You’ve no doubt heard a lot about matcha green tea recently, especially how good it is for you to drink . Walk into any coffee shop or juice bar and matcha green tea powder will undoubtedly be on the menu. But you may also have noticed that it’s becoming a skincare darling with it’s matcha popularity. Even mainstream lines are using it as one of their superstar ingredients.
When I lived in Japan, I remember going to a Japanese tea ceremony and admiring the respect and honor that is given to the act of making and drinking tea. Even when mentioning the word tea, the Japanese use the honorific “o cha.” By adding the “o” in front of “cha” meaning tea there is a beautification of the word that is important in Japanese language.
In true Japanese tradition, there is a deep respect for the craft of cultivating the highest, most potent and most complete form of the tea that is called matcha…but more on that below.
After admiring, smelling, mixing and drinking the tea during my Japanese tea ceremony, I truly enjoyed the full body of this acquired taste. I was completely and consciously sipping my tea using every single one of my senses. I became obsessed with learning more about the magic behind the Japanese matcha green tea powder that was used in these ceremonies.
So what is matcha powder and why is i t so good for you? Let’s explore this ancient ritualistic tea below.
What is Matcha Green Tea Powder?
Matcha, which is also known as Camellia Sinesis, is the finely ground version of specially grown and processed green tea leaves. It has been consumed in China and Japan for its’ health benefits for centuries including being used by Zen-Buddhist monks for over 800 years. This ancient ingredient has now made its way to America as a plant superfood.
Matcha is one of the most nutrient-rich teas on earth. You may be wondering how is matcha different from regular green tea? Well, since the tea is ground into a fine powder, you receive the full benefits of the whole leaf versus traditional teas that you have to steep in boiling water which destroys many of the nutritional benefits.
Rich in powerful anti-oxidants, amino acids, vitamins and minerals, matcha powder contains more per gram antioxidants than any other known fruits or vegetables – yes more than goji berry, dark chocolate or blueberres.
Best known for epigallocatechin gallate, which is also more commonly known as EGCG, is a potent antioxidant found in green tea which is know to reduce free radicals (you know those molecules that cause damage to cell walls and help speed up the aging process). This makes it a great choice for skincare because it helps keep your skin looking more youthful.
Matcha has several other antioxidants contained within, and because it’s ground into a fine powder, more of those ingredients make it onto your skin. That’s why combining matcha powder with other skincare superfoods is a great choice for every skin type and condition.
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Is Matcha Green Tea Powder Good For Your Skin? What are the Benefits?
Matcha powder is incredibly beneficial for your skin. Using it on your skin on a weekly basis has great skin care benefits, including:
- Diminishing the signs of aging
- Absorbing oil
- Calming red and hyper-sensitive skin
- Reducing puffiness
- Eliminating toxins
- Skin Clearing and smoothing benefits
The list is endless, and let’s face it, that’s why you’re considering matcha powder for your DIY beauty routine!
Is All Matcha Green Tea Powder Created Equal?
No, not all matcha is created equal. This is because there is no culinary or skincare standard for matcha powders. You can simply walk into a store, buy a tin of matcha, and use it to make your own homemade matcha green tea powder face mask recipe without realizing there are quality differences.
Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder
Organic matcha is absolutely the best type of matcha to buy on the market; it’s also the most expensive.
This is because growers put a lot of time and effort into cultivating the best plants without the use of harmful chemicals. If used, harsh chemicals can seep into the matcha powder, making it more of a concern than a benefit to your skin and overall health.
Matcha powder is already more expensive than green tea; however, it is worth the price if you care about your skin. Choose these and your skin will thank you for it.
Shade Grown Matcha Green Tea
The best matcha is all shade grown; in fact, it’s one of the identifying characteristics of matcha. Shade grown means that the tea plant is grown entirely in the shade; this is done by draping the plants with muslin cloths. The result is a vibrant and bitter taste, which is why matcha is world famous.
Any matcha that is not shade grown cannot be considered true matcha; it is just green tea leaves that are ground up and sold as such.
It’s important to do your research if you’re looking for true matcha for your skin, because green tea leaves ground up that aren’t shade grown do not have the same effects on your skin.
