From Anirva, the maker of Dermal Radiance. This article is general information, not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Many people drink green tea for its taste. Researchers have also studied its natural plant compounds, called catechins, for what they may do in skin. Here we look at what green tea extract is and how it may work in skin, the human trials, how much is in Dermal Radiance, green tea as a drink, and safety.
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- Green tea is rich in catechins. These are plant compounds, and the most studied one is called EGCG [1][6].
- In a 12-week trial, women who drank green tea catechins had better skin measures. Elasticity, roughness, scaling, density and skin water balance all improved [3].
- The same trial found less skin redness after UV light. Redness was 16% lower at 6 weeks and 25% lower at 12 weeks [3].
- Green tea catechins raised blood flow to the skin. Oxygen delivery to the skin rose as well [3].
- Dermal Radiance contains 100 mg of green tea leaf extract. The extract is standardized to 50% epigallocatechin [7].
What is green tea extract?
Green tea comes from the leaves of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. The leaves are steamed, pan fried and dried, but they are not fermented [1].
The leaves contain catechins, a family of plant compounds, and caffeine [1]. Epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, is the catechin that researchers study most [6]. A green tea extract is a concentrated form of these compounds, sold in capsules and tablets.
How might green tea work in skin?
Response to UV light (animal studies)
In animal studies, green tea polyphenols put on the skin limited UV-related inflammation and DNA damage. They appear to act through the systems that skin uses to fix DNA, and through immune signals [2].
Blood flow to the skin
In women, green tea catechins by mouth raised blood flow in the skin [3]. More blood flow may bring more oxygen and nutrients to skin [2].
Elastic tissue
In an 8-week trial, women used green tea by mouth and as a cream. Their skin samples showed more elastic tissue than samples from the placebo group [5].
What does the research show?
The research on green tea by mouth and skin is still growing. Three controlled trials in women give the clearest picture.
A 2011 trial of a green tea drink for 12 weeks
In 2011, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial followed 60 women for 12 weeks. One group drank a beverage with green tea polyphenols that supplied 1,402 mg of catechins a day. The other group drank a control beverage [3].
After a measured dose of UV light, skin redness in the green tea group was 16% lower at 6 weeks and 25% lower at 12 weeks. Skin elasticity, roughness, scaling, density and water balance also improved, and blood flow and oxygen delivery to the skin rose [3]. A research institute of The Coca-Cola Company supported the study.
Green tea is not a sunscreen. Experts suggest daily sunscreen and shade for sun care.
A 2009 trial of green tea polyphenols for two years
In 2009, a double-blind trial gave 56 women aged 25 to 75 green tea polyphenols (250 mg twice a day) or a placebo for two years. A dermatologist who did not know the groups scored the facial skin [4].
The green tea group showed a significant improvement in overall sun-related skin changes at 6 months. At 12 months, it showed a significant improvement in redness and in visible small blood vessels. The placebo group did not show these changes [4].
A 2005 trial of green tea by mouth and as a cream
In 2005, a double-blind trial enrolled 40 women with sun-related skin changes. For 8 weeks, they used a 10% green tea cream and took 300 mg of green tea by mouth twice a day, or they used placebos. Skin samples from the green tea group showed a significant gain in elastic tissue [5].
Study summary
| Study | People | Amount a day | Length | Main result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heinrich et al., 2011 [3] | 60 women | 1,402 mg catechins, as a drink | 12 weeks | Better elasticity and skin texture; less redness after UV |
| Janjua et al., 2009 [4] | 56 women, 25–75 | 500 mg polyphenols | 2 years | Improved at 6 and 12 months |
| Chiu et al., 2005 [5] | 40 women | 600 mg by mouth, plus a cream | 8 weeks | More elastic tissue in skin samples |
How much green tea extract is in Dermal Radiance compared with the studies?
| Source | Amount a day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dermal Radiance (2 capsules) | 100 mg of green tea leaf extract | Standardized to 50% epigallocatechin, from the label [7] |
| 2011 trial | 1,402 mg of catechins | As a drink, for 12 weeks [3] |
| 2009 trial | 500 mg of polyphenols | For 2 years [4] |
| 2005 trial | 600 mg by mouth | With a 10% cream, for 8 weeks [5] |
| Green tea as a drink | About 90 mg to 300 mg of EGCG | Typical for tea drinkers [6] |
Dermal Radiance provides 100 mg of green tea leaf extract. This is lower than the amounts in the trials, which ranged from 500 mg to 1,402 mg a day. Those trials tested green tea by itself, so their results do not describe Dermal Radiance as a whole.
Green tea as a drink
Brewed green tea is the main dietary source of these catechins. People who drink green tea take in about 90 mg to 300 mg of EGCG a day [6].
European regulators consider green tea as a drink to be generally safe [6]. In the United States, the National Institutes of Health reports no safety concerns for adults who drink it [1].
What the research does not show yet
- In the two-year trial, the green tea group and the placebo group did not differ at 24 months [4].
