Intensive Hydrating Cream with Green Tea Seed
Intensive Hydrating Cream with Green Tea Seed
Product Description
The innisfree Intensive Hydrating Cream with Green Tea Seed is a lightweight, fast-absorbing Korean moisturizer built around Jeju-grown green tea seed oil, green tea leaf extract and hyaluronic acid. It delivers a dewy, long-lasting moisture boost (innisfree advertises up to 100 hours of hydration) while soothing and supporting the skin barrier with panthenol, cholesterol and Vitamin E โ all without a heavy or greasy finish.
โจ Texture & Feel
Long-Lasting Hydration
Green tea seed oil plus hyaluronic acid bind and seal moisture for a plump, hydrated feel that lasts through the day โ innisfree claims up to 100 hours.
Jeju Green Tea Antioxidants
Camellia Sinensis leaf extract delivers catechins and polyphenols that help defend skin against free-radical and environmental stress.
Weightless Gel-Cream
A silky gel-cream texture sinks in fast and layers cleanly under serums, makeup and SPF without pilling or a greasy film.
Barrier & Soothing Support
Cholesterol, panthenol and Vitamin E reinforce the moisture barrier and calm tightness, dryness and visible redness.
๐ก๏ธ Safety & Compatibility
Contains no retinoids, salicylic acid, hydroquinone or chemical UV filters, so it is generally considered pregnancy-friendly. Always confirm with your OB-GYN.
Not fungal-acne safe. Green tea seed oil, glyceryl stearate, cetearyl alcohol and sorbitan isostearate can feed Malassezia yeast.
The INCI lists Parfum, giving a light green scent. Most users tolerate it well, but very sensitive or reactive skin should patch test first.
Plays well as the moisturizer step over vitamin C, niacinamide, AHA/BHA or retinol routines โ apply it after your treatment serums.
Formulated without animal-derived ingredients and not tested on animals; also reef-safe with no oxybenzone or octinoxate.
Low. Most ingredients rate 0โ1 comedogenic; cetearyl alcohol (rated 2) is the highest. Suitable for most acne-prone users who don't have fungal acne.
๐ฌ Ingredient Breakdown
๐ต Green Tea Seed Oil ~2-5% Promising
Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil is pressed from the seeds of the Jeju green tea plant. Rich in oleic acid, Vitamin E and polyphenols, it moisturizes, softens and helps slow moisture loss while adding antioxidant support.
- Source: Rich in oleic acid, making it an effective emollient that draws and holds moisture in skin.
- Source: Contains tocopherol and polyphenol antioxidants that help fight free radicals and have anti-inflammatory properties.
๐ง Sodium Hyaluronate ~0.1-2% Proven
The salt form of hyaluronic acid and a star humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper skin layers to the surface, giving an instant plump, hydrated look.
- Source: Naturally found in skin; binds and holds large amounts of water to maintain hydration and elasticity.
- Source: Low-molecular-weight HA has clinical links to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity and barrier repair.
๐งฌ Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) ~0.5-1% Proven
A soothing humectant that hydrates, calms irritation and supports wound healing. It penetrates deeper than many surface humectants and converts to pantothenic acid in skin.
- Source: Binds and holds water like hyaluronic acid while helping reduce redness and reinforce the barrier.
- Source: Documented benefits for wound healing with no known downsides at cosmetic use levels.
๐ก๏ธ Cholesterol ~0.1-1% Proven
One of the three key lipids in your skin barrier. It fits directly into the skin's lipid layers to restore structure and reduce transepidermal water loss โ ideal for dry or compromised skin.
- Source: A core barrier lipid; production declines with age, making topical cholesterol valuable for mature skin.
- Source: Works best alongside ceramides and fatty acids, the other major barrier components.
โจ Tocopherol (Vitamin E) ~0.1-1% Proven
A fat-soluble antioxidant that neutralizes UV- and pollution-induced free radicals before they damage skin cells, while improving the skin's water-binding capacity over time.
- Source: Shown to protect against UV damage by boosting the skin's own defense enzymes.
- Source: Regular topical use can improve water-binding capacity over roughly 2โ4 weeks.
33 ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Methyl Trimethicone, Stearyl Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Octadecene, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cholesterol, Carbomer, Parfum, Tromethamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Tocopherol.
