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Drinking green tea is highly beneficial for your health, but did you know it also offers remarkable skincare benefits? You can use green tea to craft your own personalized skincare products or incorporate it into your favorite facial cleanser to enhance your complexion and combat acne. With green tea toner, face masks, cleansers, and steam treatments, your skin will achieve a radiant and smooth texture from the very first use.
Steps
Make Green Tea Toner
Boil a pot of water until it's nearly simmering. Heat the water until bubbles start rising from the bottom of the pot, then remove it from the heat to steep the tea.
- You only need to bring the water to a gentle boil, but allow some time for the tea to infuse and cool down.
Place a tea bag into a cup. Brew the tea in a cup that holds about 240 to 350 ml to ensure a high-quality toner. Drop the tea bag to the bottom and secure the string over the rim of the cup.
- If using loose tea, add approximately 1-2 tablespoons (2-4 g) into a tea infuser before placing it in the cup.
Pour hot water over the tea bag. Use a towel to protect your hands and slowly pour the hot water into the cup. Once the cup is nearly full, place the kettle back on the stove or set it on a towel, then gently stir the tea bag to allow the tea to steep.
- The water will immediately turn a cloudy green color.
Let the tea steep for 5-10 minutes. Secure the string of the tea bag or infuser over the rim of the cup, set a timer for 5-10 minutes, and wait for the tea to steep. Once the time is up, remove the tea bag and discard it or save the tea leaves for other uses.
- Green tea leaves can be used to make a face mask. Refer to the green tea face mask recipe for details.
Wait about 30 minutes for the tea to cool. You should not use hot tea for skincare, so allow it to cool for approximately 30 minutes. After this time, use your finger to check that the tea has cooled completely.
- Slightly warm tea can still be used.
Tip: For a quick skincare routine, after cleansing your face, gently rub a cooled tea bag over your skin and let the tea water dry naturally without rinsing. This helps reduce redness, brighten the skin, and treat acne.
Add 5-10 drops of tea tree oil if you have oily or acne-prone skin. This step is optional, but tea tree oil can help address oily skin and breakouts. Simply add 5-10 drops of the oil into the tea water and stir gently to mix.
- You can purchase tea tree oil at cosmetic stores or online.
Pour the cooled tea water into a clean, reusable bottle. Use a bottle with a spray nozzle or a tight-sealing lid to store the toner. Hold the bottle over the sink, slowly pour the toner from the cup into the bottle, and then securely close the lid.
Tip: If you have a funnel, use it to pour the toner into the bottle to avoid spills.
Apply the toner with your hands after cleansing your face. Pour a small amount of toner onto your hands, then use your fingers to spread it evenly across your face. Use just enough toner to cover your entire face.
- If using a spray bottle, simply mist the toner onto your skin.
- Use the green tea toner once or twice daily after washing your face.
Steam Your Face with Green Tea
Pour boiling water into a heat-resistant bowl on the table. Heat a kettle of water on the stove until bubbles form, then remove it from the heat and pour the water into the bowl. Use a towel or pot holder to place the bowl on the table in front of your seat.
- Be careful to avoid burns from the hot water.
Cut open a tea bag and pour the tea into the bowl of hot water. Use scissors or tear the tea bag by hand, then sprinkle the tea leaves into the water. The leaves will quickly infuse into the water.
- Use an entire tea bag for the best results.
Tip: If preferred, you can steep the entire tea bag in the bowl. This makes cleanup easier, but the infusion may be less effective since the tea isn’t evenly distributed.
Let the tea steep for 1-2 minutes before steaming your face. The tea will continue to infuse as you steam, but it’s best to wait 1-2 minutes before starting. During this time, the water will cool slightly, reducing the risk of burns. Use a watch or timer to keep track.
- You’ll notice the water changing color as the tea steeps.
Drape a towel over your head and lean over the bowl. Place a large towel over the back of your head and shoulders, then lean close to the bowl to allow the steam to reach your face. The towel will trap the steam around your face for a more effective treatment.
- Ensure the towel covers the bowl completely to prevent steam from escaping.
- If it feels too hot, lift the towel slightly to release some steam.
Steam your face for 5-10 minutes. Limit the steaming session to a maximum of 10 minutes. Take deep breaths and relax as if you’re at a spa, allowing the steam to penetrate your skin and remove impurities.
- If it feels too hot, you can stop the session earlier.
- It’s best to set a timer for 5-10 minutes to track the duration accurately.
Rinse your face with cool water to remove impurities. After steaming, go to the sink and splash cool water on your face to wash away sweat and dirt loosened by the steam.
