antioxidants

Green Tea for Sensitive Skin: The Leaf in Every ZÉORA Step

Green tea leaf extract is one of seven botanicals in every ZÉORA step. Here's what it is, what published research says about it, and why we chose it.

Green tea is one of the most familiar drinks in the world, and it's also in every bottle of the ZÉORA Ritual. Read the ingredient lists of Clarus, Oktélia and Hydronéa and you'll find Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract in all three.

Here's what green tea extract is, what published research says about it (and what it doesn't), and why it belongs in the Ritual.

What green tea extract is

Green tea comes from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, the same plant used for black and oolong tea. Green tea leaves are processed with minimal oxidation, which helps keep their natural plant compounds. The best known of these are polyphenols called catechins. A 2005 review in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology describes catechins as the group of phenolic compounds in green tea that react readily with free radicals, the unstable molecules involved in everyday oxidative stress (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2005).

On ZÉORA labels it's listed as Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, meaning it is drawn from the leaves of the plant.

What research says about green tea in skincare

Much of the research on green tea is about the plant's chemistry or about drinking tea, not about finished skincare, so it's worth being precise about what the studies cover.

A leaf rich in antioxidant polyphenols. The 2005 review summarizes research on green tea polyphenols and the skin, and explains that they are valued because they neutralize free radicals (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2005).
Skin moisture and texture in a small study. In a 2013 study published in Dermatologic Therapy, researchers applied a cosmetic formulation with 6% green tea leaf extract, or the same formulation without it, to the forearms of 24 volunteers. After 15 to 30 days, the green tea formulation increased skin moisture and reduced measured skin roughness, and the researchers concluded that green tea is more than an antioxidant ingredient in cosmetics (Dermatologic Therapy, 2013).

Neither paper tested ZÉORA products, and the 2013 study used its own formula and concentration, on forearm skin. The research helps explain why green tea is valued in skincare, not how it performs in a finished formula on your face.

Why green tea is in ZÉORA

ZÉORA began with a notebook from 1850, kept by a woman named Zéora on the Greek island of Samos. She had reactive, sensitive skin and studied the plants around her, keeping only what her skin accepted. Today's Ritual carries that idea forward with a small group of gentle botanicals.

Green tea is one of the seven botanicals of our Samos Garden, alongside Greek-sourced yarrow, sage, damask rose, chamomile, lemon balm and marjoram. The same seven plants appear in every step, so green tea travels with you through the whole routine. We chose it as an antioxidant leaf extract that helps defend skin against everyday environmental stress.

Where you'll find it

Clarus, our gentle gel cleanser (100 ml).
Oktélia, our lightweight serum (30 ml).
Hydronéa, our replenishing cream (50 ml).

All three come together in The ZÉORA Ritual.

How to use the Ritual

Clarus · Cleanse. Massage 1–2 pumps of Clarus onto damp skin for a few seconds, rinse lightly and pat dry.
Oktélia · Calm. Apply 3 drops of Oktélia, one on the forehead and one on each cheek, and spread until absorbed.
Hydronéa · Restore. Smooth Hydronéa evenly over clean skin to seal in hydration.

Use the routine morning and evening. Hydronéa does not contain SPF, and green tea extract is not a sunscreen, so in the morning finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen you already tolerate.

A note for sensitive skin

Hydronéa is our fragrance-free step. Clarus and Oktélia do contain fragrance, and every full ingredient list is on its product page, so you can check each one before you buy.

If your skin is sensitive, introduce one new product at a time and patch-test first. The American Academy of Dermatology explains how to test a skincare product before using it on your face.

Keep reading

This article is general skincare information, not medical advice. ZÉORA products are cosmetics, not medicines. If you have a skin condition, or notice persistent redness, itching, swelling or a rash, please speak with a board-certified dermatologist before changing your routine.

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