Hand Picked Matcha Green Tea
High-quality matcha is always hand-picked; it’s one of the reasons that matcha can be very expensive. Matcha growers pick the best leaves, which comes with years of practice, and remove the veins and stems of the plant before grinding it into a smooth powder.
This has a direct effect on the quality and taste of the matcha itself, which varies from grower to grower.
Authentic Japanese Matcha Green Tea Powder Ceremonial Quality
Japanese matcha is the absolute best quality matcha powder on the market.
You will not find better quality from any other matcha powder and this is for one simple reason.
This is matcha that was especially made for use during Japanese tea ceremonies and is not only organic, shade-grown, and hand picked, but it is also stone-ground by hand in very small amounts.
The perfect climates to grow organic matcha are in the cooler mountains that naturally protect the plants from insects. The mountain ranges in Japan act as a natural barrier to protect the organic fields. In addition, mineral-rich volcanic soil in the remote regions of southern Japan are also ideal in growing nutrient rich crops.
Japanese matcha powder is expensive, comes in small quantities, and can be hard to find outside of specialty Japanese food stores.
But a once-a-week application of a matcha green tea face mask using Japanese tea ceremony quality matcha will do wonders for your skin.
How Is Matcha Green Tea Powder Processed? – Grinding Techniques
You’re now up to speed on different versions of matcha.
Now it’s time to discuss grounding techniques.
You may not think that this is important, but it actually can make a huge difference and it is something that growers meticulously perfect when processing the best quality matcha.
If you’ve ever bought matcha green tea powders before, you’ll notice that not all companies ground their matcha the same way. Some are finely ground into a fine powder while others still have specks of leaves still present.
You may wonder why that is…
The truth is, the best matcha green tea powders are always stone-ground by hand.
That’s right: matcha producers hand grind the leaves with stones like granite to achieve the right consistency. That’s why expensive matcha comes in very small quantities.
On the other end of the spectrum lies industrial grinding. This sounds like exactly what you think it is: large machines grinding tea leaves in a factory. Because there is little oversight to how fine the powder is ground, the matcha is left inconsistent.
It’s easier to sell these powders in high quantities, but the quality suffers.
Matcha Green Tea For Skin – Which Skin Types and Conditions Is It Good For?
Matcha green tea powder is great for all skin types.
If you buy the highest quality matcha powder you can find, it will be organic and natural, making it a great choice for every skin type.
However, there are some skin types it can be really beneficial for, like acne-prone and oily skin. Matcha contains tannins, which basically shrinks your pores. It leads to less oil production and fewer breakouts.
It’s also great for aging skin. This should come as no surprise, since the matcha green tea powder has been used for centuries in Asia.
Matcha is known to help increase skin elasticity (that’s what gives your skin bounce) and protects the skin against free radical damage, leaving your skin looking as beautiful as it did when you were in your 20s.
Are There Any Risks Associated with Using Matcha Green Tea?
Another reason it’s so important to purchase premium, ceremonial grade Japnese matcha green tea is that you reduce the risk of lead contamination.
That’s right…
Even a USDA Organic seal does not mean the tea was grown in a place free of pollution. Which is why you should think twice before purchasing organic matcha from China because the chance of lead contamination is often greater.
Another thing to watch out for is that you’re buying pure matcha powder – Many stores today sell matcha green tea powders that are mixed with milk and sugar, which can hinder any matcha benefits for your skin. You want to make sure to read the ingredient list; if there’s anything listed other than camellia sinensis, which is how it’s required to be listed on a label as this refers to the species name, leave it on the shelf.
So Which matcha powder is best for your skin?
I always had such a hard time finding the perfect matcha to use for my DIY skin care applications, so I sourced it myself from Japan: pure, organic, shade grown matcha that is carefully handled and ground by generations of Japanese tea ceremony-grade farmers. You can find it at 23 Skin Matcha Clay Powder.
DIY Matcha Green Tea Mask for Face Recipes You Can Make At Home
Creating your own DIY skincare preparations with matcha is easy. This fine powder mixes beautifully with other ingredients to make a luxurious facial mask. There are so many ways to use matcha powder for your skin as it’s perfect for most skin types and conditions.
Whether you are looking for anti-aging skin benefits or to clarify and refine your pores. Matcha is ideal to get radiant and glowing skin that looks and feels smoother.
