ORY® product lines:
☑ Skincare
☑ Haircare (oil-phase scalp and hair products)
☑ Handmade Soap (oil-soluble antioxidant; partial survival)
☑ Cosmetics — full dual-use ingredient
Tea polyphenol palmitate is green tea’s catechins — chiefly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) — esterified with palmitic acid to make them oil-soluble. Water-soluble green tea extract is one of the best-evidenced botanical photoprotectants [2] and an acne active [3], but it oxidizes quickly and cannot enter oils, balms, or lipsticks. The palmitate ester solves both problems: lipophilized EGCG derivatives are markedly more stable and, in laboratory testing, more potent antioxidants than EGCG itself in lipid systems [1], while retaining the catechin structure that skin enzymes can release. This lets ORY® bring green tea’s UV-protective, anti-inflammatory, sebum-regulating, and antimicrobial activity into facial oils, hair oils, soap, and cosmetics — and it doubles as a natural antioxidant that protects the oils in those products from rancidity.
What is Tea Polyphenol Palmitate made of?
Tea polyphenol palmitate is produced by esterifying green tea polyphenols (≥90% catechins, EGCG-dominant) with palmitic acid, yielding a pale-yellow, oil-soluble powder or paste. Points to know [1, 2]:
- EGCG palmitate and related catechin palmitates: Retain the gallate and catechol antioxidant groups; oil-soluble.
- Stability: Resistant to the oxidation that browns aqueous green tea extracts; heat-tolerant in the oil phase.
- Potency: Lipophilized EGCG showed stronger radical scavenging and lipid-oxidation inhibition than EGCG in oil systems [1].
- Dual role: Skin active and formula antioxidant (like rosemary oleoresin).
- Use: 0.05–0.5% as antioxidant; 0.2–1% as active; dissolve in warm oil.
What skin type is best suited for Tea Polyphenol Palmitate?
Tea polyphenol palmitate suits all seven ORY® skin types, especially in oil-based products:
- Oily: Catechins reduce sebum [3]; delivered in light oils or balms.
- Acne-prone: EGCG anti-acne activity [3]; oil-soluble form for cleansing balms and oils.
- Mature: Photoprotective antioxidant protecting collagen [2].
- Combination: Antioxidant in facial oils and creams.
- Normal: Daily antioxidant defense.
- Dry: Antioxidant in rich creams and balms.
- Sensitive: Anti-inflammatory; non-astringent (unlike aqueous tannins); patch test.
What hair type is best suited for Tea Polyphenol Palmitate?
The oil-soluble form carries green tea’s benefits into hair oils and scalp serums:
- Mature or thinning: EGCG prolonged the growth phase of cultured follicles [4]; oil-phase scalp serums (cosmetic claims).
- Oily scalp: Sebum-regulating catechins in scalp oils.
- Color-treated: Antioxidant protection against oxidative fading in hair oils.
- Dry or damaged: Antioxidant protection of hair lipids.
- Dandruff-prone scalp: Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory support.
- Sensitive scalp, straight, wavy, curly, coily: Antioxidant addition to hair oils for all.
What are the benefits of Tea Polyphenol Palmitate?
Tea polyphenol palmitate’s benefits combine green tea’s evidence with lipid-phase stability [1–4]:
- Stable, potent antioxidant: Superior to EGCG in lipid systems [1].
- Photoprotection: Green tea polyphenols reduce UV damage in human skin [2].
- Anti-inflammatory: Reduces UV- and acne-related inflammation [2, 3].
- Sebum reduction and anti-acne: EGCG clinical acne improvement [3].
- Antimicrobial: Activity against acne bacteria.
- Collagen protection: Inhibits collagen-degrading enzymes.
- Hair-growth support: Follicle anagen prolongation in vitro [4].
- Formula antioxidant: Protects oils, balms, soap, and lipsticks from rancidity.
