Products

Mary&May

Houttuynia Cordata + Tea Tree Serum

face serum

Mary&May

Houttuynia Cordata + Tea Tree Serum

face serum

Added June 7, 2026 Last edited June 7, 2026

Fit by skin type

General, ingredient-based — not your personalized match.

Dry

56%

Combination (dry)

56%

Balanced

86%

Combination (oily)

84%

Oily

84%

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Ingredients

Benefits

Actives

Find Dupes

Key Insights

Benefits

Anti-Aging

Hydration

Risks

Synthetic polymer

Full Ingredients

8 total

melaleuca alternifolia leaf extract 9.7% houttuynia cordata extract 85% GLYCERETH-26 1,2-HEXANEDIOL ARGININE CARBOMER ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN CAPRYLYL GLYCOL

About Houttuynia Cordata + Tea Tree Serum

Overview

Houttuynia Cordata + Tea Tree Serum is a lightweight serum from Mary&May, a brand based in Korea. The formula is built mainly around hydration. The ingredient list runs to 6 ingredients, each broken down in full below.

Texture and finish

By its ingredient list the formula reads as light: water and humectants lead, with emollients kept lower in the order. Hydration is handled by Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycereth-26 and Arginine, humectants that pull water into the upper layers of skin rather than sealing it there.

What the formula does

Hydration: High. Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin, and here that comes from Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycereth-26 and Arginine.

Who it suits

On richness alone it suits Balanced, Combination (oily) and Oily skin best, and is the least natural fit for Dry and Combination (dry) skin. Nothing in the list is flagged as a common irritant, which is a reasonable starting point for reactive skin — though a patch test is still the only way to know.

What it does not target

The formula contributes little or nothing on barrier support, antioxidant protection, oil control and brightening and tone. That is not a fault — most products are not meant to do everything — but if one of those is your priority, this is not the product that will address it. 2 ingredients on the label have not been matched to our database yet, so the analysis above reads a slightly incomplete list.

Where it fits in a routine

It can be used morning and evening. In a routine it goes after toner, before moisturiser. Apply to clean, dry skin and give it a minute to absorb before the next layer. Introduce one new treatment at a time so you can identify what is working.

This summary is generated from the product's ingredient list. It is not a review, it is not the brand's own marketing claims, and it does not replace advice from a dermatologist.

Pros and cons

Drawn purely from the ingredient list

Pros

Strong humectant content for hydration
No common irritants flagged in the list

Things to know

Part of the label has not been matched to our ingredient database yet

Which skin types it suits

Scored on how rich or light the formula reads from its INCI order.

Suitable for

Balanced skin
Combination (oily) skin
Oily skin

Less suitable for

Dry skin
Combination (dry) skin

Sensitive skin

No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.

Skin concerns

Based on the curated benefits documented for this product's ingredients.

Helps with

Hydration 3 ingredients

Attracts and locks in moisture to keep skin plump and dewy
Anti-Aging 1 ingredient

Boosts collagen and cell turnover to reduce fine lines and wrinkles

Does not target

Anti-Acne Blackhead Reducing Dark Spot Fading Evens Skin Tone Oil Control Pore Minimizer Smooths Bumpy Skin Soothing

None of the ingredients in this formula are associated with these benefits. This is not unusual, as most products are designed to target a limited number of concerns.

Key ingredients

The actives, UV filters and benefit-carrying ingredients in this formula, in the order they are listed.

Glycereth-26

1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 10–40% of the formula.

Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha.,.alpha.',.alpha.''-1,2,3-propanetriyltris[.omega.-hydroxy-

Hydration

Arginine

3rd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.

L-Arginine

Hydration Anti-Aging

Ethylhexylglycerin

5th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.

1,2-Propanediol, 3-(2-ethylhexyloxy)

Hydration

Formula analysis

Each axis is scored from the ingredients present and how high up the list they sit.

