Is Matcha Good for Acne?

Matcha is a delicious and nutritious drink, but did you know that it also has some incredibly impressive benefits when applied topically on the skin? Keep reading as we discover if matcha is good for acne.

Matcha is – thankfully – commonly found in nearly every cafe around the world today, but did you know it dates back to the 7th century? While it’s a delicious and wonderfully nutritious drink, it also has some impressive benefits when applied topically to the skin. From increasing skin elasticity to reducing acne, here is everything you need to know about matcha in skincare products.

Matcha’s Origins

Matcha is a special type of finely powdered green tea prized for its bright green hue, distinct cultivation practices, ceremonial preparation, and transformative health benefits. Matcha dates back to the Tang Dynasty in China, but is mostly produced in Japan today. According to Britannica, matcha was introduced to Japan in the 1100s by a Zen Buddhist monk who, returning from study in China, brought tea seeds with him and established what we now recognize as a tea ceremony, designed to honor the beauty of nature.

Matcha’s Health Benefits

You may have heard that green tea is healthy, but you’ll be shocked to learn about matcha’s other numerous benefits. Matcha tea plants are cultivated unlike any other tea. The leaves are shaded from excessive sunlight using bamboo mats or parasols, which produce tea that is higher in antioxidants, chlorophyll, caffeine, and a distinctive amino acid called L-theanine. Altogether, matcha is proven to boost metabolic health, improve mental alertness, fight free radicals thanks to the potent antioxidants, and improve numerous cognitive functions.

Matcha’s Shocking Skincare Benefits

While it might seem like just a good-for-you cup of tea, matcha has some pretty impressive results when applied to the skin. In one double-blind study, green tea used topically and drank orally showed historical improvements in participants’ skin elasticity. Another study published in 2010 linked the topical application and the oral consumption of green tea with a reduced risk of melanoma skin cancer (in mice, more research needs to be done with humans to confirm this, but it’s promising). The study believes this is due to the “rapid repair of DNA” from green tea’s polyphenols.

Is matcha good for acne? Shockingly yes! Impressively, research on this topic has proven a direct connection between green tea and a significant reduction in acne. Thanks to the tea’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it was proven in five randomized controlled studies that green tea extract “significantly reduced” the amount of breakouts when applied topically. Whereas oral consumption showed just minimal effects. The research concluded that green tea is beneficial for the treatment of acne without causing significant adverse reactions.

Best Green Tea Skincare

Whether you’re looking to boost your skin’s appearance or reduce blemishes, matcha has got you covered. Here are a few of our favorite green tea-boosted products.

A Matcha-Boosted Foaming Cleanser

We’re honored to introduce you to our newest cleanser, the Matcha Foam Cleanser. The gel cleanser lathers into an ultra-fine foam – much like freshly whisked matcha – to deeply decongest pores, reduce oil, and visibly calm skin without stripping. Pores feel purified, oil is balanced, skin’s microbiome is protected, and skin redness is soothed – all thanks to the Matcha Foam Cleanser. The luxurious cleanser harnesses the power of Japanese ceremonial-grade matcha, sourced from Kyoto, and also gets its signature rich green hue from the antioxidant-rich tea. The elegant cleanser also features prebiotic inulin to balance the skin barrier and keep blemishes at bay, and green clay to reduce excess oil and refine pores. Balancing, calming, decongesting…matcha saves the day again.

A Multipurpose (Green Tea) Essence

The Essence is your skin’s secret weapon. This delightful multipurpose product is made with green tea, which, as we know, is regarded as one of the most powerful antioxidants, helping to target free radicals. The Essence is composed entirely of Tatcha’s proprietary Hadasei-3, a trio of fermented Japanese superfoods (rice, seaweed, and green tea). This potent formula resurfaces, deeply hydrates, and primes skin to make the rest of your skincare more effective. In consumer studies, panelists demonstrated a +621 percent improvement in skin moisturization immediately* and a 100 percent noticeable improvement in skin radiance after just one week**.

*Based on an instrumentation study conducted on 30 panelists in 2022.

**Based on an expert grading study on 30 panelists in October 2021.

No matter if you drink it or apply it to your skin, consider adopting matcha into your daily skincare routine. The matcha acne connection is just too impressive to dismiss, as are its numerous health benefits.