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innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum for oily skin

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best moisturizers 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

  • Highly suitable for your oily skin as niacinamide and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract work to regulate sebum production and provide antioxidant benefits, helping to reduce oily shine.
  • The inclusion of glycerin and saccharide isomerate offers excellent moisturizing and smoothing properties, further supporting your skin's hydration needs.
  • The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
  • Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
  • Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
  • Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a quick 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 skin?

This serum is a great fit for oily skin because niacinamide and green tea extract help control excess shine, while glycerin and saccharide isomerate keep the skin hydrated and smooth without feeling heavy. It is also safe and unlikely to cause irritation thanks to its gentle, soothing ingredients.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025

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

Niacinamide and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract make this serum a great fit for oily skin by helping to regulate oil and reduce shine. Additionally, ingredients like glycerin and saccharide isomerate provide smooth hydration without heavy oils.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025

What does Green Tea Extract do for oily skin?

Green tea extract helps calm oily skin by significantly reducing oil production when used regularly over several weeks. It also helps protect the skin from sun-related damage and oxidative stress.

Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 2010Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2001

What does Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil do for oily skin?

Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil helps calm and protect oily skin by balancing moisture and reducing redness without feeling heavy. Because an average or poor fit for oily skin requires lightweight, non-greasy hydration and anti-inflammatory properties, this type of product needs plant oils and herbal extracts that soothe the skin and keep pores clear.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Fitoterapia, 2012

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening helps keep things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.

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

You can use this moisturizing treatment with retinol by applying the serum first to keep your skin calm and hydrated before layering retinol. This approach helps reduce the likelihood of dryness or irritation while supporting your skin barrier during active treatment.

Cutis, 2006Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012

How often should I use this serum?

This serum fits your oily skin well and is safe to use daily in your evening routine. Using it regularly helps regulate oil production, reduces shine, and supports hydration without irritation.

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

This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily skin because it has a great fit and a safe formula without harsh ingredients. Reviewers rarely report breakouts, and the lightweight ingredients help keep skin balanced and calm.

Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this serum on the thin skin around your eyes and on your body, as its gentle moisturizing ingredients are well-tolerated by delicate areas. This product is unlikely to cause irritation and helps keep skin smooth.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

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

What the research says

  • Topical application of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) to human skin before UV irradiation decreases UV-induced production of hydrogen peroxide by 68-90% and nitric oxide by 30-100%, inhibits leukocyte infiltration and lipid peroxidation by 41-84%, and restores glutathione levels and glutathione peroxidase activity compared to UV exposure alone.

    Carcinogenesis, 2001
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2009
  • 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
  • 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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