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The INKEY List Beta Hydroxy Acid Serum for acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

The INKEY List Beta Hydroxy Acid Serum

Average

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for acne-prone skin; other products fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate exfoliation for your combination skin, as salicylic acid helps to unclog pores and reduce inflammation, while also providing seboregulation.
  • The presence of phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin ensures a gentle application, making it suitable for your skin type.
  • The formula is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this exfoliant PM once a week to start, and gradually increase if your combination skin tolerates it well. Always apply SPF the next morning to protect your clear skin.
  • Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer step. This ensures the treatment targets blemishes effectively.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin without rubbing. Let it absorb for a minute before moving to the next step.
  • Apply the exfoliant on clean, dry skin to help control breakouts safely. Since your skin is not sensitive, this dry application method ensures good product absorption.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Do not mix this exfoliant with other strong acids in the same routine.

People Say

★4.2Overall rating based on 3.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly effective for oily and combination skin, frequently praised for clearing pores, reducing blackheads, and calming breakouts without irritation. Most users find the formula gentle and hydrating, though a moderate number of reviews mention a sticky residue and a high number of users express dissatisfaction with the packaging.

Highlights

  • Clears congested pores Mostly Mentioned
    • “Keeps pores feeling decongested”
    • “Helped minimise stubborn blackheads”
    • “Unclogs pores effectively”
  • Gentle on skin Often Mentioned
    • “Exfoliates gently without irritating”
    • “Non-irritating yet effective”
    • “Doesn't shock skin barrier”
  • Reduces active acne Often Mentioned
    • “Acne has reduced dramatically”
    • “Free of active acne”
    • “Calms breakout-prone skin”
  • Poor packaging Often Mentioned
    • “Bottle is tiny”
    • “Hard to dispense right amount”
    • “Squeeze bottle is frustrating”
  • Great value Sometimes Noted
    • “Unbeatable price”
    • “Budget skincare essential”
    • “Affordable and effective”
  • Sticky texture Sometimes Noted
    • “Very sticky feeling”
    • “Hate when face sticks to pillow”
    • “Leaves a sticky feeling”
  • Mixed effectiveness Rarely Noted
    • “Did nothing for sebaceous filaments”
    • “Didn't see much progress”
    • “Skin didn't like it”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, skinsort.com, theinkeylist.com, influenster.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does The Inkey List Beta Hydroxy Acid Serum work for acne-prone skin?

The Inkey List Beta Hydroxy Acid Serum is an average fit for acne-prone skin because salicylic acid helps unclog pores and calm inflammation. It provides moderate exfoliation, though products rated higher for this skin need soothing ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA to better target breakouts and balance oil.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Salicylic acid makes this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin because it helps unclog pores, reduce inflammation, and control oil, while phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin ensure a gentle application. To fit acne-prone skin even better, an exfoliant treatment needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, zinc PCA, antioxidants, and hydrating agents that target breakouts and control oil without causing excess oiliness or dryness.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

What does Salicylic Acid do for acne-prone skin?

Salicylic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and calming redness without causing many side effects. It works by dipping deep into pores to clear out blockages and control oil, making it a reliable choice for keeping skin smooth and clear.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

What does Water do for acne-prone skin?

Water-based hydration helps keep acne-prone skin balanced by providing essential moisture without adding excess oil. Proper hydration also helps reduce dryness and flakiness that can sometimes result from harsh acne treatments.

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This serum goes in your evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Acne-prone skin needs a product of this type to include salicylic acid for clearing pores and soothing inflammation, along with gentle ingredients to keep the skin calm.

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

This product may be used with retinol, but because it is an exfoliant, using them on alternate nights or times of day helps prevent irritation on acne-prone skin. Apply this salicylic acid serum after cleansing and before your moisturizer when using it in your routine.

How often should I use this serum?

Start by using this serum just once a week in the evening, and if your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. This product helps clear pores and calm redness with salicylic acid, but acne-prone skin often does better with a formula that also targets breakouts more deeply and regulates oil.

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This serum helps to unclog pores and reduce inflammation for your acne-prone skin, so it is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts. However, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients and gentle acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid to properly care for acne-prone skin without causing irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020

  • Topical octenidine dihydrochloride and 2-phenoxyethanol decreased papules and pustules by more than 50% in the majority of patients with mild to moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris.

    Acta Dermatovenerologica Alpina, Pannonica, Et Adriatica, 2008

  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010

  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010

  • Treatment with a combination of propylene glycol, ethanol, water, and shampoo was found effective, easy to use, and cosmetically attractive with no observed side effects in patients with dandruff.

    Cutis, 1988

  • A moisturizer containing glycerol and propylene glycol reduced transepidermal water loss, decreased epidermal thickness, increased stratum corneum thickness, and reduced dermal inflammatory infiltrate compared to untreated disrupted skin in six healthy beagle dogs.

    Veterinary Dermatology, 2020

Ingredients

Water, Salicylic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

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