The Inkey List
🇬🇧
Retinol Serum
Ampoules
4.3
(198)
Ratings & Reviews
4.3
198 Reviews
Rating Distribution
Product Attributes
Alcohol-free
Paraben-free
Sulfate-free
Allergen-free
Fragrance-free
Photo Reviews
145 Reviews
vinci
Oily/Resilient
| 8 September, 2022
The brand says it’s a perfect introduction to using slow release retinol serum that targets the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with less risk of irritation. Well, is it?
💲 Price. Affordable at $15 (=₱765) for 30mL compared to other retinol products in the market.
🧴 Key Ingredients. A slow release retinol serum with
- 1% RetiStar stabilised Retinol
- 0.5% Granactive Retinoid
- Squalane for hydration and soothing
💧Form & Fragrance. It is a yellowish, light consistency serum without fragrance, but smells faintly fatty to me and also, like brown sugar. It is smooth and not icky when applied onto the skin.
🙋🏽 Experience. This was the third retinol product that I had tried as I go on trying more of this all-rounder ingredient recommended by dermatologists. I would have liked to try a a medical-grade retinoid for its higher effectiveness but even the one prescribed to be my derm a year ago was 0.1% adapalene which is mild enough that it is available OTC. I should be thankful my derm thought I needed no more than that. All that said, my general experience using this for five months was rather fair—not bad since it did not trigger purging, but not outstanding either because I think my skin looked and felt better with my previous retinoids. For its relatively cheaper price compared to competitors, it’s a good introduction to retinoid, and worth a try.
No bad experience but wanted better results.
33
3
amg3268
Oily/Sensitive
| 9 December, 2020
Althought I am not new to the world of retinol, this is a great begginers product! Ive been using it on my neck which has never been treated before. This product is “clean” and claims to renew the skin, target signs of ageing, and even out skin tone. It is formulated with:
*RetiStar Stabilised Retinol 1%
*Granactive Retinoid 0.5%: derivative with a slow release formula for low irritating, effective active delivery
*Squalane: Hydrates and soothes
The retinol is a standard 1 ounce for 9.99. A pale, yellow cream with a thin consistency. Id say other than The Ordinary, this is a pretty competitive price in terms of affordability. You often times wont find a quality ingredients list that calls out the the % of retinol in most products (even higher end!)
I mix this with my moisturizer a couple times a week since the neck is a very sensitive area and lacks sebum pores like the face has. You WILL get redness and irritation if you put this on every night without some kind of buffer like a moisturizer underneath. I was experimenting and this happened to me. Once my skin got used to it thought, the redness never came back. This is to be expected, since retinol products help strengthen the resiliency of skin.
I havent noticed a change in my horizontal neck lines but these are deep, and retinol products on me usually take four months to see results. Ive been using this for around two months and will continue to do so. I hope to see some sort of change by the 4 month mark.
Can cause redness and irritation due to user error. Retinol products require a specific routine!
19
8
glowandsunshine
Dry/Sensitive
| 1 May, 2022
This retinol serum was my second one after the one from Beauty Glam. I've been using it since December 2021 twice a week, sometimes three times.
It comes in a 30ml tube and has a light yellow-colored texture. There's a slightly stronger scent but I got used to it and now it doesn't bother me.
Using this serum has made my PM routine more fun and I liked combining it with either the Cerave Moisturizing Cream or the Benton Snail Bee High Content Lotion.
It gave me glowy skin after application and no irritations. There was a little redness sometimes but that didn't happen much.
It is worth a try as a beginner retinol product, yet I didn't experience much of a difference in skin texture. I'd like to try a different one because I want to see more visible changes that didn't get fulfilled by this one unfortunately
18
3
S
Skincarebyzuzu
Dry/Resilient
| 7 January, 2022
My first review for THE INKEY LIST PRODUCT!
Posting this review after using this retinol product for more than 3 months!
One of the products that I was most keen to try was The Inkey List Retinol serum.swipe for the texture shot!
So What is retinol basically !
Retinol is a derivative of Vitamin A, Retinol exfoliates the skin, unclogs the pores ,increases skin cell turnover, As the cells repair and renew, they get pushed up more quickly, and what you get is younger looking skin ,asko stimulating collagen synthesis
I started using it once a week(PM strictly) then gradually increased its usage , i simply cleanse , treat with retinol (pea size amount ,let it dry)then moisturise (make sure you dont forget to use sunscreen ,next morning ), i havent faced dryness , or any irritation with it.If you have sensitive skin or your skin started to peel you need to follow the sandwich method (moisturise-retinol-moisturise)
Then gradually i started using it twice a week!