๐ Where It Fits in Your Routine
Use morning and night as your moisturizer step. Apply after watery treatments and serums; in the morning, always finish with sunscreen. For very dry skin, you can layer a facial oil on top at night.
๐ How to Use
Cleanse & prep
Start on freshly cleansed skin and apply your toner, essence and any treatment serums first.
Scoop a dime-sized amount
Take a small, dime-sized amount of cream onto clean fingertips. A little goes a long way with this lightweight texture.
Smooth & pat in
Massage gently over face and neck using upward motions, then pat lightly to encourage absorption.
Finish with SPF (AM)
In the morning, follow with a broad-spectrum sunscreen. At night, it can be your last step or topped with a facial oil.
๐ค Who Is It For?
โ Perfect for you if:
- You want lightweight, lasting hydration without heaviness or grease
- You have normal, combination or oily skin that hates thick creams
- You like a dewy, glowy finish that layers under makeup
- You want antioxidant green tea support in a daily moisturizer
- You're looking for an affordable vegan K-beauty staple
โ Consider alternatives if:
- You're managing fungal acne (Malassezia) breakouts
- You need a rich, occlusive cream for very dry or mature skin in winter
- You prefer strictly fragrance-free formulas
- You dislike jar packaging for hygiene reasons
- You want a large-size tub at a low per-ml cost
๐ฏ Skin Type Compatibility
Lightweight gel-cream absorbs fast and hydrates without adding shine or feeling heavy.
Balances hydration across oilier and drier zones with a comfortable, non-sticky finish.
Hydrating and barrier-supporting, but very dry skin may want a richer cream or an oil on top in winter.
Soothing panthenol and green tea help, but it does contain fragrance โ patch test if reactive.
Low comedogenic risk for most, but not suitable if your breakouts are fungal acne.
Antioxidants and barrier lipids help, though mature skin often needs more occlusive richness at night.
๐ Results Timeline
Instant hydration & glow
Skin feels plumper, softer and dewy right after application as humectants pull in moisture.
90% noticedAll-day comfort
Tightness and dry patches ease; hydration holds for longer between applications.
80% noticedSmoother, calmer skin
Texture looks more even and visible redness settles as the barrier strengthens.
68% noticedResilient, healthy barrier
Skin retains moisture better and tolerates actives and the environment more comfortably.
60% noticedโญ Ratings by Platform
โ๏ธ Pros & Cons
โ Praised
- Lightweight, fast-absorbing and non-greasy
- Long-lasting hydration with a dewy glow
- Great for oily and combination skin
- Affordable, vegan and cruelty-free
- Recyclable glass jar packaging
โ Criticized
- Contains fragrance (Parfum)
- Not fungal-acne safe
- May be too light for very dry skin in winter
- Jar packaging less hygienic than airless
- Small 50ml size for the price
๐ฐ Budget-Friendly Alternatives (Dupes)
A lightweight, oil-free birch-sap lotion with similar fast-absorbing hydration in a hygienic pump and larger 100ml size. Less green tea antioxidant focus, but closer to fungal-acne friendly.
A richer rice-and-ginseng cream with squalane and niacinamide. More nourishing for dry skin, but heavier and less of a lightweight gel feel than the innisfree cream.
A gentle, soothing daily moisturizer for sensitive skin with a comparable comfortable finish. Different hero ingredients and a slightly creamier texture.
๐ Comparison with Competitors
innisfree Intensive Hydrating Cream (Featured)
~$28Laneige Water Bank Blue HA Cream
~$38Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream
~$38innisfree Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Cream
~$29๐ฆ Storage & Shelf Life
12 months after opening
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight; keep the lid closed tightly.
Recyclable glass jar with screw lid (use a clean spatula for better hygiene).
Yes โ the 50ml size is well under the 100ml carry-on liquids limit.
โ Frequently Asked Questions
It is generally considered pregnancy- and breastfeeding-friendly. The formula contains no retinoids, salicylic acid, hydroquinone or chemical sunscreen filters โ the ingredients most often flagged during pregnancy. It relies on humectants, green tea and barrier lipids instead. As always, run your full routine by your OB-GYN or dermatologist to be sure.
