Matcha or Coffee: What should you be sipping for better skin?
A dermatologist-backed deep dive into how matcha and coffee affect your skin
I am a certified caffeine addict. I mean my bio on X (formerly Twitter) literally says “perpetually seeking coffee” (sorry mom!). Over the last 2 years, I’ve managed to cut down from 4 cups a day to 2 (yay).
Given my love for coffee but also my fear for my health, I’ve done copious reading on how it affects me - my sleep, gut, anxiety, and of course, skin. So, when I saw matcha (if you’re living under a rock - this is another caffeine drink) popping up everywhere, I had to investigate whether the caffeine from matcha is ACTUALLY better for your skin than coffee.
I went down a rabbit hole, badgered my dermatologist, and here’s what I found…
Cohort update: We kickstarted the first round of our trial cohort to treat acne inside-out. Tap here for the sneak peek.
Coffee is hot, addictive, but might stress your skin
For starters, coffee is not your enemy. It’s packed with antioxidants like chlorogenic acid, which act like traffic police for your skin - directing away free radicals (the bad guys) from collagen (which keeps your skin structure strong) so they don’t cause damage.
But it gets messy when you drink too much of it. More caffeine leads to more cortisol, your body’s stress hormone. Well, cortisol isn’t completely evil. But in elevated amounts, it can push your skin into survival mode:
Triggers oil production: More oil and sebum = more breakouts
Impairs barrier repair: Makes you prone to sensitivity, redness and irritation
Inflames existing skin conditions: Can flare up rosacea
Coffee isn’t dehydrating in moderate amounts but if you’re new to it or drinking too much, it can cause your skin to lose more water (aka transepidermal water loss). Or if your skin is already dry and flaky, drinking lots of coffee is a clear recipe for chaos.
Matcha is the calm green flag your skin craves
The caffeine in matcha is different from the caffeine in coffee because it’s bundled with L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes calm focus and prevents cortisol spikes.
Matcha caffeine is slow-releasing, longer-acting, and doesn’t cause jitters unlike coffee.
It contains EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate), a powerful polyphenol compound that gives matcha its many benefits.
Reduces sebum production: Great for acne-prone, oily skin
Helps prevent clogged pores: Less acne, less congestion
Fights inflammation: Calms irritation and redness
Protects collagen: Shields it from UV-induced breakdown
Final verdict from my dermatologist:
Caffeine tolerance is key: If you’re sensitive to caffeine or dealing with acne, rosacea or have a compromised skin barrier, switching from coffee to matcha will help calm cortisol-driven flare-ups.
Balance is critical: Whether it’s matcha or coffee, moderation is everything. Matcha comes with anti-inflammatory and collagen-protective perks, but that doesn’t mean you should go overboard. Hydrate well, water will always be your skin’s best friend.
Watch the milk: If you’re acne-prone, dairy can be problematic for some individuals. Try going milk-free with your matcha or experiment with plant-based alternatives; they tend to be gentler on the skin.
If your skin is acne-prone, sensitive, dry, or showing early signs of aging, matcha should be on your watchlist. It’s less likely to stress your skin, and the antioxidants help support your barrier and collagen, so your skin stays bouncy and healthy.
But that doesn’t mean you need to stop drinking coffee altogether. Just don’t overdo it. For every cup of coffee, make sure you hydrate (because it can dehydrate your skin). Never drink coffee on an empty stomach. And stay well under 3 cups a day, even if you’re in a work spiral!
Also, we might have an update or two…
If you’ve been a regular reader of the
, you’d know that we’ve been working on a trial cohort — to help people with acne, identify its root cause (via our in-house root cause analysis test) and provide a blueprint to help them heal their acne, inside-out.Well, it’s safe to say we’re in the thick of it, and it’s been exciting. We closed our Cohort 1 and can’t wait to share more details and insights on this soon! Stay tuned here, until then, here is a little sneak peek for you 💁🏽♀️
Want to join version 2.0 of our exclusive trial cohort?
Okay now I'm even more curious about Matcha and how it is different from Coffee.
Thanks for sharing this. My wife and I have also cut down on caffeine (in general) a lot but we still observe Matcha Mondays. It is our guilty pleasure :)