Review: The Inkey List Niacinamide Serum

Where to purchase: Available on Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic and Boots

Price: £6.99

Volume: 30ml

What is it?: A 10% Niacinamide serum (with B3) – targets breakouts, reduces the look of pores and decongests. Helps regulate sebum production and reduces excess oil, blemishes and redness. Also contains 1% HA for hydration and improved delivery of the active.

Good for: Oily skins mainly, skins with pore issues.

Packaging: This is a squeeze-y bottle with a press-down cap. Very easy to squeeze out product. My only issue with these types of caps is that product can collect at the entrance, so you have to occasionally wipe it to remove the dried out/crystallised product.

Directions: ”Use AM and PM. On cleansed skin apply a pea-sized amount to face and neck. Follow with preferred moisturiser.”

How I use it: I apply this in the PM – I don’t use it on the same day I apply vitamin C (so like every other day). I apply this after my watery serums as this is a bit thicker than a regular serum – I find this moisturising as well as hydrating so this helps minimise the steps in my routine.

example: Cleanse -> Argireline Solution -> Hylamide SubQ Skin -> Niacinamide. (I actually find this acts like a good seal to lock in the watery serums underneath).

Key Ingredients: 10% Niacinamide – Niacinamide is skin brightening and anti-acne. Glycerin, Squalane (skin-identical ingredients). HA – hydration. Phospholipids (also mimics the skin). Allantoin and B3 – skin soothing.

I like all of the key ingredients and I can tell when using this serum that it is moisturising and hydrating my skin too.

Full Ingredients: Water (Aqua/ Eau), Niacinamide, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hyaluronic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phospholipids, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Extract, Allantoin, Disodium Edta, Polysorbate 60, Panthenol, Glycolipids, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterol, Disodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phosphate.

NOTE: Inci Decoder has a full product list breakdown HERE and also Skincarisma HERE

Texture: This has a gel-cream type texture. I find this quite nice and emolient. It’s not TOO sticky (as long as you don’t apply a huge amount, but you wouldn’t because a little is able to spread a lot), but moisturises and hydrates the skin. I therefore apply this at the end of my PM routine.

Fragrance?: NO! Which is what I love about the Inkey list (i.e. no added fragrance or EO – it has a smell of cream, but that’s just from the ingredients).

Good Under Makeup?: Yes it doesn’t ball up for me.

How long have I been using this?: For about 1 month, I will use until completion.

The Effect?: Moisturised skin and also this does help with my pores! And texture.

What I like:

• Moisturising
• No added Fragrance / EO
• I think this has had a good effect on my skin (i.e. helped with texture and pore size)
• Like the packaging to (easy to apply with a flip top)
• No irritation
• Skin isn’t sensitised (as long as I don’t use this everyday – use every other day)

What I don’t like:

• 10% may be quite high for some
• Might be inconvenient because it’s 10% – may want to avoid using this on the same day as using an active etc
• I would like a bigger bottle (30ml is quite little I find)
• Could be sticky IF TOO MUCH IS APPLIED – but I don’t apply too much of this as a little goes a long way? Definitely less sticky than the ceramide night treatment!

Is this better than the Ordinary’s Niacinamide Serum?: It’s been years since I tried that serum but that did break me out. So I’m not a fan of the ordinary’s. Also that balled up/pilled under my SPF/Makeup whereas this DOESN’T So I prefer the Inkey list’s serum.

Is there a dupe?: Not that I’ve used BUT another good product (more liquid-y, less emollient) with Niacinamide is the Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner HERE (but this, I think, has a lower % of Niacinamide – making it easier to use everyday).

Or if you want a more watery serum (less emollient), the Good Molecules 10% Niacinamide serum HERE

Overall Rating and Conclusion: 4/5 – I like this serum. Sometimes it’s troublesome because I feel like I can’t use this in conjunction with actives i.e. vitamin C, so I do need to shuffle around my routine if I want to use it. And it is a bit more emollient than your average watery serum which I like but sometimes I would like a more water-type serum at times. Overall I think it works and I appreciate it doesn’t have fragrance/EO, and this is great, easy to use packaging.

Would I repurchase?: Yes I think I would!

Disclaimer: I am a skincare enthusiast and not a skin expert. I am not qualified to give out dermatological advice. This type of advice should only be given by a medical practitioner. Upon trying / using any of the reviewed products on the blog, please follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings and please seek medical advice if needed.