The role of green tea in the fight against photoaging, stress resistance, neuroprotection and autophagy

Composition of green tea

Green tea contains up to 200 biologically active compounds. So, its composition is quite complex, also because the levels of various ingredients are variable and depend on the location of growth, harvest season and production process.

The main substances in this drink:

• Polyphenols.

  This is the largest and most significant chemical compound in green tea, because they contain flavonoids, an important class of antioxidants. True, if there are too many polyphenols, the taste of the drink suffers - the tea becomes too tart and astringent. Therefore, as a rule, green has a lower level of polyphenols than its black counterpart.

• Flavonoids.

  We are mainly talking about flavonols such as kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin. These are powerful antioxidants with antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effects.

  Read also:  White spots on legs: causes, methods of elimination
• Catechins.

  Dried tea extract may contain 30% to 40% catechins.
  These are the nutrients responsible for the special benefits of green tea. For example, epigallocatechin
  is the most active and best-studied of all green tea ingredients and accounts for most of the drink's health benefits.
  Epigallocatechin
  has been found to be more than 100 times more effective at neutralizing free radicals than vitamin C and 25 times more effective than vitamin E.

• Theanine.

  This is an amino acid found only in tea. It is this that gives it its characteristic aroma. Catechins and caffeine taste bitter and tart, while theanine tastes sweet and fresh. Theanine stimulates alpha brain waves, calms the body and promotes mental relaxation. It is the interaction of catechins, theanine and caffeine that makes green tea such a delicious drink.

• Caffeine.

  It is a plant alkaloid found in coffee, tea and cocoa. It acts as a natural pesticide, protecting plants from certain insects that feed on them.

• Vitamins and minerals.

  Green tea contains several B vitamins and vitamin C. Because green tea is processed less than black tea, the vitamins remain intact during the production process of the drink. Other ingredients in green tea include minerals. In particular, aluminum, fluoride and manganese.

Green tea also contains organic acids such as gallic and quinic acids, as well as 10% to 15% carbohydrates and small amounts of volatiles.

Free webinars on anti-aging medicine Learn about the features of the Anti-Age Expert International School, as well as the opportunities for improving your medical practice every day.
The webinar program also includes fascinating reviews of innovations in anti-aging medicine and analyzes of the most complex clinical cases with recommendations that really work. Find out more

Masks for combination and normal skin

Ideal for those with insensitive skin , with controlled sebum secretion (if it gets oily, it’s only in the T-zone).

Honey and orange

Combine a teaspoon of tea, a little more orange zest by volume, and about half a teaspoon of honey until a homogeneous mixture of medium thickness is achieved. Distribute over the face, massage along the main massage lines in a circular motion. Wait 15 minutes, rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Orange peel has the property of exfoliating dead skin layers, removing signs of post-acne, minor defects, promoting collagen production and nourishing with moisture.

Honey works as a moisturizing and turgor-improving component of the dermis.

Face mask with tea and mint

Combine 2 tablespoons of dried mint, the same volume of tea, and a little honey so as to obtain a homogeneous mixture. If you need to make the mixture less thick, you can add water. Distribute the mask evenly over the face, carefully avoiding the areas around the mouth/eyes. Wait 20 minutes, thoroughly remove the mixture with cold water.

A homemade mask effectively tightens and cleanses the skin, minimizes irritation, refreshes and cools. It also visibly improves the complexion, making it glow.

How to prepare masks with green tea

Protective properties of green tea

According to recent research by scientists from Newcastle University, regular consumption of green tea may protect the brain from developing Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

The study, published in the academic journal Phytomedicine, also suggests that this ancient Chinese medicine may play a vital role in protecting the body from cancer.

Specifically, they found that when green tea is digested by enzymes in the gut, the resulting chemicals are actually more effective against key Alzheimer's triggers than the undigested form of the tea.

The digested compounds were also found to have anti-cancer properties, significantly slowing the growth of tumor cells.

Previous research has shown that compounds known as polyphenols present in black and green tea have neuroprotective properties, bind to toxic compounds and protect brain cells.

Ice cubes for face

One of the easiest and most effective ways to take advantage of the beauty benefits of green tea is to ice it. To do this, take large-leaf tea, brew it with slightly cooled water and leave for about 5 minutes. The cooled, strained broth is poured into ice molds and placed in the freezer.

Ice can be used before bed and after waking up to tone and refresh the skin. In the morning, if you are short on time, this procedure can even replace regular washing. If the skin is irritated or inflamed, then you should make ice from a decoction of tea and mint.

Benefits of green tea for skin

Antioxidants contained in green tea have an anti-aging effect and can prolong the beauty and youth of the skin, including protecting it from photoaging.

Photoaging due to exposure to ultraviolet rays is the main cause of wrinkles, age spots and other age-related changes on the skin.

