Green Tea for your Skin

A lot of people drink green tea for its health benefits, but it can also be helpful when applied directly to the skin. Green tea contains flavonoids and tannins, which are known to help fight inflammation and the bacteria that may cause pimples (11, 12Trusted Source). It’s also high in the antioxidant epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which has been shown to fight inflammation, reduce sebum production, and inhibit the growth of P. acnes in people with acne-prone skin (13Trusted Source).

Multiple studies have shown that people with acne experience significantly less sebum production and pimples when they apply a 2–3% green tea extract to their skin (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source). There are a handful of skin care products on the market that contain green tea, but it’s very simple and cost-effective to make your own mixture at home.

How to use green tea for acne

1. Steep green tea in boiling water for 3–4 minutes.

2. Allow the tea to cool.

3. Apply it to your face with a cotton ball or spritz it on using a spray bottle.

4. Leave it on for 10 minutes or overnight, and then rinse your face with water.

5. Apply 1–2 times per day, as needed. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

SUMMARY

Green tea is high in antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and fight bacteria. Applying it to the skin has been shown to significantly reduce pimples.