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The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum for dry sensitive skin

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

The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Average

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for dry sensitive skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 suitability for your dry skin as Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate provide excellent humectant action, drawing moisture to the skin and alleviating dryness or flakiness.
  • While it addresses hydration well, the formula could benefit from more emollient ingredients to fully support dry skin needs.
  • The product is safe for your dry and sensitive skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including soothing components like Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using this moisturizer 3 times a week and move to daily use if your dry skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toner in the morning, or after your serum in the evening. Always pair it with SPF in the morning.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it harshly to protect your sensitive skin.
  • Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help with hydration absorption. This also works well for dry and flaky skin types.
  • Do a patch test before your first use. Avoid the eye area to prevent any irritation.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 6.0k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this serum as a lightweight, non-sticky hydration booster that works well across all skin types, particularly for dehydrated or sensitive skin. The majority report visibly plumper and smoother skin, though a small subset of users experienced dryness when not sealing it correctly with a moisturizer or found the packaging difficult to keep clean.

Highlights

  • Affordable price Mostly Mentioned
    • “unbeatable value”
    • “budget friendly”
    • “great price for quality”
    • “cheap but effective”
  • Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly”
    • “watery gel consistency”
    • “no tacky residue”
    • “better than The Ordinary”
  • Instant hydration Often Mentioned
    • “skin feels juicy”
    • “plumps fine lines”
    • “immediate relief for tightness”
    • “glass skin effect”
  • Layers well Often Mentioned
    • “no pilling under makeup”
    • “plays well with other serums”
    • “great base for foundation”
    • “mixes with vitamin C”
  • Gentle on skin Sometimes Noted
    • “no irritation”
    • “fragrance-free”
    • “soothed my redness”
    • “safe for acne-prone skin”
  • Messy packaging Sometimes Noted
    • “crusty cap”
    • “product dries in nozzle”
    • “leaks easily”
    • “hard to dispense”
  • Small bottle Sometimes Noted
    • “runs out quickly”
    • “finished in 3 weeks”
    • “wish it was bigger”
    • “tiny amount”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “gave me whiteheads”
    • “clogged pores”
    • “caused congestion”
    • “small bumps appeared”
  • Drying if misused Rarely Noted
    • “felt tight after”
    • “dried my face out”
    • “needs damp skin”
    • “must use moisturizer”
  • No results Rarely Noted
    • “did nothing”
    • “just like water”
    • “no difference noticed”
    • “average performance”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, boots.com, influenster.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid work for dry sensitive skin?

This serum works moderately well for dry sensitive skin because its ingredients draw moisture in and help calm dryness without causing irritation, though a product of this type needs more softening ingredients to fully support dry skin needs.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin by drawing in moisture to help relieve dryness and flakiness. This type of skin also needs softening and smoothing ingredients to fully support its moisture barrier.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?

Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for dry, sensitive skin because it brings a large boost in hydration, making the skin feel soft and smooth while improving barrier function. It helps calm tightness and dryness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Dermatology and Therapy, 2021

What does Glycerin do for dry sensitive skin?

Glycerin helps dry sensitive skin by drawing moisture into the skin and keeping it there, making the skin soft and smooth. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving how well the skin holds onto water. This type of skin needs ingredients that boost hydration and repair the barrier without causing stinging.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This serum goes in the evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. It works well for your dry skin by drawing moisture in, though a dry skin routine of this type also needs soothing oils or butters to fully lock that hydration in.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol by applying it before your retinol in the evening to help draw moisture into the skin while keeping things calm and comfortable. This type of routine for dry skin works best when it is paired with softening and smoothing ingredients that lock in that hydration.

Cutis, 2006Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

How often should I use this serum?

You can use this serum in your evening routine for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. Daily application of moisturizers and hydrating treatments helps improve skin moisture and keeps the skin calm and smooth.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin because it is free of heavy, pore-clogging ingredients. It focuses on drawing moisture into the skin while remaining gentle enough to avoid irritation.

Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?

You can safely use this serum around the eyes and on the body because it has a gentle profile for sensitive skin, though a product of this type needs richer softening ingredients to fully support dry skin in those areas.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

  • Topical application of 1,3-propanediol at various concentrations, alone or combined with butylene glycol and/or glycerol, increased skin hydration and reduced trans epidermal water loss in 30 healthy female subjects over an 8-hour period, with the 15% concentration and the addition of glycerol providing greater benefits.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022

  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019

  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001

  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012

  • A mixture of propanediol, xylitol, and caprylic acid demonstrated in vitro antimicrobial activity against C. acnes and S. aureus, reduced 5-alpha reductase expression, and decreased skin oiliness, porphyrin, and inflammatory lesions in participants over 28 days.

    Molecules, 2021

  • Sustainable cosmetic products formulated with renewable PDO-based emulsifiers showed equivalent performance in sensory and moisturization evaluations compared to those formulated with petroleum-derived PEG-based emulsifiers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017

  • A multi-modal methodology combining MALDI-MSI, in vivo RCM, echography, and histology revealed age-related decreases in extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction proteins and undulation depth, while a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 improved subepidermal low-echogenic band thickness, density, and extracellular matrix structure compared to placebo.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015

  • Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 significantly increased type III collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts following UV exposure, with their combination demonstrating a greater effect in vitro and enhancing type I, III, and IV collagen levels in ex vivo skin tissues compared to individual components.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026

Why other moisturizers fit dry sensitive skin better

Ingredients

Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Phenoxyethanol

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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Prices checked 10 Oct – 6 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Canada.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
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