Scientists have discovered that green tea polyphenols can slow down these processes. Thus, regular consumption of green tea can prevent some damage to DNA cells caused by UV radiation. Topical preparations containing green tea may also benefit the skin because they have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and photoprotective properties.

One study found that products containing green tea extracts improved skin texture and reduced the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

An analysis of the benefits of green tea for the skin suggests that it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic effects.

Those who suffer from acne can use pure green tea to cleanse their skin. Lotions containing it can help reduce the number of breakouts on your face. In addition, epigallocatechin from green tea significantly reduces skin inflammation, which usually triggers acne.

Another benefit of green tea for acne-prone skin is reducing sebum production.

Reviews

Tatyana: Yes, it’s really good for the skin and making any mask is very easy. The difficulty is to find a good tea leaves that can then be safely used as an ingredient.

Marianna: Ice cubes are my favorite remedy. They perfectly tighten and refresh the skin, in addition, it is a hardening for the face before the onset of winter frost and winds.

Olga: Sometimes I wash my face with the leftover tea from the teapot before going to bed. I have dry skin, so tap water is not suitable, but tea helps me out.

Svetlana: In Japan, tea is not only drunk in incredible quantities, but also eaten and used in home cosmetology. This is the key to the legendary youth of Japanese women. I also follow their example, order matcha, add homemade masks to my food.

Stress resistance

Green tea is also effective in combating stress and anxiety. For example, L-theanine, an amino acid that helps relieve tension, gives it relaxing properties.

L-theanine promotes the creation of alpha waves in the brain, relaxing the mind in stressful situations while maintaining alertness. Every day, researchers are discovering more and more benefits of L-theanine.

It has also been linked to improved cognitive function, reduced anxiety, improved sleep quality and overall well-being.

Scientists believe that theanine may reduce anxiety because it acts on the neurotransmitters GABA, increasing their concentration, which is important for those under stress.

GABA affects the levels of two other “feel good” neurotransmitters, serotonin and dopamine, known as the feel-good hormones. Increased dopamine levels also lead to improved memory and learning ability.

A study published in 2012 tracked the effects of L-theanine and caffeine on mental performance. Participants were exposed to several psychological as well as physical stressors, and they received either placebo alone, L-theanine and placebo, or caffeine and placebo. Research has shown that theanine reduces blood pressure and anxiety.

Moreover, even the caffeine contained in green tea enhances stress resistance. Its relatively small amount (30 to 50 mg per cup) may not cause hyperactivity or nervousness like a cup of coffee. This dose of caffeine keeps the brain active by blocking adenosine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter that acts as a central nervous system depressant. It also increases the concentration of “good” neurotransmitters and the release of dopamine.

Therefore, when under stress, it is better to give up coffee in favor of green tea.

How to properly make a face mask at home

After you prepare and mix all the components of the cosmetic product, apply the mask to your face using a special brush, cotton pad or sponge. If you don’t have such accessories on hand, you can apply the product with your fingers, but you just need to wash your hands well to avoid infection.

The mixture is applied to problem areas or to the entire surface of the face (forehead, cheeks, nose, chin), except for the eyelids and the area under the eyes, where the skin is especially thin and sensitive. Remaining substances should not be stored in the refrigerator. Therefore, if you did not calculate the amount of products, and the mixture turned out to be too much, you can make a mask on such parts of the body as the area under the chin, décolleté, and the back of the hands.

The mask is kept on the face and other parts of the body for 15 to 30 minutes. If during this period you feel a feeling of tightness, this is basically normal, especially if you have added cosmetic clay to the mask. But burning and itching are signs that something has gone wrong, and the mask urgently needs to be washed off. If the discomfort does not go away even after completing the procedure, if redness or rash occurs, you need to contact a dermatologist or cosmetologist.

After the recommended time has passed, the mask should be washed off, using warm and cool boiled water successively. Instead of ordinary water, you can use still mineral water, as well as a chilled water infusion of medicinal herbs.

To close the pores, you can wipe your face with an ice cube. This can be regular (boiled or mineral) frozen water. Or the same decoction of medicinal plants.

If you do not use ice, immediately after the procedure, apply a moisturizing, nourishing cream to your skin. After 5-10 minutes, you can apply decorative cosmetics while doing makeup.

Neuroprotective properties of green tea

Science has proven that green tea promotes healthy brain function.

A 2011 study of older adults who regularly consumed green tea found less decline in cognitive function than those who drank a placebo. The study authors attributed this improvement to L-theanine's neuroprotective mechanisms.

The 2022 findings showed that it's not just L-theanine—it works with other compounds like caffeine and catechins to help improve cognitive function while maintaining brain function.

There is also evidence that the flavonoids in green tea extracts help increase dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain. These neurotransmitters play an important role in healthy brain function and are associated with feelings of well-being and happiness.