No. The formula contains several ingredients that can feed Malassezia yeast, including Camellia Sinensis (green tea) seed oil, glyceryl stearate, cetearyl alcohol, sorbitan isostearate and polyglyceryl-3 methylglucose distearate. If you are actively managing fungal acne, choose a fatty-acid-free moisturizer instead.
Yes. As a moisturizer it pairs well with most actives โ apply your vitamin C, niacinamide, AHA/BHA or retinol treatment first, then seal it in with this cream. It can also help buffer dryness or irritation from stronger actives like retinol.
It shines on oily and combination skin thanks to its lightweight, fast-absorbing gel-cream texture and dewy, non-greasy finish. Normal and mildly dry skin also do well. Very dry or mature skin may want something richer, or to layer a facial oil on top at night.
Hydration and a dewy glow are usually visible immediately. Day-long comfort builds over the first week, smoother texture and calmer redness appear around weeks 2โ4, and a more resilient, moisture-retaining barrier develops over 4โ8 weeks of consistent use.
It's your moisturizer step. Apply it after cleansing, toner, essence and treatment serums. In the morning, follow with sunscreen as your final step. At night, it can be the last step or topped with a facial oil for extra richness.
Pore-clogging risk is low (around 1/5). Most ingredients rate 0โ1 on the comedogenic scale, with cetearyl alcohol the highest at 2. The lightweight texture suits most acne-prone skin โ the main exception being fungal acne, where the fatty-acid-based ingredients are a concern.
The Period After Opening (PAO) is 12 months โ look for the "12M" jar symbol on the packaging. Store it in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, and use a clean spatula or clean fingertips to keep the jar product fresh.
Verdict: The innisfree Intensive Hydrating Cream with Green Tea Seed is a standout lightweight daily moisturizer for oily and combination skin. It delivers fast-absorbing, long-lasting hydration and a fresh dewy glow at an accessible price, backed by Jeju green tea antioxidants, hyaluronic acid and barrier-supporting lipids. The main caveats are that it contains fragrance, isn't fungal-acne safe, and may feel too light for very dry skin in cold weather. For anyone wanting an affordable, vegan K-beauty cream that hydrates without heaviness, it's an easy recommendation.
Product Overview
What are Quick Product Notes?
Quick product notes are a great way to check if a product is free from commonly avoided ingredients by skincare enthusiasts. These preferences come about for different reasons depending on the ingredient such as personal experiences, sensitivities, health preferences & etc.
Pro Tip Alert!
Just because a product is not free from a common preference does not mean it's a bad product! You can make a personal decision whether or not you want to use a product that contains these ingredients or not - click the labels of the preference to read more about them.
Quick Product Notes
Paraben-Free
Paraben-Free
Understanding Parabens
Parabens are a large group of preservatives which are used to prevent bacteria growing in cosmetic formulations. There has been some healthy controversy surrounding them due to a few studies finding paraben presence in breast tumours and breast tissue. However, the majority of the scientific community have deemed these findings non-conclusive due to the limitations of these studies. There's still a lot of support for avoiding parabens following the better safe than sorry route. If you do we completely support you! If you are concerned about the health safety of parabens, then feel free to avoid them by looking out for the Paraben-Free icon. If not, don't worry about it - they do have had one of the longest safety records as preservatives!
Which Ingredients are classified as Paraben?
A product will be paraben-free if it does not contain any of the following parabens:
- Sodium Isobutylparaben
- Sodium Ethylparaben
- Sodium Butylparaben
- Propylparaben
- Isopropylparaben
- Isobutylparaben
- Sodium Propylparaben
- Butylparaben
- Ethylparaben
- Sodium Methylparaben
- Methylparaben
Sulfate-Free
Sulfate-Free
Understanding Sulfates
Sulfates are a large group of ingredients which act as cleansing agents in Cosmetics. They help loosen up the dirt and grime from your skin and hair to allow for water to wash it away with ease. However some sulfates are so good at their job, they can wash off your skinโs own natural oils that keep it moisturised and protected which can lead to dryness and irritation. Most people will find no issues with sulfate, however if you find your skin doesn't like sulfates then free feel to avoid them by looking out for the sulfate-free icon on Skincarisma.
Which ingredients are classified as sulfates?
