Pamper and Protect Your Skin with Green Tea

It seems as though, lately, more and more companies are adding green tea to their beauty products. From cosmetics to lotions, bodywashes to face masks, green tea is popping up everywhere as a main ingredient and the reason for that is quite simple. Green tea is like a buffet of nutrients for your skin.

People have imbibed green tea and felt the regenerative effects of it for hundreds of years in Asian countries, but more recently, researchers have found that the tea is full of antioxidants and polyphenols that are incredibly beneficial for keeping skin healthy and radiant. According to studies done regarding green tea, it has been found that the antioxidants and polyphenols in green tea can stop free radical damage, cleanse the body and skin of toxins, inhibit cancerous growths, stop infections in their tracks, and boost the immune system. Specific dermatological studies have also shown that green tea, when taken internally and used topically can actually protect the skin from sun damage, reduce inflammation and acne, and slow the signs of aging. With so many benefits attached to green tea, it is no small wonder that it is now becoming one of the hottest commodities in skin care.

While it is always a good idea to drink green tea and make it a regular part of your diet for maximum benefits , using it topically is also extremely beneficial. There are many wonderful products on the market that are already formulated with green tea, as well as preparations you can make at home. If you choose to go the at-home route, the benefits include knowing exactly how much of the tea is being used and you can always add more or less according to what your skin's needs are.

A favorite at-home green tea skin treatment of many international models and make-up artists is a toner made from the tea. It is simple and inexpensive to make and will cleanse, smooth, tone, and freshen your skin instantly. All that you will need to make this toner is three teaspoons of green tea powder and half a cup of water. You may prefer to use organic green tea powder which is another benefit of making your own beauty products at home. When you make your own products you have the control over what you are actually using, and organic products will allow your skin to benefit from the green tea's actual nutrients without any added toxins or pesticides.

When you are ready to make your toner, simply boil the half cup of water and then pour it over the green tea powder. Allow the tea to steep for 10-15 minutes and cool down. After it is sufficiently cooled down you may use it or place it in a glass bottle or jar and place it in the refrigerator. Using it cool out of the fridge is a wonderful way to soothe and refresh tired or irritated skin and it is heavenly on a sunburn. You can apply this toner to your face or wherever you may need it on your body with a cottonball and since the ingredients are so pure you can use it anytime you want to cleanse and repair your skin.

Green tea has been touted as a superdrink for generations in many Asian countries, and now the benefits can be ours too. Taken as a beverage or used topically, green tea has a veritable cornucopia of healing properties for our bodies and our skin. Using a simple to make, green tea toner is just one wonderful way to keep your skin healthy and youthful for years to come.