innisfree Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening Serum for oily skin
Green Tea Enzymes
Ascorbic Acid
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glutathione
Superior
- HighOily Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best serums for oily skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Excellent for your oily skin, this serum features high concentrations of 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate to effectively brighten and even your skin tone, while niacinamide and gluconolactone work synergistically to control oil production and refine pores.
- The inclusion of Allantoin and Madecassoside further enhances its suitability by providing soothing benefits, ensuring a comfortable experience for your oily skin.
- This formula is safe for your skin, with no risk of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of beneficial compounds.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly praised for its gentle, lightweight formula that effectively brightens dull complexions and fades dark spots without causing irritation, making it a favorite for sensitive skin. Most users report a radiant glow and improved skin texture. A small number of users experienced breakouts or found the product slightly sticky or slow to show dramatic results.
Highlights
Lightweight formula Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly”
- “watery texture”
- “not sticky”
- “lightweight formula”
- “sinks in quickly”
Brightens skin Often Mentioned
- “instant glow”
- “faded dark spots”
- “brighter complexion”
- “glass skin effect”
- “radiant look”
Gentle on skin Often Mentioned
- “no irritation”
- “good for beginners”
- “didn't burn”
- “soothing”
- “safe for sensitive skin”
Hydrating Sometimes Noted
- “hydrates deeply”
- “plumped skin”
- “doesn't feel dry”
- “moisturizing”
- “good hydration”
Improves texture Sometimes Noted
- “smoother texture”
- “softens skin”
- “refined pores”
- “even skin tone”
- “makeup applies smoothly”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out”
- “caused redness”
- “tiny bumps”
- “bad reaction”
- “irritated my skin”
Expensive Rarely Noted
- “pricey”
- “expensive for size”
- “small bottle”
- “average value”
- “finish quickly”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “didn't do anything”
- “no difference”
- “slow progress”
- “not strong enough”
- “expected more”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “tad sticky”
- “oily sheen”
- “tacky finish”
- “sticky feeling”
- “greasy residue”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “herbal scent”
- “fragrance added”
- “smell isn't great”
- “strong scent”
- “dislike the smell”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, nykaa.com, influenster.com, yesstyle.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Innisfree Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening Serum one of the best fits for oily skin?
This serum is one of the best fits for your oily skin because it uses powerful forms of vitamin C to brighten your tone, while niacinamide and gluconolactone help control oil and refine pores. It also includes soothing ingredients like allantoin and madecassoside to keep your skin calm and comfortable without any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
This serum is a great fit for oily skin because niacinamide and gluconolactone help control oil production and refine pores, while vitamin C ingredients brighten your skin tone. Allantoin and madecassoside further calm your skin and ensure a comfortable experience.
What does Green Tea Extract do for oily skin?
Green tea extract helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and improving acne breakouts. Using it regularly can calm the skin and keep oil levels lower over time.
What does Vitamin C do for oily skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten skin tone and smooth texture while providing antioxidant protection that prevents sebum oxidation. For oily skin, this type of product typically needs to be paired with oil-controlling or pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or plant extracts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. Putting treatments in the evening provides extra safety around sun exposure, though some may also be used in the morning or twice a day.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying this treatment in your morning routine and your retinol at night to avoid overwhelming your skin. This formula contains soothing ingredients like allantoin that help keep your skin comfortable when using active ingredients.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment serum fits into your evening routine once a week to start, which you may carefully increase if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results. Niacinamide and antioxidants in the formula help improve tone and texture safely with low risk of irritation.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it features a gentle formula with ingredients like niacinamide and gluconolactone that help control oil and keep pores clear.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002A multi-component dissolving microneedle patch loaded with glabridin, 3-O-ethyl-L-ascorbic acid, and tranexamic acid effectively reduced chloasma and age spots while demonstrating safety in clinical evaluation, alongside significant antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and melanin-reduction effects in vitro and in vivo.
Polymers, 2023Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Glutathione amino acid precursors effectively increase cellular glutathione levels, reducing oxidative stress, ATP depletion, and DNA damage in human keratinocytes, clinical subjects, and ex vivo skin compared to controls.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus Lysate Ferment, Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Dextrin, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Gluconolactone, Citrus Reticulata Peel Extract Tangerine Peel Extract, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Allantoin, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract Carrot Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Metaphosphate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Cyclodextrin, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Madecassoside, Hydrogenated Poly C6-20 Olefin, Protease, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Glutathione, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Hdi Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Beta-Carotene, Ferulic Acid
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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