Officially known as camellia sinensis, green tea it's a great way to improve tired skin. Camellia sinensis leaf extract is gaining popularity in toners, cleansers and moisturizing serums. While store-bought brands can give you that cool look, I'm not a fan of some of the ingredients. Toxic parabens and retinol and tongue twisters like butylene glycol and ethylhexylglycerin to name a few.
Some green tea serums add ingredients like panthenol, squalane, allantoin and peptides. These have their benefits, but can be difficult to obtain outside of a laboratory. This green tea serum uses simple, natural ingredients for an easy skin care DIY.
Skin benefits of green tea
Most of us know how healthy a cup of green tea can be, but it's also great for our skin. Green tea is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols such as EGCG. These help protect against skin damage from UV rays and environmental pollution.
Green tea polyphenols also help restore the vitamin C our skin needs to produce collagen. In this way it can help fight fine lines and improve skin firmness and tone. The properties of green tea help soothe skin irritation and redness and help calm inflammation.
Green tea also contains caffeine, which helps increase circulation in the skin. You'll sometimes find caffeine in eye creams to reduce dark spots and puffiness under the eyes. Caffeine also helps reduce cellulite by breaking down fat molecules deep in the skin.
It is important to note that using green tea topically is not the best way to get fit. Studies showing its cellulite benefits used high levels of caffeine. While green tea can help improve skin, it's still important to make healthy food choices.
Those who deal with acne or oily skin may also see benefits from adding green tea to their skin care routine. Not only does it reduce sebum, it also reduces inflammation and redness.
Apricot kernel oil
The other key ingredient in this serum is apricot kernel oil. Not only is it non-greasy, but it's deeply hydrating and a great option for dry, irritated or sensitive skin. Apricot kernel oil is also high in vitamin A and essential fatty acids to improve skin elasticity. It is also rich in vitamin E to protect the skin from oxidative damage and inflammation.
Apricot kernels are unique because they have the world's highest known concentration of vitamin B-17. Also known as amygdalin, B17 is being studied for its potential anti-cancer benefits. A 2023 review explores how B17 can not only kill cancer cells, but also inhibit their growth and spread. While there is no conclusive evidence for the anti-cancer benefits of apricot kernels, the research is promising.
Addition of essential oils to green tea serum
Essential oils help to give this a pleasant aroma and have many benefits for the skin. There are many skin-safe essential oils with a variety of benefits. You can pick your favorites, but here are the ones I used and why.
Ylang Ylang
Ylang ylang stimulates cell growth and has anti-aging benefits. It reduces inflammation and harmful bacteria on the skin, making it good for acne as well. Ylang ylang is good for a variety of skin types and has many aromatherapy benefits. This essential oil helps us stay calm in stressful situations and can even lower blood pressure. It also works well in a soothing pillow spray.
It has a strong scent, so be sure to smell it before adding it to your serum. I like to add it in small amounts to complement (not drown out!) the overall serum. Ylang ylang may irritate the skin if used above a 0.8% dilution. This green tea serum uses less than 0.5%, but you can easily cut the amount in half if you prefer.
Sweet orange essential oil
Unlike most citrus essential oils, sweet orange is not phototoxic. This means that it will not cause burns and damage to the skin if used before sun exposure. The fruity notes of orange help balance the deeper florals of ylang ylang oil. Reduces blemishes and lifts mood to reduce stress.
Don't have ylang ylang and orange essential oil? Here are some other good options to add:
- The tea tree
- lavender
- Incense
- pink
- Geranium
How to make green tea infused oil
There are several different ways to get the benefits of green tea in your skin care. You can use glycerin to make a green tea glycerin. Then there is simply steeping the green tea in water. This is great when you want a quick tonic but only lasts a few days in the fridge.
For this serum we are preparing an oil infused with green tea. This way it combines well with other carrier oils for additional benefits. And since it's not water-based, there's no need to add a preservative or refrigerate it. You can use any carrier oil you prefer for your skin type.
- Olive oil and avocado oil are heavier and good for more mature skin
- Sweet almond oil is lighter and good for most skin types
Here's how to make one solar infusion with green tea. To infuse the oil, simply add the green tea and oil to your jar and cover. Shake occasionally and infuse for about 4 weeks.
For a faster version, here's the stove method:
- Add 1/2 cup carrier oil and 2 teaspoons loose leaf greens to the top of a double boiler.
- Gently boil the water in the bottom of the double boiler for 3 hours. Refill water as needed.
- Strain the green tea from the oil and it is ready to use.
Green tea serum recipe
This DIY green tea serum helps improve tired skin and is great for all skin types. Plus it's anti-aging and helps reduce inflammation!
Yield: 2 ounce
-
Add all ingredients to a 2-ounce glass dropper bottle.
-
Shake well and store in a cool, dry place.
- This serum will last for about 6-12 months, depending on the carrier oil you use to infuse the green tea.
- Use: apply a small amount to clean, dry skin to hydrate.
Other DIY Skin Care Recipes
If you're still in the DIY mood, try some of these skin care recipes!
What is your favorite way to use green tea? Leave a comment and let us know!
