🇫🇷France

The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum for dry sensitive skin

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

The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum

Average

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for dry sensitive skin; other serums 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 dry skin as glycerin and panthenol provide humectant action to hydrate and soothe. Squalane and soybean oil offer some emollience, but additional occlusive ingredients would enhance hydration for flaky skin.
  • Niacinamide in moderate concentrations aids in improving skin tone and texture, offering general skincare benefits that support overall skin health.
  • The product is safe for your dry and sensitive skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
  • Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
  • Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.

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 dry sensitive skin?

The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum works moderately well for dry sensitive skin, offering hydration and soothing care through ingredients like glycerin and panthenol without any risk of irritation. Niacinamide also helps improve skin tone and texture. A treatment for this skin needs richer moisturizing components and sealing ingredients to lock in hydration and prevent flakiness.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

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

Glycerin and panthenol help hydrate and soothe dry skin, while squalane and soybean oil offer some softness. To better fit dry skin, a product of this type needs additional heavy sealing ingredients to lock in moisture.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

What does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?

Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013

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 it go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.

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

You can use this serum with retinol by applying it before your retinol at night to help keep your dry skin calm and hydrated. This product is safe and unlikely to cause irritation for your skin type, but dry skin also needs heavier sealing ingredients like rich creams to lock in moisture and prevent flaking.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

How often should I use it?

Use this treatment in your evening routine, as treatments go in the PM for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. A product of this type for dry sensitive skin needs heavy sealing ingredients to lock in hydration and stop flaking.

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

This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or irritation on your dry sensitive skin, as it has a safe profile with soothing components and low complaints of such issues. However, a product of this type needs richer, barrier-protecting ingredients to fully lock in moisture and prevent flaking on dry skin.

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

  • A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

Why other serums fit dry sensitive skin better

  • Tocopherol succinate-loaded ethosomal gel increased skin deposition, stability, moisture, and mechanical properties in 13 human subjects compared to a control gel over 12 weeks.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

  • In 50 participants with sensitive skin, a Ceramide NP C15-containing emollient improved skin barrier function with a significant reduction in transepidermal water loss and induced modest changes in skin microbiota compared to the vehicle.

    Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2026

  • Hydrogels containing vitamin E-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers exhibited better occlusive properties and long-lasting effects, while vitamin E-loaded nanoemulsions performed a faster skin hydration effect and were selected as more attractive for skin application.

    Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 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

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Buy online

Prices checked 5 Nov 2026

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

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
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play