The secret of glowing skin

You do not need fancy products or special serums to help you remain young, green tea, the beloved drink, soothes irritated skin and its anti-ageing properties prevent wrinkles, fine lines and other skin diseases.

Green tea is richer in phenolic compounds and other nutrients and can be used to make skincare products like tea toner, face mask, cleanser and steam treatment to detoxify skin pores and keep skin hydrated. You can use the leaves of herbal teas to steam your face or add it in your regular face pack, its antioxidant, anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory properties help keep your skin healthy, glowing and help you calm you down, too.

According to experts, the polyphenols present in green tea inhibit the growth of two proteins, which are known to promote tumour cell growth. Green tea is also known to heal the pre-cancerous scaly keratosis, which is a skin ailment that occurs due to unnecessary and chronic exposure to the sun. It thus helps in treating not only minor skin problems but also in keeping it immune to serious damages like skin tumours. Drinking green tea promotes DNA repair in the skin which helps to fight cancer.

Green tea helps to deal with problems of acne, blackheads, whiteheads, clogged and closed pores. This is a natural astringent, and so mops up the extra sebum or oil, solving the problem at its root. It helps remove all the dirt and grime from open pores and then tightens the freshly cleansed pores to prevent pollutants from getting in.

Green tea also has several beauty benefits and can be used easily as home beauty treatments. In fact, it is a wonderful skin toner. Take half cup of water and bring it to a boil. Put tea leaves in a ceramic bowl. Pour the hot water over it and keep for 2 minutes. Strain and cool the liquid. Apply on face with cotton wool to tone the skin. Leave on. Or, you can dip a tea bag in a cup of hot water. Cool and use it to tone the skin. Or make the tea-water and keep in an airtight jar in the refrigerator. Use the lotion to tone and refresh the skin.

It also nourishes the skin and delays visible ageing signs. Green tea contains Vitamin B2 and Vitamin E, both essential for refreshing and radiant skin. B2 plays an essential role in maintaining collagen levels for youthful and fairer skin. Vitamin E promotes new skin cell growth and also acts as intense hydration for soft and nourished skin.

Boil 2 to 3 cups of water and add 2 green tea bags. Let it soak for a few minutes. Cool and apply on the face with cotton wool pads. The remaining liquid may be kept in the fridge. Green tea liquid may also be mixed with a little honey and applied on the face. Wash off with plain water after 20 minutes.

Green tea, in fact, can be used in many other ways in beauty care. Ground almonds, green tea leaves and curd will make a good facial and body scrub. It also has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to control an acne condition. Make a powder of green tea leaves and mix it with a little cinnamon powder and lemon juice into a paste. Apply this on the eruptions directly and wash off with plain water after 20 minutes.

Mix a green tea, coconut oil, honey, and lemon juice mask for brightening Skin tone. Add 1 tbsp green tea leaves, (30 ML) of honey, 1 tsp of coconut oil, and (30 ML) of lemon juice to a bow. Mix them with a spoon and apply the paste on the face for 15 minutes and allow it to dry in natural atmosphere rinse off the mask with lukewarm water. Apply a moisturiser after you rinse off the mask. You can use this mask for once in a week. Green tea helps you fight the problem of dry and chapped lips. Apply green tea bag soaked in warm water over your lips. It will relieve the burning sensation and hydrate the lips.