The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum for sensitive skin

Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Propanediol
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best moisturizers for sensitive skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide significant moisturizing effects that help soothe redness and irritation.
- The inclusion of propanediol further enhances humectant action, contributing to overall skin comfort and balance.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate.
How to apply
- Use this soothing AM and PM routine every day to keep your normal skin calm. Always remember to apply SPF in the morning after your moisturizer.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner in the morning, and after your serum in the evening. This step locks in hydration and protects your skin.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer evenly across your face. Avoid rubbing to keep your sensitive skin happy and calm.
- You can apply this gentle formula on dry or slightly damp skin for the best comfort. It works wonderfully on clean skin to soothe redness and irritation.
- Do a patch test before your very first use to check your skin's reaction. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 6.0k+ reviewsBased 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
What makes The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid a great fit for sensitive skin?
The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a great fit because it offers wonderful hydration using gentle ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate. These soothing components help calm redness and irritation while keeping your skin balanced and comfortable.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for sensitive skin?
This serum is a great fit for sensitive skin because it uses sodium hyaluronate and glycerin to provide deep hydration that helps calm redness and irritation. Propanediol also boosts this moisture balance safely, without the use of harsh ingredients.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm and hydrate sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier to keep it soft and comfortable. Clinical studies show it improves surface moisture and reduces dryness, roughness, and redness without irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018
What does Glycerin do for sensitive skin?
Glycerin helps keep sensitive skin soft and deeply hydrated while supporting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may protect against dryness and roughness.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1999
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. Putting treatments in the evening keeps things simple and gives you extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this serum with retinol by applying the hydrating serum first to keep your skin comfortable and calm while using stronger products. This approach is unlikely to cause irritation because the formula is safe for sensitive skin and helps soothe redness.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
How often should I use this serum?
This serum is a great fit for your sensitive skin and can be used in your evening routine. Daily application helps boost hydration and keeps your skin calm and comfortable.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This serum is a great fit and is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin since it leaves out harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate. It helps keep the skin calm and comfortable.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can safely use this moisturizing treatment on the body and around the eyes because its gentle formula lacks harsh ingredients. It helps keep thin and delicate areas comfortable by delivering deep hydration.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2011Topical 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, 2022Treatment 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, 2019A 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, 2001Topical 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, 2024A 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, 2021Sustainable 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, 2017A 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, 2015Palmitoyl 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
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.
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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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