How to Use Green Tea for Beautiful Hair and Skin

Green tea is highly favored by fitness enthusiasts for aiding in weight loss. And like any obedient disciple, you gulp down 3 to 4 cups of green tea every day in your quest to lose those extra inches.

The benefits of green tea are not limited to weight loss only. Green tea is made from the unfermented tea leaves and contains the highest concentration of antioxidant called polyphenol. It is known to have anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.

Due to its myriad benefits, green tea is now being capitalized by the cosmetic industry to bring out an array of beauty products for gorgeous hair and wishful glowing skin.

But, before you jump on the bandwagon of these super-expensive products, read on to know how to use green tea for beautiful hair and skin without spending a bucket load of money.

Skin

Method 1: Face mask

Green tea is loaded with catechins that help fight against free radicals. These free radicals are responsible for cell and tissue damage, resulting in premature aging of your skin which leads to problems like wrinkles and age spots.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a powerful catechin present in green tea, is particularly effective in slowing collagen break down and reviving dying skin cells.

#For Oily Skin

Things you’ll need:

• Matcha green tea (antioxidant) – 1 tablespoon
• Aloe vera gel (soothing and anti-inflammatory) – 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Combine matcha green tea and aloe vera gel

• Pour 1 tablespoon of matcha green tea and 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel in a container.

Step 2. Mix and use

• Mix them well to form a thick and smooth paste.
• Remove any kind of makeup and wash your face before applying the mask.
• Apply the pack over your face and neck with the help of a brush.
• Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse it off with water.

Use it once or twice a week.

#For Dry Skin

Things you’ll need:

• Matcha green tea (antioxidant) – 1 tablespoon
• Coconut oil (moisturizes skin) – ½ tablespoon
• Water

Step 1. Mix matcha green tea and coconut oil

• Pour 1 tablespoon of matcha green tea in a container.
• Add ½ tablespoon of coconut oil to the tea and mix it.

Step 2. Add some water and store in a container

 

• Add few drops of water to blend the green tea and coconut oil.
• Remove any makeup and clean your face before applying the mask.
• Apply the pack on your face and neck with the help of a brush.
• Leave it on for 15 minutes or longer and rinse it off with water.

Use it once or twice a week.

Note: Do not apply the mask over your eyes. If you feel any kind of irritation, wash it off immediately.

Method 2: Puffy Eye Manager

Late-night work or environmental toxins can take a toll on our delicate skin, especially around the eyes, causing dark circles, puffiness and under-eye bags.

The antioxidants and tannins in green tea have astringent properties that help shrink blood vessels around your eyes, which in turn lessen swelling and puffiness.

Single-Step Treatment: Place a used tea bag over your eye

• Take a used tea bag and squeeze it to remove any remaining liquid.
• Chill it in your refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Place the cold tea bag over your eye for 10 minutes.

Repeat 2 to 3 times daily for best results.

Method 3: Face Toner

If you suffer from frequent skin breakouts or have dry skin, using a green tea face toner can come in handy. Spraying on green tea toner directly supplies the antioxidants to your skin. It de-clogs your pores and makes your skin brighter and smoother.

Things you’ll need:

• Green tea bag (antioxidant) – 1
• Water – 1 cup
• Apple cider vinegar (maintains pH level) – 1 tablespoon
• Lemongrass essential oil (antimicrobial) – 2 drops
• Lavender essential oil (antibacterial/ anti-inflammatory) – 10 drops

Step 1. Brew a cup of green tea

• Take 1 cup of boiling water and dunk a tea bag in the boiled water for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Let the tea cool down to room temperature. Pour a half cup of tea in a container.

Step 2. Add apple cider vinegar, lavender oil, and lemongrass oil to the green tea

• Add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, 2 drops of lemongrass oil, and 10 drops of lavender oil to the green tea.

Step 3. Whisk the ingredients and transfer to a spray bottle

• Mix all the ingredients using a hand blender and transfer it to a spray bottle.
• Store in a cool and dark place.
• Apply it every morning and night after cleansing your face.

Use it up within 1 to 2 weeks, as it contains no preservative.

Note: If you have sensitive skin, you can reduce the quantity of apple cider vinegar. Also, it is always safe to do a patch test first.

Method 4: Green Tea Scrub for Exfoliation

Exfoliation is an important part of skincare regime. Scrubbing your face and body once or twice a week helps remove the dead skin that can clog your pores, making it appear dull and patchy.

