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You wouldn’t imagine starting your day without your caffeine, would you? Well, for many people, matcha has become a healthier and more colorful alternative to sugary iced coffees. You might have seen it make an appearance in food, but beauty brands are quickly adding the powerful tea to their products as well.
But what’s actually the deal with matcha, and why does it belong anywhere besides our kitchen cabinets?
“Matcha is a specific form of green tea that is popular in beverages and other consumables,” explains Dr. Craig Kraffert, a board-certified dermatologist and president of Amarte. “Matcha provides antioxidant and brightening benefits. In fact, green tea extracts have long been used in skin care products.” Matcha is actually incorporated into skin care from either finely ground powder or extracts, but extracts tend to provide more green tea-related benefits than powder does.
So, ready to give your beauty and skin care routine a buzz? Scroll on for our favorite beauty finds.
Milk Makeup Matcha Cleanser, $26
This cleanser will rejuvenate and purify your tired skin after a long day—it has green tea extracts that soften, exfoliate, and brighten dry, tired, and red skin. It’s also travel-friendly, thanks to its unique stick formula.
Pacifica Berry Matcha Recharge Face Lotion, $18
This light face lotion has just about everything that’s delicious in this world: coconut water, superfruit extracts, and matcha. Your skin deserves a sweet treat after a long day, so take advantage of a little extra caffeine in your skin care—it’ll brighten up your face, as well as hydrate any problem areas.
Nails Inc Nail Grow Treatment, $15
Formulated with both matcha powder and Vitamins A and E to strengthen weak and brittle nails, this treatment promises to help them grow. Gently massage your nails with this nutrient-rich serum before bed (while you watch your latest Netflix obsession).
Captain Blankenship Mermaid Detox Face Mask, $30
Lift blackheads, dirt, and impurities with this super potent, matcha-infused face mask. The fresh ingredients—like clay, sea salt, kelp powder, and lavender oil—will make you feel like you’re enjoying a beachside spa day.
Chasin’ Unicorns Green Goddess Matcha Bath Crumble, $20
Bath time is reserved for relaxation—but that doesn’t mean you can’t give your body a bit of a caffeine fix in the process. While your mind might be dozing off in your warm bath, your body will be soaking in antioxidants. This unique bath crumble is also infused with rose water, coconut oil, pink Himalayan sea salt, lemongrass oil, and jasmine oil.
Gourmand The Matcha Eau De Parfum, $18
Do you love the smell of a freshly-brewed cup of matcha? Add the fresh scent to your everyday beauty routine by spritzing this energizing fragrance on before you head out for a busy day. It also includes citrus and floral notes for a feminine touch.
Soil & The Sea Matcha Sea Salt Soap, $16
Washing your face at the end of the day isn’t the most exciting thing you can do, but this refreshing matcha and sea salt soap will make it a treat. While the sea salt works to gently brighten dull skin, the matcha, bamboo powder, jade pearl rice, and shea butter cleanse and soften your face.
H20+ AquaDefense Protective Matcha Facial Moisturizer, $40
If your skin tends to feel dry after a shower, this pretty moisturizer is a godsend. It’s the ultimate daytime cream—it protects your skin from free radicals and pollution, thanks to the matcha-derived ingredients and rice bran extracts. And an expert agrees: “Green tea extracts have long been used in skin care products, and are best added to moisturizers,” says Dr. Kraffert.