  Antioxidants fight free radicals.  Free radicals are nasty little suckers created by the radiation of UV light that steal electrons from healthy cells causing damage to the cell.  This damage can lead to blemishes, spots, hyperpigmantation and wrinkles.  Antioxidants fend off these bad guys and promote cellular integrity.  Green tea can also act as a natural sunscreen to protect skin from the UV rays.

Green tea contains not only important antioxidants but also Vitamins B and C.  Vitamin B12 specifically helps increase the cell turn-over rate increasing cellular regeneration.  As we age our cells shed at a much slower rate causing dead cell build-up.  Increasing the turn-over rate can lead to a much more youthful complexion.  Vitamin C is very important, not only as an antioxidant, but also as a collagen producer.  Collagen is vital for skin firmness, elasticity and repair.

Green tea can help prevent and calm acne.  It contains catechins which are a natural defense against the bacteria that cause a vast majority of acne breakouts.  Green tea masks can help to flush out toxins from the skin leaving a radiant, clean glow. 

You can derive all of these benefits from simply drinking a cup of green tea twice a day.  For additional benefits, apply green tea topically!  Green tea is available in an array of cleansers, masks, serums, scrubs, creams and sunscreens.

Recommended: Aubrey's Green Tea & Ginko Line, Derma E's Pycnogenol Eye Gel with Green Tea Extract, Derma E's Vitamin E and Green Tea Crème, Dessert Essence's Green Tea Cleansing Pads