NEW STUDY FINDS BENEFITS OF TEA AND AROMAS FOR HEALTH OF SKIN

A media release by MNT titled “Herbs that can boost your mood and memory”, explains significant benefits as per a new research from Northumbria University’s Department of Psychology which has undertaken a number of studies into the effects of herbs and substances on mood and memory. Researchers found beneficial properties in tea (chamomile and peppermint) and aromas (rosemary and lavender).

The findings indicated that while chamomile had a calming and sedative effect, peppermint enhanced and aroused both mood and cognition. Another research on 150 healthy persons revealed that rosemary scented place significantly enhanced prospective memory, while lavender scented place reflected significantly increased calmness and contentedness.

Tea leaves have been used to improve the health as well as appearance of skin and hair. Several studies have highlighted their anti-aging and health-promoting effects, showing antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits of tea. When combined with other ingredients in beauty formulations, tea extract 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. 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.

Tea is also 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.

The extracts of tea buds and leaves are 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.

HerballyRadiant’s natural formulations extensively use tea extracts (white & green tea) as well as lavender and rosemary essential oils to enhance their overall effect.