Beyond steeping for three minutes in hot water, the leaves of the tea plant are a core ingredient in skin care and shaving products. Unoxidised and young tea leaves - white or green tea - are rich with catechins, polyphenolic compounds considerably high in antioxidant content.
White or Green Tea?
The choice between utilising white or green tea extract in skin care products is largely a choice made by the skin care company. Whilst research indicates that White Tea may have a larger concentration of Catechins than Green Tea rendering the former to be more potent, and that each respective tea may contain a different set of Antioxidants, both nevertheless work as powerful ingredients with largely equivalent benefits. Both white and green teas have Anti-Inflammatory properties.
Antioxidant Benefits
White tea and green tea boast protective and reparative properties for the skin. When applied topically, the antioxidants in tea extracts counteract free radical damage - which result from exposure to pollutants in the atmosphere such as cigarette smoke and UV radiation, and can also be attributed to an excessive diet of alcohol, fats, and sugars. These factors put the body under considerable oxidative stress, and consequently this results in skin cell damage which gives the appearance of aging and general inflammation and redness. Sunspots, fine lines, and wrinkles are all examples of free radical damage. Antioxidants restore balance and work at the visible appearance of the skin by repairing it post-exposure, slowing down the visible signs of damage.
Tea products play a crucial role in protecting the Skin Cell Matrix. The enzymes in the skin function to rejuvenate damaged proteins through a recycling-like process. When the skin cell matrix effectively performs this task, the skin appears firm and healthy. Conversely, when it fails, the skin shows signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles.
Overactive enzymatic activity, which naturally increases with age and is exacerbated by free radicals, results in wrinkles and similar indicators. Antioxidant-rich tea products help balance enzyme production, while supporting the production of elastin and collagen. These proteins are essential for maintaining a youthful and healthy skin appearance.
Jaxon Lane's Boom Cica Wow Cleanser contains green tea as part of its impressive ingredients list. It balances enzymatic activity while supporting the production of elastin and collagen. It nourishes the skin as it cleans, never stripping the skin of the good stuff. Its supremely gentle yet effective - and is further enriched with anti-aging ingredients.
Urth's Face Balm is the perfect product with a focus on preventing sun damage, utilising an SPF15 sunscreen with the addition of green tea, providing environmental protection and fighting free radical damage. Additionally, tea extracts stimulate Microcirculation, promoting a skin tone that appears happy and healthy, because it is.
Combine this with a high powered serum containing a cocktail of tea-derived antioxidants and Peptides to be applied underneath a moisturiser. Like a concentrated shot of wheatgrass in your smoothie, Jaxon Lane's Super Serum reverses free radical damage throughout the day, and gets to work while you sleep in the evening. It brightens skin tone, and with sustained use, evens skin tone.
Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
The anti-inflammatory benefits of white and green tea makes it particularly effective when employed not only in skin care products, but also shaving products. Desirable for those with skin of a sensitive disposition – prone to irritation, redness and shave burn – botanically-derived antioxidants efficaciously intervene on inflammation reaction pathways, therefore reducing the overall appearance of inflammation as they 'step in' to protect the skin.
Urth's Face Wash employs white tea extracts, and is a positive step for those with sensitive skin type, suffering from inflammation and redness.
The same principles bear upon the domain of shaving. The cult collection of Proraso White, which includes Pre-Shave Cream, Shaving Soap, and After Shave Balm all have the added benefit of green tea, making it perfect for sensitive skin.