- In the 8-week trial, doctors saw no difference in skin appearance between the groups [5].
- All three trials enrolled women.
- We found no study of green tea combined with the other Dermal Radiance ingredients.
Safety and interactions
Green tea extract supplements can cause nausea, constipation, stomach discomfort and a rise in blood pressure in some people [1].
Liver problems have been reported with green tea products, and they are uncommon [1]. In a 2018 review, European regulators linked 800 mg or more of EGCG a day from supplements with early signs of liver effects [6]. Dermal Radiance has 100 mg of extract in total [7].
Green tea contains caffeine, and it can interact with some medicines, including the beta-blocker nadolol, atorvastatin and raloxifene [1].
- Take it with a meal, as the label directs [7].
- Count your caffeine. Green tea adds to what you get from coffee and other drinks [1].
- If you take a beta-blocker, a statin or raloxifene, or if you have had liver problems, ask your doctor or pharmacist before you take green tea extract [1].
Green tea is one part of Dermal Radiance
Dermal Radiance is a daily two-capsule supplement with 20 vitamins, minerals and plant extracts. They were chosen to support healthy collagen, skin firmness and elasticity, and radiance. Green tea leaf extract is one of them.
Dermal Radiance has not been clinically tested as a finished product. For this reason, we cannot say how its ingredients work together. The studies in this article tested green tea by itself.
If you take Dermal Radiance, you are not relying on green tea alone. It is one of 20 ingredients in each serving. Every ingredient and amount is listed on the label [7].
A daily skin supplement with 20 ingredients
Green tea leaf extract is one of 20 vitamins, minerals and plant extracts in Dermal Radiance, each listed with its amount on the label. Two capsules a day with a meal.
See the full ingredient listIf you are deciding
Green tea catechins have controlled human trials behind them for skin elasticity, texture and blood flow [3]. Most of that research used amounts closer to several cups of tea a day. If you would like to try Dermal Radiance, the directions are two capsules a day with a meal [7].
The short version
Green tea extract is a concentrated source of catechins, the main plant compounds in green tea. In a 12-week trial, women who drank green tea catechins had better skin elasticity and texture, more skin blood flow and less redness after UV light. Dermal Radiance provides 100 mg of green tea leaf extract.
Frequently asked questions
Is green tea good for skin?
In a 12-week trial, women who drank green tea catechins had better skin elasticity, roughness, scaling, density and water balance than the control group [3].
Does green tea support skin elasticity?
In the 12-week trial, skin elasticity improved [3]. In an 8-week trial, skin samples showed more elastic tissue [5].
How much green tea extract is in Dermal Radiance?
Each serving has 100 mg of green tea leaf extract, standardized to 50% epigallocatechin [7].
What is EGCG?
EGCG stands for epigallocatechin gallate. It is the green tea catechin that researchers study most [6].
How long does green tea take to work for skin?
In the 12-week trial, the change in skin redness after UV light was seen at 6 weeks and was larger at 12 weeks [3].
Is drinking green tea the same as taking an extract?
Both supply catechins. Tea drinkers take in about 90 mg to 300 mg of EGCG a day [6]. An extract gives a fixed amount in a capsule.
Does green tea extract contain caffeine?
Green tea contains caffeine [1]. The amount in an extract depends on how the extract is made.
Is green tea a sunscreen?
No. It does not replace sunscreen, shade or protective clothing.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health. Green Tea: Usefulness and Safety. Last updated February 2025. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/green-tea (accessed October 4, 2026).
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University. Micronutrient Information Center: Flavonoids and Skin Health. Updated January 2, 2026. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/flavonoids (accessed October 4, 2026).
- Heinrich U, Moore CE, De Spirt S, Tronnier H, Stahl W. Green tea polyphenols provide photoprotection, increase microcirculation, and modulate skin properties of women. J Nutr. 2011;141(6):1202-1208. doi:10.3945/jn.110.136465. PMID: 21525260.
- Janjua R, Munoz C, Gorell E, Rehmus W, Egbert B, Kern D, Chang ALS. A two-year, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial of oral green tea polyphenols on the long-term clinical and histologic appearance of photoaging skin. Dermatol Surg. 2009;35(7):1057-1065. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2009.01183.x. PMID: 19469799.
- Chiu AE, Chan JL, Kern DG, Kohler S, Rehmus WE, Kimball AB. Double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of green tea extracts in the clinical and histologic appearance of photoaging skin. Dermatol Surg. 2005;31(7 Pt 2):855-860. doi:10.1111/j.1524-4725.2005.31731. PMID: 16029678.
- European Food Safety Authority. EFSA assesses safety of green tea catechins. News item, April 18, 2018. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/180418 (accessed October 4, 2026).
- Anirva. Dermal Radiance Supplement Facts label and product page. https://anirva.com/pages/anti-aging-skin-supplement-dermal-radiance (accessed October 4, 2026).
