WITH an overwhelming abundance of so-called must-have ingredients on the skincare market, it’s not often that you stumble across one that actually delivers on the life-altering benefits it touts.
Green tea, a gentle but potent antioxidant that is among the most well-researched ingredients in the industry, is one of those few rare gems that truly deserves its ever-increasing popularity.
I, for one, have made the beauty favourite a mainstay in my routine. Boasting powerful skin-soothing, anti-ageing and acne-fighting properties, green tea is ideal for treating a whole host of concerns and safe for all skin types – even infuriatingly-sensitive skin like mine.
From toners and gel creams to sunscreens and cult-favourite face masks, these eight picks are the crème de la crème of green tea-based skincare and are perfect for taking your new year regime to the next level.
Dr Ceuracle Jeju Matcha Clay Mask
£23 for 115g at Tonic15
Clay masks hold a somewhat unfair reputation for being excessively stripping to the skin. Contrary to popular belief, however, these skincare staples don’t have to be drying, with this vitamin-infused iteration from K-beauty’s Dr Ceuracle being a shining example. Teeming with amino acids and 35,000ppm of premium matcha from South Korea’s Jeju Island, this wash-off treatment leaves my skin feeling replenished and clarified without an unpleasant tight feeling. I use it once a week post-cleanse to instantly restore lustre to my complexion.
Cosrx Hydrium Green Tea Aqua Soothing Gel Cream
£24 for 50ml at Kōsame Beauty
On the days when the unforgivingly dry winter weather has been particularly harsh on my ultra-sensitive skin, I slather on this jelly-like cream by cult South Korean skincare giant, Cosrx. Packed with redness-reducing green tea leaf extract, this nourishing gel instantly cools flushed skin upon application. Lightweight and ideal for layering, I use this as my in-between serum and moisturiser step on days when I need an added hit of hydration.
Abib Quick Sunstick Protection Bar SPF50+ PA++++
£21.99 for 22g at SkinLibrary
The reapplication of sunscreen throughout the day is a crucial but oft-missed part of any skincare-aficionados’ routine. Even for me, a self-confessed suncare enthusiast, it can often at times be a bit of a chore. Fortunately, that all changed when this pocket-sized sunstick by Korean beauty brand Abib cropped up in my life. Simple, quick and irritation-free, this sleek product glides elegantly over the skin, leaving zero residue or white cast. What’s more, it boasts an extremely-high sun protection factor making it ideal for sun-avoiding vampires like myself.
L’Occitane Green Tea Hand Cream
£8 for 30ml at L’Occitane
This nourishing hand cream from French beauty giant L’Occitane is the perfect antidote to dry, cracked and overly-sanitised hands. Enriched with shea butter and beautifully-scented with green tea and citrus, it leaves my hands feeling soft, supple and protected all day long. What more could you ask for?
Klairs Daily Skin Hydrating Water
£26 for 500ml at Beauty and Seoul
K-beauty brand Dear, Klairs is a firm favourite of mine for their simple but inarguably effective line-up of skincare products. Their Daily Skin Hydrating Water, containing 45% of green tea water, has to be one of their best. Rich in antioxidants, this deeply hydrating, lightweight toner is easily layered and perfectly preps the skin for further treatment. I use it both morning and evening to ensure I’m getting the very best out of every step in my routine.
Jayjun Green Tea Eye Gel Patches
£31 for 60 patches at Tonic15
Whenever a full 8 hours’ sleep eludes me, these soothing hydrogel eye patches from Jayjun are my go-to fix. Infused with green tea leaf powder, these patches tighten, lift and brighten tired under-eyes while gently battling signs of ageing. I keep them cool in the fridge and use them whenever I wake up with puffy eye bags to quickly and easily reduce any unsightly swelling.
Isntree Green Tea Fresh Toner
£18 for 200ml at Kōsame Beauty
For oily skin-sufferers like myself, this skin-reviving toner from Isntree is a godsend. Enriched with 80% Jeju green tea extract, it works to brighten post-acne hyperpigmentation with vitamin C and control sebum throughout the day while leaving a natural dewy glow. This product isn’t reserved solely for the daytime, however, I splash it on generously both morning and evening after cleansing to ensure my skin is balanced and ready for the rest of my routine.
Neogen Real Fresh Foam Green Tea Cleanser
£16 for 160g at Melon & Starfish
I’m a big fan of foam cleansers. Not only are they remarkably gentle, but they typically offer extra hydrating and skin-refreshing benefits beyond just removing impurities. This alluringly-packaged cleanser from Neogen is a prime example. Containing 100% real green tea, its foamy lather never fails to effortlessly remove my sunscreen with zero irritation while soothing redness and inflammation. I use this as my second-cleanse of an evening – after an oil cleanser – to ensure remnants of the day are thoroughly washed away.
Blithe Patting Splash Mask
£29 for 150ml at SkinLibrary
Last but by certainly no means least, is this cult-favourite exfoliating mask by Korean beauty brand, Blithe. With the power of green tea and lactic acid, this multi-functional product works to tackle pesky whiteheads and re-balance and smooth pronounced pores. Once a week, I fill my basin with luke-warm water, pop in a capsule-full of this citron-green liquid, splash my face for 15 seconds and wake up the next morning to noticeably revived skin.
by Joshua Hendren