The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum for oily skin
Polyglutamic Acid
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Butylene Glycol
Rice Bran Extract
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best moisturizers for oily skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin due to dimethicone and polysilicone-11 providing emollient action without being overly heavy, complemented by polyglutamic acid offering moderate hydration and plumping benefits.
- The serum effectively addresses your oily shine goal by delivering excellent moisturizing through high concentrations of polyglutamic acid, ensuring your skin remains hydrated and smooth.
- This formula is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick 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 Polyglutamic Acid Serum a great fit for oily skin?
The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum is a great fit for oily skin because dimethicone and polysilicone-11 provide a light, smooth feel without feeling heavy, while polyglutamic acid delivers moisture and plumpness to keep oily skin hydrated. This formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation because it lacks harsh ingredients.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
This serum is a great fit for oily skin because dimethicone and polysilicone-11 smooth and soften your skin without feeling heavy, while polyglutamic acid and glycerin provide just the right amount of moisture to keep you hydrated. These ingredients help control oily shine safely without causing irritation.
What does Polyglutamic Acid do for oily skin?
Polyglutamic Acid helps oily skin by keeping it deeply hydrated without feeling heavy or greasy. It supports moisture retention and strengthens the skin barrier so your skin stays balanced and calm. Oily skin of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that boost moisture without clogging pores.
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps the routine simple and safe around sun exposure. Using it at night helps manage oily shine by delivering lightweight hydration and keeping your skin smooth.
Can I use this serum with hyaluronic acid, and in what order?
You can use this serum with hyaluronic acid, applying the hyaluronic acid first on damp skin followed by this serum to lock in moisture. This combination helps keep oily skin hydrated and smooth without feeling heavy.
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 helps keep your oily skin hydrated and smooth without feeling overly heavy.
Health Science Reports, 2021International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily skin because it avoids harsh ingredients and uses light silicones that keep things smooth without feeling heavy. It helps keep your skin balanced and hydrated while maintaining a safe profile.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
This serum is a great fit because dimethicone and polysilicone-11 keep oily skin soft without feeling heavy, while polyglutamic acid holds moisture well. Because the skin around the eyes is very thin, it requires gentle formulas like this one that deliver lightweight hydration without causing irritation.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Curcumin-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, 2021A 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, 2017The 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, 2001Wearing 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, 2024Treatment 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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