If you want to know how to prevent wrinkles without using harsh chemicals, you can try a more natural approach. Plant-based anti-aging treatments have never been hotter. However, while women welcome the chance to have more non-synthetic options for their delicate skin, the range of recommended foods, supplements, and skin care products can be overwhelming. The new kid on the block is purple tea. But how does it differ from other tea extracts — and where does it fit in the anti-aging lineup?
In this article:
- How Purple Tea Differs from Other Teas
- Advantages for Skin
- Additional Health Benefits of Purple Tea
- Commercial Anti-Aging Products
- Supplements
- Skin Care Products
- Homemade Applications
How To Prevent Wrinkles And Improve The Skin With Purple Tea
How Purple Tea Differs from Other Teas
Each type of tea plant (Camellia sinensis) — including black, green, and red types — boast there own specific antioxidant properties. Some have higher levels of different types of antioxidants than other teas, or they may have antioxidants that other colored-teas lack entirely. When it comes to skin-reparative properties, purple tea has several specific advantages.
Many varieties of tea plant are cultivated in China and India. The purple-leaved type, however, is only found in the Kenyan mountains. Because purple tea is grown at higher, cooler elevations, it can withstand the rays of the sun better than other varieties. These specific conditions allow the purple tea leaves longer exposure to the sun’s rays. In turn, the leaves produce antioxidants that are about 10 percent higher, on average, than the levels in other tea leaves.
Specifically, purple tea leaves are a rich source of anthocyanins and polyphenols such as EPCG. Purple tea’s antioxidant content has been linked to reducing the risk of diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Catechins in purple tea also have anti-obesity and anti-aging properties.
Advantages for Skin
The class of natural compounds known as antioxidants fight the free radicals we take in everyday, whether through unhealthy food, UV rays, air pollutants, or stress. Free radicals come about through a process known as oxidation. When over-oxidation occurs from environmental or lifestyle factors, the resulting free radicals can wreak havoc on our cellular structure. The unhealthy results range from serious illness to obesity, hair loss, and skin damage. The skin is just one casualty of free radical damage.
Antioxidants have the power to shut off the chain reaction known as oxidation. That’s why taking in a variety of plants with different kinds of antioxidants is important. Many plants have at least one kind of antioxidant. One of the most powerful is known as anthocyanin. You’ve probably heard blueberries mentioned as a “superfood” capable of fighting free radicals. The same class of antioxidants responsible for the berries’ blue-purple hue, anthocyanin also give purple tea leaves their distinct purple color. Believe it or not, however, blueberries have only one-fifteenth the anthocyanin content that purple tea leaves do!
Why are anthocyanins so powerful when it comes to skin regeneration? Much of that power lies in the fact that they target the types of free radicals that damage connective tissue in the skin. When your body doesn’t get enough anthocyanins — whether through what you eat and drink, or through topical skin treatments — the connective tissue weakens. Among other consequences are deepening lines in your face.
Additional Health Benefits of Purple Tea
The unique chemical composition of purple tea has a range of benefits. Along with anthocyanins and an overall antioxidant count that’s about 1.6 times higher than green or black teas, purple tea is specifically rich in polyphenols. This group of antioxidants, including a subcategory referred to as “tea polyphenols,” is credited with helping reduce the risk of health issues such as heart disease and diabetes. Purple tea plants are unique from other tea plants in that they contain GHG, a polyphenol believed to have anti-obesity and hair-strengthening properties. Studies in which subjects took purple tea extracts found that the GHG content lowered their body mass index at measurable rates. GHG is also prized for its anti-aging properties.
Commercial Anti-Aging Products
Because studies involving the more recently discovered purple tea varieties haven’t caught up with those for green and black teas, oral and topical purple tea products are only beginning to emerge commercially. But along with purple tea beverage options, supplements and cosmetic products have also been making their way into stores. Look for new ones to appear in the immediate future. With people looking for various ways and answers on how to prevent wrinkles, it won’t be long for more purple tea products emerge.
Supplements
What if you’re not a hot tea fan, but want to reap the benefits of taking the GHG polyphenol? Because GHG isn’t found in other tea leaf varieties, supplements like green tea capsules may not be what you’re looking for when it comes to preventing fine lines and wrinkles. Purple tea leaf supplement capsules are now on the market, however. You’ll also find drinks based on purple tea supplements. Of course, consulting with your doctor about any capsules or drink blends you take is always a wise choice.
Skin Care Products
You’ve probably seen — or tried — your share of green tea-infused serums, lotions, and creams. Beauty forecasters are predicting that purple tea extract will be the next big thing in the skin care world. Look for purple tea aimed at the anti-aging market in sunscreens, body lotion, facial toner, and serums. The purple tea extract is being pursued by cosmetic and healthcare lines because of its ability to fight sun damage. It can counteract the UV rays that target skin tissue, resulting in discoloration, fine lines, and deep wrinkles.
Homemade Applications
Harvard Medical School stresses the benefits of applying antioxidant-rich skin treatments directly to the face and body is a superior way to fight wrinkles. Its publication, “Harvard Women’s Health Watch,” specifically singles out tea polyphenols as key ingredients in preventing further sun damage. Depending on your skin type, you can use purple tea on your face in a number of homemade spa-type recipes.
1. Purple Tea-Lemon Toner
If you have mature skin but struggle with oiliness, creating a specialized toner is helpful. Combine a cup of purple tea with the juice of one lemon. Put it in a small spray bottle and store it in the fridge. After you wash your face in the morning and evening, spritz on this purple tea-lemon toner.
2. Purple Tea-Banana Moisturizing Mask
Does your skin need a moisturizing mask? Mash up a banana and add enough purple tea to make a paste. Smooth it over your face and neck and let it dry for at least 15 minutes. Rinse your face, pat it somewhat dry with a clean towel, and lock the rest of the water in with your favorite moisturizer (preferably one containing purple tea, of course!)
3. Purple Tea Steam
An at-home facial steam opens up your pores, allowing the ingredients that you add to the hot water to permeate your skin through the steam. These facials help you sweat out the toxins that promote fine lines and wrinkles. In addition, your blood vessels dilate, promoting skin plumping, even as those expanded blood vessels are delivering the properties of the purple tea directly to your skin tissue.
Into a large bowl, pour just-boiled water over powdered purple tea supplements or purple tea bags. Next, drape a large towel over your head and the bowl. Then, lower your face until it’s about 8 inches away from the bowl — or a comfortable distance, but are close enough to promote sweating. Stay under this “steam tent” for about five minutes, then rinse your face, dry it slightly, and apply a product with purple tea moisturizer.
Do you want to know how to prevent wrinkles? Drinking purple tea gives you the antioxidant you need for better skin and health! Find out how to brew this tea in this video from Teasers & Teachers:
Of course, everybody’s skin is different. The answer to how to prevent wrinkles varies because all skin types are different. What works wonders for someone else might not deliver the same dramatic results for you. But with all of the scientific discoveries about the benefits of purple tea, more and more people are exploring purple tea. If you’re concerned about preventing fine lines and wrinkles but don’t want to turn to harsh chemicals, why not check out the benefits of purple tea supplements and supplement-based products?
Have you tried purple tea before? Share how it helped your skin and health improve in the comments section below!
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