Behind the hype on matcha skincare — The Derm Wife® Approved

I wouldn’t consider myself to have particularly sensitive skin. Fortunately, I have always tolerated traditional cleansers and moisturizers quite well. But lately I have been reading so much about natural ingredients in skin care that I decided to check out what all the hype was about. So I’m trying out the natural ingredient with more antioxidants than them all, matcha.

I did a little investigating to understand the difference between matcha and green tea. While traditional green tea is made by infusing water in tea leaves, matcha actually uses the entire ground up green tea leaf itself. Matcha is more potent and contains much higher antioxidant levels compared to traditional green tea. So what does that mean for my skin? As an anti-inflammatory, matcha can help calm skin irritation and put out free radical damage.

I searched for some matcha-based products and found the 100% Pure Matcha Scrub, Hello FAB Caffeine Matcha Wake Up Wipes, and 23 Skin Matcha Clay Powder.

The scrub comes in a green jar and as you open it up you see an all natural looking green, gritty scrub. I used it to wash my face first thing in the morning, and it definitely did the job. It left my skin soft and bright without that tight feeling I get sometimes after scrubbing . Dr Z tells me that the post-wash squeaky clean feeling is a bad thing, so I am glad I did not feel it here. It did the job well and gave me a happy feeling inside knowing that it was all natural. I tried to find a link to puchase the product, but I wonder whether the company discontinued it from when I got it last year. Too bad, because I like it!

The next product was the first aide beauty wipes. Towelettes can be challenging because sometimes they can cause some burning and stinging. Apparently, wipes contain a lot of preservatives and people with sensitive skin need to be careful with them. I used these wipe off my face after a going on the elliptical machine, when my skin was red and flushed. When I first opened the package, I wasn’t sure what to expect. (Somehow I assumed they were going to be bright green, but don’t worry they were white.) The wipes were soft on the skin, helped remove the sweat and oil, and were not irritating. You can get the pack of 25 wipes for $15 at Sephora. They are definitely more expensive than the Neutrogena Cleansing Towelettes I usually use, I am guessing because of the matcha.

Finally, I tried the 23 Skin Matcha Clay Powder. It is a mix of matcha powder with kaolin clay. Unlike the other products, this one requires more prep work because you need mix the powder with water right before you apply it so the mask is fresh. As you open the jar, you really can appreciate the fresh matcha powder, literally like fresh green tea in the jar. It has a liquidy consistency when mix, but you can easily apply it with your fingers and it does not drip down your face. It dries quickly, and I rinsed it off with warm water after 10 minutes. After I removed it, my skin was smooth and bright. It felt a little dry, so I would recommend leaving it on for less time if you are sensitive. Overall, I feel lots #matchalove for this mask.

As soon as you open the jar, you can smell the natural matcha.

In a bowl, you mix 2 tablespoons of the powder with 2 tablespoons of spring water. (I used Poland Springs.)

So what’s my verdict on matcha? It’s good for the skin, and even better in your tea cup. So that's why matcha based skincare is #TheDermWifeApproved. (Although, while matcha tea is probably better for you, I don't think I can ever give up my Starbucks.)