Green tea, Camellia Sinensis, is one of the world’s oldest beauty secrets. Beyond its therapeutic benefits, it’s now used for cosmetic purposes too — creams, lotions and milks based on green tea are multiplying on shelves, proof of just how rich it is in precious compounds.
What are green tea’s beauty benefits?
Slowing down ageing
Very rich in polyphenols, green tea is well known for its precious antioxidant properties. It helps slow the premature ageing of body tissue by clearing out free radicals — an ally in the fight against signs of ageing, wrinkles in particular. Its polyphenols are powerful antioxidants, 20 times more powerful than vitamin E: this antioxidant power is what has caught the attention of cosmetology.
Staying trim: a slimming effect
The benefits of green tea have been known for millennia. Among its positive effects, green tea helps rebalance a number of metabolic imbalances, weight issues included. Drinking it actively supports several essential bodily processes that help you reach or sustainably maintain your ideal weight, with ingredients that give the metabolism an energising boost.
As part of a weight-loss diet, the infusions should be drunk daily, since the action of its active compounds doesn’t last beyond twenty-four hours. They’re best taken half an hour before meals, to make the most of their appetite-suppressing effect and limit their impact on iron absorption. Better to avoid it in the evening: the caffeine can cause insomnia.
De-acidifying the body
One important but often overlooked factor in weight gain is the body’s hyperacidity: an overly acidic environment works against fat metabolism and can encourage weight gain or make weight loss difficult. Green tea is particularly well suited to de-acidifying the body.
Curbing sugar cravings
Regularly consuming bitter substances changes your taste buds: sweet foods become less appealing, while bitter foods become more so. Sudden cravings for sugar or starchy foods are reduced as a result, with a knock-on effect on blood sugar balance.
A fresh, purified complexion
An effective drink for hydrating and purifying the body, green tea promotes a clear, fresh, radiant complexion through its draining and detoxifying properties. Its tannin content, with its astringent qualities, makes it useful for combination and oily skin, helping to tighten enlarged pores. Check out our step-by-step green tea beauty tips to put these benefits into practice.
Decongesting and soothing the eyes
The theine and tannin found in tea help stimulate, decongest and revitalise the eye contour area.
Giving hair suppleness and shine
Green tea also works well for hair care: it restores suppleness and shine, especially to hair left dull and brittle by frequent washing, hair dryers and dyes, while helping to treat dandruff and stimulate growth.
Green tea’s polyphenols are antioxidants 20 times more powerful than vitamin E.