- You can use a facial cleanser if desired, though it’s not strictly necessary.
Pat your face dry with a clean, soft towel. Use a towel or washcloth to gently dry your face, then proceed with your regular skincare routine.
- Steam your face consistently once a week.
Make a Green Tea Face Mask
Combine used green tea leaves and honey. Brew a cup of green tea, remove the tea bag, and let it cool. Cut open the tea bag, pour the damp tea leaves into a bowl, and add about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of honey. Mix well to form a paste, apply it to a clean face, and relax for 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
- After using the mask, apply your favorite moisturizer.
- This mask can exfoliate, reduce redness, and treat acne.
- Use the mask regularly once a week.
Mix green tea, coconut oil, honey, and lemon juice to create a brightening face mask. Combine 1 tablespoon (2g) of green tea leaves, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of honey, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of coconut oil, and 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of lemon juice in a bowl. Use a whisk or spoon to blend the ingredients until they form a smooth mixture. Apply the mask to your face with your hands, relax for 5-10 minutes, then rinse off with warm water.
- Apply moisturizer after removing the mask.
- This mask hydrates and nourishes the skin, especially when you’re stressed or sunburned.
- Use this mask regularly once or twice a week.
Make a green tea sheet mask using rice paper. Brew a cup of green tea and pour the tea into a small baking tray. Soak a sheet of rice paper in the tea until fully saturated. After 1-2 minutes, remove the rice paper, place it on your face, and relax for 10-15 minutes before removing it. No rinsing is needed after using this mask.
- This mask has anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and hydrating properties.
- Apply your favorite moisturizer after using the mask.
- For best results, use this mask once or twice a week.
Create a green tea yogurt mask to exfoliate and nourish your skin. Steep a green tea bag in hot water for 5 minutes, then remove the bag and let the tea cool. Mix 1 tablespoon (2g) of damp tea leaves with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of full-fat yogurt in a bowl. Apply the mixture to a clean face and relax for 30 minutes. Rinse off the mask with warm water, gently massaging your skin.
- Follow up with your preferred moisturizer after rinsing.
- Use this mask no more than once a week.
Add Green Tea to Your Facial Cleanser
Empty a green tea bag into a small bowl. You don’t need to brew the tea beforehand—just cut open a tea bag and pour the contents into the bowl.
- Alternatively, use 1-2 tablespoons (2-4g) of loose green tea leaves.
Add about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of facial cleanser to the bowl. You can combine green tea with any type of cleanser. Use a spoon to measure the right amount and add it to the bowl.
- Opt for a fragrance-free cleanser since green tea already has a mild scent.
Mix thoroughly until the green tea and cleanser are well combined. Stir with a spoon or your hands until the tea leaves are evenly distributed throughout the cleanser.
Apply the cleanser to your face using your hands. Use your fingers to scoop up the cleanser and gently massage it onto your skin in circular motions. Ensure the cleanser is evenly spread across your face.
- The green tea cleanser also helps exfoliate your skin gently while washing.
Leave the cleanser on your skin for about 5 minutes to enhance exfoliation. This step is optional, but you can treat the cleanser like a mask to remove dead skin cells. The mask will soften dead cells, making them easier to wash away. Set a timer for 5 minutes and relax for the best results.
- If short on time, you can rinse as usual. However, leaving the green tea cleanser on longer improves its effectiveness.
Rinse your face with warm water to remove the cleanser. Splash warm water onto the mask to wet it, then use your fingers to wash it off in circular motions. Make sure to rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of the mask.
- You can add green tea to your cleanser for daily use if desired. However, limit leaving it on for 5 minutes to once or twice a week to avoid skin irritation.
Tips
- Regular use of green tea will leave your skin looking fresh and smooth. The more consistently you use it, the more noticeable the results will be.
- Drinking green tea daily also improves your skin’s appearance. Try having green tea twice a day.
What You'll Need
Make Green Tea Toner
- Green tea
- Water
- Tea tree oil (optional)
- Spoon (optional)
- Clean bottle
- Timer
Make a Green Tea Face Mask
- Green tea
- Honey (optional)
- Coconut oil (optional)
- Lemon juice (optional)
- Rice paper (optional)
- Yogurt (optional)
- Spoon
- Timer
Mix Green Tea with Facial Cleanser
- Green tea
- Water
- Bowl
- Facial cleanser
- Spoon
- Timer
Steam Your Face with Green Tea
- Large bowl
- Boiling water
- Green tea bags
- Towel
- Timer
