Innisfree
Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Serum
Key ingredient: Green Tea + Hyaluronic Acid
Compare prices
Also available at
Prices above compare YesStyle only. Tap below to check other retailers.
Live price not available - check current price on retailer site.
Prices are refreshed daily but may change throughout the day. Please confirm the final price on the retailer's site before purchase.
For combination and oily skin that needs hydration without heaviness, the Innisfree Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Serum pairs five molecular weights of hyaluronic acid with cold-pressed Jeju green tea seed oil and 2% niacinamide — the 2022 fourth-generation reformulation of the K-beauty cult serum first launched in 2009.
The ingredient story
Hero ingredient
Five-molecular-weight HA complex + Camellia Sinensis (Jeju Green Tea) Seed Oil + 2% Niacinamide
Concentration
Five HA forms — Sodium Hyaluronate (high molecular weight, surface hydration), Hyaluronic Acid (medium MW), Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid (low MW, deeper penetration), Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer (sustained-release), and Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate (lipophilic, lipid-layer affinity). Layered with cold-pressed Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil from Innisfree's own Jeju Beautiful Tea Garden, plus 2% Niacinamide and 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid (a stable vitamin C derivative).
Deep-dive
Read the full guide →How it works
A single HA molecular weight only hydrates one depth of the stratum corneum — high MW HA sits on the surface as a humectant film, low MW HA penetrates deeper. Five MW forms saturate every layer of the stratum corneum simultaneously, eliminating the dry-pocket problem that single-HA serums leave behind. The Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil contributes catechins (EGCG-family polyphenols) and squalene-like lipids that mimic skin sebum — so the serum hydrates without the heavy lipid feel of a face oil. Niacinamide regulates sebum, strengthens the barrier, and brightens; 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid contributes mild antioxidant support and is more pH-stable than ascorbic acid.
What the evidence shows
The multi-MW HA strategy is well-grounded in cosmetic-dermatology literature — see /ingredients/hyaluronic-acid for the multi-weight rationale and the Torriden DIVE-IN serum as the 5D-HA category reference. 2% Niacinamide is the lowest clinically-validated concentration for barrier reinforcement (Hakozaki 2002; Bissett 2004). Innisfree-funded testing reported sustained 24-hour hydration improvement vs no-treatment baseline.
Niacinamide is well-tolerated by almost all skin types. The Korean/international SKU contains Citrus Peel Oil — anyone fragrance-sensitive should pick the US-market refillable version, which is reformulated fragrance-free. Pregnancy-safe.
The brand
Philosophy
“Jeju ingredient story — Innisfree's thesis is that the volcanic, clean-air island of Jeju produces botanical ingredients (green tea, volcanic clay, camellia, tangerine) with terroir-specific potency that mass-grown alternatives cannot match.”
Innisfree launched in 2000 as Amorepacific's Jeju-focused younger sister to Sulwhasoo and LANEIGE — same R&D depth but built around a single sourcing story: ingredients grown, harvested, and partly processed on Jeju Island. The original Green Tea Seed Serum launched 2009 with a formula that was 75.9% green tea extract from the brand's own Beautiful Tea Garden farm in southwestern Jeju. That generation was the K-beauty serum that introduced Western users to "green tea as skincare" beyond steeped drink. The serum reformulated in 2014 and 2018 (added more actives, kept the green-tea-dominant base), and in 2022 made the largest pivot in its history: a water-based formula with five HA molecular weights, niacinamide, and a vitamin C derivative — moving from a single-hero-ingredient identity to a hydration-platform identity. The 2022 version also debuted Innisfree's refillable bottle programme (rinse the empty glass body, slot in a new plastic refill insert) — a meaningful sustainability move for a 90%-plastic category. The brand sits in the mass-tige tier alongside LANEIGE: Amorepacific R&D backing, accessible pricing, distinct identity through Jeju sourcing.
