Theanine

An amino acid derived from green tea extract. It has humectant properties, retains water to the skin’s surface, and offers additional soothing and immunomodulatory benefits.
Moisturizing
Soothing
Other functions
Origin
Theanine

Overview

Theanine is the most abundant plant-based amino acid in tea extract (it doesn't exist in the human body and is not used for protein synthesis). Similar to other amino acids, it has water-retaining properties and is used as a humectant moisturizing ingredient.

Additionally, a recent study showed that it also has good soothing and immunomodulatory properties.

Science

1
Zeng, W. J., et al. (2018). Topical delivery of l-theanine ameliorates TPA-induced acute skin inflammation via downregulating endothelial PECAM-1 and neutrophil infiltration and activation. Chemico-biological interactions, 284, 69–79.