The Inkey List
Starter Retinol SerumA serum built around Retinoid, for barrier repair and smoothing.
A serum built around Colloidal oatmeal and Retinoid, for hydration and barrier repair.
Brand price
USD 15.00 · checked 26 Sept 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
USD 109.00 · checked 8 Oct 2026 · brand's site
At a Glance
They come out differently on Fragrance-free, EU-allergen-free, Pore-clogger-free and Vegan; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.
Key Ingredients
Fatty alcohol2
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Fatty alcohol2
Waxy fatty alcohols used as emollients and thickeners; unrelated to drying alcohol.
Benefits
Hydrating5
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Propanediol, Squalane, Tocopherol
Barrier Repair12
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Squalane, Sucrose Laurate, Tocopherol
Hydrating10
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Betaine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Glycerin, Inositol, Mannitol, Propanediol, Squalane, Trehalose, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids
Barrier Repair10
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Betaine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Diisostearyl Malate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane
Concerns
May Trigger Acne5
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis14
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycolipids, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Phospholipids, Polysorbate 60, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sucrose Laurate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris5
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Sorbitan Isostearate, Tocopherol
May Trigger Acne3
Can clog pores or trigger breakouts.
May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis11
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Diisostearyl Malate, Glyceryl Ricinoleate, Glyceryl Stearate, Phosphatidylcholine, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Isostearate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris3
May clog follicles or strip skin prone to keratosis pilaris.
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Emollient
Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters
Cleansing
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Glyceryl Stearate (in both products)
Emollient
1 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Cetyl Alcohol (in both products)
Emollient
2 / 2
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Irritation
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Emollient
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Water (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Binding
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer (in both products)
Emulsion Stabilising
Cetearyl Alcohol (in both products)
Emollient
2 / 1
- Fatty alcohol
- Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
- May Trigger Acne
- May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water
Antiplaque, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water
Learn more about Water →Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care, Perfuming, Humectant, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Glycerin may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glycerin →Propanediol
Solvent, Viscosity Controlling
Propanediol is the organic compound that conforms to the formula
Learn more about Propanediol →Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient, Emulsifying
Glyceryl Stearate may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.
Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate →Cetyl Alcohol
Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emollient, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Controlling
Cetyl Alcohol isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetyl Alcohol →Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer is a copolymer of sodium hydroxyethyl acrylate and acryloyldimethyl taurate monomers
Learn more about Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer →Cetearyl Alcohol
Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Emollient, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Controlling
Cetearyl Alcohol isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohol →Squalane
Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Squalane is a face oil.
Learn more about Squalane →Xanthan Gum
Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Xanthan gum
Learn more about Xanthan Gum →Polysorbate 60
Cleansing, Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60 isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60 →
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