Throughout spring and summer, I crave the fresh, creamy texture and flavor of a nourishing matcha latte—first hot, then iced, and then in cooling dessert form. When I discovered homemade matcha ice cream, I wasn’t sure I could take my green obsession any further. But when my friend suggested a mid-July home spa day, and we started brainstorming ideas for herbal tea facials, I found myself thinking about matcha in a whole new way.
When I stopped to consider it, I was honestly surprised I hadn’t thought of using matcha in skincare before. After all, recipes featuring other types of green tea have been rising in popularity, including skin serums with green tea-infused oils or extracts. Some folks report the appearance of toning and brightening effects from the tea’s caffeine content, while others are attracted to these formulations because of green tea’s vaunted antioxidant properties—and this is especially true of matcha! Matcha tea contains catechins, a type of phenolic compound that has abundant antioxidant activity, especially epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)*. Plus, since matcha already comes in fine powder form, you can incorporate it directly into facial formulations, no infusion or extraction required.
This face mask recipe was inspired by the look and feel of my favorite creamy matcha treats. It incorporates several healthful, skin-balancing ingredients intended to leave the complexion feeling as refreshed as I do after a frothy green sipping session: gentle kaolin clay for toning, coconut cream and oil for texture and hydration, and honey for its range of skin-loving properties. After all, shouldn’t we nourish ourselves from the outside as well as we do from the inside?
Makes about 1/3 cup (about two masks).
Ingredients
Directions
Pro Tip
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* DISCLAIMER: For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.