Best Matcha Powder Skin Care Ingredient Pairings
If you can’t wait to incorporate matcha green tea powder into your skincare routine, then you’ll want to include some other ingredients when making up your own DIY recipes.
Here are a few that work incredibly well with matcha green tea powder:
- Aloe Vera Leaf
- Argan Oil
- Seaweed
- Calamine Powder
- Raw Honey
- Cinnamon
- Turmeric Powder
- Coconut Oil
- Plain Yogurt
- Kaolin Clay
We recommend that you experiment to see which ingredients would work best for you.
All of these work well together with matcha powder, but only you will know which combination works best on your skin.
We are going to share with you 3 do-it-yourself face mask recipes using matcha green tea powder. Feel free to personalize them with your favorite aromas or oils and use them according to your skin type or the season.
Have fun experimenting with different combinations of ingredients, and be sure to incorporate facial masking into your skin care routine 2-3 times per week.
1. Calming Matcha Green Tea Mask For Dry & Sensitive Skin
This DIY face mask is perfect to nourish, soothe and rehydrate skin that’s been exposed to the elements including sun, wind and artificial air. The natural lactic acid present in the plain yogurt provides skin with gentle exfoliation to rid it of dead skin cells, while the natural humectants in the raw honey moisturize skin.
You Will Need:
- 1tsp Matcha Clay Powder
- 1tsp Raw Honey
- 1tsp Plain Yogurt (Purchase at your local supermarket)
- 1-2 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil
Directions:
- Add the Matcha Clay Powder into a small bowl.
- Then add the raw honey and yogurt. Mix until forming a paste. Depending on the consistency you may add a little bit more of honey or matcha clay.
- Add 1-2 drops of lavender essential oil (optional)
- Spread the mixture onto the face and neck in circular motion.
- Leave it for 10-15 minutes
- Proceed to remove with a warm, and/or with wet washcloth if necessary.
2. Nourishing Matcha Green Tea Face Mask for Anti Aging Skin Benefits
Mixing matcha powder with your favorite carrier oil is the perfect way to give your skin a glowing and radiant complexion. Coconut oil is a wonderful skin moisturizer, while aloe vera provides added skin smoothing and moisturizing benefits. Combined with the potent anti-oxidants present in matcha green tea powder your skin will look youthful and dewy.
You Will Need:
- 1tsp Matcha Powder (Buy it here)
- 1tsp of your favorite oil (Coconut, Olive, Argan, etc)
- 1tsp Aloe Vera Gel
Directions:
- Add the Matcha Powder into a small bowl.
- Then add the coconut oil. Mix until forming a paste.
- Slowly start mixing in the aloe vera until reach the desire consistency
- Spread the mixture onto the face and neck in circular motion.
- Leave it for 10-15 minutes and proceed to remove with a warm, and/or with wet washcloth if necessary.
3. Matcha Green Tea Clay Mask For Problem, Oily and Acne Prone Skin
This is one of my favorite face masks and it’s so simple. Just combining matcha and clay with a little water makes a mask your skin will look so good immediately after using. This mask is perfect for those that have oilier skin types as the clay’s oil-absorbing properties will deeply cleanse your skin. Adding a few drops of manuka essential oil is wonderful for those looking for additional anti-bacterial properties.
You Will Need:
- 1tsp Matcha Powder
- 2 tsp Kaolin Clay
- Add water for consistency
- Add a few drops of Manuka Essential Oil
Directions:
- Add the Matcha Powder and Kaolin Clay powder into a small bowl. Then add the warm water. Mix until forming a smooth paste. Mix in 1-2 drops of Manuka Essential Oil (optional).
- Spread the mixture onto the face and neck in circular motion. Leave it for 10-15 minutes.
- Remove with a warm, and/or with wet washcloth if necessary.
Conclusion
Matcha is an incredible super ingredient, especially when it comes to skincare. Mix matcha into your favorite do-it-yourself spa quality facial masks and body treatments that you can do at home on a regular basis. Incorporating matcha into your skin care routine will truly transform your skin so it looks more radiant.
You will be able to see a remarkable difference just by making your own DIY matcha face mask once or twice a week. And if you do, let us know how it works out for you! We love getting your comments and want to know what effect matcha has on your skin.
**This article is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease.