Isntree, not to be confused with another K-beauty brand Innisfree, is a Korean skincare line that rose to internet fame with their popular K-beauty sunscreen Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel. They consider themselves a green beauty brand because of their commitment to naturally derived ingredients and sustainable packaging. But by OBL standards and by many of our readers’ standards, they would not be a green beauty brand due to the inclusion of synthetic ingredients and lack of organic / wildcrafted ingredients. Nevertheless, an Isntree review request came in so today I’m sharing my thoughts on Isntree’s popular Hyaluronic Acid line and some of their Yam Root skincare products.

Isntree’s sunscreen is pricier than their competitors Beauty of Joseon and Roundlab at $24 (or $19.39 on Amazon). The consistency is very similar and it’s easy to why all three sunscreens gained so much popularity. They’re light as serums, silky smooth and sink right in with no white cast.

This is a chemical sunscreen with SPF 50 proven through clinical trials. It’s not a totally clean formula and does have some synthetics that true clean beauty brands would not include.

The skin-beneficial ingredients it does contain though, is probably why this sunscreen is a little more expensive:

• 8 types of hyaluronic acid
• Astaxanthin
• Fig Fruit Extract
• Ceramide

Ingredients:

Water, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Homosalate, Dibutyl Adipate, Niacinamide, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Tri azine, Cyclopentasiloxane, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethy Ibutylphenol, Polysilicone-15, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Ceramide NP, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glycerin, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceteth-10, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Decyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Tocopherol, Astaxanthin, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Ascorbyl Propyl Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed SodiumHyaluronate, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dime-thicone, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Airy Sun Stick

The Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Airy Sun Stick comes in a funky teardrop shape packaging. The reason for the oblong shape is the smaller edge is so you can easily apply to smaller areas of the face while the wider edge covers larger areas of the face and body.

I appreciate the concept, but sometimes I just want to slam the lid on without having to think and I end up cutting into the sunscreen because it’s the wrong way.

The sun stick also contains a lot of skin nourishing ingredients like:

• 8 types of hyaluronic acid
• Bamboo water
• Iceplant extract
• Astaxanthin

The texture is super slick and moisturizing, but may feel too slick / oily for some. I wouldn’t say this is suitable for oily skin types. Beauty of Joseon has a matte beauty stick that may be more appropriate or if you simply prefer a matte finish to a dewy one.

There is no scent to these sunscreens except for a slight sunscreen-like scent.

Isntree Sunscreen Test with UV Stickers

These UV stickers are normally used to let you know when you need to re-apply sunscreen. They are purple to indicate your skin ISN’T protected and turn clear when your skin IS protected. By wearing a UV sticker when you go out, when you start to notice the sticker is turning or has turned purple that’s your signal to re-apply sunscreen.

The Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel sunscreen held up very well, but the stick version did not.

Isntree Yam Root Milk Cleanser

If you’re looking for a milk cleanser, the certified vegan Isntree Yam Root Milk Cleanser so light and silky. It’s formulated to be a soothing and moisturizing skincare-forward cleanser with a Vegan Milk Complex that includes extracts of Rice, Oatmeal, Coconut Fruit, Soybean and Sweet Almond Seed.

As it emulsifies with water, it becomes even milkier. Yam Root derived phyto mucin helps strengthen the skin barrier.

If you have dry, sensitive or irritated skin, this is a gentle cleanser that won’t strip skin.\

There’s no added scent other than the natural scent from the ingredients, which give off a subtle milky scent.

Ingredients: Water, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate,Arachidyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol,Arachidyl Glucoside, Glucose, Coco-glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Citric acid, Butylene Glycol, Hibiscus Esculents Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Glycine Max (Soybean) Seed Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Meal Extract. Xanthan Gum, Sodium Polyacrylate

Yam Root Toner

You gotta love K beauty toners for being made with majority of the hero ingredient and not water. Isntree’s vegan Yam Root Toner is made up of 80% Yam Root extract.

This is a true toner consistency (thin) and isn’t thick or essence-like. For those of you looking for a more substantial consistency that K-beauty toners and essences are known more, you might be disappointed by this one. If that’s not of importance to you, this is still a hydrating toner with soothing and skin-fortifying ingredients.

There is no added scent except for a slight milky scent from the natural ingredients.

Like the rest of the Yam Root line it also contains Vegan Milk Complex of Rice, Oatmeal, Coconut Fruit, Soybean and Sweet Almond Seed extracts, along with Ceramide.

Ingredients: Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Trehalose, Panthenol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Sodium Surfactin, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Stearic Acid, Deoxyphytantriyl Palmitamide MEA, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Hibiscus Esculentus Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Root Extract, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Glycine Max (Soybean) Seed Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Meal Extract, Malt Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA

Isntree Amazon Store