Many Americans are constantly searching for a quick and effective fix so we can tell you that a green mask can improve your looks immediately — you’ll be just as good-looking as The Incredible Hulk. In turn, the claim that it can deter aging, though appealing, requires more evaluation.
There are many kinds of masks, some consist of a mystery green goop, and others are plastic LED masks you put on your face. Both face masks are great for dressing up as an alien on Halloween but don’t seem to be the best way to enhance your skin or deter aging.
That’s not to say they don’t have certain benefits when it comes to skin care, you just have to find the right one for you and use it according to the instructions. It’ll do more harm than good otherwise. Continue reading to find out more about the green face mask, and others of its kind.
Green Tea
A common green mask is made by lightly steaming the fresh leaves of the green tea powder of the Camellia sinensis plant, also known as “tea plant” and “tea shrub.” People in various parts of the world have been using it to brew green tea for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.
The most common properties of green tea go from boosting your brain function to promoting weight loss and can also benefit your skin. This is why cosmetic manufacturers often include it in their formulations.
Green Masks We Love
- Korean Skin Care Detox Face Mask with Avocado & Superfoods
- Green Tea Matcha Facial Detox Mud Mask with Aloe Vera
- Green Tea Facial Mask Skin Care (5 Pack)
by Plantifique
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
by Hebepe
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
by PUREDERM
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Can a Green Tea Mask Really Improve Your Skin?
Green tea has many therapeutic properties that are great for the skin. Studies suggest the polyphenols it contains help protect against skin cancer. But green tea powder also contains six different types of catechins or flavonoids — the chemicals with which plants protect themselves from environmental toxins and regenerate. These compounds have antioxidant properties although Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG) is the most potent flavonoids of the six.
Antioxidants, as their name suggests, are molecules that prevent oxidation through their ability to fight free radicals, compounds that cause damage at a cellular level and can greatly impact your health when their levels get too high. They’ve been linked to various diseases, cancer among them.
A 2010 study revealed that the antioxidant power of EGCG can help repair the DNA damage caused by ultraviolet radiation. Thus, it can help protect you from nonmelanoma skin cancer.
How Can a Green Mask Help You Fight Aging?
According to a 2003 study, the antioxidant EGCG abundant in green tea, as we mentioned above, can repair dying skin cells and thus, reverse some signs of aging. For instance, it can make dull skin look healthier. Not only that, the study found that vitamin B2 in it can also improve the appearance of your skin and give it a more youthful look. This is probably because this vitamin can help maintain collagen levels and thus, tone the skin. Green tea is also a source of vitamin E, known for its ability to nourish and moisturize the skin.
Another way in which a green tea mask could help you look more youthful is by reducing redness and irritation. This is due to the high content of polyphenols in the plant that possess anti-inflammatory properties. This kind of mask can also soothe minor cuts and sunburn.
Furthermore, a topical green tea mask is also an effective remedy for various dermatological conditions like rosacea, psoriasis, and dermatitis, and could even improve the appearance of keloids, a type of raised scars.
The antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties in green tea are also great for treating acne. This is because the polyphenols it contains help reduce the sebum secretion that causes this condition. These substances also deter infection by damaging bacterial membranes.
How Does It Work?
A beauty routine should be simple as washing your face, moisturizing it, and applying makeup. However, many people have skin conditions that range from acne to redness and are constantly looking to improve their look. Unfortunately, professional skincare procedures are pricey and so they resort to masks, a form of intense skin treatment that costs way less.
These products work because the ingredients contained in a face mask, be it green tea, salicylic acid for acne, vitamin C for fine lines, or retinol for brightening dark spots, remain in contact with your skin longer and penetrate better in a short amount of time. Furthermore, the mask traps the moisture in the skin by creating a film that either exfoliates or promotes hydration, depending on the mask. In short, a face mask offers a more concentrated dose and thus, a more intense version of these ingredients compared to other applications.