RESULTS!
This was my first retinol based product , so i am glad i chose this beginner friendly retinol .I am in love with this formulation , Initially my skin started to purge BADLY, realised it was clearing gunk out of my skin ,with time the texture of my skin improved and there were less to no bumps(closed comedones) it has been effective on removing milia from my skin , painlessly YES ❤️
It works well on pores as well , My experience was positive, as It made my skin smoother, stronger and brighter !
Wrinkles are not my issue so cant really say how effective it can be on them but i am sure it wont leave you disappointed.
It has totally changed my skincare game (not hyping)
Dont forget to treat your lips when using any actives on your face !
Nothing , just make sure to read ghe imstructions do’s & donts before using it
13
3
snooskincare
Oily/Resilient
| 15 December, 2020
The Inkey List Retinol is a very affordable retinol product. It contains 1% retinol and .0.5% of granactive retinoid. It is pretty strong among all retinol skincare products. Since I have used retinol for years and I am currently using tretinoin which is stronger than retinol. I only use this once a week when I don’t use tretinoin or AHA. The is a very runny consistency that I prefer, so it plays well under other skincare products. i will repurchase this retinol and recommend this for people who have used retinol for more than a year. I have post how I use retinol/tretinoin in my older posts, so I am not going to repeat here, but it is important to start low and slow when you first introduce to retinol. Patch test is also super important. Retinol/Tretment are products that need to be used fo years to see visible results.
Do you use retinol or tretinoin? Do you see the result of minimizing fine lines and more radiant skin?
I don’t have anything bad to say about this product.
13
1
nicolletiti
Dry/Sensitive
| 30 March, 2021
I purchased this product looking for a more affordable retinol treatment and this product did not disappoint, was a nice addition to my night time regime. This seem to work just as well as the product I was using that was more than 5 times the price of this. A little goes a long way with this so don't use too much!
My only complaint with this is that the product comes out of the tube too quickly resulting in a larger than needed dispensed amount of product.
10
4
myskincarecorner
Oily/Resilient
| 29 November, 2022
This together with the Drunk Elephant are my favorite Retinol products. This one is great for beginners or people with senstive skin. It’s very gentle, and I didn’t experience any irritation or dryness. The formula is also very elegant. It’s like a creamy serum. Feels very hydrating, and absorbs easily, leaving a silky feeling. It never pills either. I really feels like this serum refines my skin texture and helps to prevent acne.
Honestly nothing. I do want to try the brand’s new 1% retinol, which is stronger
9
2
A
alessandra
Oily/Resilient
| 26 February, 2021
This is my first retinol product and I am so happy with it! I’ve been using it for more than 3 months now and I haven’t had any bad reactions to it. For one month, I applied it once a week, and now I apply it 2-3 times a week and have not experienced any sensitivity. It has also cleared up my acne scars and has also helped in keeping my breakouts at bay.
Hmm nothing bad to say about this really. Maybe the packaging could be better & bigger?
9
2
lauraamenichini
Oily/Sensitive
| 29 January, 2021
This is my first retinol so I cannot say much about it, but for a beginner like I am I think it’s a good product!
I started a month ago, so I can’t obviously see any noticeable difference in my skin,
but I’ve been surprised by how well my skin reacted to it, no purging, no dryness and no irritation at all!
The only bad thing I can notice is the smell, but that isn’t a big problem for me.
8
3
B
Brandip117
Dry/Resilient
| 9 January, 2022
I liked the way the product felt and it dried pretty fast. It was a really good price. It didn’t really have a smell to it. You’re supposed to start out slow and only use it once a week, in the evening. I bought this, because the lady at Sephora recommended it. I have dry skin and its not normaly sensitive.
The first couple of times I used this, it burnt my face. I bought it for fine lines. I’ve been using the retinol for about 4 months now and haven’t noticed a difference. I probably won’t buy it again or reccommend it either.
7
1
Related Products
It's time to get Picky
Picky’s skincare library includes 50,000 products, with filtering capabilities including acne-care and brightening, as well as vegan and cruelty-free tags.
Discover the best skincare products. Meet new skincare BFFs and mentors. #GetPicky.
