🇬🇧United Kingdom

The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum for oily acne-prone skin

The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oily skin, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide effective humectant action without being occlusive, though it lacks targeted ingredients for your acne concerns.
  • The formula is highly suitable for oily skin due to the humectant properties of propanediol and glycerin, which draw moisture to the skin without adding excess oil.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate.

How to apply

  • Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
  • Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
  • Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
  • Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 6.0k+ reviews

Based 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 oily acne-prone skin?

The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a great fit because glycerin and sodium hyaluronate hydrate oily skin effectively without adding extra oil, and the formula contains no harsh ingredients that might cause irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and propanediol make this serum a great fit by drawing moisture into oily skin without adding excess oil or heaviness. These ingredients provide effective hydration with a very safe profile that is unlikely to cause irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing sebum production and lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands. It also supports skin barrier function and improves hydration while helping deliver treatments without causing irritation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps the steps simple and safe around sun exposure. It is unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin.

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

You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to draw in moisture without adding excess oil, followed by your retinol treatment. This helps keep your oily skin hydrated while minimizing the irritation that retinol may cause.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

How often should I use this serum?

You can use this serum twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It draws moisture to your skin without adding excess oil, and it is unlikely to cause irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts or trigger purging on your oily acne-prone skin. Its lightweight formula draws moisture into the skin using glycerin and sodium hyaluronate without adding heavy oils, and it has an excellent safety profile with no harsh ingredients that typically cause irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?

You can safely use this serum on the thin skin around your eyes and on your body because its lightweight formula draws in moisture without adding excess oil and carries no risk of irritation. Regular use on these areas helps keep skin hydrated and smooth.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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, 2017
  • Topical 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, 2024
  • A 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, 2021
  • 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
  • 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
  • Niacinamide/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, 2012
  • Sustainable 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, 2017
  • A 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, 2015
  • Palmitoyl 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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Prices checked 17 Oct – 5 Nov 2026

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