Green tea extract acts as an antioxidant and protects the skin against UV damage. It contains caffeine, Vitamin C and many polyphenolic compounds (tannins, proanthocyanidins, and other flavonoids) - up to 30%. It is also a good source of minerals like zinc, magnesium, selenium and chromium. It contains polyphenols quercetin and rutin.

Green tea extract can protect the skin from UV rays because of catechins, signaling molecules from the flavonoid family. Catechins comprise 25% of the tea leaf. Green tea’s most abundant catechin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), provides sun protection.

EGCG also blocks the collagen 'crosslinking' that accelerates the aging of cells.

Green tea's cancer preventative effects are well documented.

Scientific evidence indicates green tea’s antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties, and skin experts generally recommend green tea as a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging ingredient, mainly because it contains the polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).

EGCG polyphenols are known for their anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant actions and could inhibit the body's immune suppression and skin cancer induction followed by UVB exposure.

A 2001 study in the journal Carcinogenesis demonstrated that dermal application of EGCG could effectively reduce the body's oxidative stress and increase the activity of catalase and glutathione.

A 2003 study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry indicates that green tea reduces UV induced inflammation. It is used in medicine as an effective treatment for redness and irritation from rosacea.

Research (Journal of Dermatological Science, December 2005) implies that EGCG indirectly acts as a sun-protecting active by harnessing UV induced free radicals, which leads to preventing the breakdown of collagen and minimizes UV damage. It also works synergistically with other UV absorbers.

Recent research suggests that concentrations as low as 0.4% can benefit the skin and its ability to fight UV induced damage.

Further scientifically relevant research:

Antibacterial: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22868144
Antimelanogenic: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25643794
Antiphotoaging, stress resistance: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30813433
Antioxidant, moisturisation: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23742288
Antiwrinkle: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25584148
Cancer prevention: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21397027
Chemopreventive: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27897996
Green tea in dermatology: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23346663
UV-damage protection: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24361697
UV-damage protection: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27618035
Wound healing, scars: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23864889

Green tea leaf extract

How It Works:

EGCG also blocks the collagen 'crosslinking' that accelerates the aging of cells.

Further scientifically relevant research: