Green Tea (EGCG)

Green tea extract, particularly its most potent polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-aging properties. Green tea has been consumed in Japan for over a thousand years, and Japanese brands have extensively researched its topical benefits for skin.

EGCG protects against UV-induced damage, reduces inflammation, improves barrier function, and may help prevent skin cancer. It also has sebum-regulating properties, making it beneficial for oily and acne-prone skin. The challenge with green tea in formulations is stability, as the polyphenols degrade quickly when exposed to light and air.

Japanese brands like DHC, Shu Uemura, and Innisfree (Korean but popular in Japan) feature green tea prominently. Japanese green tea skincare often uses matcha or sencha extracts for their high polyphenol content. The ingredient represents the intersection of traditional Japanese tea culture and modern skincare science.