Things to Look For in a Commercial Green Tea Mask
There are many green masks on the market and all have different ingredients but there are a few universal features you can look for in any of them. For one, be sure the product contains green tea only and that it’s safe for all skin types. It should be free of dyes, fragrances, and parabens.
There are no known side effects but you should always do a patch test on any substance you’ll be using on your face for the first time. The best place for this test is the inside of your elbow. You’ll know you’re sensitive to a given substance if you experience redness, itchiness, a burning sensation, or swelling. As with everything, you should always consult a dermatologist before beginning a new skin treatment.
The Green Mask Stick
The Green Mask stick went viral recently and many people uploaded their videos to Instagram. The before and after results shown in their videos seem quite remarkable. This commercial mask contains green tea and the claim is it can cleanse, detoxify and purify the skin. The product comes as a stick so it’s easy to apply. It’s kind of like a deodorant stick but for the face. As you can imagine, the consistency is solid and you don't need to use your hands to apply it.
We already mentioned that the green tea extract contained in this mask is a potent antioxidant that can protect your skin from UV radiation and that its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce wrinkles and fine lines and its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect is ideal to counteract blemishes and redness. What we didn’t mention is green tea also contains caffeine, a substance that stimulates blood circulation and helps reduce undereye dark circles and puffy eyes.
The texture of this mask is creamy and basically glides on the face as you apply a layer. Once you apply it, you’re to let it dry for up to 10 minutes and then wash it away. The result is cleaner, hydrated skin free of blackheads. Regardless of whether these claims a true or not, always consult a dermatologist if you have acne.
Green Masks We Love
- Korean Skin Care Detox Face Mask with Avocado & Superfoods
- Green Tea Matcha Facial Detox Mud Mask with Aloe Vera
- Green Tea Facial Mask Skin Care (5 Pack)
by Plantifique
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
by Hebepe
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
by PUREDERM
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Can a Green Mask Lead to Allergies?
A green mask is a great way to boost your skin but it could hurt you if you’re allergic to certain ingredients. Keep in mind a huge list of ingredients does translate into a better product. It’s quite the opposite, in fact, the longer the list, the higher the chance for something to irritate your skin. Always be on the lookout for warning signs that might indicate an allergy on acne prone skin such as hives, redness or burning sensation, dry or peeling skin, and even pain when removing the mask.
Again, always try out a new skin product on a small area of your skin, especially if you intend to use it on your face. Also, be sure to run it by your doctor or dermatologist.
The health of your skin depends on many internal factors and so a mask on its own won’t do much to improve your looks. A well-balanced wholesome diet in addition to proper daily hydration and a good cleansing routine should all be part of any beauty plan. It’s quite simple, just stick to this simple formula: health equals beauty.
As you can see, a face mask won’t improve your looks after just one use, especially if you don’t get rid of any unhealthy habits. It’s merely an easy, cheap way to give your skin a little boost.
Other Anti-Aging Masks
Trying to find the right green mask online or on the aisles of your local drug store is a bit overwhelming because there are many products out there. It doesn’t have to be that hard though, just start with something you might like.
For instance, overnight masks are hydrating and many of them contain hyaluronic acid, a substance that’s ideal for extremely dry skin. There are also clay, sulfur, and mud masks for the purpose of exfoliating and soaking up oil. Furthermore, sheet masks contain antioxidants and you can make them more refreshing and potentiate their anti-inflammatory effects by storing them in the fridge.
Once you find a mask that works for you, work it into your skincare routine. Use them before your moisturizer in the morning and instead of the moisturizer at night. Finally, don’t use them more than once a week as they could lead to irritation.
The LED Mask
Many recent beauty trends are the result of the latest confinement measures due to the COVID 19 pandemic. One of them is a light-emitting facial device that promises to counteract acne, fine lines, and other skin problems.