Green tea, when used in the form of a scrub, provides your skin with antioxidants and vitamins that provide a glow to the skin.

Things you’ll need:

• Green tea bag (antioxidant and exfoliates skin) – 1
• White sugar (exfoliates skin) – 1 cup
• Matcha green tea (antioxidant) – 2 teaspoons
• Coconut oil (moisturizes skin) – ½ cup

Step 1. Mix sugar, matcha green tea and green tea leaves in a container

• Put 1 cup of white sugar in a bowl.
• Add 2 teaspoons of green tea powder (matcha green tea) to the sugar.
• Empty a green tea bag in the container and mix all the ingredients.

Step 2. Add coconut oil to the mix and store

• Pour ½ cup of coconut oil over the mix and stir well till the oil binds with the sugar.
• Transfer the mixture to an airtight container.
• Take a small amount of scrub, and using your fingers, apply the mix over your body in circular motion for few minutes. Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse off with water.

Use it once or twice a week.

Method 5: Green Tea Moisturizer

Green tea in combination with coconut oil works brilliantly to keep your skin moisturized without clogging the pores. The antioxidants in green tea help repair damaged skin, while the antibacterial coconut oil prevents breakouts.

Things you’ll need:

• Coconut oil (moisturizes skin) – 1 cup
• Green tea bags (antioxidant) – 2

Step 1. Melt coconut oil and infuse green tea

• Pour 1 cup of coconut oil in a glass container and heat it at medium a level using a makeshift double boiler.
• Put 2 tea bags of green tea in the container and cover the container with a lid.
• Let it simmer on low flame for an hour.

Step 2. Whip the oil and store in a jar

• Remove the oil from heat and let it cool till it solidifies.
• Whip it for 3 to 5 minutes till it turns creamy and store it in an air-tight jar.

Use the green tea moisturizer during the night after cleaning your face for best results because the skin repairs itself while you sleep.

Method 6: Green Tea Ice Cubes

Green tea ice cubes can perform multiple tasks when it comes to skin problems. They can be used to reduce puffiness and dark circles around the eyes, as a natural cleanser or sunburn soother, to get a  .

Things you’ll need:

• Brewed green tea (antioxidant) – 1 cup
• Ice tray

Single-Step Method: Pour green tea into the ice tray and freeze

 

• Brew a fresh cup of green tea and let it cool to room temperature.
• Pour the tea into an ice tray and freeze it until you get solid ice cubes. Use it as needed.

Note: If applying on acne-prone skin, wrap the ice cube in a thin cloth rather than applying it directly.

Method 7: Green Tea Detox Bath

Everyone needs a nice long bath to unwind after a hectic week of work. Bathing with green tea softens your skin and heals heat rashes and minor cuts due to the presence of antioxidants.

Adding Epsom salt helps sooth aching muscles and draws out toxins from your body. The essential oil has a calming effect on your mind and body by improving blood circulation.

Things you’ll need:

 

• Green tea bag (antioxidant) – 1
• Epsom salt (detoxes body) – ½ cup
• Baking soda (mild abrasive) – 2 tablespoons
• Vitamin E oil (nourishes skin) – a few drops
• Eucalyptus oil (ease muscles and joints) – 5 to 6 drops
• Lavender oil (improves circulation) – 5 to 6 drops

Step 1. Mix Epsom salt, baking soda, and green tea leaves in a container

• Put ½ cup of Epsom salt in a glass container and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda.
• Empty a green tea bag in the container and mix all the ingredients.

Step 2. Add vitamin E oil and the essential oils

• Add few drops of vitamin E oil, lavender oil, and eucalyptus oil

Step 3. Mix and store in a jar

• Mix all the ingredients well.
• Transfer the mixture to an airtight jar and store.
• Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the mixture to warm bath water and soak in the green tea-Epsom salt bath for 30 minutes.

Use the mixture once or twice a week.

Note: Always consume a glass of water before and after taking a detox bath as your body tends to dehydrate during soaking.

Method 8: Green Tea Face Wash

Green tea has astringent properties that help draw out impurities from your skin and tighten pores. The regular use of green tea for cleansing your face can prevent the occurrence of acne and reduce dark spots.

