GLOSSARY
Antioxidant
An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules
Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals, which start chain reactions that damage cells
Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves. As a result, antioxidants are often reducing agents such as thiols or polyphenols
Green Tea
Camellia sinensis is the tea plant, the plant species whose leaves and leaf buds reused to produce tea
White tea, green tea, oolong and black tea are all harvested from this species, but are processed differently to attain different levels of oxidation. All use the same leaves of the same plant
Green tea is a "true" tea ie is produced by steaming the fresh-cut leaf – this means it has has undergone minimal oxidation during processing.
Flavonoid
The term flavonoid refers to a class of plant compounds
Green tea flavonoids are potent antioxidant compounds, thought to reduce incidence of cancer and heart disease
The major flavonoids in green tea are the catechins Green tea catechins have also been shown to possess antibiotic properties and other studies have shown Green Tea has anti-inflammatory properties
Skin aging
As skin ages, it becomes thinner and more easily damaged. Intensifying this effect is the decreasing ability of skin to heal itself as a person ages
Skin aging is caused by the fall in elasticity. Ageing skin also receives less blood flow and lower gland activity
How fast the aging process takes place depends on a variety of physiological processes, including the efficiency of DNA repair, antioxidant enzymes, and rates of free radical production.
Wrinkles
Sunlight damages collagen fibers and causes the accumulation of abnormal elastin. When this sun-induced elastin accumulates, enzymes called metalloproteinases are produced in large quantities.
Normally, metalloproteinases remodel sun-injured skin by manufacturing and reforming collagen. However, this process does not always work well and some of the metalloproteinases actually break down collagen.
This results in the formation of disorganized collagen fibers known as solar scars. When the skin repeats this imperfect rebuilding process over and over wrinkles develop.
Free radicals
Milia
Also known as milk spots or oil seeds, are benign, keratin-filled cysts that can appear just under the epidermis or on the roof of the mouth. They are commonly associated with newborn babies but can appear on people of all ages. They are usually found around the nose and eyes.
Milia can sometimes be a result of harsh face washes or from repeated heat stress from hot showering on people with sensitive skins