Better Nutrition September 2019

naturalBEAUTY/PURE INGREDIENTS FOR SKIN & BODY
Brewed Beauty
The surprising topical benefits of tea /// BY SHERRIE STRAUSFOGEL
Tea—green, black, white, and red—is making
its way from the cup into beauty products.
Rich in antioxidants with anti-aging and
anti-inflammatory properties, green tea is
the most popular tea in skin care,
but interest in other varieties
is brewing.
Green, black, and
white teas come from
the same plant, Camellia
sinensis. What makes
them different is the
Did You
Know?
Rooibos isn’t technically tea,
but a brew made from the
South African Aspalathus
linearis plant. True tea comes
only from the Camellia
sinensis plant.
processing of the leaves. Fresh-plucked
green tea leaves are withered and
steamed, not fermented. Black tea
leaves are crushed and fermented, and
according to recent studies, black
tea has a similar amount of
polyphenol antioxidants as
green tea. Because white
tea is the least processed
of all varieties, it has the
most antioxidants. It is
made from leaves and buds
that are plucked the day before they
open, and then sun-dried.
Rooibos is a red herbal tea from
the shrub Aspalathus linearis, usually
grown on the western coast of South
Africa. It turns red during fermentation
and is not related to “true” tea. Rooibos
means “red bush” in Afrikaans and
references the deep crimson hue of
rooibos tea. Each of the teas has
distinctive skin care benefits:
Green Tea
Green tea is loaded with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and other polyphenol
antioxidants that shield the skin from sun damage, wrinkles, and signs of
aging. Green tea polyphenols also protect against skin cancer, both when
sipped and applied topically. Although anyone can benefit from this
ingredient, it’s especially ideal for sensitive skin exposed to pollutants.
Matcha
While matcha is technically a green tea, it’s a more potent version. Matcha
works similarly to green tea to help reduce redness, soothe the skin, and
protect the skin from UV rays and pollutants. It’s ideal for normal skin.
Black Tea
Black tea has been used in skin care formulas since China’s Ming
Dynasty. Black tea’s tannins are antioxidants that can shield the skin
from environmental damage, fight bacteria, hydrate, and nourish.
It’s also very high in caffeine, which plumps, de-puffs, and firms skin.
Its ability to absorb excess sebum makes it effective for oily skin.
White Tea
Since white tea is not processed, it has a higher polyphenol
content than green and black tea. White tea is antibacterial
and helps prevent dullness, spots, wrinkles, and sagging
skin caused by toxins and free radicals. Its antioxidants
benefit all skin types.
Rooibos Tea
Rooibos has wrinkle-fighting powers. It contains the
antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase, which
is responsible for disarming the most dangerous
free radicals, increasing cell turnover, and slowing
down the development of wrinkles. Rooibos is
recommended for dry skin or premature aging
22 • SEPTEMBER 2019