Japanese green tea is one of the best options for your skin health. It’s also excellent for your overall health. Here’s a look at all you need to know to make sure you use it in just the right way.
One of the reasons Japanese green tea stands out is its rich concentration of antioxidants, particularly catechins and polyphenols. These compounds combat free radicals—the unstable molecules that damage skin cells and accelerate aging. By regularly consuming Japanese green tea, you help your body fight oxidative stress, which in turn reduces wrinkles, fine lines, and uneven skin tone. This natural protection makes it a must-have for anyone looking to maintain a youthful and radiant complexion.
In addition to antioxidants, Japanese green tea is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals that support skin repair and rejuvenation. Vitamins B2 and E, found abundantly in green tea leaves, help maintain skin elasticity while promoting healthy cell turnover. Minerals such as selenium and zinc aid in healing damaged tissues, soothing irritation, and preventing breakouts. Regular intake ensures your skin stays nourished from the inside out.
Another unique benefit is its ability to regulate oil production and maintain skin balance. Many people struggle with oily or combination skin that leads to clogged pores and acne flare-ups. Japanese green tea naturally reduces excess sebum production without stripping the skin of its moisture. This balancing effect makes it suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and acne-prone skin, ensuring a smoother and clearer complexion over time.
The Science Behind Japanese Green Tea
Before looking into how to use it, here’s a look at why it’s so beneficial. The first point to note is that it is excellent for hydrating the body. With the body hydrated, the skin will be too. This helps to keep it smooth and flexible.
The main benefit is in the detoxification benefits of drinking the green tea. The liquid will help to remove toxins from the body, which improves the overall health and definitely boosts the skin health. By removing the toxins out of the body, the skin will be acne and blemish free. Removing the toxins also helps to improve the complexion.
Green tea also contains antioxidants catechins. These have anti-bacterial properties, which helps to improve the immune system’s capabilities. Bacterial infections, including skin infections, are healed. (Read more about Catechins in green tea in my other article.)
These same antioxidants also help with inflammation reduction. The skin won’t be as red, with various ailments improving faster. Acne is improved and reduced, while scars heal much quicker.
There are also compounds that help with the rejuvenation of the skin. The compounds reactivate the skin cells, helping to promote healing and softness. Not only will you have better looking skin, but you can also help to limit and reverse some of the damage caused by pollution and the sun. It could also be possible to reduce the risks of cancer.
Japanese green tea is also rich in chlorophyll, which has natural cleansing and antibacterial properties. Chlorophyll helps to purify the blood and supports the liver in flushing out harmful toxins. A cleaner, healthier internal system reflects directly on the skin, giving it a brighter and more youthful appearance. This natural detoxifying effect is one of the reasons Japanese green tea is highly recommended for people dealing with dull or uneven skin tones.
Moreover, Japanese green tea is known to boost collagen production due to its high levels of vitamin C and amino acids. Collagen is essential for maintaining skin elasticity and preventing premature sagging or wrinkling. Regular consumption or topical application of green tea can help slow down visible signs of aging while keeping the skin firm and supple for longer periods.
Don’t Just Drink the Green Tea for Your Skin Health
While you can drink the Japanese green tea to get all the health benefits, this isn’t the only option. You can also gain them through making face masks with your green tea.
For the mask, just mix a tablespoon of leaves with 3 tablespoons of yogurt. Full fat yogurt works best for this need. Place on your face for around 20 minutes to help the nutrients work straight with the layers of the skin. You’ll find that the nutrients get right into the cells and middle and lower layers to improve the collagen production and repair cell damage.
Another option is to make a facial rub to cleanse the face. Take a tablespoon of ground tea leaves with some honey. Make a thick paste that you can apply directly to the skin and then leave it for around 15 minutes. The honey will add more vitamin C directly to your skin for extra healing. When removing the honey, rub in a circular motion to work the tea leaves into your skin and remove the dead layers.
When dealing with sunburn, make a pot of green tea and place in the fridge to cool. Use cloths and soak them in the tea. Apply them directly to the sunburned areas for both soothing and healing.
Drinking Japanese green tea isn’t just a benefit. You can gain various skin health benefits by applying the tea direct.
Another effective method is to create a green tea ice cube treatment. Brew a strong cup of Japanese green tea, pour it into an ice cube tray, and freeze. These cubes can be gently rubbed on your face to calm irritation, reduce puffiness, and tighten pores. The cooling effect combined with the tea’s antioxidants provides an instant refreshing glow.
You can also prepare a green tea hair rinse to extend its skin benefits to your scalp. After shampooing, pour cooled green tea onto your scalp and massage it in for a few minutes before rinsing. This helps soothe scalp irritation, strengthen hair follicles, and promote healthy hair growth while reducing dandruff caused by bacterial buildup.
DIY Beauty Products Made With Green Tea
Green tea may be thousands of years old, but it’s the latest superhero skin-care ingredient – and for good reason. Dermatologists such as NYC’s Joshua Zeichner rave about its antioxidant properties, specifically catechin polyphenols, which mop up environmental free-radical damage. Numerous studies have revealed the powerful beauty-enhancing effects of green tea, but it’s not just about brewing up and enjoying a calming cup – it can also be used to great effect in your daily skincare regime.
In fact, many natural skincare brands now incorporate Japanese green tea extracts into creams, serums, and cleansers because of their ability to calm irritation and fight signs of aging. You can even DIY a nourishing body scrub by mixing green tea powder with coconut oil and sugar, creating a gentle exfoliant that removes dead skin cells while infusing antioxidants deep into your skin for a silky-smooth finish.
Reduces Puffy Eyes and Dark Circles
Don’t throw away your used green tea bags! Cool them in the fridge and then lie down for 15 minutes or so with them on your eyelids. The antioxidants and tannins in the tea will work wonders with dark circles and puffy eyes. They act by shrinking the blood vessels underneath the delicate skin around the eyes, which takes down swelling and puffiness. What’s more, the vitamin K contained in green tea helps lighten any dark circles you might have under your eyes.
For an extra boost, you can create a homemade green tea eye serum by mixing cooled, concentrated green tea with a few drops of aloe vera gel and vitamin E oil. Apply it gently under your eyes before bedtime to hydrate the delicate skin, reduce puffiness overnight, and gradually fade dark circles with consistent use.
Green Tea Steam Facial
Green tea leaves can make a wonderful steam facial. The green tea-infused steam gives your skin a powerful hit of antioxidants, which go to battle with free radicals. The steam also helps soothe sensitive skin, detoxify your pores and keep your skin hydrated. It smells wonderful too – helping you to relax while you let the steam do its work.
It’s easy to do. All you need to do is put the kettle on, pour some boiling water into a large bowl with a couple of bags (or some loose) green tea, and cover to allow it to infuse for a little while. Give your face a gentle cleanse and then put a towel over your head to trap the steam in the bowl and stay there for 10 minutes or so. When you’re done, just rinse with cold water. Apparently supermodel Miranda Kerr does this regularly and if it’s good enough for her.
For an enhanced spa-like experience, you can add a few drops of essential oils like lavender or tea tree to the bowl along with the green tea. Lavender provides calming aromatherapy benefits, while tea tree oil adds antibacterial properties, making the steam even more effective for acne-prone or irritated skin.
Make a Skin Toner
It’s equally simple to make a green tea toner, which can harness the anti-inflammatory and DNA mending capabilities of its polyphenols. Green tea also helps balance hormonal levels, which is very helpful in the fight against spots (not something that only affects the young).
To make the most straightforward type, just add a green tea bag – or a couple of tablespoons of loose leaves– to a cup of boiling water and allow it to steep for about 5 minutes. Then remove the bag (or strain the liquid), transfer into an airtight receptacle and keep cool. Then just use it as you would any other toner – morning and evening after cleansing. It will stay fresh for about 4 days in the refrigerator.
You can jazz the toner up a bit by adding some lemon juice, honey, vitamin E oil, witch hazel, and baking soda. The honey is anti-aging, the lemon juice helps brighten skin tone, the witch hazel aids cleansing, and the vitamin E can heal sun damage. The baking soda not only helps soothe irritated skin but also acts as an exfoliator. Thanks to the baking soda and witch hazel, this toner will also keep for longer – about 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Green tea drinkers know that age is just a number. Who doesn’t want to keep skin looking youthful and plump? There are so many ways your skin will benefit from green tea, whether you simply drink it (delicious hot or cold) or knock up your own DIY skin product – certainly an inexpensive way to treat yourself. Put on the kettle, enjoy your brew of choice, and let your skin’s beauty speak for itself.
For even more benefits, try infusing the toner with fresh cucumber slices or rose water. Cucumber adds an extra cooling effect that reduces redness and swelling, while rose water enhances hydration and leaves your skin feeling soft and refreshed. This upgraded toner is perfect for calming sensitive or sun-exposed skin after a long day.
Another option is to turn your green tea toner into a hydrating face mist. Simply pour the prepared toner into a small spray bottle and spritz it on your face throughout the day. This not only keeps your skin moisturized but also delivers antioxidants directly to your skin whenever it needs a quick boost, making it an excellent on-the-go skincare solution.
Conclusion
Japanese green tea is more than just a refreshing drink – it’s a natural powerhouse for healthy, radiant skin. From detoxifying your body and boosting collagen production to calming inflammation and fighting signs of aging, its benefits are truly remarkable. Whether you enjoy it as a soothing beverage, apply it as a face mask or toner, or create DIY skincare remedies, Japanese green tea offers an affordable and effective way to nourish your skin from the inside out.
With consistent use, you can achieve a brighter complexion, reduce acne and puffiness, and keep your skin hydrated and youthful. So, make Japanese green tea a part of your daily skincare ritual and let nature’s finest ingredient help you glow with confidence.
Part of this article was originally published on T-Ching, where my work is featured
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About the author
Kei Nishida
Author, CEO Dream of Japan
Certification: PMP, BS in Computer Science
Education: Western Washington University
Kei Nishida is a passionate Japanese green tea connoisseur, writer, and the founder and CEO of Japanese Green Tea Co., a Dream of Japan Company.
Driven by a deep desire to share the rich flavors of his homeland, he established the only company that sources premium tea grown in nutrient-rich sugarcane soil—earning multiple Global Tea Champion awards.
Expanding his mission of introducing Japan’s finest to the world, Kei pioneered the launch of the first-ever Sumiyaki charcoal-roasted coffee through Japanese Coffee Co. He also brought the artistry of traditional Japanese craftsmanship to the global market by making katana-style handmade knives—crafted by a renowned katana maker—available outside Japan for the first time through Japanese Knife Co.
Kei’s journey continues as he uncovers and shares Japan’s hidden treasures with the world.
Learn more about Kei
