Black Tea

Black tea is one of five types of tea derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis tree – the other four being oolong, white, yellow, and green teas. The difference between black tea and these other teas is that black tea is more oxidized than the rest, hence its darker color. Black and oolong teas are also made from leaves that are older than those used to make green, yellow, and white teas.

Like other teas, black tea is rich in components beneficial to skin health. These compounds include antioxidant polyphenolics that fight free-radical damage. Research finds that black tea typically has a lower content of some polyphenols compared with green tea, in part because of the oxidation process it goes through.

Black tea, however, is higher in compounds known as theaflavins, which are created by that oxidation process. Studies have found those theaflavins help protect skin cells from UVB-induced damage, giving black tea an advantage in that regard over other teas.

The independent Cosmetic Ingredient Review board has found that black tea is safe in its current use in cosmetics. This ranges from 5–10% with black tea being a small portion of a water- and glycerin-based blend.