These LED light-therapy gadgets, which include handheld light wands, stand-alone light screens, eyeglasses, and mouthpieces have been around for about a decade but celebrities and influencers on social media made them popular again. The trend was already fading and the sales of these devices declining; then, came the pandemic, and sales went up.
Understandably, skincare experts credit the pandemic for accelerating the light-therapy demand. This is probably because people had too much time in their hands to become self-conscious when they saw themselves on the screen during video chats. Scrutinizing yourself while in sharp focus under bad lighting is quite bad for your self-esteem so be kinder to yourself.
Think about it, you’re looking at yourself from the shoulders and up and criticizing every real or perceived defect. Thus, you begin to explore things you can do at home to improve them and suddenly you’re jumping on the social media skin-obsessed ship and have lots of free time to do it.
While LED light therapy does have many health benefits, know that not all devices in the market are as effective as medical-grade LED devices. DIY products might provide a minimal benefit if you use them consistently over a certain period but, guess what? Most people fail to stick to this kind of routine when they don’t see immediate results. It would be interesting to know how many of these products are currently stuck in people’s junk drawers.
Is Aging a Disease?
A philosopher once said that life is a sexually transmitted disease, lethal in 100% of the cases. So, an aging wrinkle is part of the natural cycle of life and we all go through it from the moment we’re born. Thus, try to think of age as a side effect of evolution. Every organism is subject to environmental dangers beyond its control and the concept of living forever is really about the survival of your DNA, not of your body. But, even a body that could remain intact at a cellular level could die as a result of an accident.
The thought of living forever is tempting, of course; although, according to a 2018 survey by New Scientist, only around 1 in 5 adults would like to. Think about it, wouldn’t you be sad to lose everyone you love if you went on forever? Not only that, even if your eternal life in good health was guaranteed, how expansive would it get? You do realize retirement is out of the question, right? Also, how fast would we deplete the world's resources? The population would considerably multiply in a world in which nobody is dying.
Indeed, the idea of living forever seems quite romantic in science fiction novels. So many things to do, people to meet, and places to see – pending that you have enough money to spend, otherwise it would be a forever 9-5. Few of us want to die but what would it be like to live forever? If you actually pay attention to those romantic science fiction novels, you’ll realize that immortality kind of leads to boredom.
Ok, imagine being able to live forever, going on for centuries, even millennia, unaffected by all of the health conditions that come with old age. Furthermore, imagine you’d have no financial problems and will be able to do anything you want with your time. Would you embrace immortality?
Of course, you’ll have a great time exploring the world at first as you have no physical or financial constraints. You get to visit foreign lands, try out exotic food, and have a fair share of affairs (you’re very healthy and thus attractive and youthful, after all). It seems like an ideal life, right?
Now, try to move forward a few decades, you’ve seen and done everything you wanted. You’ve visited every inch of every country and come to the conclusion that the people in the world are more similar than not. Thus, you decide to settle down in a peaceful cabin by the lake and time continues to go by. However, all the people you once loved are gone; you’ve outlived them all.
Also, those fun encounters you used to enjoy no longer are and you yearn for the excitement of all of those first times you experienced something: your first kiss, the first time you had sushi, the first time you rode a camel… It all seems hollow and empty now.
In addition, being the whoopie that you are, you’re also wiser than the average person and you can see the darker side of society. You can see beneath the masks people wear, some of them are green with greed, and you mainly see despair. You try to help but it’s you alone against the world.
Still, you believe in humanity and are quite determined to save it but you can’t put an end to poverty and hate. Imagine your demise when your goon intentions take you nowhere. It isn’t that humans are bad, but the harshness of society forces people to be highly competitive.
It doesn’t matter how strong you are, immortality will become too much for you to handle. Your physical body might be able to withstand it all but your mind won’t, especially now that you’re wiser. So, do your best to have a long and fruitful life and enjoy every stage of it. The intensity of emotions is often the result of the awareness that your time here is limited. In the end, the best mask for you is the one that doesn’t hide your lovely face.