We've taken the Sulfates which are considered more harsh for our Sulfate-Free status. A product will be Sulfate-Free if it does not contain any of the following Sulfates:
- TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
- Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- PEG-15 Cocamine
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate
- Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
- Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate
- Ammonium Xylenesulfonate
- Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
- Sodium Xylenesulfonate
- Sodium Myreth Sulfate
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate
Alcohol-Free
Alcohol-Free
Understanding Simple Alcohols
Alcohol ingredients are widely used in cosmetics and come in different types. For the most part alcohols are not problematic at all. However one type of alcohols, simple alcohols can be quite drying to the skin because it evaporates very quickly. This can cause irritation which can also lead to other skin complications. These alcohols should never be used alone on your skin, but combined with other cosmetic ingredients, they are normally without issue. However, for some people with sensitive and easily irritable skin, avoiding products with these simple alcohols may be beneficial. If you find your skin doesn't like these simple alcohols, then free feel to avoid them by looking out for the Alcohol-Free icon.
Which Ingredients are classified as Alcohol?
A product will be alcohol-free if it does not contain any of the following alcohol ingredients:
- SD Alcohol
- Alcohol Denat
- Isopropyl Alcohol
- Alcohol
Silicone-Free
Silicone-Free
Understanding Silicones
If you've ever used a skincare, makeup or beauty product that's made your skin look and feel smoother tempoarily - it's likely contained Silicone. They are a popular class of ingredients found in cosmetics due to their smooth, soft, easy-to-spread and smooth properties that help creates an artificial layer/barrier on top of skin or hair (commonly found in conditioners).
For the same reasons they are popularly used, they are also commonly avoided. Anecdotally, many individuals have reported that Silicones cause/excerbate breakouts, irritation, cause a feeling of skin being unable to breathe, cause clumping of cosmetic products and find it difficult to wash off. As a result, those who find them problematic are avoiding them and increasingly, cosmetic companies are avoiding them as well.
If you have had bad experiences with Silicones in the past, or suspect they are problematic then look out for the tick on the Silicone-free label.
Disclaimer
The Silicone-free label only includes the most common Silicone ingredients that have indentified been reported by individuals that could potentially cause issues.
These include: Amodimethicone, Behenoxy Dimethicone, Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Cetearyl Methicone, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Copolyol, Dimethiconol, Methicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Stearoxy Dimethicone, Stearyl Dimethicone, Trimethylsilylamodimethicone.
Note, that this does not include all ingredients part of the Silicone class of ingredients.
EU Allergen-Free
EU Allergen-Free
Understanding the Identified Contact Allergens
The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has identified and established 26 cosmetic ingredients that are likely contact allergens (potential to cause skin allergies) as demonstrated in clinical or epidemiological studies. The EU's SCCS have recommend cosmetic companies to disclose them on the labels if used and in cases where the concentration exceeds 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products, then they must be labelled.
Look out for the tick on the EU-Allergen free label to know your cosmetic is free from any of the 26 identified cosmetic ingredients.
For more information regarding the EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, please visit their official website.
Disclaimer
The EU Allergen Free label is for the 26 ingredients identified by the EU SCCS and products will be only flagged if a suspected ingredient is on it's ingredient list. It is possible for cosmetics to contain one of the suspect ingredients without it appearing on the ingredient list due to it not reaching the concentration threshold to disclose it and cosmetic manufacturers choice to not disclose it.
Also note, the EU Allergen Free label is not personalized for your own allergies you may have and it does not constitute as medical advice. For your specific case, always consult your medical professiona such as dermatologist, physician, pharmacist, or health care provider - please read our medical disclaimer for more information.
Fungal Acne (Molassezia) Safe
Fungal Acne (Molassezia) Safe
Understanding Fungal Acne (Pityrosporum Folliculitis/Malassezia Folliculitis)
Pityrosporum Folliculitis/Malassezia folliculitis or simply known as Fungal Acne is a persistent acne-like condition that commonly responds poorly to traditional acne-treating methods. Unlike most cases of Acne where bacteria is the culprit, Fungi is the culprit of Fungal Acne (Hence the name!). There are certain classes & groups of ingredients that have been shown to promote and feed the growth of the Fungal Acne, Fungi such as fatty acids, oils, esters, polysorbates and fermented ingredients.
