Isntree Green Tea Fresh Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Camellia Sinensis Extract
Glycerin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Oenothera Biennis Flower ExtractSuperior
- HighOily Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best cleansers for oily acne-prone skin.
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
- Excellent for your oily skin and acne concerns, as sodium cocoyl alaninate and disodium cocoamphodiacetate effectively cleanse pores, while Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and powder provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Glycerin offers essential hydration without being occlusive, supporting your skin's balance.
- The formulation is highly compatible with oily skin, utilizing humectant properties of glycerin to maintain moisture without contributing to excess oiliness.
- This product is safe for your skin, with no risk of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsThis gel cleanser is highly praised by users with oily and combination skin for effectively removing excess sebum and providing a fresh, matte finish without compromising the skin's moisture barrier. However, a moderate number of users with dry or sensitive skin report it can be too drying or leave a tight feeling. The refreshing gel texture and pleasant natural scent are frequently mentioned positive attributes, while some users find the tea particles inconvenient and a few experience weak lathering.
Highlights
Gentle oil control Often Mentioned
- “controls oiliness and reduces inflammation”
- “removes excess sebum for a smooth, matte finish”
- “cleanses my oily skin of all residue without being stripping”
- “stripping the oil without dehydrating the skin”
Pleasant natural scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells very intensely of green tea”
- “scent is absolutely soothing”
- “very fresh feeling... smells nice”
- “light tea aroma”
Refreshing gel texture Sometimes Noted
- “beautiful, smooth, jelly-like texture”
- “light gel texture, foams well”
- “feels really nice, lathered well”
- “amazing goopy texture”
Drying for dry skin Sometimes Noted
- “too stripping for my dehydrated skin”
- “dried out my skin after continuous use”
- “tighten your face a bit”
- “leaves that icky squeaky feeling”
Soothing and calming Rarely Noted
- “helps in reducing redness on the face”
- “acne has gotten a lot better over time”
- “no irritation, no redness, just calm”
- “reduces inflammation”
Annoying tea particles Rarely Noted
- “don't care much for the bits of tea leaves”
- “messy to use... brown from the tea”
- “get in my hairline”
- “don't do much exfoliation”
Odd smell Rarely Noted
- “fragrance is sort of odd”
- “scent might not be everyone's cup of tea”
- “smell is not for everyone”
Weak lather Rarely Noted
- “doesn't lather much”
- “wish it had a bit more foam”
- “can't even tell if it's actually cleansing”
- “wouldn't say it's very foamy”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, reddit.com, stylekorean.com, gopicky.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Isntree Green Tea Fresh Cleanser one of the best fits for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is one of the best fits because it washes away excess oil and clears out pores safely without harsh ingredients, while green tea extract helps calm acne and soothe the skin. Glycerin also brings in essential moisture to keep your face balanced without feeling heavy or greasy.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is an excellent fit for your oily acne-prone skin because sodium cocoyl alaninate and disodium cocoamphodiacetate effectively clean pores, while Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract provides soothing anti-inflammatory benefits. Glycerin also helps keep your skin balanced by offering essential moisture without adding extra oiliness.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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 Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes first in your morning routine and second in your evening routine, after a makeup remover. Using a gentle cleanser helps wash away excess oil and impurities without drying out your skin.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first to gently wash your skin before using your retinol treatment. This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation when paired with active treatments because it features soothing ingredients like Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Carcinogenesis, 2001
How often should I use it?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It effectively cleans pores and calms skin without causing irritation or excess oiliness.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Carcinogenesis, 2001
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it effectively cleanses pores with mild cleansers while using green tea extract to help calm inflammation. It does not cause purging because it contains no active ingredients that speed up skin cell shedding.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Carcinogenesis, 2001
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but the thin skin around the eyes requires extra care and may be better suited to a gentler product. While the formula cleanses pores effectively and calms oily skin, eye areas are particularly thin and can be sensitive to active cleansers.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2019Topical 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, 2001Application of green tea extracts on normal human skin resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of UV-evoked erythema, reduced sunburn cells, protected Langerhans cells, and decreased UV-induced DNA damage compared to untreated UV-exposed skin.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2001A 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, 2017Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009Topical 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, 2017Topical 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, 2022A 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, 2023The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical 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, 2019Electrospun poly (vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) patches loaded with evening primrose oil applied to the forearm of volunteers for 6 hours increased skin moisture, with pore size, shape, and fiber diameter influencing oil transport.
Biomaterials Advances, 2022A topical preparation containing urea, sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, wheat germ oil, and sodium pyruvate led to clinical improvement after a month in diverse hyperkeratotic skin conditions except pityriasis lichenoides.
Medicina Cutanea Ibero-latino-americana, 1986Oenothera biennis cell culture aqueous extract promoted matrix collagen contraction, actin polymerization, and essential extracellular matrix protein production by increasing MYLK gene expression in in vitro, cell, and ex vivo skin aging models.
Metabolites, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Powder, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Phytate, Malt Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Oenothera Biennis Flower Extract, Pinus Palustris Leaf Extract, Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic 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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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