Green Tea Leaf Extract
Camellia sinensis leaf extract comes from the green tea plant and is an abundant source of bioactive compounds that have been shown to offer significant benefits to our skin.
In the outermost layer of skin, the stratum corneum, tea extracts provide strong antioxidant activity by strengthening blood vessels and increasing microcirculation.
In the deeper skin layers, tea polyphenols provide UV radiation protection by absorbing UVB light and acting on various enzymes. These effects can delay skin ageing by downregulating enzymes responsible for degrading hyaluronic acid, lipids, collagen, and elastin.
Tea polyphenols and catechins (EGCG being the most bioactive), also display antioxidant activity due to their free radical scavenging ability, decelerating the inflammatory process.
Clinical Trial Results
This double, blinded, placebo-controlled study showed an improvement of skin elasticity and the enhanced protection of cutaneous signs of photoaging in participants treated with a combination regimen of topical and oral green tea.
This study showed that skin damage caused by sun exposure was reduced with the topical application of skincare containing green tea extract. Researchers found skin microrelief had significantly improved due to a reduction in skin roughness, suggesting green tea leaf extract has pronounced moisturizing effects.
Key Benefits:
- Acts as a powerful antioxidant
- Provides protection form UV radiation and combats DNA damage
- Reduces trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) from the epidermis
- Acne fighting and blemish preventing ingredient
- Improves skin texture
- Helps regulate oil production
- Lessens the appearance of redness
- Contains Vitamin C to brighten the skin
Adding Green Tea to Your Routine
Are you are looking for a boost of antioxidants or want to provide nutrition to the skin?, or simply want skin to look a little more hydrated and more even toned, green tea leaf extract is a great ingredient to incorporate into your routine. It's also really gentle on inflamed or acne prone skin. You can find green tea leaf extract in our Postbiotic Ceramide Gentle Cleanser.
References:
Gianeti MD, Mercurio DG, Campos PM. The use of green tea extract in cosmetic formulations: not only an antioxidant active ingredient. Dermatol Ther. 2013 May-Jun;26(3):267-71. doi: 0.1111/j.1529-8019.2013.01552.x. Epub 2013 Mar 13. PMID: 23742288.
Chiu AE, Chan JL, Kern DG, Kohler S, Rehmus WE, Kimball AB. Double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of green tea extracts in the clinical and histologic appearance of photoaging skin. Dermatol Surg. 2005 Jul;31(7 Pt 2):855-60; discussion 860. doi: 0.1111/j.1524-4725.2005.31731. PMID: 16029678.
Koch W, Zagórska J, Marzec Z, Kukula-Koch W. Applications of Tea (Camellia sinensis) and its Active Constituents in Cosmetics.Molecules. 2019;24(23):4277. Published 2019 Nov 24. doi:10.3390/molecules24234277
Kim E, Hwang K, Lee J, Han SY, Kim EM, Park J, Cho JY. Skin Protective Effect of Epigallocatechin Gallate. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jan 6;19(1):173. doi: 10.3390/ijms19010173. PMID: 29316635; PMCID: PMC5796122.