Succinic Acid Acne Treatment.

Acne

About this product

A green spot treatment combining succinic and salicylic acids for acne.

Full ingredients

Water (Aqua/Eau), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Colloidal Sulfur, Glycerin, Succinic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Salicylic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Squalane, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Dehydroacetic Acid, Malachite Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ci 75810 (Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex)

Guru Score

73%

Mixed

3 experts · Moderate agreement

3Gurus

2Yay

0Mixed

1Nay

What they liked

Gentler than benzoyl peroxide products
Works for dry and mature skin
Can be used as all-over serum

What they flagged

Controversial ingredient claims

What the gurus are saying

This green combination of succinic and salicylic acids offers a much gentler alternative to harsh benzoyl peroxide for dry and mature skin struggling with acne. However, the brand has faced controversy over misleading marketing claims about succinic acid, with cosmetic chemists challenging their response. At about $11, it can be used as a spot treatment or all-over serum, and it has loyal repeat buyers.

Synthesized from 3 expert reviews · most recent take January 2026

Best for

Acne-prone skin

Type

AcneLiquid

Key actives

Hyaluronic acid Salicylic acid (BHA)Squalane

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Amazon → Google →

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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 Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.23M subs

~Yay

"The Inkey List has got a very good succinic acid."

James Welsh

1.58M subs

~Nay

"They haven't been shy of controversy, however, with a lot of cosmetic chemists and scientists who work in the cosmetic world calling them out for their alleged misleading claims about their Succinic Acid Blemish Spot Treatment, and in turn, their response to those claims. I think it's fair to say that it did leave a bit of a bad taste in a lot of skincare creators' mouths."

Cassandra Bankson

2.46M subs

~Yay

"The INKEY List actually creates two of my favorite spot treatments, one is the succinic acid spot treatment which is basically a little green leprechaun to kill blemishes on your face."

All 2 takes from Cassandra Bankson

Best and Worst Products From The Inkey List

"The INKEY List actually creates two of my favorite spot treatments, one is the succinic acid spot treatment which is basically a little green leprechaun to kill blemishes on your face."

10 Best Acne Product Essentials For Breakout Prone Skin! (Under $50!)

"The Inkey List Succinic Acid spot treatment is basically a green goo. It has succinic acid as well as salicylic acid as well as other ingredients that help to annihilate breakouts in a very gentle, easy way. A lot of acne spot treatments have benzoyl peroxide and they can just be so harsh on the skin, so drying and irritating. If you have more mature skin or dry skin and acne, it can be nearly impossible to deal with. This is a spot treatment, but as you can see I use it all over like as a serum. It's green and then it kind of soaks in. If you're super dry, put it on as a spot treatment, but if you're not super dry you can put this all over. Succinic acid is part of the Krebs cycle, and being part of that cycle can be disrupted, which isn't medically proven so I want to be very clear that the medically proven ingredient in here is salicylic acid. But succinic acid has been shown to help and it seems extremely promising. I love this so much. It costs like eleven dollars so it's actually affordable. I've probably gone through six different tubes. It literally blasts the pimples off my face."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

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

Frequently asked.

What is The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment?

A green spot treatment combining succinic and salicylic acids for acne.

Is The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 73%.

What is The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment's Guru Score?

The INKEY List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment holds a Guru Score of 73%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 3 expert reviewers we have collected.