Index / The INKEY List / 1% Retinol Serum
The INKEY List

1% Retinol Serum.

The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum
Retinoids

About this product

A serum containing retinol and retinoid compounds designed as an entry-level retinoid treatment for nighttime use.

Best for

Type

Key actives

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Full ingredients

Guru Score

66%

Mixed

7 experts · Strong agreement
7Gurus
4Approved
2Mixed
1Skip

What the gurus are saying

The actual retinol concentration is far lower than the packaging suggests, containing roughly 0.2% retinol rather than the claimed 1%, which means beginners may not see the results they expect despite the misleading labeling. That said, dermatologists and skincare experts who weigh in praise it as an affordable starter retinol for those new to the ingredient, best used at night only since retinol can sensitize skin. Some find it effective at this gentler strength; others feel it does not deliver enough punch to justify the trust placed in it based on packaging claims.
Synthesized from 7 expert reviews · most recent take February 2025
Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved takes Critical takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
~Approved
"The Inkey List 1% Retinol Serum which is $25 for 1 oz and this contains 1% retinol."
~Skip
"The biggest issue for me was with their original 1% Retinol Serum. It said 1% retinol all over the packaging, so I thought that's a good dose. I started my retinoid journey with it, but then it came out that it wasn't a 1% retinol, it was a 1% retinol-star complex, which was actually a compound of different components, and when you broke it down it was the equivalent of about 0.2% retinol. That's doing nothing. This emerged online, people started talking about it, and then it was confirmed with the new EU retinol restrictions, where The INKEY List can still sell their product into the EU because the concentration of retinol is below 0.3%. It really just became very apparent that the marketing was very misleading from the start, and I trusted my skin with that product and wondered why I maybe didn't get the same results I was hoping for. It's because we weren't really getting the percentage we thought we were. Shady, shady, shady."
~Approved
"This is the retinol Inkey List serum which is a good starter serum and I would always start with retinol rather than anything a little bit stronger. You can use this on the face quite nicely. I would not use this in the daytime because it can sensitize the skin, and if you sensitize the skin and then expose it to UV you could cause some damage to your skin. So if you're going to use retinol you want to use that at night."
~Approved
"If you're starting out in your retinoid journey, a good one to try, especially if you're on a budget, is The Inkey List Retinol Serum, which contains a blend of low strength retinol with low strength granactive retinoid, 0.5%. This is a great way of dipping your toe in the water."
~Mixed
"The 1% Retinol Serum from The Inkey List is a high strength formula. You don't get any additional peptides, but in general you get a little bit of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. It's a good formula, it's not the best, but it is a high strength formula."
~Mixed
"I will always say yes to retinol. I haven't tried retinol from The Inkey List so I cannot speak about their retinol specifically, but I think that retinol is good, always a good idea."
~Approved
"This is another great one, the 1% Retinol Serum from The Inkey List. I love The Inkey List and The Ordinary because these are both like under 10, 15 bucks, so they're affordable. If you're going to spend your money on something, spend your money on a potent active ingredient and get it at an inexpensive price and try it long enough, like a month or two, to see if it works for you."
All 2 takes from Cassandra Bankson
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"This is another great one, the 1% Retinol Serum from The Inkey List. I love The Inkey List and The Ordinary because these are both like under 10, 15 bucks, so they're affordable. If you're going to spend your money on something, spend your money on a potent active ingredient and get it at an inexpensive price and try it long enough, like a month or two, to see if it works for you."
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"The retinol one from The INKEY List is also really good. It's a great beginner retinol, but I don't know if I would call it a hit, especially since I've been liking another retinoid a little bit better."
Common questions

Frequently asked.

What is The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum?

A serum containing retinol and retinoid compounds designed as an entry-level retinoid treatment for nighttime use.

Is The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 66%.

What is The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum's Guru Score?

The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum holds a Guru Score of 66%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 7 independent expert reviewers we have collected.

Who is The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum best for?

The INKEY List 1% Retinol Serum is generally suited to mature skin.

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