A face serum from The INKEY List built around 1% retinol, a vitamin A derivative, designed to help with the look of aging skin, dark spots and uneven skin texture.
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Squalane, Retinol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Phospholipids, Tocopherol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycolipids, Dehydroacetic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterols, T-Butyl Alcohol
Guru Score
The Guru Score: every expert's verdict on a product, in one simple number.
Under the score you'll see how many experts weighed in, or "Early verdict" while only a few have. Paid takes count for half in the score.
Guru Certified means at least 6 experts, a score of 85% or more, and almost no Nays.
How we score →Mixed
9 experts · Strong agreementWhat the gurus are saying
The 1% retinol strength divides opinion, with some finding it potent enough to cause dryness and others calling it only mid-strength. That split extends to who it suits, with some calling it a simple starter and others saying it's for more advanced retinol users, though its affordable price earns praise. Dryness can appear with daily use, so applying it at night is the tip, since sun can make treated skin prone to damage.
What they liked
What they flagged
The concerns the experts tie this product to, in their own words. Paid and founder takes don't count.
“We know that retinoids are great for acne I'm using the super Solution retinoid on my back as I'm testing it out that one is excellent the retinol one from the inky 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 have been liking the super solution retinoid a little bit better”
Cassandra Bankson, watch at 17:31
“These are going to help accelerate your cellular turnover so your skin cells don't stick together as much and they don't create the appearance of enlarged pores.”
Dr. Shereene Idriss, watch at 16:43
“I recommend The Inkey List retinol serum. It's a super good price point but very effective at making sure my skin is repaired of damage, because what retinol helps to do best is get rid of that damage on the skin, whether it's premature aging, dark spots, sun spots, or dark circles.”
Hyram, watch at 5:16
Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.
Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.
Retinoids are among the best studied ingredients in dermatology, with solid evidence for acne and for the fine lines and rough texture that come from sun exposure. Dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are common and usually settle.
Source: DermNet
Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.
Source: DermNet
Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it is often in a formula to keep the other ingredients stable rather than as the active itself. It pairs well with vitamin C, though on its own the evidence for visible change is limited.
A face serum from The INKEY List built around 1% retinol, a vitamin A derivative, designed to help with the look of aging skin, dark spots and uneven skin texture.
The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 72%.
The INKEY List Super Solutions 1% Retinol Serum holds a Guru Score of 72%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 9 expert reviewers we have collected.
The INKEY List Super Solutions 1% Retinol Serum is generally suited to mature skin.
In their reviews, experts say The INKEY List Super Solutions 1% Retinol Serum is good for breakouts and acne (1 expert), clogged or visible pores (1 expert) and dark spots and post-acne marks (1 expert).
Products built around the same core actives as this one, with what the experts make of each.
See how they stack up →Other products the same gurus have weighed in on, plus more from this brand and category.
Compare side by side →Stories where our editors dug into this product or its brand.
Spotted something on this page that doesn't look right? Let us know.
All of the week's hottest skincare news, delivered straight to your inbox. The viral products, the hot takes, and top tips from the experts.
Sign me up