Dual use across ORY® product lines
Tea polyphenol palmitate is oil-soluble and stable, giving it a role in all four ORY® lines.
| ORY® line | Dual use? | How it is used | Typical level |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ORY® Skincare |
Yes |
Facial oils, cleansing balms, creams, sunscreens, balms; antioxidant in all oil-based products. |
0.2–1% active; 0.05–0.5% antioxidant |
|
ORY® Haircare |
Yes |
Hair oils, scalp serums, ends balms, conditioner bars. |
0.2–0.5% |
|
ORY® Handmade Soap |
Yes |
Oil-soluble antioxidant in the recipe oils (slows rancidity); green-tea positioning; catechins partly survive. |
0.1–0.3% of oils |
|
ORY® Cosmetics |
Yes |
Lipsticks and balms (antioxidant and active), oil-based foundations, cream products. |
0.1–0.5% |
Pros and cons of Tea Polyphenol Palmitate
Pros
Cons
- Brings green tea into oils: Solves solubility and stability.
- More potent antioxidant in lipids than EGCG: [1].
- Dual active/antioxidant role: Protects product and skin.
- Strong parent-compound evidence: [2–4].
- Four-line utility: All ORY® products.
- Fewer direct clinical trials: Evidence is on EGCG/green tea; ester data are laboratory.
- Cost: Premium specialty ingredient.
- Oil-only: Not for water-based toners (use green tea extract there).
- Pale yellow tint: Minor in most products.
- Conversion in skin: Esterase release assumed; not fully quantified.
What is the best application of Tea Polyphenol Palmitate?
Tea polyphenol palmitate is dissolved into oil-based products:
- Facial oil: 0.5% in squalane or jojoba.
- Cleansing balm: 0.3%.
- Antioxidant day cream: 0.3% in the oil phase with vitamin E.
- Hair oil or scalp serum: 0.3% with rosemary.
- Soap: 0.1–0.3% in the oils.
- Lipstick or balm: 0.2%.
- Formulation: 0.05–0.1% as oil antioxidant alongside tocopherol.
Peer-reviewed references
- Zhong Y, Shahidi F. Lipophilized epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) derivatives as novel antioxidants. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2011;59(12):6526–6533.
- Elmets CA, Singh D, Tubesing K, Matsui M, Katiyar S, Mukhtar H. Cutaneous photoprotection from ultraviolet injury by green tea polyphenols. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2001;44(3):425–432.
- Yoon JY, Kwon HH, Min SU, Thiboutot DM, Suh DH. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate improves acne in humans by modulating intracellular molecular targets and inhibiting P. acnes. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2013;133(2):429–440.
- Kwon OS, Han JH, Yoo HG, et al. Human hair growth enhancement in vitro by green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Phytomedicine. 2007;14(7–8):551–555.
Disclaimer:
The information on this page is provided by ORY International, LC for educational purposes only. It summarizes published research about tea polyphenol palmitate as an ingredient, including laboratory and animal studies and clinical studies of formulas that may differ from ORY® products. Results from these studies may not apply to every person or to ORY® products. This page is not medical advice and does not replace advice from a dermatologist, physician, or other qualified healthcare provider.
ORY® Skincare, Haircare, Handmade Soap, and Cosmetics products are cosmetics. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease or condition, including sunburn, skin cancer, acne, hair loss, or any other condition. References to FDA or Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) findings describe the ingredient, not ORY® products, and do not mean FDA has reviewed or approved any ORY® product.
Results vary by skin and scalp type, formulation, and use. Tea polyphenol palmitate is not known to be a common irritant, and any cosmetic can cause irritation, sometimes from other ingredients. Always patch test, follow label directions, and stop use if irritation occurs. If you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are buying for a child, consult a healthcare provider before use.
ORY International, LC works to keep this page accurate and current but makes no warranty as to its completeness. To the fullest extent permitted by law, ORY International, LC is not liable for any loss or injury arising from reliance on this information or from use of any product contrary to its label directions. To report a reaction, contact us at [insert contact email / phone].
