All you need to know about the skincare superfood everyone’s crushing on.

You can’t move away from matcha. Whether skirting a queue of teenagers outside a pistachio-hued Blank Street, watching a new flavour combo play out on Tiktok or hearing about a friend’s new ceramic whisk stand, it’s outlasted both Brat and Wicked as the bright green zeitgeist. Poured over ice, swirled with jam and even baked into sweet treats – after taking over our caffeine-addicted palettes, matcha is now having its main character moment in your skincare routine. 

In the K-beauty sphere, arguably the safest place to look for skincare cues that actually work,  matcha is nothing new. The key ingredient in its formulation, Camellia Sinensis (the same leaf as in green tea), has been used for centuries in Korea’s historic Hanbang skincare tradition. As Gracie Tullio, co-founder of the UK’s largest K-beauty retailer PURESEOUL explains, “the consumption of green tea was a skincare treatment before topical application of green tea was even one, so it’s actually one of the biggest historical ingredients for Korean beauty”. 

What makes Camellia Sinensis so beneficial to skincare formulations is its high concentration of EGCG, a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are compounds that can shield your skin from harmful UV rays, pollution, and other environmental aggressors that can cause oxidative stress and lead to barrier damage. EGCG can also help combat signs of aging, improve skin texture and various studies found that Camellia Sinensis can even enhancemoisture levels, reduce redness and help treat acne.

While acknowledging these benefits, aesthetic doctor and plastic surgeon Dr. Hansel Misquitta warns to pay attention to the fine print. “The problem is, most products don’t stabilise EGCG properly so you’re often buying the word ‘matcha’ on a label, not the molecule that actually does the work”. To make the most of the superfood, Dr Misquitta suggests buying it “in a serum or cream with good packaging, low pH and stabilisation”, recommending it especially for oily and acne-prone skin due to EGCG’s “documented sebum-reducing and anti-acne properties”. 

So, if you’re tempted to indulge in matcha further than your morning latte, we’ve sifted through the formulations on the market to give you the heavy hitters of what’s worth making shelf space for.

Green Tea Serum, One Thing

A favourite of Tullio’s, One Thing is known for their elegantly balanced formulas inspired by a refreshing less-is-more philosophy. Designed to boost elasticity, this plant-powered serum uses real green tea leaves, as well as rice ferment filtrate alongside 8 different types of hyaluronic acid to boost elasticity and reduce fine lines, while providing deep nourishment for stressed-out skin.

Green Tea Serum, One Thing – £20.80 pureseoul.co.uk

Matcha Calming Toner, TIRTIR

TIRTIR of Tiktok’s viral Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation, is coming for tired January skin with their new Matcha Calming Toner – infused with 10,000 ppm Matcha-PDRN and a nourishing Soymilk Complex for effective, deep hydration. This mildly acidic, non-irritating formula reduces redness, supports the skin’s natural pH, and absorbs quickly using Micro Dipping Tech for a refreshed, even complexion. The new line also comes with a light moisturiser, the Matcha Calming Cream, to soothe skin while boosting firmness and elasticity.

Matcha Skin Toner, TIRTIR – £21 sephora.co.uk

Matcha Mud Cream Mask, Hyeja

Consistently innovating while drawing on years of Korean skin rituals, Hyeja’s Matcha Mud Cream Mask offers a delicate and soothing respite for your skin. Infused with 52.3% Green Tea Water (Matcha) with Kaolin and Bentonite clays at its core and fortified with 2% Niacinamide, this formulation is designed to nourish and detoxify – leaving skin feeling calm and refreshed.

Matcha Mud Cream Mask, Hyeja – £36 fwrd.com

Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser, Kravebeauty

KraveBeauty has built their brand around simplifying skincare by spotlighting hero ingredients in formulations that are a welcome antidote to an overcrowded industry. For founder Liah Yoo that meant being meticulously selective when engineering each product, like in their bestselling Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser that deep cleans while locking in moisture, bolstered by vitamin B5, sodium PCA and hemp seed oil.

Matcha Hemp Hydrating Cleanser, Kravebeauty – £13 cultbeauty.co.uk

Real Super Matcha Pore Care Mask, Some By Mi

A sheet mask is a K-beauty staple for a reason, and this one by Seoul-based brand Some By Mi is all the better for its matcha-enriched lightweight ampoule. Entirely biodegradable, this mask hugs facial contours for maximum efficacy, helping to reduce the appearance of pores and regulate excess sebum production. 

Real Super Matcha Pore Care Mask, Some By Mi – £2.90 pureseoul.co.uk

And if you want to totally overhaul your bathroom cabinet, here are our matcha-powered picks from hair to body care:

Blank Space Anti-KP Body Wash, HELLO KLEAN

HELLO KLEAN’s foaming green body wash has gained cult status among Londoners with its combination of beta hydroxy acid and matcha soothing the side-effects of the city’s hard water – while niacinamide adds a welcome boost of hydration.

Blank Space Anti-KP Body Wash, HELLO KLEAN – £20 cultbeauty.co.uk

Thé Matcha 26, Le Labo

Part of Le Labo’s Classic Collection, the aroma of Thé Matcha 26 is formulated as a skin scent, designed to be noticed by only those close to the wearer. Inviting introspection, the perfume carries soft notes of Fig, Vetiver, Cedar Woods and, of course, Matcha Tea Accord.

Thé Matcha 26, Le Labo – £172 selfridges.com

Superfoods Apple Matcha and Kale Replenishing Shampoo and Conditioner Set, Briogeo

Briogeo’s shampoo and conditioner duo is nutrient-packed with a blend of fruit and vegetable extracts to cleanse, hydrate and refresh your hair. The set is 94% naturally derived, imitating a freshly blended green juice with extracts of matcha, apple and kale encouraging a visible shine.

Superfoods Apple Matcha and Kale Replenishing Shampoo and Conditioner Set, Briogeo – £40 lookfantastic.com

Matcha Bubble Tea Lip Sleep Mask, La Neige

Charli XCX’s must-have lip mask has released an appropriately Brat-green iteration, with a soothing matcha scent as well as vitamin c and berry fruit complex to elevate its cult status with added hydration and antioxidants. 

Matcha Bubble Tea Lip Sleep Mask, La Neige – £21 cultbeauty.co.uk

Words — Alice Lindsell