Tea
Tea, particularly green, black, and white varieties, is a popular botanical ingredient in UK skincare and haircare. Rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, it helps protect the skin from daily environmental stressors while soothing and refreshing both skin and scalp. Shoppers often look for it in cleansers, toners, masks, and shampoos for its gentle, natural properties.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare, tea extracts and infusions deliver antioxidant polyphenols and catechins that help defend the skin against free-radical damage caused by urban pollution and UV exposure. Its natural tannins and flavonoids provide a mild astringent effect that can refine the appearance of pores and balance oiliness, while its soothing properties calm sensitive or irritated skin. In haircare, tea is valued for adding shine, gently cleansing the scalp and imparting a fresh, clean fragrance without stripping natural oils.
Key benefits
- Helps protect against environmental stressors
- Soothes and calms irritated skin
- Refines the look of pores
- Balances excess oiliness
- Adds shine and freshness to hair
- Gently cleanses the scalp
Best for
oily skin, combination skin, sensitive skin, mature skin, dull skin
Where it comes from
Tea is derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, an evergreen shrub native to East Asia. The different types (green, black, white) come from the same plant but are processed differently to achieve their distinctive antioxidant profiles.
Products with Tea
Not every product on UK Lips lists a full ingredient breakdown — so there may be many more formulas that contain Tea than we can show here. These are the comparisons where we’ve confirmed it in the listed ingredients.
- Yardley London English Rose Fragrance Mist 200ml Spray Yardley London