Theanine

Excellente

Emoliente

Theanine at a glance

  • Amino acid found primarily in green tea
  • Proven antioxidant and soothing benefits
  • Helps attract and hold water throughout skin’s uppermost layers
  • Also used as a flavor enhancer in foods and beverages

Theanine description

Theanine is an amino acid that has emollient, humectant, and soothing properties on skin. It can be lab-synthesized but also occurs naturally in green tea leaves and some types of edible mushrooms. Consumption of green tea has numerous studies supporting its benefits for overall health and vitality, and its theanine component is of strong worth for use in skin care, too. Its low molecular weight allows it to penetrate past skin’s surface, where it works within its epidermal layers to attract and hold water, thus maintaining skin’s hydration. It also works within skin’s uppermost layers to offset factors that lead to signs of inflammation. Theanine is used on its own in foods and caffeinated beverages to enhance flavor (it tastes of caramel which offsets the bitterness of caffeine). As such, it is considered safe for use on skin although usage levels of theanine in cosmetics haven’t been established.

Theanine references

  • Frontiers in Nutrition, April 2022, pages 1–12
  • Frontiers in Pharmacology, July 2021, pages 1–14
  • Phytotherapy Research, March 2019, pages 571–583
  • Chemical-Biological Interactions, March 2018, pages 69–79
  • Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, August 2011, pages 1,931–1,939

Peer-reviewed, substantiated scientific research is used to assess ingredients in this dictionary. Regulations regarding constraints, permitted concentration levels and availability vary by country and region.

Calificaciones de ingredientes

Excelente

Ingrediente sobresaliente con beneficios reales para la piel. Su eficacia está demostrada y respaldada por estudios independientes.

Bueno

Aunque no son tan beneficiosos como los de la categoría excelente, suelen ser necesarios para mejorar la textura, la estabilidad o la absorción de una fórmula.

Aceptable

Puede presentar ciertas limitaciones en cuanto a su apariencia, estabilidad o eficacia. A veces, son ingredientes básicos o que no cuentan con suficiente respaldo científico.

Poco recomendable

Aunque puede ofrecer algunos beneficios se recomienda evitarlo por su probabilidad de causar irritación, especialmente si se combina con otros ingredientes problemáticos.

Desaconsejable

Ha demostrado provocar efectos adversos como irritación, inflamación o sequedad, especialmente si se utiliza en altas concentraciones o junto con otros ingredientes irritantes.

Desconocido

No hemos encontrado este ingrediente en nuestro diccionario. Registramos todos los ingredientes desconocidos y actualizamos la información de forma continua.

Sin calificar

Ingrediente registrado, pero con la información científica disponible pendiente de revisar.