Green tea: The most studied antioxidant

Green tea is a product derived from the tea plant Camellia sinensis . It can be used as a food and as a cosmetic ingredient .

In a skincare routine for sensitive skin, acne, rosacea/cuperose , eczema, or other inflammatory skin conditions, green tea should be included in at least one skincare product. No other ingredient can replace green tea because it is so versatile and very well-researched.

Green tea differs from other types of tea, such as black or white tea, in its processing. Matcha is a special form of green tea, a finely ground green tea powder that has an even stronger antioxidant effect due to special shading during cultivation.

Green tea has many uses: as a tea infusion or matcha for drinking, as matcha in food, and as an active ingredient in cosmetics. This article focuses on the use of green tea as an ingredient in cosmetic products . The INCI name for tea is Camellia sinensis . A parenthetical suffix may indicate the specific tea variety.

Green tea extract is the most studied antioxidant in skincare. Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated its effectiveness. Green tea extract is very well tolerated by the skin and is therefore an ideal active ingredient, especially for people with skin problems. Green tea is so special because it is naturally rich in polyphenols. More precisely, green tea contains many catechins. Among the catechins, there are four main types: The most common and active is EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate). Other important types are ECG (epicatechin gallate), GCG (gallocatechin gallate), and EGC (epigallocatechin).

Green tea as an antioxidant

The polyphenols in green tea are powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals , which contribute to skin stress, aging, and inflammation. The less stress your skin experiences, the firmer and healthier it is. Studies have shown that green tea reduces UV-induced skin irritation and redness (erythema). Green tea extract can also reduce the number of sunburn cells. Therefore, green tea is a particularly beneficial addition to your daily skincare routine.

Matcha contains even more EGCG and therefore has an even stronger antioxidant effect than green tea.

And when skin is stressed, sensitive skin can hardly get enough antioxidants. That's why Matach is the highest quality green tea your skin can get.

Green tea helps prevent skin cancer

Green tea's strong antioxidant properties help prevent sun damage. However, a serum or cream containing green tea is not a substitute for sunscreen . It's a great addition to your skincare routine during the day, helping to keep skin looking youthful and protected from damage in the long run.

Green tea can inhibit DNA damage and activates certain enzymes that aid in DNA repair. Therefore, green tea is beneficial for preventing non-melanoma skin cancer. It makes particular sense to incorporate green tea into your skincare routine if you have a high risk of skin cancer. You can recognize a high risk of skin cancer by these characteristics:

• fair skin
• Skin cancer in the family
• blue or green eyes
• frequent previous sunburns
• certain types of moles (best to consult a dermatologist)

Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties.

Inflammation is a natural process in the skin and isn't necessarily harmful. It indicates that the immune system is responding adequately to protect the skin when attacked. However, if inflammation becomes excessive, it can accelerate skin aging, skin diseases, and further skin damage. The catechins naturally present in green tea are not only remarkable antioxidants but also possess anti-inflammatory properties. For this reason, green tea is particularly beneficial for people with skin conditions such as acne, rosacea/couperose, eczema, psoriasis, or other skin problems associated with chronic inflammation.

Green tea has antimicrobial properties.

Did you know that? Green tea has antimicrobial properties that combat some harmful bacteria. This is especially beneficial for people with acne-prone skin. Atopic dermatitis also improves with green tea skincare.

Green tea is produced using a special drying process directly after harvesting. This ensures that the green tea retains its active ingredients.

The most tender tea leaves are harvested in spring. At this time of year, the leaves have the highest content of high-quality vitamins, minerals, and flavor compounds. After harvesting, they are laid out on withering mats to dry, losing a significant amount of moisture in the process.

After drying (withering), the tea leaves are briefly heated, roasted, or steamed. This closes the leaf pores, preventing oxidation and thus preventing the leaf from disintegrating and losing its active ingredients. To remove any remaining moisture after cooling, the briefly heated leaves are rolled. Finally, the green tea leaves are dried in a hot air oven until they contain almost no residual moisture. The dried product can then be used in food and cosmetics as desired.

Matcha is made from the same plant as green tea – Camellia sinensis. However, it contains a significantly higher amount of EGCG . The greener the raw, pure matcha powder, the better the quality. The higher the quality, the more expensive it is. The quality differences in matcha are evident in its antioxidant properties and the amount of EGCG it contains.

The tea plants are protected from bright sunlight for three to four weeks before harvest. Starting in early May , the fields are covered with bamboo mats, straw mats, or fabric nets , allowing the green tea plants to continue growing in the shade. This promotes chlorophyll production and ultimately gives matcha its naturally green color , which is so appealing. Unlike regular green tea, the leaves grow for a full two months longer when they are intended for matcha production. The shading allows the green tea to develop more tannins. This also contributes to matcha's slightly bitter taste compared to regular green tea. The high concentration of natural tannins makes matcha so anti-inflammatory and highly antioxidant.

The more stress the green tea experiences due to shading during the growth phase, the more antioxidants it produces to protect itself.