Miranda Kerr is known for unique beauty tricks, and the latest insider tip to be revealed involves using green tea. But while drinking green tea has a multitude of health benefits, the supermodel isn’t consuming it in the traditional way. In her latest newsletter, she revealed one of her secrets to maintaining healthy, glowing skin is to steam her face with the tea.
Explaining her weekly ‘DIY deep double cleanse facial’ regime, the 32-year-old revealed that the routine involves cleansing once using a regular cleanser and once with an exfoliating cleanser to remove matter from pores. ‘It’s a pampering ritual I look forward to at the end of each working week,’ she said. ‘Not only can I relax and unwind…I’m doing something beneficial for my skin that has immediate results so I can go makeup free for the weekend.’ After the double cleanse, Kerr adds a green tea bag to boiling water and steams her face in a DIY steam bath.
‘Fill your basin with a jug of freshly boiled water, add an organic green tea bag to the water, place your head over the basin and cover with a large towel… let the steam envelope your face for a few minutes to open your pores,’ Kerr said.
The benefits of green tea have been well documented, and the use of it in skin care has increased rapidly over the last few years due to its high antioxidant levels and apparent anti-aging benefits.
The benefits of green tea are due to a specific antioxidant compound called EGCG. Some research and anecdotal evidence shows that EGCG is useful in improving signs of ageing and inflammation. It is included in skincare products to soothe the skin, manage acne and fight premature ageing. The antioxidant has also been tested in sunscreens to reduce photo-damage on a cellular level. By using the tea in boiling water, the antioxidants are shot straight into pores by the steam, detoxifying and hydrating the skin. The process also plumps the skin, boosts blood flow and removes any leftover dirt from the pores. Green tea face masks, scrubs, packs, eye compresses and bath soaks are also popular products that make use of the tea’s natural benefits.
More recent trends include the making of green tea ice cubes for use as a toner and the use of popular matcha tea in products.
Speaking on the Kyle & Jackie O Show last month, Kerr discussed how she stays fit and healthy relying on unusual drinks and bizarre tools. ‘When I was studying nutrition, I learned about dandelion and the cleansing and detox effects that it has,’ the former Victoria’s Secret Angel said. ‘I decided to drink dandelion as opposed to coffee as it actually tastes quite similar. ‘I have goats milk because you absorb the calcium from goat’s milk much easier than regular [cow’s] milk. ‘And as for the maple syrup, I just heard that you can’t heat honey, so I’m using maple syrup instead of honey [to sweeten it].’ Kerr also discussed some of the tools she relies on to keep her body feeling good. The first was a Japanese ‘Spoonk mat’, which she said she learned of through her neighbour.
Based on Shiatsu massage and acupressure techniques, a Spoonk stimulates pressure points with sharp spikes. ‘A Spoonk mat is a simple mat that you can buy on Amazon,’ Miranda explained. ‘You lie on it and it hits all of your pressure points and it makes me feel good if I’ve been on a flight and feeling a little jet lagged. ‘It energises the body through these little accupressure points – it’s quite spiky though!’ ‘Sometimes if I’m driving I put it on my seat and sit on it,’ she added. ‘My friend also told me about an upside down machine. One of my favourite things to do is be upside down, it stretches out your spine.’
