🇸🇬Singapore

The INKEY List Beta Hydroxy Acid Serum for combination skin

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

The INKEY List Beta Hydroxy Acid Serum

Average

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for combination skin; other products 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 exfoliation for your combination skin, as salicylic acid helps to cleanse pores and smooth texture by aiding in seboregulation. This ingredient is highly suitable for managing oily shine and combination skin concerns.
  • The formulation is safe for your combination skin, with no harsh ingredients that would pose an irritation risk.
  • The product provides general skincare benefits with a moderate approach to exfoliation.

How to apply

  • Use this exfoliant product in your PM routine starting once a week, then increase frequency carefully if your skin feels fine.
  • Apply this exfoliant step after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and wait a minute before layering.
  • Apply the exfoliant to clean, dry skin to help control your oily shine comfortably.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.2Overall rating based on 3.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly effective for oily and combination skin, frequently praised for clearing pores, reducing blackheads, and calming breakouts without irritation. Most users find the formula gentle and hydrating, though a moderate number of reviews mention a sticky residue and a high number of users express dissatisfaction with the packaging.

Highlights

  • Clears congested pores Mostly Mentioned
    • “Keeps pores feeling decongested”
    • “Helped minimise stubborn blackheads”
    • “Unclogs pores effectively”
  • Gentle on skin Often Mentioned
    • “Exfoliates gently without irritating”
    • “Non-irritating yet effective”
    • “Doesn't shock skin barrier”
  • Reduces active acne Often Mentioned
    • “Acne has reduced dramatically”
    • “Free of active acne”
    • “Calms breakout-prone skin”
  • Poor packaging Often Mentioned
    • “Bottle is tiny”
    • “Hard to dispense right amount”
    • “Squeeze bottle is frustrating”
  • Great value Sometimes Noted
    • “Unbeatable price”
    • “Budget skincare essential”
    • “Affordable and effective”
  • Sticky texture Sometimes Noted
    • “Very sticky feeling”
    • “Hate when face sticks to pillow”
    • “Leaves a sticky feeling”
  • Mixed effectiveness Rarely Noted
    • “Did nothing for sebaceous filaments”
    • “Didn't see much progress”
    • “Skin didn't like it”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, skinsort.com, theinkeylist.com, influenster.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does The Inkey List Beta Hydroxy Acid work for combination skin?

This product works moderately well for combination skin because salicylic acid helps to cleanse pores and smooth texture, though other products fit it better. To fit this skin type best, an exfoliant treatment needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA that regulate oiliness, enhance radiance, and provide balanced hydration without irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

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

Salicylic acid makes this exfoliant a good fit for combination skin because it helps to cleanse pores and smooth texture by balancing oil, while propylene glycol and butylene glycol help the ingredients sink in. An exfoliant of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA to give combination skin the best balance of hydration and oil control.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

What does Salicylic Acid do for combination skin?

Salicylic acid helps clear clogged pores and balance oily areas while remaining gentle enough for dry spots on combination skin. It reduces breakouts and oiliness effectively with a low likelihood of irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

What does Water do for combination skin?

Water helps keep combination skin hydrated, though a product of this type needs additional barrier-protecting ingredients like ceramides or petrolatum to lock in that moisture and support overall skin health.

Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This exfoliant treatment goes in your evening routine, starting once a week before your moisturizer. Combination skin needs products with salicylic acid to help cleanse pores and smooth texture while managing oily shine.

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

You can use this exfoliant with retinol by alternating nights or applying them at different times, as combining them directly may increase the risk of skin irritation. When building a routine for combination skin, a product of this type needs soothing and hydrating ingredients alongside gentle exfoliants like salicylic acid to keep skin calm and smooth.

How often should I use it?

Start using this treatment once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin handles it well, you may carefully use it more often. This product of this type needs soothing and hydrating ingredients to keep combination skin balanced while it exfoliates.

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

This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores on combination skin, as salicylic acid helps to cleanse pores and manage oily shine. Combination skin needs ingredients like salicylic acid for pore cleansing and seboregulation to keep the skin smooth and clear.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020

  • Dipropylene glycol, propylene glycol, and butylene glycol increased molecular mobility in stratum corneum lipids and affected keratin filaments, with butylene glycol and propylene glycol providing significant permeation enhancement.

    Journal of Controlled Release, 2022

  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010

  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010

  • Treatment with a combination of propylene glycol, ethanol, water, and shampoo was found effective, easy to use, and cosmetically attractive with no observed side effects in patients with dandruff.

    Cutis, 1988

  • A moisturizer containing glycerol and propylene glycol reduced transepidermal water loss, decreased epidermal thickness, increased stratum corneum thickness, and reduced dermal inflammatory infiltrate compared to untreated disrupted skin in six healthy beagle dogs.

    Veterinary Dermatology, 2020

Ingredients

Water, Salicylic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta

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

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