It is unbelievable just how dry it gets here. I mean, I know I moved to the desert, but we’re moving onto year three now and I’m still amazed at how harsh these Arizona winters really are on my skin. My skin is THIRSTY, and The Inkey List was kind enough to send me their Hydration Hero products to give a try.
I’ve used the Inkey List in the past, and have included them in round-up posts in the past year, but today we’re looking at a full regimen strictly for boosting hydration. If you aren’t familiar with the brand, they are in the affordable range ($4-$18), available online at Sephora, and in stores, and focus on straightforward formulas highlighting a single active ingredient.
The Inkey List believes we should all be informed about the products (and their ingredients) we put on our skin so they made it very simple by keeping their formulations easy to decipher. It is also considered a clean beauty brand via Sephora standards.
The Cleanser – $10 (vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free, recyclable packaging)
So let’s talk about the cleanser. The Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser is one of their newest products that launched at the beginning of the year. The bottle doesn’t look big to the eye (it holds 5 oz), but I guarantee that won’t be an issue. The cleanser is an almost gel-like liquid, serum-like actually, and builds into a nice foam. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of foam this cleanser produced and uses three particular ingredients to boost hydration levels while keeping it very gentle.
Hyaluronic acid, Polyfructol plus, and Betaine work together to increase hydration in the skin rapidly while also helping fend off dryness. I feel this little trio does wonders for dry skin and am surprised with it being something that feels very lightweight to the touch. I plan to use this in the early AMs before the gym when I don’t need a deep cleansing, I just need to remove sweat, dirt, and any leftover exfoliating products from the night before. If I plan to remove makeup, I would use a cleansing balm first.
The Hydration Serum – $8 (vegan, cruelty-free, recyclable packaging
Hyaluronic Acid is one of those ingredients that make my ears perk up. It greatly benefits my skin throughout the year, but especially when it feels super dry. Inkey’s Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum uses a simple 2% multi-molecular HA with Matrixyl 3000, a peptide to boost collagen production to offer another dose of hydration to parched skin layers. It’s suitable for my normal-dry skin and even comfortable use when my skin is feeling extra sensitive.
This is something I would use daily, but ESPECIALLY before makeup. You want a smooth, hydrated canvas to work with, and this does a great job for a very affordable price of $8.
The Moisture Attracting Serum – $15 (vegan, cruelty-free, recyclable packaging)
I had no idea what polyglutamic acid was but once I learned, I immediately told myself I needed it. Hyaluronic Acid is able to hold 1000X its water weight. But did you know that polyglutamic acid can hold up to 4x what hyaluronic acid can? Like, WUT?! GIMME! GIMME!
What I’m leading up to here, is that skin that has been properly and thoroughly hydrated and moisturized will make your skin feel smooth and plump. I use about a half pump of this on top of my HA serum and some type of hydrating mist underneath. At only $15 a bottle, it will remain a staple in my skincare routine and in my experience hasn’t messed with any other products I use (meaning no piling or rolling) and has never caused me irritation.
The Moisturizer – $10 (vegan, cruelty-free, recyclable packaging)
The Omega Water Cream is also a new addition to the INKEY family. When I saw water cream I was a bit worried it just wouldn’t be “enough” for my skin because I currently use something with a heavier butter-like texture. But the savior here is the omega complex within. This water-based gel-cream moisturizer is truly lightweight when you dispense in your hand and absorbs nicely (and quickly) into the skin. It almost leaves my skin silky-like.
Its Omega fatty acid complex (packed with ceramides) repairs the skin barrier, while glycerin and Betaine reduce skin surface dryness. Niacinamide is also included to help control oil levels and skin tone.
Final Thoughts
Knowing myself, I cannot stick to a single brand routine. It changes with the weather as I listen to what my skin needs. Sometimes I’ll need more oils or moe anti-aging treatments. But I can tell you each of these works fantastically for me, and will definitely stay in rotation.
Have you tried anything from Inkey List? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Oh, I think I remember you reviewing this brand in the past, but I had no idea it was so affordable and that I could buy it at Sephora. I am almost finished with a pricey brand of HA serum that I got in an Ipsy Plus bag months ago. I think when I finish it, I’ll try the Inkey HA serum! Thanks for the great review!
The Inky List products are so affordable. They are similar to Deciem but I think they explain the purposes of each product better.
Not only do these products sound effective, but they are so affordable and cruelty-free!