Tea: from traditional medicine to skincare trend
According to Chinese tradition, Emperor Shennong discovered tea almost 5,000 years ago, when a few leaves from a Camellia sinensis plant accidentally fell into a pot of boiling water. Since then, and for centuries, tea has been used as a medicinal remedy, and not just as a beverage.
In China, tea was used to aid digestion, soothe pain, improve concentration, and accompany days of meditation. In 13th-century Japan, the monk Eisai wrote that tea is “a miraculous medicine for maintaining health and has the extraordinary power to extend life.” When it arrived in Europe in the 17th century, doctors still described it as a plant with beneficial properties.
Today, science looks at the same leaves with different tools. Tea is rich in polyphenols, including catechins (EGCG), and contains amino acids, vitamins, and proteins. Inside a cup of tea lies a pool of nutrients and antioxidant substances that function as a good supplement for our bodies. Tea is a routine that works from the inside out. Read more in this article
The power of tea for skin and hair
We know that tea is naturally one of the plants with the highest quantity of antioxidants—it contains about 30% in every leaf! Antioxidants (or catechins) help counteract the free radicals generated by UV rays, pollution, and stress, which are among the factors of skin aging. For this reason, tea, both in the form of an infusion (using patented Tea Infusion Skincare® technology) and as an extract, is among the most used ingredients in modern cosmetics. Read more in this article
Hair and scalp also benefit from tea. In Asian culture, the final hair rinse is done with tea to make it shinier and stronger, while the scalp is refreshed and toned.
The “IN” routine: what you drink
Beauty also starts with what you put in your cup. A simple and effective routine could be this:
- Morning: green tea or matcha. They provide energy and a shot of vitamins; they are rich in L-theanine—an amino acid that slows the absorption of caffeine—and therefore act more gently than coffee. Infusion should be done at 75–80 °C to best extract the nutrients.
- Afternoon: white tea or blue tea (oolong). They are light and aromatic, ideal for a wellness break. Read more in this article
- Evening: decaffeinated tea with lavender flowers. Add a few lavender flowers to your favorite tea: you will discover an infusion with a delicious taste that promotes sleep, one of the main allies of beauty.
The “OUT” routine: what you apply
There are more than 2,500 scientific publications that analyze the link between tea and the skin and demonstrate its:
- Efficacy in photoprotection and prevention of photoaging: catechins have demonstrated an extraordinary ability to absorb UV radiation, reduce sunburn caused by UVB rays, and protect cellular DNA from oxidative stress damage.
- Anti-aging effect and collagen stimulation: topical application (creams and serums) combined with oral intake increases skin microcirculation by almost 29%, improving oxygen supply, hydration, and elasticity, and inhibiting the enzymes that degrade collagen.
- Activity in the treatment of acne and oily skin: thanks to its strong anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, green tea significantly reduces sebum production and counteracts the activity of the Cutibacterium acnes bacteria, offering a natural alternative to traditional treatments.
Tea-based skincare transfers the benefits of the cup to the skin. Here is a skincare routine based on a few essential steps for hydrated, luminous, and younger-looking skin for longer.
- Cleansing: this is the first step of treatment because these products are no longer just simple cleansers but formulas rich in active ingredients that continue to act even after rinsing. This should be done in the morning and, above all, in the evening to remove traces of sebum, pollution, makeup, sunscreen, and impurities without drying the skin.
- Preparation: we know that the skin is a natural barrier, and to promote the penetration of active ingredients, we must give it a hand by removing dead cells and sebum in the pores. The ideal is to apply a salicylic acid (BHA) lotion or gentle exfoliating agents (AHA) after cleansing, which prepares the skin to receive subsequent active ingredients and immediately makes it softer and more luminous. You can complete the preparation by spraying a toner on your face, which, thanks to the nebulization of active ingredients in hydrolyzed form, is able to penetrate deeply.
- Serum: after preparation, it is time to apply a concentrate of antioxidants that will protect the skin throughout the day, as well as active ingredients designed to meet your needs: hyaluronic acid if you need hydration, centella asiatica for the skin barrier, peptides to tone, and vitamin C to brighten and lighten spots.
- Cream: the final step consists of supporting the action of the serum with a cream with a richer consistency, designed to seal the serum’s active ingredients into the skin, protect the skin barrier against cold, wind, and pollution during the day, and promote its regeneration at night.
- Eye contour: this is the most delicate area of the face and often the most neglected. Lacking sebaceous glands and therefore prone to drying out easily, the periocular area needs specific care because the pH here is higher than on the rest of the face. Our advice is to apply a specific treatment that, in addition to keeping it hydrated, promotes microcirculation, preventing the formation of bags and dark circles. Tea, with its rich caffeine content, is a great ally for the youthfulness of the eye contour.
- Face and eye mask: for a shock action, before a special event or when you need an energy boost, masks are a great help because they are designed to transfer a high dose of active ingredients to the skin that penetrate more easily thanks to the occlusive action of the fabric or hydrogel film (in the case of sheet masks or patches) or the thick layer of product in the case of cream or gel masks.
For strong and shiny hair: restructuring shampoos and masks based on matcha tea infusions and skincare active ingredients (because the scalp is skin too) help protect and strengthen the hair fiber, while probiotics keep the scalp hydrated.
Bringing the inside and outside together
The strong point of this routine is synergy. A cup of tea in the morning, a tea-infused cream in the evening, and a matcha shampoo do not require much time but ensure visible results and represent a beauty gesture and a daily ritual that is good for your skin and your spirit.
