Ingredient

CAMELLIA SINENSIS POLYPHENOLS

Name of the plant

Assam Tea; Black Tea; Chinese Tea; Green Tea

Type of preparation

Polyphenols

Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

ANTIOXIDANT

Inhibits reactions promoted by oxygen, thus avoiding oxidation and deterioration of ingredients

Origin

plant

Background information on use in cosmetics

As an easily digestible hot beverage with a soothing effect, green tea is very popular. However, as an ingredient in many cosmetic products, green tea (INCI: camellia sinensis) has likewise already been appreciated for a long time. Green tea contains, unlike black tea, all its active ingredients since the leaves are not fermented. One of the main components of the tea is caffeine. Caffeine dehydrates the skin which is tightened again. Moreover, it ensures that the cells are supplied particularly well with oxygen and nutrients. Apart from caffeine, green tea contains tannins, vitamins, minerals and other trace elements – substances which support skin health. Its antioxidative effect helps the skin to protect itself and regularly renew itself. As a matter of principle, cosmetics with green tea are suitable for all skin types. However, skincare products which contain green tea deploy their effect more particularly in the event of demanding and sensitive skin. In shampoos, green tea has a soothing effect for the scalp and a purifying effect on oily hair.

Belongs to the following substance groups

Antioxidants

Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.

Understanding your cosmetics

How are cosmetics kept safe in Europe?

Strict laws make sure that cosmetics and personal care products sold in the European Union are safe for people to use. Companies, national and European regulatory authorities share the responsibility of keeping cosmetic products safe.

What should I know about endocrine disruptors?

Some ingredients used in cosmetic products have been claimed to be ‘endocrine disruptors’ because they have the potential to mimic some of the properties of our hormones. Just because something has the potential to mimic a hormone does not mean it will disrupt our endocrine system. Many substances, including natural ones, mimic hormones but very few, and these are mostly potent medicines, have ever been shown to cause disruption of the endocrine system. The rigorous product safety assessments by qualified, scientific experts that companies are legally obliged to carry out cover all potential risks, including potential endocrine disruption.

Are cosmetics tested on animals? No!

In the European Union, testing cosmetics on animals has been fully banned since 2013. Over the last 30 years, long before a ban was in place, the cosmetics and personal care industry has invested in research and development to pioneer alternatives to animal testing tools to assess the safety of cosmetics ingredients and products.

What about allergens in cosmetics?

Many substances, natural or man-made, have the potential to cause an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction occurs when a person’s immune system reacts to substances that are harmless to most people. A substance that causes an allergic reaction is called an allergen. Cosmetics and personal care products may contain ingredients that can be allergenic for some people. This does not mean that the product is not safe for others to use.

Database

Cosmetics matter to people and play an important role in our everyday life. On average European consumers use over seven different cosmetics daily. You too? It’s only natural that you want to know more about the ingredients in those products.

In the digital world we live in, there’s a deluge of information on cosmetics. However, it can be difficult to know which sources are reliable. COSMILE Europe is a European cosmetic ingredient database that offers reliable, verified and scientifically supported information on almost 30,000 ingredients used in cosmetics.

This database will help you understand why certain ingredients are in your cosmetic products; which properties they have and much more. The database is currently available in fourteen languages with more to come.

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