We've all heard about the benefits of green tea, but we might not have unlocked all the potential uses of this buzzed-about ingredient.

Green tea has been elevated to superfood status because of health-boosting qualities that allegedly lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and decrease blood pressure. While the results of these studies are promising, the health benefits of drinking green tea may be overshadowing another important finding — its potential beauty perks.

The hype surrounding green tea can be attributed to catechin, an antioxidant. According to an informational document produced by the University of California, Davis, Department of Nutrition:

"Consumption of catechins has been associated with a variety of beneficial effects including increased plasma antioxidant activity (ability of plasma to scavenge free radicals), brachial artery dilation (blood vessel expansion), fat oxidation, and resistance of LDL to oxidation."

In other words, this antioxidant neutralizes free radicals in the body before they can cause harm. While there are currently no conclusive studies that confirm green tea to be the cancer-curing, fat-melting panacea we've all been searching for, additional research is being conducted.

Beyond the listed potential health benefits pertaining to free radicals, green tea contains other properties that may make it worth incorporating into your skin care routine. In the August 2000 edition of Archives of Dermatology, Hasan Mukhtar, Ph.D., and his co-authors published a study examining the effects of green tea on the skin. They conclude, "The outcome of the several experimental studies suggests that green tea possess anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic potential, which can be exploited against a variety of skin disorders." These claims are exciting but have yet to be proven as unequivocal truth, so you may want to hold off before relying solely on green tea skin care.

In the interim, one way to harness green tea's potential skin care benefits is through facial creams. These products can be purchased in stores, but New Zealand-based DIY and healthy lifestyle enthusiast Ela Gale offers a homespun alternative. In the video below, she shares her antioxidant-packed recipe for a nourishing homemade facial moisturizer.

Each ingredient is included with a purpose — in addition to the aforementioned green tea and itsbenefits, the beeswax serves as the base for the cream, the coconut oil hydrates the skin, the almond oil soothes and evens out the complexion, and the vitamin E oil provides nourishment and acts as a preservative.

Gale also adds essential oils to her cream, but this step can be personalized to your specific skin needs. In the YouTube video description, she praises the oil of her choice, lavender, for "its nice smell and skin regenerating properties, but you could use for instance eucalyptus, rosemary or tea tree oils for acne, or others for any other effects." She encourages her viewers to find out what works best for their skin.

In a recent interview with First Blush, Gale tells us that this green tea skin cream is "still a favourite," and since first uploading the video in January 2015 she has honed the recipe to perfection. Gale informs us:

"A recent change to the recipe was adding 3 tbsp of aloe vera gel (slowly as it blends), and reducing the coconut oil to 1 tbsp. For oily skin, I would recommend taking out the coconut oil altogether and adding 1 tbsp more aloe vera gel and 1/2 tsp more wax to balance the consistency. I find that this cream is good for my normal-dry skin and sensitive skin too."

It may be easier to simply buy a pre-made facial cream, but Gale's philosophy on DIY cosmetics raises some valid points. When describing the driving force behind making her own homemade beauty products, Gale gushes to us, "it’s a lot of fun, it puts you in control of your products and it’s something that you can give as gifts or even sell if you get good so it’s a great thing to dabble in." Not only can you monitor what goes on your skin, but there's a feeling of satisfaction and meaning that comes from creating something from scratch. Gale also advocates the DIY lifestyle because of its emphasis on "natural, low-impact products and encouraging greater self-sufficiency rather than consumerism."

We've featured multitasking cosmetic products that are also brilliant for consumption in the past, but we're curious about your thoughts on green tea. Would you make your own homemade facial moisturizer with this hardworking ingredient? Drop us a line in the comments below.