The Difference Between Drinking Green Tea and Applying It to Your Skin

Green tea is everywhere in skincare—from cleansers to serums—but it’s also famous as a healthy drink. While both are good for your body, drinking green tea and applying it to your skin work in very different ways. Understanding the difference helps you use it more effectively (and avoid unrealistic expectations).

Drinking Green Tea: Skin Benefits From the Inside Out

When you drink green tea, its antioxidants—especially EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate)—travel through your bloodstream.

How it helps your skin:

• Supports overall skin health by reducing inflammation

• Helps protect skin cells from oxidative stress

• May support hormone balance and gut health, which can affect acne

• Promotes long-term skin wellness rather than instant results

Limitations:

• Antioxidants are diluted as they’re processed by your body

• Results are gradual, not visible overnight

• Drinking green tea won’t target specific skin areas directly

Best for:
Long-term skin health, wellness-focused routines, and people who enjoy simple habits.

Applying Green Tea: Direct & Targeted Benefits

Topical green tea (in skincare products) works directly on the skin’s surface.

How it helps your skin:

• Calms redness and irritation

• Helps reduce excess oil

• Provides antioxidant protection where skin is exposed to pollution and sun stress

• Can feel soothing almost immediately

Limitations:

• Depends heavily on product quality and formulation

• Doesn’t improve overall health the way drinking tea does

• DIY versions can spoil quickly or irritate skin if not done properly

Best for:
Acne-prone, sensitive, or oily skin, and people looking for visible skin-calming effects.

Which Is Better?

Neither is “better”—they do different jobs.

• Drink green tea for overall health and long-term skin support

• Use green tea skincare for direct calming, oil control, and protection

If you want the most benefit, they can actually work together. Think of green tea like this:

• Drinking it nourishes your skin from the inside

• Applying it protects and soothes your skin on the outside

Using both thoughtfully is often the best approach—but even just one can still make a difference! Check out Teami's green tea skincare here.