Green tea protects against Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases because the amino acids and enzymes in green tea have beneficial effects on brain health, helping to prevent neurodegenerative diseases.

The antioxidant properties of flavonoids in green tea help reduce toxin levels in the brain and also help protect against the effects of Alzheimer's disease.

The antioxidants found in green and black tea help reduce the effects of oxidative stress on the brain.

Additionally, researchers have found that drinking 3-4 cups of green tea per day may also help reduce symptoms of mild depression in older adults.

Methods

The study included 100,902 adults from China who participated in the Prediction for ASCVD Risk in China (China-PAR) program. All individuals included in the study had lived in 15 Chinese provinces since 1998.

Information on tea consumption was obtained from questionnaires. Based on the amount of tea consumed per week, 2 groups were divided: drinking tea 3 or more times a week (habitual consumers) and never or rarely drinking tea (less than 3 times a week).

The researchers performed regression analyzes and calculated hazard ratios for atherosclerotic cardiovascular events and death.

Autophagy

Autophagy is a vital process during which cells get rid of unnecessary or damaged components. It is known that different types of fasting can trigger it. But there are also aids - such as green tea.

Green tea has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine and other parts of the world. It has many health benefits including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties.

EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) is the major polyphenol in green tea that has been shown to stimulate autophagy in vascular endothelial cells. It also reduces lipid accumulation, the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and bacterial infections. All of these benefits are primarily due to autophagy.

In addition, green tea extract can increase metabolic rate by 4%, fat oxidation by 17%, and insulin sensitivity by 13% within 24 hours.

Online training in Anti-Age medicine Learn the intricacies of anti-aging medicine from anywhere in the world. For the convenience of doctors, we have created the Anti-Age Expert online training platform: Lectures from our educational programs are consistently posted here, and are accessible 24/7. Doctors can study the materials as many times as necessary, ask questions and discuss interesting clinical cases with colleagues in special chats

Find out more

How to Prepare for a Cosmetic Procedure

Proper skin preparation is the key to the effectiveness of a green tea mask. First, you need to cleanse your face of various impurities. Even if you plan to make a mask in the morning, you still need to wash your face, because during the night the sebaceous glands have produced a certain amount of secretion, which will prevent the penetration of beneficial substances into the deep layers of the epidermis.

You can increase the effectiveness of the mask by steaming the skin. During the procedure, the pores will open and be ready to accept biologically active substances. The easiest ways to steam the dermis:

1. Boil water and pour a few tablespoons of chamomile with hot water. After five minutes, the medicinal herb will infuse. By bending over a saucepan and covering your head with a towel, you can take a quick steam bath for your face.
2. Make a decoction of medicinal herbs, let it cool so that the liquid is hot, but not scalding. Soak gauze folded in several layers or a small terry towel with the infusion. Place on face for 5-10 minutes.
3. After steaming your face, you can do a light peeling with an exfoliating effect or scrubbing, which will force the skin cells to renew themselves more actively. At this point the preparatory stage ends and you can start making the mask.

Brief conclusions

• Green tea contains up to 200 biologically active compounds, which explains its special health benefits.
• Green tea promotes healthy brain function.
• Antioxidants contained in green tea have an anti-aging effect and can prolong the beauty and youth of the skin, including protecting it from photoaging.
• Green tea is also effective in combating stress and anxiety.

Harm and contraindications

Green tea is such a unique product that it can be used externally for people with any skin type. An exception will be the presence of:

• herpes;
• open wounds.

While enjoying the unique taste of green tea, you can also get a lot of pleasure from cosmetic procedures using it. Beautiful skin and good mood will always accompany a tea lover.

Don’t forget that there are equally healthy varieties of green tea, such as Gunpowder and Gaba, and the varieties Da Hong Pao and Kudin will help cleanse the body.

Review of popular cosmetics

Many manufacturers add green tea extract or Camelia Sinensis to their cosmetics. Creams, tonics, lotions, and masks are made on its basis. The following tools are popular:

1. for problem skin;
2. slow down aging;
3. for mature skin;
4. creams with sunscreen properties;
5. for sensitive skin;
6. for the skin around the eyes.

A wide variety of green tea-based cosmetics allows everyone to choose the right option. In our opinion, there are 10 most effective remedies. They cost no more than 1,500 rubles, so they are available to all women. We chose them based on reviews and taking into account the opinions of experts.

TONY MOLY The Chok Chok Green Tea Watery Cream

This is the most popular cream from the famous Korean brand. The main effect is moisturizing. Can be used by all skin types. It contains 63% green tea extract. Also contains rose, bergamot, olive, lemon oils, allantoin, glycerin. Use as a makeup base or night nourishing cream.

