An Anti-Inflammatory Matcha Tea Face Mask

By Abigail Hueber

Here in New England the seasons are changing yet again and autumn is slowly trickling in bringing cooler weather. Warm weather worshipers may be mourning the start of the cooler seasons, but I celebrate it largely due to the return of one thing: Tea.

Tea is a nutrient-dense beverage that benefits our body and our skin. A newer member to the pop-culture tea isle is matcha tea, a high antioxidant powdered tea that can help restore your skin’s youthful glow after summer’s endless sunshine.

A Look at Matcha Tea’s History and Health Benefits

Matcha green tea originates from Japan and is made from pulverizing whole green tea leaves into a fine powder that is bright green in color. The traditional preparation of matcha is to whisk it with hot water into a frothy tea. Today it’s used as an ingredient in lattes, smoothies, baking and even skincare.

Matcha is a rich source of trace minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients, including polyphenol EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate).These nutrients work as potent antioxidants in the body reducing inflammation. They’ve been shown to offer protection against certain types of cancer, reduce cardiovascular disease risk and help lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure. The potent polyphenol EGCG is particularly notable for its high antioxidant capacities, which has the potential to reduce inflammation and decrease damage from free radicals that are associated with accelerated aging of the skin. So regardless if you sip your matcha tea or apply it liberally to your face, your body and skin will thank you!