Deeper than just a hot beverage, tea can work from the inside out and promote healthy skin. White tea showed promise in a 2003 study that reported topically applied white tea may protect against sun damage and may ultimately provide anti-aging benefits.1 Polyphenols found in green tea, particularly epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), may help protect the skin from UV carcinogenesis, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.2 And black also showed promise in protecting the skin from UV damage in a 2007 Turkish study.3
“The skin care industry is indeed showing an increased interest in green tea as an ingredient,” said Chieko Yamamoto, vice president of AOI Tea Co. “Matcha powder can be found in some products like Dr. Weil’s line for Origins, and pure matcha powder can also be used in other skin care formulas, for example, soaps, lotions and body scrubs.”
Green Tea Goods offers green tea, herbal-based personal care products. “Green Tea has long been heralded for its numerous health benefits; recently, the rejuvenating super ingredient has also been highlighted for its topical benefits, bringing it into the lime light for its natural antiseptic attributes and skin improving properties,” said Barney Stacher, founder of Green Tea Goods. “Green tea extract is a natural antiseptic and rich in antioxidants, helping to protect the body from free radicals.”
Editor’s Note: References listed on next page.