Has an antioxidant, cooling effect. Soothes irritated skin, removes dryness. Strengthens capillary walls, increases the elasticity of the epidermis.

Advantages

• absorbs quickly;
• eliminates oily shine;
• has a pleasant aroma.

Flaws

• unhygienic packaging.

Garnier Botanical cream

The popularity of the cream is explained by the reputation of the manufacturer and a good combination of price and quality. It consists of 96% natural ingredients. Contains glycerin, soybean oil, tocopherol, salicylic acid. Contains no parabens or sulfates.

Designed for the care of oily and combination skin. Moisturizes, mattifies, cleanses pores. Restores the water-fat balance of the skin.

Advantages

• easy to apply;
• smells good;
• does not cause allergies;
• creates a protective film;
• evens out complexion.

Flaws

• cannot be used as a base for makeup.

Farmstay Green Tea Seed Moisture SUN Cream SPF 50+

The moisturizer contains green tea leaf and seed extract. The composition also contains shea butter, witch hazel, chamomile, and centella extracts. Has a whitening effect and protects against UV rays. It has a light texture and a pleasant aroma.

The cream increases skin elasticity, removes redness, tightens pores, and improves complexion. Thanks to its antioxidant properties, it prevents photoaging and increased pigmentation.

Advantages

• easily absorbed;
• there are no synthetic components in the composition;
• can be used daily.

Flaws

• Not detected

Nevskaya Cosmetics Face Cream Green Tea

The most accessible and inexpensive face cream. Contains panthenol, vitamin E, olive oil. Eliminates dryness, flaking and inflammation. Has moisturizing, toning and protective properties.

Advantages

• Suitable for all skin types;
• protects from wind and frost;
• absorbs quickly;
• smells nice.

Flaws

• Not detected.

Garnier Anti-aging day face cream Anti-wrinkle protection 35+

Designed for skin of any type. Slows down aging, prevents the appearance of wrinkles. Moisturizes, increases elasticity, stimulates regeneration processes. Contains fruit acids, tocopherol, caffeine.

Advantages

• absorbs quickly;
• smoothes wrinkles;
• smells nice.

Flaws

• may cause irritation and allergies.

Ottie Green Tea Cream

This Korean cream is designed for dry, irritated and problematic skin. Eliminates peeling, irritation, relieves inflammation. Contains hyaluronic acid, allantoin, aloe, grapefruit, sophora extracts. Retains moisture in cells, regulates water balance.

The cream tightens the oval of the face, makes wrinkles and acne marks less pronounced. It soothes irritation, tones and refreshes.

Advantages

• convenient bottle with pump;
• absorbs quickly;
• suitable as a base for makeup;
• can be used for any skin type.

Flaws

• difficult to find on sale.

Mild By Nature Camellia Care Green Tea Facial Cream

Natural based face cream. Contains hyaluronic acid, caffeine, resveratrol, tea tree oil. Contains no fragrances or parabens. Maintains the natural pH of the skin, suitable for all types.

The cream can be used for anti-aging care, as it reduces the severity of wrinkles and increases elasticity. It is also effective as an anti-inflammatory and protective agent. Soothes irritation and can be used as a base for makeup.

Advantages

• large bottle with a convenient dispenser;
• does not cause allergies;
• absorbs quickly;
• Can be used as a day or night cream.

Flaws

• not everyone likes the scent;
• difficult to find on sale.

Sea & Energy Moisturizing and correcting cream for the skin around the eyes

A cream with a natural composition is intended for the skin of the eyelids. Contains tocopherol, passionflower, ginger, grape seed and coconut oils, hyaluronic acid. Eliminates swelling, smoothes facial wrinkles, tightens the skin, increases elasticity.

Advantages

• does not cause allergies;
• economically used;
• moisturizes well;
• smells good;
• removes swelling and bruises under the eyes.

Flaws

• Not detected.

Bielenda Hydrosol Green Tea 3in1

This is a tonic based on floral water. Contains azeloglycine, tea tree oil, panthenol. Cleanses, moisturizes, tones, mattifies and whitens. Tightens pores, regulates the activity of the sebaceous glands, normalizes the pH level of the skin. Hydrolate slows down the aging process and can be used at any age.

Advantages

• can be used several times a day;
• refreshes the face;
• cleanses pores well.

Flaws

• not suitable for sensitive skin.

MIJIN Cosmetics sheet mask Green Tea Essence

An effective sheet mask for all skin types. Eliminates inflammation, prevents acne, moisturizes and nourishes the skin. Contains tocopherol, aloe extract, hyaluronic acid, caffeine.

Advantages

• easy to use;
• does not cause allergies;
• eliminates swelling and inflammation;
• does not require rinsing.

Flaws

• Not detected.

Green tea leaves have beneficial effects on facial skin. Therefore, they are often added to homemade and ready-made cosmetics.