Review: The Inkey List - Niacinamide

The Inkey List is one of our favorite brands.

Their goal is straightforward: provide simple and effective products for everyone.

You'll find some of the most-wanted ingredients in their product range, such as Retinol or Hyaluronic Acid. No matter your skin concerns, there's an ingredient for you.

The products are surprisingly affordable. The quality is high.

The products really do what they claim. And that's why we love this brand so much.

One of their most popular products is the Niacinamide serum. Niacinamide is a great multitasking ingredient that can improve several skin conditions at once. Here's a review...

Brand: The Inkey List

The main goal of the brand is to empower you with knowledge.

Their products, as well as askInkey, contribute to this goal.

AskInkey is a life-chat, which allows you to discuss anything skincare-related with people who know their stuff ;)

The products contain either well-researched (Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol) or relatively new but promising (Polyglutamic Acid, Tranexamic Acid) ingredients. The products are named after their key ingredients.

And that's the point: The brand is all about ingredients, efficiency, and affordable prices - no fluff. That's probably why they kept their packaging so minimalistic: black and white.

Full Ingredient-List: The Inkey List Niacinamide

The Niacinamide treatment from The Inkey List is one of their most popular products. Here's the full ingredient list:

Water (Aqua/ Eau), Niacinamide, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Hyaluronic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phospholipids, Xanthan Gum, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Allantoin, Disodium Edta, Polysorbate 60, Panthenol, Glycolipids, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterol, Disodium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Sodium Phosphate

It contains 23 ingredients in total, whereas Niacinamide is the superstar.

Besides Niacinamide, you'll find some other well-known little helpers, namely Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, and Allantoin. All well-researched ingredients.

According to the ingredient risk rating of the organization CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review), all the ingredients are safe to use.

The product doesn't contain any pore-clogging, aka comedogenic ingredients. It is also alcohol- and fragrance-free, which is great for sensitive skin.

Key ingredient: Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a great multitasking ingredient.

Here's what Niacinamide can do for your skin:

Skin-barrier repairing
The skin barrier protects our skin from harmful substances and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Latter means that the skin loses water which results in dehydration.
The key components of the skin barrier are lipids, such as Ceramides, and dead skin cells. Since Niacinamide can increase the synthesis of Ceramides, it can help with a compromised skin barrier.

Fights hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is a harmless skin condition where patches of the skin become darker in color than the rest of the skin. Common reasons for hyperpigmentation are: hormonal changes, sun exposure, or inflammations (from inflamed pimples). Niacinamide can lighten these dark skin patches and make your skin look brighter.

Balances overactive-sebum production, aka oily skin
Overactive sebum production results in an oily, shiny face. Oily skin can promote acne, clogged pores, and enlarged pores. Since Niacinamide has a positive effect on sebum production, it can prevent these skin conditions.

Acts anti-inflammatory
Studies confirm that Niacinamide has anti-inflammatory properties. This is great for redness-prone skin and inflamed acne conditions.

Prevents skin aging
Niacinamide can improve the appearance of wrinkles and act as an antioxidant. A great addition :)

We have already discussed the benefits of Niacinamide in this post. Check it out if you're interested in details.

Other ingredients

Other notable ingredients in the product are: Squalane, Panthenol, Allantoin, and Hyaluronic Acid.

Note that the concentration of these ingredients is low, which means that they won't have a significant impact on your skin. However, they're a great addition. Here are some nerdy facts about these ingredients:

Squalane
Squalane is a skin-identical ingredient (our skin produces Squalene naturally). It can be derived from plant oils, such as amaranth oil or olive oil. Squalane is a lightweight oil suitable for all skin types and skin concerns.

Panthenol
Topically applied products containing Panthenol prevent skin irritation, stimulate skin regeneration and promote wound healing. Therefore, the ingredient is especially suitable for sensitive skin, dryness, and dehydration.

Allantoin
Allantoin can be derived from urea or extracted from the comfrey plant (comfrey root). Urea is naturally present in our skin. It is a so-called Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), responsible for keeping the skin hydrated. Allantoin is known for its wound-healing effects and is therefore often used in products for sensitive, irritated or redness-prone skin.

Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural component of our skin. It is a key molecule involved in retaining water and keeping the skin supple and hydrated. As we age, the amount of Hyaluronic Acid changes resulting in signs of skin aging and dehydration. Topically applied Hyaluronic Acid can combat these issues.

The texture: lightweight

The product has a lightweight texture. It's not as watery as water, but definitely on the lighter side. The product is not oil-free, but it doesn't feel oily at all.

It's not sticky, and it doesn't cause any pilling.

Overall, the texture is very pleasant and suitable for all skin types and conditions.

Use in your skincare routine

Niacinamide is a great multitasking ingredient that can be incorporated into your morning and/ or evening skincare routine.

Since the Niacinamide treatment from The Inkey List is a serum, it should be used on clean skin before a moisturizer.

A simple routine containing this product can look as follows:

❯ AM:
Cleanser > Niacinamide serum > Moisturizer > SPF

❯ PM:
Cleanser > Niacinamide serum > Moisturizer > Face-oil

To sum up

The Niacinamide serum from The Inkey List is a great allrounder. It is especially (but not only) suitable for someone who has several skin concerns and doesn't know where to start.

It can be used for:

• ❯ Dryness & dehydation
• ❯ Acne-prone skin (pimples)
• ❯ Hyperpigmentation
• ❯ Anti-aging
• ❯ Fine lines, wrinkles
• ❯ Redness-prone skin.

The lightweight texture makes the product pleasant for all skin types, even oilier ones. Since it doesn't contain any irritating ingredients, including fragrances and alcohol, it can even be used on sensitive skin.

The product can be incorporated into the morning and/ or evening skincare routine.

We had great experiences with this product. No pilling, no irritations. Definitely a holy grail product.