For more information regarding Fungal Acne, please visit Simple Skincare Science (f.c) - #3 of our Recommend Skincare Resources for an amazing comprehensive guide!
Please Read: How to use the Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Label
At SkinCarisma, we've done our best to identify as many ingredients as possible but note the fungal-free label may not be 100% accurate due to the complexconditions and combination of ingredients that malezzeria can thrive on.
Additionally, products that may contain ingredients that have shown to feed Malassezia may not neccessarily exacerbate the condition due to concentration of ingredient used in the product, this information is simply not available on the products.
As a result, please note this is only an experimental label that can be best used to possible identify problematic products you have used in the past. It is in no way a perfect identifier nor a predictor in whether or not it will exacerbate or cause fungal acne. It will continue to be worked on as more information and research comes to light.
If you find any ingredients you believe should be included, please email us at snails@skincarisma.com.
Disclaimer
Due to the lack of substantial research into this area it is very likely there are other ingredients and class/groups of ingredients that could feed Fungal Acne which have not been indentified.
The Fungal-Safe label does not constitute as medical advice. For your specific case, always consult your medical professiona such as dermatologist, physician, pharmacist, or health care provider - please read our medical disclaimer for more information.
What are Notable Effects & Ingredients?
Ever used a product that promised a certain effect but provided no results? It might not have contained any notable ingredients that could have been responsible for that promised effect. It doesn't matter what the marketing or packaging ยซpromisesยป it can do, if it doesn't contain anything that can help - then the likelihood of it helping is low.
We help you identify key notable ingredients that have been shown to help with effects such as acne-fighting, brightening, UV-protection, wound healing & anti-aging to help you achieve your skincare goals smarter. Please note that different notable ingredients have varying levels of research behind them, some are extremely well proven yet some have mixed research in their efficacy.
Pro Tip Alert!
Just because a product doesn't contain any notable ingredients doesn't mean it's bad. And a product with notable ingredients (or even many) doesn't necessarily guarantee the efficacy of the product performing these effects either. There are other factors such as ingredient quality, concentration and formulation that will ultimately determine this.
Be smart and use this as just a starting point for you to make more informed and smarter choices and compare it with reviews to see if the product is right for you
Notable Effects & Ingredients
Anti-Aging from 2 ingredient(s):
Brightening from 1 ingredient(s):
Promotes Wound Healing from 4 ingredient(s):
What are Ingredients Related to Skin Type?
Why are some products great for some people and horrible for others? Well everyone has different skin types and different reactions to the same ingredients.
We've identified a range of ingredients that are commonly regarded as potentially good or bad for those with Dry, Oily/Acne-Prone or Sensitive skin.
Pro Tip Alert!
A product that contains good or bad ingredients for your skin type doesn't always flat out make the entire product good or bad for your skin. There are other factors such as ingredient quality, concentration and formulation that will ultimately determine your skins reaction.
One of the best ways to use this section is to troubleshoot products you've had bad experiences with in the past. Check if it contains any of the marked ingredients to point out suspect ingredients to avoid in the future!
Ingredients Related to Skin Types
Dry Skin
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
Sensitive Skin
What is the Ingredient Safety Breakdown?
Ingredient Safety Breakdown refers to the percentage % of ingredients in different risk categories as classified by EWG (Environment Working Group) if they are available. There are almost endless cosmetic ingredients and they are one of the few organisations globally that have assigned ratings to a lot of the more commonly used ingredients which is why we reference them.
Pro Tip Alert!
EWG is seen by many to be more on the alarmist side in their assignment of health ratings resulting in rating ingredients as riskier than they actually are. We recommend using this a reference point rather than a strict guide of ingredient safety and to always do further research if into ingredients that you may find suspect.
Ingredient Safety Breakdown
Product ingredient list
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Water
Solvent, Skin Conditioning
|
|
|
| 1 |
Propanediol
Solvent, Viscosity Controlling, Viscosity Decreasing Agent
|
|
|
| 2 |
Glycerin
Solvent, Perfuming, Fragrance, Humectant, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Denaturant, Skin Conditioning
|
Brightening
Promotes Wound Healing
Hydrating
|
|
| 1 |
Methyl Trimethicone
Solvent, Skin Conditioning, Hair Conditioning
|
|
|
| 1 |
Stearyl Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning, Emollient
|
|