By Lea Sibbel/DPA
Green tea has a long history in Asia as a beverage with medicinal benefits. Among other healthy properties, it’s said to be good for the arteries. But now the German cosmetics industry has discovered green tea, lauding it as a skin treatment.
Green tea has become so popular as an active ingredient in creams that Christiane Bayerl from Germany’s Professional Association of Dermatologists (BVDD) says it is the “trendy additive” of the moment.
“Thanks to its high level of vitamins, minerals and trace elements, green tea is said to have healing properties that are good for the skin,” says Birgit Huber from Germany’s association of cosmetics makers, the IKW.
It is even used in some shampoos to soothe irritated skin on the scalp and cleanse greasy hair.
It’s also an antioxidant that protects skin and helps it regenerate.
“Green tea has been well studied by scientists and it’s known that it can neutralise radical ions,” contends Bayerl.
That explains why green tea is commended in face creams.
Bayerl recommends using green tea creams after being in the sun to keep the skin young looking.
The chlorophyll in the tea refreshes the skin, according to Alexandra Kessler-Kiehn who lectures at the Norkauer School of Cosmetics in Munich. Caffeine in green tea smooths the skin, but is released only slowly over several hours and not immediately.
“In contrast to black tea, green tea keeps all its natural ingredients because it has not been fermented,” says Birgit Huber.
“One of green tea’s active ingredients is epigallocatechin-3-gallate, which is used in medicine,” says Bayerl.
It has positive effects on the body’s cardiovascular system when drunk and it is also anti-inflammatory. Used in a skin cream, this can help prevent acne, although there is not yet enough evidence to prove that categorically.
Bayerl says there are no known negative aspects to epigallocatechin-3-gallate. In fact, it has been well tested as an anti-aging ingredient.
“Green tea is not known to cause allergies,” adds Huber. But, just like any other product, green tea may contain preservatives that the human body could be allergic to. “But that has nothing to do with green tea’s active ingredients,” says Kessler-Kiehn.
Just like any other cosmetic, green tea-containing products should be tested on a small patch of skin first, due to the additives they contain. If there is no negative reaction, you can then use it on a larger area.
“In most cases we can say that green tea cosmetics are suitable for all skin types,” explains Huber, but green tea is especially good for sensitive skin types.
You don’t need to buy green tea cosmetics to feel their healthy benefits; you can take green tea bags that have cooled down after use and apply them to your eyes to reduce swelling.
Another trick is to pour cold green tea over linseeds and use the resulting mixture as a skin mask.
“That cools the skin and refreshes it,” says Kessler-Kiehn. She also recommends using eco-friendly cosmetics. The higher the cosmetic’s green tea content is, the more potent it will be.
