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innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum for oily acne-prone skin

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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

  • Highly suitable for your oily skin, this serum contains niacinamide and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to help regulate oil production and provide antioxidant benefits, supporting your goals for acne and oiliness.
  • The formula also includes glycerin and saccharide isomerate, which offer excellent hydration and texture smoothing beneficial for maintaining balanced, comfortable skin.
  • The product has a good safety profile with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
  • Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
  • Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
  • Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this lightweight, watery serum is widely praised for its ability to provide instant hydration without leaving a greasy residue, making it ideal for oily, combination, and dehydrated skin types. However, users with sensitive or very dry skin frequently find it insufficient or irritating due to the presence of fragrance and alcohol.

Highlights

  • Lightweight, fast absorbing Mostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs almost instantly”
    • “Watery texture that sinks right in”
    • “Doesn't leave skin feeling greasy or oily”
  • Good for oily/combo Often Mentioned
    • “Perfect for my oily t-zone”
    • “Hydrates without clogging pores”
    • “Balances oil levels nicely”
  • Hydrating, plumping Often Mentioned
    • “Instantly replenishes moisture”
    • “Leaves skin soft and glowing”
    • “Helps with that dry tight feeling”
  • Strong fragrance Often Mentioned
    • “Scent hits you in the face”
    • “Too perfumey for skincare”
    • “Smell is overpowering and lingers”
  • Layers well Sometimes Noted
    • “Great under makeup”
    • “Layers nicely with other serums”
    • “No pilling under sunscreen”
  • Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
    • “Smells fresh and spa-like”
    • “Refreshing green tea scent”
    • “Love the citrusy floral fragrance”
  • Contains alcohol Sometimes Noted
    • “Can be drying due to alcohol”
    • “Stung my sensitive skin”
    • “Avoid if you have a damaged barrier”
  • Not moisturizing enough Sometimes Noted
    • “Need a thick cream on top”
    • “Disappeared into my dry skin with no effect”
    • “Not enough for winter months”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “Woke up with small whiteheads”
    • “Caused redness and flushing”
    • “Broke me out after a week”

Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, spacenk.com, yesstyle.com, reddit.com, sephora.co.uk, and more

Questions and answers

What makes innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum is a great fit because it contains niacinamide and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to help control oil and provide antioxidants for acne-prone skin. Glycerin and saccharide isomerate also give your skin great hydration and a smooth texture, while gentle, soothing components make irritation unlikely.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum is a great fit because it contains niacinamide and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract to help control oil and soothe acne-prone skin. It also includes glycerin and saccharide isomerate to provide balanced hydration and keep your skin smooth and comfortable.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025

What does Green Tea Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?

Green tea extract helps calm oily, acne-prone skin by reducing excess oil and calming redness. Applying it topically may decrease breakouts and soothe irritation caused by UV rays.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2012

What does Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?

Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil is unlikely to clog pores and helps calm redness for oily, acne-prone skin. This type of skin needs ingredients that reduce inflammation and balance oil without irritation.

Fitoterapia, 2012

Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum goes in the evening routine after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. It is unlikely to irritate oily skin and helps control oil while keeping your skin balanced and comfortable.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to keep your skin calm and hydrated, followed by your retinol. The formula is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin.

How often should I use it?

You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. Daily application helps improve skin moisture and keeps oily, acne-prone skin balanced and comfortable.

Health Science Reports, 2021Dermatology, 2003

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores for oily acne-prone skin, as it has a very safe formula with soothing ingredients and no harsh components. Some reviewers do mention breakouts, but studies show that ingredients like green tea extract help manage acne and blemishes effectively.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019

Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?

This serum is safe to use around the eyes and on your body, though the skin there is thinner than the face. The gentle formula hydrates without heavy oils, making it comfortable for delicate areas.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, and limonene) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).

What the research says

  • An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
  • A novel moisturizer containing saccharide isomerate accelerates skin barrier recovery, improves hydration, reduces erythema, and alleviates discomfort compared to a control moisturizer following intense pulsed light treatment in subjects with skin aging.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025
  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.

    Lasers in Medical Science, 2025
  • Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2009
  • Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

    Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017
  • Topical application of green tea extract encapsulated chitosan microparticles improved skin elasticity, melanin index, and facial wrinkles compared to a placebo in female volunteers without causing skin irritation.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
  • A moisturizing cream containing 2% l-carnitine and 5% EGCG significantly reduced sebum levels and improved skin hydration in ninety subjects with seborrhea over 4 weeks, showing greater anti-sebum efficacy in the combination group compared to the l-carnitine group alone.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
  • Tea seed oil makeup remover successfully removed foundation and eyeliner without causing skin irritation in 20 human volunteers, with the 60% formulation showing superior foundation removal compared to other formulations and an olive oil benchmark.

    Annales Pharmaceutiques Francaises, 2017
  • Tea seed oil loaded nanostructured lipid carriers prepared with a combination of surfactants (NLC-C) showed significantly greater nontoxicity and hair growth-stimulating effects on human follicle dermal papilla cells compared to intact oil, while improving the sensory and diffusion properties of the hair serum.

    Pharmaceutics, 2022
  • Topical 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2005
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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, 2019
  • Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.

    Molecules, 2025
  • Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.

    Antioxidants, 2025

Ingredients

Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat, 1,2-Hexanediol, Trehalose, Niacinamide, Betaine, Saccharide Isomerate, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sorbitan Olivate, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Lactobacillus Lysate Ferment, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Panthenol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tromethamine, Allantoin, Ceratonia Siliqua Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Parfum, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Ethyl Ascorbyl Ether, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Linalool, Limonene, Poloxamer 235, Sucrose, Lactic Acid, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Ethoxydiglycol, Tocophersolan, Poloxamer 338, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

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.

How does it fit your skin?

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