Where this fits in your routine
Routine step
Serum (step 4-5 of a 7-10-step routine) — twice daily
Morning: cleanse → toner → Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Serum → moisturiser → SPF Evening: double cleanse → toner → optional actives (acid/retinol on alternate nights) → Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Serum → moisturiser
Layers especially well with: any niacinamide-light routine (this serum supplies the 2% baseline), Centella ampoule (SKIN1004 — calming + hydration), Snail Essence (COSRX — repair + hydration). The light texture means it does not pill under SPF or makeup.
Pairs with multi-MW HA serums: can be used in rotation with Torriden DIVE-IN (also 5D-HA) for variety — same hydration thesis, different botanical layer.
Avoid same routine as: other 5% niacinamide products (combined niacinamide load above 5% adds no benefit and may trigger flushing in sensitive skin). Vitamin C ascorbic acid is fine — the 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid here is at low concentration and pH-tolerant.
Pregnancy-safe. Refillable bottle: rinse the glass body and snap in a new refill insert (sold separately).
Pairs especially well with
Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum — two 5D-HA serums in rotation — Innisfree adds niacinamide + Jeju green tea oil layer; Torriden is HA-only and lighter. Alternate to test which suits your skin.
AESTURA Atobarrier 365 Cream — serum + cera-cream lock = full hydration + barrier-repair pair. Innisfree serum supplies the niacinamide, AESTURA the ceramides, both mass-tige Amorepacific.
Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics SPF50+ — Korean mineral-chemical hybrid sunscreen layered on top — the lightweight serum does not pill under BOJ Relief Sun, and the niacinamide stack reinforces the barrier through daily UV exposure
Full ingredients
Free from
Full INCI ingredient list (manufacturer)
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Betaine, Saccharide Isomerate, Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil, Xylitol, Cetearyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Olivate, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Squalane, Panthenol, Allantoin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ceratonia Siliqua (Carob) Gum, Sodium Metaphosphate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Oleate, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Sucrose, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Myristyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
What real users say
“I switched from a single high-MW HA serum and the difference in skin plumpness after a week was obvious. The Jeju green tea oil gives it a slight lipid feel that other HA serums miss — no tight pull after it dries.”
— r/AsianBeauty, 2024
“The refillable glass bottle alone was worth the switch. I have been using the same outer bottle for two years and just buying the refill plastics — feels less wasteful than the usual 30-ml-and-bin cycle.”
— LookFantastic verified review
“My combination skin runs oily on the T-zone and dry on the cheeks. This serum hydrates the cheeks without making the T-zone slick — the only HA serum that has solved that for me. Niacinamide at 2% is just right.”
— Sephora US review
Texture / feel
Watery-light gel-serum with a faint green-tea botanical scent (international version) or fragrance-free (US refillable version). Sinks in 30 seconds to a dry-touch finish — does not leave the sticky HA-serum tackiness. Spreads thin so 2-3 drops cover the full face.
Buying authentic
Verified UK retailers
Counterfeit warning
Innisfree counterfeits are less common than for COSRX or Anua but appear occasionally on Amazon UK third-party marketplace. Authentic bottles have crisp green Innisfree logo, smooth pump action, and the refillable version has a discreet "REFILL" embossing on the underside. Buy from listed authorised retailers only.
Clinical data
Innisfree-published 4-week consumer test reported improved hydration and skin texture vs baseline (brand-funded). The multi-MW HA + niacinamide + Camellia Sinensis Seed Oil combination is mechanistically well-grounded in the independent literature for each component.
This page was last reviewed on 2026-05-22. We update product storytelling when formulation, retailer availability, or evidence changes meaningfully.
About this product
Dual-hydration serum combining Jeju green tea amino acids with multi-weight hyaluronic acid. Creates a moisture reservoir that keeps skin dewy throughout the day.
Why Green Tea + Hyaluronic Acid works
Green Tea + Hyaluronic Acid attracts and holds up to 1,000× its weight in water, plumping dehydrated skin from within.
