TEA COSTS 30 TIMES ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD - EXCELLENT FOR BEAUTYFUL SKIN

It was interesting to read the richness of tea in BBC article by Theodora Sutcliffe yesterday.  In 2002, a wealthy purchaser paid 180,000 yuan – almost $28,000 – for just 20g of China's legendary Da Hong Pao tea. The original Da Hong Pao doesn't just cost its weight in gold – it costs more than 30 times its weight in gold: almost $1,400 for a single gram, or well over $10,000 for a pot. It’s one of the most expensive teas in the world.

In another very informative piece in Huffington Post by Beauty Editor, Dana Oliver, benefits from tea for skin through natural cosmetics and skin care formulations have been well described.

Tea contains several of the most potent and protective antioxidant vitamins and phytochemicals and tea extracts have been used for centuries to improve the health and appearance of skin and hair. Modern scientific studies continue to highlight their anti-aging and health-promoting effects, and show antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits of tea. When combined with other ingredients beauty formulations, tea helps to enhance their effects, a synergy that helps improve skin’s appearance, texture, and function. Frequent exfoliation allows active tea constituents to better penetrate the skin with most beneficial exfoliating agents alpha-hydroxy.

Carotenoids in tea are potent fat-soluble antioxidants that help quench free radicals generated by ultraviolet rays. In addition to vitamin antioxidants and carotenoids, tea also contains 25-30% flavonoids, which include water-soluble plant pigments known as polyphenols. The major polyphenol in tea is epigallocatechin-3 gallate, or EGCG. Oral and topical use of tea and EGCG helps to inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress, and may help to prevent photoaging and cancers of the skin. The combination of these natural antioxidants improves skin health, giving it a smoother, brighter and healthier look.

It has also been found that tea is a potent inducer of superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzyme that quenches excess superoxide radicals and other reactive oxygen species. Among elderly persons, the amount of SOD in normal skin diminishes and is incapable of adequately neutralizing large amounts of reactive oxygen species. Because of environmental and other pollutants (sunlight, smoking diet) contributing to the generation of reactive oxygen species, it is most critical to optimize SOD levels through the use of tea and other flavonoids.

In combination with topical tea, natural fruit acids called alpha-hydroxy acids rejuvenate the skin by encouraging the shedding of old, sun-damaged cells on the skin’s surface.32-35 Alpha-hydroxy acids loosen the glue-like substances that bind skin surface cells to each other, allowing the dead skin to peel off and the skin underneath to emerge. This underlying skin has a fresher, healthier look, with a more even color and texture. Exfoliation with alpha-hydroxy acids allows topical antioxidant agents, such as tea, to affect the newly exposed cells to greatest benefit.

For optimal effects, frequent use of topical products containing tea in combination with exfoliating agents is recommended. Eating a diet rich in flavonoids such as those found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables helps promote and preserve skin’s health and beauty.

The extracts of buds and leaves of tea make very effective ingredient in natural organic beauty products. Green teas have the highest concentration of antioxidant properties (polyphenol and flavonoid) and have anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic properties which provide excellent skin nourishment.

After testing with different ingredients, Herbally Radiant found excellent anti-aging properties of green tea extracts. Its most popular top of the range products: Rejuvenating and Radiant,  also contain a combination of essential oils that work in tandem with tea extracts to create an amazing rejuvenated and radiant facial skin. These formulations have been very popular with customers who have experienced reduction in appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The Rejuvenating and Radiant Cleansers have been specially launched by Herbally Radiant to help eliminate gently all impurities, including make-up marks, without stripping skin of its natural oils. This helps skin to absorb rich nutrients from specially prepared serums and moisturizers.  The net result is a fine rejuvenated bright skin with youthful appearance.