What Does EGCG Do for Skin?
EGCG, formally known as epigallocatechin gallate, is a plant compound called a catechin. Used in nutritional supplements and skincare products, this rich antioxidant offers many beneficial properties for your skin and overall health. Green tea extract contains EGCG, which you’ve surely heard of and seen in a range of products from teas to face masks. So let’s take a closer look at this powerful ingredient.
What is EGCG?
You can find EGCG in what is commonly known as green tea extract. EGCG is valued for its antioxidant abilities, preventing skin-damaging free radicals from reaching your face and causing a variety of issues. Pollution, environmental stressors, and even UV rays can take a toll on your skin, leading to premature aging, blemishes, and uneven skin tone and texture. EGCG’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties make it one of the lesser-known but ultimately popular ingredients in skincare.
What is EGCG in Skincare?
Rich and nourishing. EGCG fights a range of skin issues and has a wide range of healing benefits, such as:
Antioxidant – When antioxidants are a key ingredient in your skincare, you’ll find that any aging, dullness, and blemishes issues become less noticeable and are treated quickly and effectively. It’s like putting on a raincoat during a sudden downpour, meaning your skin is protected from anything it might encounter throughout the day.
Anti-inflammatory – This helps soothe the skin and reduce other issues, such as redness. Great for fighting breakouts by reducing the size and redness that active pimples and acne often present.
Anti-androgenic – This means it reduces lipid levels in the skin, reduces excess sebum, and prevents it from clogging pores. This reduces acne breakouts such as pimples and blackheads, as EGCG slows down their formation.
EGCG has important benefits that help your skin look healthy, feel balanced, have clarity, and a smooth complexion. You may notice that green tea extract is often included in serums or face masks. If you simply drink green tea in the morning, it will also do your skin a lot of good.
Is EGCG safe?
Yes, it is relatively safe to use EGCG as long as you follow the instructions for taking the supplement and do not exceed the daily dose. Regarding EGCG in skincare, if a 24-hour patch test is done to ensure that the skin can tolerate and tolerate the green tea extract, there are no side effects on the skin. If you have any concerns about using EGCG, please consult your primary care physician or dermatologist before applying any product to your entire face.
What is Green Tea Extract?
Green tea extract is a dietary supplement extracted from the green tea plant. It contains a variety of concentrated compounds such as antioxidants, polyphenols, and vitamins. Green tea extract is a drinkable herbal tea that is available in capsule and powder form. As for the latter, you need to be careful about excessive consumption, as green tea powder can cause liver problems and its dysfunction.
Green tea extract is also used in skincare products designed for problematic, blemish-prone skin, as its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties can protect the skin and reduce blemishes while soothing skin redness.
How to Use Green Tea on Your Face?
There are a variety of ways to incorporate green tea extract into your skincare routine. Some of your tried and tested products contain green tea extract. It comes in different styles, from facial mists, serums, masks to washes.
You can also try out a variety of home recipes. You can find tons of them online. One of the most popular is green tea ice cubes, which you can rub on your face as part of your morning routine. The coolness of the ice cubes helps prevent swelling, and the antioxidant effects of green tea protect your skin from premature aging, UV damage, redness, and irritation. Not to mention that it is very effective in fighting all the acne-causing bacteria.
Is EGCG the same as green tea extract?
You will find that EGCG is a plant compound commonly known as catechins, which is found in green tea extract. Both are essential and can benefit your skin through topical application and dietary intake. There is no evidence that drinking green tea throughout the day will have side effects, but your body can absorb EGCG faster. Studies have shown that some people drink two to four cups of green tea a day. However, since green tea does not contain the same amount of caffeine as regular tea or coffee, it does not provide an extra energy boost.
EGCG is very effective and has many positive effects on the skin. It comes in many forms, so you should find the best product, supplement or tea that works for you and your lifestyle. As with anything you add to your diet and on your skin, you should consult your doctor or dermatologist for advice on the best next steps to take. Now if you’ll excuse me, let’s go turn on the kettle!
DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life.
What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin?
Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition.
Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes.
If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider.
What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin?
Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity.
Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C.
Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post.
Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster.
This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster.
While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin.
It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin.
Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning?
Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance.
You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather.
Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.
