A powerful surface hydrator that smooths and plumps the skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while providing a perfect makeup base.
– Sephora
It’s . . . fine. I can’t attest to The Inkey List’s Polyglutamic Acid‘s hydrating effects, because I didn’t really feel a difference and the ingredient in the title is listed after Phenoxyethanol (meaning it’s less than 1% of the product). A lot of people have reviewed this product proclaiming its glowing results and unfortunately this just didn’t do anything for me.
Except that is, make applying makeup on top more difficult. The high amount of Dimethicone in this product make it a bit of a chore to apply (and good luck putting anything on top without making it pill). I’ve heard people recommend mixing it with your foundation or tinted moisturizer . . . but I personally prefer keeping my makeup and my skincare separate.
Ingredient Pros and Cons
Ingredients: Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-12 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Polysilicone-11, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglutamic Acid, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Propanediol, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polysorbate 80, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Decyl Glucoside, Dimethylacrylamide/Acrylic Acid/Polystyrene Ethyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Sorbitan Oleate, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract.
Significant Pros
- Glycerin (hydrating)
- Polyglutamic Acid (hydrating, humectant)
Significant Cons
- For my make-up wearing, acne prone skin, the Dimethicone silicone is just too much.
- Sorbitan Oleate (fungal acne trigger)
- Polysorbate 80(fungal acne trigger)
The Takeaway
This is a meh product. It might work for you, however, considering its low concentration of Polyglutamic acid and high concentration of silicone, I can’t help but feel that there must be better products out there that are worth your time and consideration, regardless of this product’s relatively low cost ($15). This is especially true for those who wear make up. My recommendation? Keep moving along — it’s probably in your best interest to simply go for a highly effective moisturizer (even if it might be a bit pricier).
Skincare for Introverts 