It’s no secret how healthy green tea is good for our bodies thanks to its potent antioxidant benefits. But are you aware that green tea extract can benefit your skin?
I tried a green tea serum from the Korean skincare brand Innisfree and will share my experience with the serum in this Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum review.
Innisfree Intensive Hydrating Serum With Green Tea Seed harnesses the antioxidant power of green tea in a topical skincare serum. It’s a lightweight serum that moisturizes and brightens your skin while also protecting it from harmful UV rays.
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Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum
Innisfree Intensive Hydrating Serum with Green Tea Seed is a best-selling hydrating serum enriched with Jeju green tea extract. The serum contains Jeju green tea extracts in the form of green tea water and green tea seed oil.
This Korean serum has recently been updated (this is the 4th generation) to include five different kinds of hyaluronic acid and Green Tea Tri-biotics to support your skin ecosystem and moisture barrier while hydrating the surface of your skin.
Five different types of hyaluronic acid are used in this serum to hydrate at multiple layers and to keep your skin plump and moisturized all day long:
- sodium hyaluronate (the salt form of hyaluronic acid)
- hyaluronic acid (acts like a sponge, drawing moisture to the skin, binding up to 1,000 times it own weight in water)
- hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid (a low molecular weight form of hyaluronic acid)
- sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer (cross-linked form of hyaluronic acid for long-lasting moisture)
- sodium acetylated hyaluronate (a form of hyaluronic acid that provides extended moisture)
Green Tea Tri-biotics in the serum consist of trehalose (a moisturizing sugar), Lactobacillus ferment lysate (a soothing probiotic), and lactic acid, an exfoliating alpha hydroxy acid (AHA)).
There has also been a 70% reduction in fragrance in this version of the green tea serum, which should appeal to those who are sensitive to scent in their skincare products.
The green tea in this serum is different from the type of green tea that you drink. This green tea variety from Innisfree’s USDA-organic farm on Korea’s Jeju Island is called Beauty Green Tea and was selected from 3,301 green tea varieties for its skincare benefits. It is loaded with 16 hydrating and moisturizing amino acids to soak your skin in moisture.
The organic Jeju green tea leaves are steamed for 30 seconds to ensure that the nutrients are retained. The leaves are pressed and stabilized for purity and freshness.
The moisture is double-squeezed from the leaves for the best skin care benefits.
The serum contains multi-benefit niacinamide, a skin-loving and protective active ingredient that helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, boosts radiance, evens skin tone, and brightens your complexion.
The serum also contains moisturizing squalane and panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) and soothing allantoin, which comes from the comfrey plant.
This green tea and hyaluronic acid serum is free of parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, sulfates SLS & SLES, triclocarban, triclosan, and contains less than one percent synthetic fragrance.
My Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum Review and Results
Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum comes in an easy-to-use pump bottle. The serum is a light translucent liquid that absorbs quickly into my skin, so I can apply makeup soon after applying the serum.
The serum is lightweight yet moisturizing without feeling greasy or oily on my normal to combination skin. It leaves behind a smooth, plump feeling on my face.
I have experienced no breakouts or acne while using this innisfree product.
I like using this during the day for antioxidant protection against UV rays. Since the formula is gentle on the skin and doesn’t contain any harsh actives (i.e., retinol or alpha hydroxy acids), it can also be used again in my evening skincare routine for deep hydration overnight.
While I’ve enjoyed using this serum and have experienced no irritation with it after using it for a few weeks, I have yet to see noticeable changes in my skin, so I think this serum does better as a preventative as opposed to correcting skin concerns. My skin does feel nicely hydrated while using this serum, though.
I think this would be an excellent moisturizing serum for beginners or those looking to prevent the early signs of aging due to its gentle formula and strong antioxidant concentration.
It would also be great for those with dry skin looking for multi-layer hydration.
For use during the day, if I had to choose between this serum and a vitamin C serum for antioxidant protection since my main skin concerns revolve around the signs of aging, I would probably choose a vitamin C serum since vitamin C (ascorbic acid), in addition to its antioxidant benefits, also stimulates collagen production (which helps skin look firmer) and can help fade hyperpigmentation and dark spots.
Related Post: The Best Korean Vitamin C Serums
Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum: Who’s It For?
Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum is designed for those with normal, combination, or dry skin that needs moisturizing and intensive hydration without any heaviness left behind on the skin’s surface.
It is also light enough that the texture shouldn’t be too heavy if you have an oily skin type. Those with acne-prone skin can benefit from green tea’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits.
How To Use Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum
After cleansing and toning, apply 2 to 3 pumps of Intensive Hydrating Serum with Green Tea Seed and gently press into your skin to improve absorption.
Follow with a moisturizer or face oil.
Don’t forget to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher as the last step of your morning skincare routine to prevent premature photoaging from exposure to UV rays and skin damage from other environmental aggressors.
The Benefits of Green Tea for The Skin
Green tea is rich in organic compounds called polyphenols. The polyphenols found in green tea extract (Camellia sinensis leaf extract) are called catechins, which act as powerful antioxidants.
The well-known catechin, EGCG, EpiGalloCatechin Gallate offers many benefits for the skin, including improved skin hydration, better moisture retention, reduced wrinkle formation, and reduction of melanin (pigment) formation in the skin.
EGCG also neutralizes free radicals, which are molecules produced by the body in response to UV rays and other environmental stressors that damage our cells and break down collagen, a protein in our skin that keeps it firm and youthful-looking.
This study demonstrated that green tea protects against photoaging from UV radiation.
Green tea has anti-inflammatory benefits, which are helpful for those with sensitive skin or skin conditions like rosacea or atopic dermatitis. Green tea also offers antimicrobial benefits for the skin that can help in the treatment of acne.
About Innisfree
Innisfree is a Korean skincare brand owned by South Korean beauty and cosmetics conglomerate Amorepacific Corporation. Innisfree formulates its products with natural ingredients responsibly sourced from Korea’s Jeju Island.
The island has a volcanic history, so the ground is fertile and has a unique ecosystem to offer skincare solutions to a variety of skin concerns.
The brand name Innisfree comes from William Butler Yeats’ poem The Lake Isle of Innisfree, about a beautiful, peaceful island, just like Jeju Island in South Korea.
Read More Korean Skincare Reviews:
- innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask 2x Review
- COSRX Propolis Light Ampoule Review
- Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum Review
- Purito Pure Vitamin C Serum Review
- iUNIK Tea Tree Relief Serum Review
Final Thoughts on This Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum Review
Since I like to use more potent anti-aging serums to address the signs of aging like wrinkles, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation, I probably won’t repurchase Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum, but I will finish the bottle since I like the antioxidant protection it provides.
Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum would be a great choice for those who are new to serums looking for antioxidant protection.
It’s lightweight, absorbs quickly, leaves skin feeling smooth and hydrated, and supports a healthy skin barrier. Plus, it’s very affordable!
Thanks for reading, and until next time, here’s to your good skin health!