I'm a Beauty Editor and I Have a Question: Is Matcha Skincare Really Necessary?

If you've read our guide to the biggest wellness trends of 2024, then you'll know that matcha is set to be huge this year. This popular Japanese tea has dominated my Instagram feed for what feels like forever, but if I'm being totally honest, I've never really been a fan of the taste. Yes, the apparent health benefits sound great, but I'd much rather a creamy latte or cappuccino to start my day. However, when it comes to matcha skincare, that's a whole other story.

I don't know if you've noticed, but more and more brands are incorporating this popular ingredient into skincare products such as cleansers and serums. As a beauty editor, it's my job to cut through the noise and find out whether these trending ingredients are really worth your time, or if they're just another fad that will pass in the next few months. So, to find out the benefits of matcha-infused skincare, I reached out to Lorne Lucree, SVP of global innovation at one of my favourite skincare brands, Tatcha. Below, I asked him some of my most pressing questions about the matcha skincare trend, so if you're interested, keep scrolling.

What Skincare Benefits Does Matcha Have?

First things first, what skincare benefits can matcha actually have? "Matcha is rich in antioxidants known to help protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, UV radiation and pollution," explains Lucree. "Matcha also has anti-inflammatory properties, making it suitable for soothing and calming irritated skin."

As someone with sensitive skin that gets easily irritated, I was delighted to hear about matcha's soothing and calming properties, but I was still intrigued to see if my skin type would benefit from the ingredient. According to Lucree, most skin types can benefit from matcha. "All skin types are under constant attack from external aggressors, which prompts inflammation in the skin if it isn't equipped to deal with oxidative stress. Matcha is packed full of antioxidants, which help support the skin as it deals with this stress, helping to prevent premature ageing," he explains.

Thanks to its soothing properties, matcha is especially helpful for sensitised and blemish-prone skin. "We partnered our kyo matcha with Japanese hatomugi, which acts like a ceramide to support skin barrier health, so when you cleanse, instead of stripping the skin you're actually strengthening and soothing it," says Lucree.

Why Is Matcha Becoming a Popular Skincare Ingredient?

It's my job to keep an eye on the latest beauty launches, trends and buzzwords, and there's no denying that this ingredient is becoming more popular. "As wellness and beauty continue to overlap, matcha is the perfect crossover ingredient," Lucree says. "It has a strong heritage in Japan as an artful ritual and wellbeing practice to cleanse the body [from the] inside out and [as] a way to bring harmony from within, and this is what inspired us to use matcha for our cleanser—a way to cleanse oily, often sensitised skin whilst bringing balance. Consumers know and love matcha in its ingestible form. Now, we can [give] those same benefits to their skin."

However, Lucree agrees that matcha is becoming bigger than just an ingredient. "It signals a specific lifestyle, which is why you keep seeing it pop up in many of the 'aesthetics' on TikTok. Matcha signifies health, wellbeing and balance, whether in ingestible or topical form."

Should You Add Matcha Skincare to Your Routine?

So, matcha has lots of skincare benefits. As with most beauty trends, you don't need to add this ingredient into your routine, but if you feel like your face gets particularly irritated or inflamed, I would recommend giving matcha skincare a go to see if it can help soothe your skin. Thanks to the antioxidants, matcha is also great for helping to protect the skin from environmental aggressors, and as someone who lives in a busy city, I'll definitely be adding it to my routine.

With that in mind, I've rounded up some of the best matcha skincare products that will help bring a sense of calm and balance to your day (and your skin). Keep on scrolling to shop one of this year's buzziest beauty ingredients.

Shop the Best Matcha Skincare Products: