Ingredient glossary
Green Tea Extract
On your shelf ✓What Green Tea Extract does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract · Also: EGCG
In short: Green Tea Extract delivers antioxidant and photoprotection, suits oily skin best, and the evidence behind it is moderate. One thing to know: clear it with your doctor if pregnant; introduce it gently.
- What it does
- Antioxidant, photoprotection
- Best for
- Oily skin
- Watch out
- Clear it with your doctor if pregnant; introduce it gently
- Evidence
- Moderate
The Glow take
Genuinely worth a spot in your routine.
When your goal is calming breakouts and congestion, Green Tea Extract pulls genuine weight, with a solid amount of evidence behind it. Introduce it gently, and pair it with something soothing if your skin runs sensitive.
— Maya
What it does
- antioxidant
- photoprotection
- anti inflammatory
- anti acne
moderate evidenceMechanistic work and small split face trials show reduced UV induced damage and some reductions in sebum and inflammatory lesions yet instability and variable formulations limit consistent clinical impact.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- oily
- acne prone
- photoaged
- rosacea
- sensitive
Approach with care
- very sensitive
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskModerate
How it fits each skin type
- DryNeutral
- CombinationNeutral
- OilySuits
- SensitiveTake care
Often chosen for acne prone, photoaged, rosacea.
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- niacinamide
- vitamin c
- sunscreens
Green Tea Extract, answered
Is Green Tea Extract safe during pregnancy?
Clear it with your doctor first. Green Tea Extract is flagged as use-with-caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so check with your doctor or midwife before adding it.
Who should avoid Green Tea Extract?
Approach Green Tea Extract with care if any of these apply to you: very sensitive. Its irritation risk is moderate, so introduce it slowly and patch test first.
What concentration of Green Tea Extract actually works?
Its concentration is rarely printed on the label, so use the ingredient list as your clue: near the top third it is likely doing real work, near the bottom it is more of a sprinkle.
During pregnancy
Treat Green Tea Extract as a maybe rather than a yes for now. It is flagged as one to use with caution while pregnant or breastfeeding, so it is worth clearing before you carry on.
When in doubt, check with your doctor or midwife. They outrank any website, including this one.
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