AS a skincare enthusiast I’m always on the lookout for natural remedies to make my complexion glow.
So, when I read about a doctor who claims that drinking green tea is the secret to flawless skin, I had to put it to the test.
Green tea contains a powerhouse of antioxidants, known to reduce oxidative stress and combat external nasties which age our skin.
Its anti-inflammatory properties help soothe irritated skin, while its ability to regulate oil production keeps acne at bay.
Additionally, green tea’s polyphenols have been shown to protect the skin from UV damage, making it a great ally in maintaining a healthy complexion during summer.
But can it really make you glow?
Over the course of four weeks, I had a mug of the green stuff every morning and again post-lunchtime, instead of my usual afternoon coffee.
Sceptical yet hopeful, I armed myself with green teas you can pick up in the supermarket.
These were Tetley Green Tea Mango & Passionfruit (currently £2 for a box of 50 tea bags in Asda) and Pukka Supreme Matcha Green Tea (£4.75 for a box of 20 in Tesco). That works out at 4p and 24p a bag.
After one week, my skin looked no different – but that was to be expected because this isn’t a face lift in a mug,
I was still experiencing texture and a bit of sensitivity around my eyes and while the first week didn’t bring any dramatic changes, I enjoyed the calming ritual of brewing and drinking tea every morning – which is surely also good for skin?
But my skin did feel more hydrated, and I was looking forward to seeing the benefits ahead.
As I continued drinking green tea daily – and finding it easier to incorporate multiple cups into my day instead of just two – I started to notice a slight reduction in redness and inflammation.
Especially under my eyes where my lines looked less noticeable. And my complexion began to feel softer and more supple too.
Fabulous Senior Digital Writer, Josie O'Brien, spoke to Dr Sach Mohan about the science behind green tea's skincare benefits...
“Regularly drinking green tea provides many overall health benefits, much more so than drinking black tea,” says the celebrity cosmetic doctor and founder of Harley Street-based Revere Clinics.
“Green tea has strong antioxidant-like properties – and recently published scientific studies show favourable results in protecting cells from ageing.
“It also has antioxidant properties that can help counter and reduce free radical damage (from environmental pollutants, sun exposure and smoking) and oxidative stress that contribute to skin ageing.
“One of its catechins (epigallocatechin-3-gallate, A.K.A EGCG), also has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce redness and irritation, making it useful for acne and eczema sufferers.”
Let’s get topical
“The anti-inflammatory benefits of green tea – skin soothing, reducing redness and irritation, and calming sunburn and acne – and its hydrating and anti-ageing effects can similarly be gained by applying it topically to the skin,” Dr Sach adds.
“People have been using homemade remedies by placing the ground-up leaves directly onto their skin for centuries.”
The most noticeable difference by the end of week two was the improved glow – but I still had some way to go before I looked like a glazed donut.
By the third week, I undeniably had a glow that I hadn’t experienced before I became a green tea fiend.
The textured skin around my eyes had significantly reduced and it was nowhere near as sensitive.
My skin appeared brighter and more even-toned, and the fine lines around my eyes began to soften.
Both skincare products and make-up glided on more effortlessly too.
In the final week, I maintained my consistent tea drinking – in fact, it’s still part of my daily routine now.
My skin felt noticeably more hydrated and smooth – but I still had fine lines around my eyes.
Amazingly, the redness and texture around my eyes had almost completely disappeared, leaving me significantly more glowy than four weeks earlier.
And while I don’t look ten years younger and haven’t shaved every blemish off my face, I still think it’s a worthy beauty hack.
Besides, how can you go wrong when a cup of Tetley green tea costs just 4p?
It’s a far cry from the price of a facial!
