The Inkey List
Starter Retinol SerumThe Inkey List
10% Niacinamide SerumA serum built around Retinoid, for barrier repair and smoothing.
A serum built around Niacinamide and Panthenol, for barrier repair and hydration.
Brand price
USD 15.00 · checked 26 Sept 2026 · brand's site
Brand price
USD 13.00 · checked 26 Sept 2026 · brand's site
At a Glance
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Key Ingredients
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
Hydrating6
Boosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, Propanediol, Squalane
Barrier Repair7
Strengthens and restores the skin's natural barrier.
Allantoin, Glycerin, Glycine Soja Oil, Glycine Soja Sterols, Niacinamide, Panthenol, 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 Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis5
May feed the yeast involved in seborrheic dermatitis.
Glycine Soja Oil, Glycolipids, Phospholipids, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate
May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris2
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
Emollient
1 / 0
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- Possibly animal-derived
- May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis
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
Smoothing
0 / —
- Niacinamide
- Acne Fighting
- Barrier Repair
- Brightening
- Dark Spots
- Even Tone
- Oil Control
- Pore Refining
- Redness Reducing
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer (in both products)
Emulsion Stabilising
Phospholipids (in both products)
Skin Conditioning
- Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
- 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 →Phenoxyethanol
Antimicrobial, Preservative
Phenoxyethanol is the aromatic ether alcohol that conforms to the formula:
Learn more about Phenoxyethanol →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 →Squalane
Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Squalane is a face oil.
Learn more about Squalane →Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Phospholipids →Xanthan Gum
Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling
Xanthan gum
Learn more about Xanthan Gum →Glycine Soja Oil
Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Glycine Soja Oil isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Glycine Soja Oil →Polysorbate 60
Cleansing, Emulsifying
Polysorbate 60 isn't fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60 →
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