Products

Mary&May

Houttuynia Cordata + Tea Tree Serum

face eyes serum

Mary&May

Houttuynia Cordata + Tea Tree Serum

face eyes serum

Added August 12, 2026 Last edited August 12, 2026

Fit by skin type

General, ingredient-based — not your personalized match.

Dry

60%

Combination (dry)

60%

Balanced

90%

Combination (oily)

80%

Oily

80%

See how this fits your skin

Take the skin test and I'll show you how suitable this product is for you.

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Ingredients

Benefits

Actives

Find Dupes

The Mary&May Houttuynia Cordata + Tea Tree Serum is a serum infused with 85% Houttuynia Cordata Extract and 9.7% Tea Tree Extract to refine pores and soothe troubled skin with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Minimal yet effective, this serum maximizes its soothing benefits with 85% houttuynia cordata extract and 9.7% tea tree extract and with its quick absorbent formula leaves a refreshing finish. Free from animal testing, parabens, artificial fragrances and colorings, alcohol, mineral oil, surfactants and allergens.

Key Insights

Benefits

Anti-Aging

Hydration

Soothing

Risks

Synthetic polymer

Full Ingredients

8 total

HOUTTUYNIA CORDATA EXTRACT MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA LEAF EXTRACT 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 8 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.

Soothing: Moderate. Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity, and here that comes from Houttuynia Cordata Extract.

Who it suits

On richness alone it suits Balanced 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.

What is not in it

Reading the full list, the formula is fragrance-free, essential-oil-free, no drying alcohol, paraben-free, silicone-free and microplastic-free. Those claims come from the ingredient list itself, not from the packaging.

Where it fits in a routine

It can be used morning and evening. In a routine it goes before moisturiser. Tap along the orbital bone with your ring finger; product migrates upward on its own.

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

No fragrance or declared allergens
No essential oils
No drying alcohol
Silicone-free
No microplastics
Strong humectant content for hydration
No common irritants flagged in the list
No recognised malassezia (fungal acne) triggers

Which skin types it suits

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

Suitable for

Balanced skin

May suit

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 2 ingredients

Boosts collagen and cell turnover to reduce fine lines and wrinkles
Soothing 1 ingredient

Calms redness, irritation, and inflammation for sensitive skin

Does not target

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

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.

Houttuynia Cordata Extract

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

Houttuynia Cordata Extract is an extract of the herb, Houttuynia cordata, Saururaceae

Anti-Aging Soothing

Glycereth-26

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

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

Hydration

Arginine

5th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.

L-Arginine

Hydration Anti-Aging

Ethylhexylglycerin

7th 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 Moderate

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 is and is not in it

Read from the full ingredient list. A brand's own claim may differ.

Free from

Fragrance-free
Essential-oil-free
No drying alcohol
Paraben-free
Silicone-free
Microplastic-free
Sulfate-free
Dye-free
Oil-free
No animal-derived ingredients

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
Eye
Moisturise
Protect

This product is the "Eye" step.

Tap along the orbital bone with your ring finger; product migrates upward on its own.

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 8 ingredients on the label.

Plant extract

Botanical material, usually for antioxidants or scent

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 Houttuynia Cordata Extract Plant extract

Estimated level: 10–40%
Confidence: Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
Roles: Plant extract

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

Houttuynia Cordata Extract is an extract of the herb, Houttuynia cordata, Saururaceae

Anti-Aging Soothing

2 Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract Plant extract

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

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

Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Extract is is an extract of the leaves of the Tea Tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, Myrtaceae

3 Glycereth-26 Humectant

Estimated level: 5–20%
Confidence: Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
Roles: Humectant, Texture agent

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

4 1,2-hexanediol Solvent

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

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

5 Arginine

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

5th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% 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

6 Carbomer Texture agent

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

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

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

Synthetic polymer

7 Ethylhexylglycerin

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

7th 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

8 Caprylyl Glycol Emollient

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

8th 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