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The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum for combination skin

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

The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum

Average

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 pore-cleansing and skin-brightening for your combination skin, as niacinamide helps regulate oil and improve skin tone, while glycerin provides essential hydration.
  • The serum is highly suitable for combination skin due to niacinamide's seboregulation and glycerin's humectant properties, though its benefits are mostly supportive for your primary concern of oily shine.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like niacinamide and panthenol.

How to apply

  • Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
  • Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
  • Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
  • Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 3.5k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with oily and blemish-prone skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to regulate sebum production and calm active breakouts without stripping moisture. The majority report clearer skin and reduced redness. A notable minority experience texture issues, such as a sticky finish or white residue if the product is not applied carefully.

Highlights

  • Controls excess oil Often Mentioned
    • “My T-zone was excessively oily... observed a subtle reduction in sebum.”
    • “Helps to control excess oil and keep skin healthy.”
    • “Perfect for oily skin as it helps to reduce sebum.”
    • “Skin is slightly less oily.”
  • Great value & packaging Often Mentioned
    • “Win and a steal at this price.”
    • “Love the fact that it's... affordable.”
    • “I like these bottles... easier to travel with.”
    • “Great budget option that really works.”
  • Reduces redness & blemishes Often Mentioned
    • “Redness has lessened and the cluster of whiteheads... cleared.”
    • “Calms irritated skin and reduces redness.”
    • “Breakouts are far less frequent.”
    • “Helps tame the redness when my skin is a bit sensitized.”
  • Hydrating & lightweight Sometimes Noted
    • “Lightweight and layers easily with skincare.”
    • “Doesn't strip the skin as it is formulated with hyaluronic acid.”
    • “Absorbs quickly... never pills under other skincare.”
    • “Moisturises and hydrates the skin.”
  • Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
    • “Skin felt smooth, and looked clear and fresh.”
    • “Large pores have shrunk.”
    • “Helped with texture and pore size.”
    • “Smoothed out rough skin.”
  • Sticky or tacky finish Sometimes Noted
    • “Leaves a tackiness that never goes away.”
    • “Slightly tacky and takes time to get absorbed.”
    • “Texture is gelatinous... leaving skin sticky.”
    • “A little bit more on the sticky side compared to The Ordinary.”
  • White residue/crystallization Sometimes Noted
    • “Forms a crust on the hole at the flick top cap.”
    • “Crystallizes on the outlet of the serum bottle.”
    • “Can get a white residue on the skin if not shaken.”
    • “Product can collect at the entrance... dried out/crystallised.”
  • Caused breakouts/irritation Rarely Noted
    • “Had breakouts after using it.”
    • “Gave me a horrendous rash that stung.”
    • “Not so suitable for me... accentuated redness.”
    • “Started reacting negatively to it... after awhile.”
  • Foaming/soaping effect Rarely Noted
    • “Create that foamy whiteness on your face when blending.”
    • “Turns white if you rub it too much.”
    • “Can be sticky if too much is applied.”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.co.uk, boots.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, lookfantastic.com, theinkeylist.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does The INKEY List Niacinamide work for combination skin?

The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum works reasonably well for combination skin by helping manage oily shine and providing basic hydration, though other treatments often fit this skin type better. To achieve an ideal fit on combination skin, a product of this type needs effective ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to regulate oiliness and enhance radiance without causing irritation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?

Niacinamide and glycerin make this serum a good fit for combination skin because niacinamide helps regulate oil, while glycerin provides essential hydration. To work even better for this skin type, a product of this type needs effective ingredients like zinc PCA and soothing elements that manage oily shine and keep the skin balanced without irritation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

What does Glycerin do for combination skin?

Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.

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

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

This serum goes in the evening routine after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. Combination skin needs a product with oil-balancing ingredients like niacinamide and hydrating ingredients like glycerin to help manage shine and keep skin soft.

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

Yes, you can use this serum with retinol, and you should apply this treatment before your moisturizer in your evening routine. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it contains soothing ingredients like niacinamide and panthenol.

How often should I use this serum?

You can use this serum in your evening routine, as treatments fit well there for simplicity and safety around sun exposure. A product of this type needs balancing ingredients like niacinamide and gentle hydrators like glycerin to keep combination skin calm and hydrated.

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

This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts, as it has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients, though a product for combination skin typically needs lightweight pore-cleansing and oil-balancing ingredients like niacinamide to keep skin clear.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

  • 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 dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

  • Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021

  • Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008

  • Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2005

  • 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

  • Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.

    Molecules, 2025

  • Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.

    Antioxidants, 2025

  • 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

Ingredients

Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Squalane, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Allantoin, Sodium Phytate, Polysorbate 60, Panthenol, Glycolipids, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Glycine Soja Soybean Sterols, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate

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 – 2 Nov 2026

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How does it fit your skin?

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