The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum for skin with dark spots
Polyglutamic Acid
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Butylene Glycol
Rice Bran Extract
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for skin with dark spots; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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 excellent hydration for your normal skin, as polyglutamic acid and glycerin act as humectants to draw moisture and plump the skin.
- The serum's formula is safe for your normal skin, with glycerin providing soothing benefits and no harsh ingredients present.
- While it excels at hydration, the formula does not directly address your main goal of pigmentation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it too hard so it absorbs nicely.
- For the best moisture, you can apply it when your skin is slightly damp. This helps your skin stay soft and happy.
- Remember to avoid the eye area when applying. Always do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is frequently praised by users with dry or dehydrated skin for its ability to deeply hydrate and create a smooth, glass-like finish that works well under makeup. Many users find it superior to hyaluronic acid for plumping fine lines. A significant number of reviewers, however, note a strong chemical scent and a pump dispenser that can be difficult to control.
Highlights
Deep hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “Super hydrating”
- “locks in moisture”
- “hydration party”
- “better than hyaluronic”
Excellent makeup base Often Mentioned
- “Brilliant makeup base”
- “perfect makeup canvas”
- “foundation glides on”
- “smooths skin texture”
Smooth/silky finish Often Mentioned
- “Glass skin”
- “velvety texture”
- “silky finish”
- “leaves skin soft”
Unpleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “Smells like chemicals”
- “burning sugar smell”
- “strong alcohol scent”
- “smells musty”
Plumping effect Sometimes Noted
- “Plumps fine lines”
- “bouncy skin”
- “softens wrinkles”
- “instant plumping”
Poor packaging Sometimes Noted
- “Pump squirts too much”
- “hard to control”
- “pump malfunction”
- “dispenses too much”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “Caused breakouts”
- “burning sensation”
- “gave me styes”
- “redness”
Sticky feel Rarely Noted
- “Sticky residue”
- “tacky texture”
- “feels heavy”
- “takes time to dry”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, boots.com, theinkeylist.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum a great fit for skin with dark spots?
This serum is a great fit because it offers excellent hydration to keep your skin plump and smooth, though it does not directly fade dark spots. Ingredients like polyglutamic acid and glycerin pull in moisture, while a gentle formula with soothing glycerin helps keep your skin calm.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Polyglutamic acid and glycerin make this serum a great fit by drawing in moisture to plump your skin, though the formula does not directly address dark spots. A product of this type needs targeted brightening ingredients and gentle exfoliants to help fade dark spots while keeping skin smooth and hydrated.
What does Polyglutamic Acid do for skin with dark spots?
Polyglutamic Acid helps keep skin deeply hydrated and supports the skin barrier, which improves overall tone and texture over time. While it is not a direct dark spot remover, maintaining healthy moisture levels helps your skin stay smooth and glowing.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2015
What does Glycerin do for skin with dark spots?
Glycerin helps keep dry skin hydrated and supports a healthy skin barrier, which makes skin feel soft and smooth. While it does not directly fade dark spots on its own, it is often added to spot-fading products to keep the skin comfortable while other ingredients work.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, to keep your routine simple and safe around sun exposure. While it offers great hydration, skin with dark spots also needs targeted ingredients like brighteners and antioxidants to directly address uneven skin tone.
Can I use this serum with hyaluronic acid, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this serum with hyaluronic acid by applying the one with the lighter, more watery texture first and following with the thicker one. Both ingredients draw in moisture to plump normal skin, so layering them together helps boost overall hydration safely.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this moisturizing treatment daily to keep your skin plump and hydrated. Applying it regularly helps maintain a smooth, soft feel and supports your skin barrier.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for skin with dark spots, as its formula contains no harsh ingredients and is generally safe for normal skin. However, because it does not directly target pigmentation, a dark spot routine also needs brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this moisturizing treatment on the thin skin around the eyes and on your body, as its gentle formula provides excellent hydration without harsh ingredients. This type of product helps keep these delicate areas soft and smooth, though skin with dark spots may also need targeted brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide.
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, 2017Curcumin-loaded polyglutamic acid and gum arabic electrospun nanofibers accelerated wound healing, increased TGF-beta1 and VEGF expression, reduced inflammatory factors, and enhanced re-epithelialization and tissue regeneration in a mouse model with acute full-thickness skin defects.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024Polyglutamic acid and polylysine composite hydrogels promote wound repair and hemostasis through high water absorption, bioadhesion, calcium ion-mediated coagulation factor activation, and inherent antibacterial properties in a deep skin defect model.
Macromolecular Bioscience, 2021The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/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, 2012Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007Topical gel and cream formulations containing niosomes entrapped with rice bran bioactive compounds improved skin hydration, lightening, thickness, roughness, and elasticity in 30 human volunteers over 28 days compared to baseline.
Pharmaceutical Biology, 2012Gel and cream formulations containing rice bran bioactive compounds entrapped in niosomes increased in vitro antioxidant activity (ORAC values of 20-28 micromol TE/g versus 16-18 micromol TE/g for placebo), enhanced lipid peroxidation inhibition in human sebum by about 1.5 times, and improved in vivo human skin hydration by approximately 3 to 30% depending on the measurement technique.
Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2011Stirring Nukadoko fermented rice bran beds by hand leads to temporary settlement of microorganisms on human skin with quick shedding.
FEMS Microbiology Letters, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Peg-12 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polysilicone-11, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Propanediol, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 80, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Decyl Glucoside, Dimethylacrylamide Acrylic Acid Polystyrene Ethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Sorbitan Oleate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Rice Bran Extract
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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