This Common Pantry Ingredient Could Be The Key To Great Skin

If you're looking for a healthful drink to start your morning off right, it's hard to beat green tea. It's got enough caffeine to wake you up but not so much that you'll crash, it's high in antioxidants and calorie-free. And just when you thought its resume was full, it turns out that green tea can even help you get healthy glowing skin as well.

As Beverly Hills dermatologist Dr. Ava Shamban told Real Simple, "Green tea decreases inflammation and scavenges free radicals to offer anti-aging benefits. It's also gentle and calming on the skin," which is great news if you're looking for an all-star ingredient for your daily skincare routine.

It's great to look for skincare products that contain green tea, and Healthline notes many documented benefits of green tea for healthy skin, both when taken internally or applied topically, but why not try mixing some up yourself? Not only will you be absolutely sure of the ingredients used, but you'll know that you're getting lots of the key ingredient you're after rather than a drop or two of extract.

Per Real Simple, equal parts witch hazel and brewed green tea can make a great toner that's especially beneficial for reducing eye puffiness. You'll want to start with a small amount and remember to keep it in the fridge — all-natural ingredients can mean DIY remedies spoil faster than store-bought alternatives. The good news is that chilling your products can help irritated skin, plus they're super refreshing!

Or, you can follow Byrdie's advice and mix up a face mask so simple it only has two ingredients: matcha and water. Matcha is a bright green powder made from whole ground tea leaves as is the most nutrient-dense form of green tea available. It may seem pricey, but a little goes a long way. Start with a teaspoon of matcha powder and add a few drops of water until it becomes a thick paste. Then spread over your face with a wide brush and allow to dry for at least 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

If you're really feeling crafty, you can make these DIY matcha lotion bars from Hello Glow. Melt one cup beeswax, one cup coconut oil, and one cup cocoa butter over a double boiler and stir to combine. Add 2 teaspoons of matcha powder and 20 drops of sweet orange essential oil and pour into silicone molds to dry. They're solid at room temperature but melt into a delicious lotion against the skin.