Hydration High

Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin

Barrier support None

Lipids and repair signals that support skin barrier integrity

Antioxidant support None

Ingredients that mop up free radicals from UV and pollution

Oil control None

Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine

Brightening None

Ingredients that act on uneven tone and post-inflammatory marks

Soothing None

Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity

Cell renewal None

Retinoids, acids and enzymes that speed surface turnover

Firmness signalling None

Peptides and growth factors that signal for collagen support

What to layer it with

Judged by the same curated rules our routine checker uses. It reads the ingredients, not the label.

Compatible with

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)
Retinoids (retinol, retinal)
AHAs (glycolic, lactic)
BHA (salicylic acid)
PHAs (gluconolactone)
Benzoyl peroxide
Azelaic acid
Copper peptides
Bakuchiol
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic acid
Ceramides
Signal peptides
Panthenol
Sunscreen

Nothing in this formula belongs to a group our rules can put in conflict, so it layers freely. Order still matters — thinnest texture first.

Where it fits in a routine

Cleanse
Toning
Treat
Moisturise
Protect

This product is the "Treat" step.

Apply to clean, dry skin and give it a minute to absorb before the next layer.
Introduce one new treatment at a time so you can identify what is working.

Safety and suitability

Flags to check, not verdicts. None of this is medical advice — if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or treating a skin condition, ask a doctor.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Nothing in this formula is on the standard pregnancy-caution list. That is not clearance — ask your doctor about anything you use daily.
Fungal acne (malassezia): No ingredient here is a recognised food source for malassezia.
Sensitive and reactive skin: No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.
Recorded ingredient risks: Synthetic polymer

Ingredients by function

Most ingredients do more than one job, so these counts add up to more than the 6 ingredients on the label.

Texture agent

Sets the thickness, spread and stability of the formula

Humectant

Draws water into the upper layers of skin

Emollient

Softens and smooths by filling gaps between skin cells

Solvent

Dissolves and carries everything else

Ingredient breakdown

Every ingredient on the label, in order, with what it does and roughly how much of it is likely to be there.

1 Glycereth-26 Humectant

Estimated level: 10–40%
Confidence: Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
Roles: Humectant, Texture agent

1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 10–40% of the formula.

Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl)], .alpha.,.alpha.',.alpha.''-1,2,3-propanetriyltris[.omega.-hydroxy-

Hydration

2 scientific references

Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, February 2020, ePublication
Cosmetic Ingredient Review, March 2019, pages 1-11

2 1,2-hexanediol Solvent

Estimated level: 5–20%
Confidence: Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
Roles: Solvent

2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.

3 Arginine

Estimated level: 5–20%
Confidence: Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line

3rd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.

L-Arginine

Hydration Anti-Aging

6 scientific references

Biobased Surfactants (Second Edition), 2019, pages 413-445
Scientific Reports, February 2016, pages 1-10
Cosmetic Ingredient Review, October 2012, pages 1-35
Journal of Advanced Research, July 2010, pages 169–177
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, April 2005, page 139
Wound Repair and Regeneration, November-December 2003, pages 419-423

4 Carbomer Texture agent

Estimated level: 2–10%
Confidence: Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
Roles: Texture agent

4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.

2-Propenoic acid, polymer with 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol 2-propenyl ether

Synthetic polymer

5 Ethylhexylglycerin

Estimated level: under 1%
Confidence: Moderate — listed below the 1% line

5th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.

1,2-Propanediol, 3-(2-ethylhexyloxy)

Hydration

5 scientific references

PLoS One, October 2016, ePublication
Contact Dermatitis, May 2016, pages 281-288
International Journal of Toxicology, September 2013, pages 5S-21S
Personal Care, 2008, pages 1-4
Cosmetic Science Technology, 2006, pages 1-11

6 Caprylyl Glycol Emollient

Estimated level: under 1%
Confidence: Moderate — listed below the 1% line
Roles: Emollient

6th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.

Octane-1,2-diol

Not yet matched to our database

These are printed on the label but have not been linked to an ingredient record yet, so they are excluded from the analysis above.

melaleuca alternifolia leaf extract 9.7% houttuynia cordata extract 85%