Things you’ll need:

• Brewed green tea (antioxidant) – ¼ cup
• Liquid castile soap (cleansing agent) – ¼ cup
• Vitamin E oil (nourishes skin) – 8 to 10 drops
• Tea tree oil (anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties) – 8 to 10 drops

Step 1. Mix green tea and Castile soap in a container

• Brew a fresh cup of green tea and let it cool down to room temperature.
• Pour ¼ cup of green tea in a container.
• Add ¼ cup of castile soap to the green tea.

Step 2. Add in the oils

• Add 8 to 10 drops each of vitamin E oil and tea tree oil.

Step 3. Transfer the mixture to a bottle and store.

 

• Mix the ingredients completely.
• Transfer the solution to a squirt bottle.
• Use it every day in the morning or night to clean your face and apply your regular moisturizer.

Hair

Method 1: Conditioning Hair Mask

Synthetic conditioners may show instant results, but they lead to chemical buildup on your scalp. They can clog your pores and cause a number of scalp troubles. Using green tea as a hair mask can help de-clog hair follicles and promote hair growth.

Things you’ll need:

• Lemon juice (antibacterial) – 1 teaspoon
• Coconut oil (moisturizes hair) – ¼ cup
• Matcha green tea (antioxidant) – 2 tablespoons

Step 1. Add green tea, coconut oil, and lemon juice to a container

 

• Pour 2 tablespoons of matcha green tea in a container.
• Pour ¼ cup of coconut oil and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice in the green tea.

Step 2. Mix all the ingredients and apply on your hair

 

• Mix all the ingredients to form a thick paste.
• With the help of a brush, apply the mixture on your hair strands.
• Massage it over the scalp and leave it for 45 minutes. Rinse it off using a mild shampoo.

Use green tea conditioning hair mask not more than thrice a month.

Method 2: Hair Spray

If you are always running out of time, a green tea hair spray can help keep those hair woes at bay. Green tea is rich in vitamins E and C that strengthen hair and prevent split ends.

Also, adding Apple Cider Vinegar to the green tea helps maintain the pH balance of your scalp, which in turn promotes hair growth.

Things you’ll need:

• Water – 1 cup
• Green tea bags (antioxidant) – 2
• Honey (humectant) – 2 teaspoons
• Apple cider vinegar (balances pH level) – 1 tablespoon

Step 1. Brew a cup of green tea

• Boil 1 cup of water on a gas oven or in a microwave and dunk 2 green tea bags in the boiled water for 30 minutes.
• Remove the tea bags from the cup, squeezing out all the liquid. Let the tea cool off completely.

Step 2. Add honey and apple cider vinegar to green tea

• Add 2 teaspoons of honey to the green tea.
• Pour 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into it.

Step 3. Mix and store in a spray bottle

• Stir the ingredients to mix properly.
• Transfer the solution to a spray bottle and store.
• Wet your hair with lukewarm water and spray the mixture all over your hair.
• Gently massage it over the scalp and leave it on for 10 minutes. Rinse it off with cool water.

Use green tea hair spray once or twice a week.

Method 3: DIY pH-Balanced Shampoo

The combination of green tea, olive oil, and essential oil in a homemade shampoo is a good alternative for chemically treated hair products. Green tea strengthens hair, olive oil nourishes and adds shine, and essential oil stimulates hair growth and adds a refreshing fragrance to your hair.

Things you’ll need:

• Water – 1 cup
• Green tea bag (antioxidant) – 1
• Liquid castile soap (cleaning agent) – ¼ cup
• Olive oil (nourishes hair) – 1 tablespoon
• Rosemary oil (stimulate hair growth) – few drops

Step 1. Mix liquid castile soap with green tea

• Brew 1 cup of green tea by dipping 1 tea bag in a cup of boiled water for 30 minutes. Let it cool down completely.
• Add ¼ cup of castile soap to the tea and stir well.

Step 2. Add olive oil and essential oil to the mixture and store in a squeeze bottle

• Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and few drops of rosemary oil to the mix and stir all the ingredients.
• Transfer the mixture to a squeeze bottle for easy pouring.

Use the green tea shampoo as needed.

Tips

• You can also add cinnamon powder, cucumber juice, orange extract, lemon juice, or vitamin E oil to the green tea before freezing for extra skin benefits.
• You can also add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil to the green tea detox bath for extra moisture.

References:

http://www.webmd.com/beauty/news/20000817/green-tea-could-be-good-for-your-skin-study-finds#1

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3561737/

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/04/030425071800.htm

Summary of How to Use Green Tea for Beautiful Hair and Skin

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