Nokcha, The Green Pulse of Korean Beauty

In Korea, nokcha (green tea) is a ritual of calm that has lived in teacups, temples, and skincare routines for centuries. Known for its luminous green hue and quiet strength, nokcha has become one of K-beauty’s most cherished ingredients, bridging ancient wisdom and modern science with every drop.

Nokcha comes from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, a plant that thrives in the misty, mineral-rich hills of southern Korea. Unlike other teas, green tea leaves are steamed and dried soon after harvest, locking in natural catechins, potent antioxidants like EGCG that give nokcha its signature radiance and skin-soothing power.

In Korea, nokcha lives inside darye, the tea rite shaped by respect, balance, and unhurried presence. It has appeared in state, court, and household life for over a millennium, with early records in the 7th century and formalized practice through Goryeo and Joseon. In temples, tea is practice as much as beverage; Seon communities speak of daseonilmi, tea and meditation as one taste, using mindful brewing and sipping to steady attention during long sitting.

At home, nokcha also served as nourishment and remedy. Powdered leaves were mixed with pantry staples like honey or rice water for complexion rituals, a tradition preserved in manuals such as the Joseon-era Gyuhap Chongseo. As tea culture moved from temples into court and common life, nokcha became both offering and ritual, marking seasons, hosting guests, and resetting mood. Women would mix powdered green tea with honey or rice water to calm tired skin and restore vitality. We have carried that lineage into our skin-first formulas, drawing on green tea catechins to neutralize oxidative stress, temper inflammatory signaling, and help guard against UV stress, which is why nokcha so naturally journeys from teacup to topical.

Skin and Lip Benefits 

Modern research affirms what tradition always knew, nokcha is a quiet force of renewal. It provides many benefits, and here are a few important ones. 

• Antioxidant protection: Green tea catechins like EGCG neutralize reactive oxygen species and reduce oxidative stress that accelerates visible aging and dullness. (Source)
• Anti-inflammatory calm: Catechins downshift key inflammatory signals in skin, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and COX-2, which helps quiet redness and irritation. (Source)
• UV defense: Topical green or white tea extracts reduce solar-simulated UV damage in human skin, and oral catechins lessen UV-induced erythema, supporting a resilient photoprotective baseline. (Source)
• Pollution defense: Green tea extract helps offset PM2.5-triggered barrier lipid disruption and oxidative stress in skin models, a useful shield for city air. (Source)
• Collagen support: EGCG suppresses MMP-1 and related matrix-degrading enzymes in human dermal fibroblasts, helping slow collagen breakdown that leads to laxity and lines. (Source)
• Sebum balance and clarity: Clinical and mechanistic reviews note reduced sebum output and support for acne-prone skin with topical green tea preparations. (Source)
• DNA care: Green tea polyphenols help protect against UV-induced DNA damage in human skin, an upstream layer of defense beyond visible redness. (Source)
• Texture and elasticity: Preclinical and early clinical data associate green tea actives with improved elasticity and reduced wrinkle formation under photoaging stress. (Source)
• This harmony of care is what makes nokcha a timeless skin secret.

Nokcha embodies duality. It purifies yet hydrates, awakens yet soothes. It invites you to notice how calm and vitality coexist.
Where imperfection becomes art, nokcha reminds us that restoration can be both soft and strong.

Our Nokcha Lip & Cheek Oil incorporates this ancient ingredient through a modern, sensorial lens. Each application delivers the same replenishing care once steeped in Korean homes, now distilled into a dewy, breathable finish. The green tea extract brightens, softens, and protects with every wear. It’s not just skincare; it’s a ritual disguised as color.

✨ Stronger than doubt, brighter than fear, you were always UNcommon.
Experience the Lip & Cheek Oil that heals as it shines.