Versus

iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Acne Serum Medicated Treatment Versus The INKEY List Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) Serum

Serum
Serum
American Brand United States
British Brand United Kingdom

Updated on June 28, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe serums. They have a total of 5 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain BHA

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Acne Serum Medicated Treatment

Salicylic Acid 1.5%

Masking
BHA IconPreservative IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconCan worsen Dry Skin IconMay worsen Eczema IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Water

Skin Conditioning

Propanediol

Solvent

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Solvent

Lactobacillus Ferment

Skin Conditioning

Coconut Alkanes

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Coco-Caprylate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Niacinamide

Smoothing
Niacinamide IconGood for Oily Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Cetearyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 1 Fatty Alcohol IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Behenyl Alcohol

Emollient
Fatty Alcohol Icon

Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters

Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Tranexamic Acid

Astringent
Good for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Hexyl Laurate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glycine Soja Oil

Emollient
3 / 0 Oil IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

C15-19 Alkane

Solvent

Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate

Skin Conditioning

Hydrogenated Polydecene

Emollient

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient
1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Ceramide NP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Ceramide AP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Bakuchiol

Antimicrobial
Antioxidant IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Fucus Spiralis Extract

Emollient

Tetraselmis Chui Extract

Emollient

Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract

Humectant

Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract

Antioxidant
Antioxidant Icon

Acetyl Glucosamine

Skin Conditioning

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Skin Conditioning

Zinc Sulfate

Antimicrobial
Sulfate Icon

Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract

Antimicrobial

Thymus Vulgaris Extract

Perfuming
Fragrance Icon

Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning

Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Silybum Marianum Seed Extract

Skin Conditioning

Vitex Agnus-Castus Extract

Astringent

Helianthus Annuus Extract

Emollient

Oryza Sativa Bran Extract

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin Icon

Oryza Sativa Extract

Absorbent
Helps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Oryza Sativa Germ Extract

Emollient

Allantoin

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Panthenol

Skin Conditioning
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

1,2-Hexanediol

Skin Conditioning

Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate

Emulsifying

Citric Acid

Buffering
AHA IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Xanthan Gum

Emulsifying

Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate

Emulsifying
4 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Emulsion Stabilising

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Caprylhydroxamic Acid

Sodium Phytate

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Sodium Benzoate

Masking
Preservative Icon

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Biosaccharide Gum-1

Skin Conditioning

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Sodium Levulinate

Skin Conditioning

Glyceryl Caprylate

Emollient

Sodium Anisate

Antimicrobial

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Masking, Preservative, Skin Conditioning

Salicylic Acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid or BHA) is one of the most well-known ingredients for treating skin that struggles with blackheads and acne. It helps to exfoliate both the skin's surface and pores, and also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent.

This multitasking property makes it a great ingredient for cleaning out pores, controlling oil production, and reducing inflammation.

Unlike AHAs which are water soluble, Salicylic Acid is oil soluble. This means that it's able to exfoliate the inside of pores and reduce blackheads.

Concentrations of 0.5-2% are recognized by the U.S. FDA as an over-the-counter topical acne product.

It can cause irritation and/or dryness if one's skin already has a compromised moisture barrier, so it's best to focus on repairing that before introducing a Salicylic Acid into your routine.

In general, Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient for oily acne-prone skin.

While salicylic acid does not increase sun-sensitivity, we still recommend wearing SPF.

If you are looking for the ingredient called BHA or Butylated Hydroxyanisole, click here.

Learn more about Salicylic Acid
Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Solvent

Propanediol is an all-star ingredient. It softens, hydrates, and smooths the skin. 

It’s often used to:

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use. It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol
Skin Conditioning

Biosaccharide Gum-1 is a sugar created from fermented sorbitol. Most sorbitol is made from potato starch.

This ingredient is a a skin conditioning ingredient and helps moisturize the skin.

It is also naturally found in fruits such as apples and pears.

Learn more about Biosaccharide Gum-1
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

When to use

4 Routines
0% use in am
100% use in pm
50% use every as_needed
248 Routines
32% use in am
68% use in pm
70% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Acne Serum Medicated Treatment 60 ingredients

Acne Serum Medicated Treatment hasn't been rated yet.
Rate it now

The INKEY List Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA) Serum 13 ingredients

4.3 /5
from 6 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Light (1) Works Well (1)
featherstone's avatar

flora

5 months ago
Review

Game changer. This stuff is amazing for fungal acne, other BHA acids were too harsh for my sensitive skin and didn’t improve any of my concerns, but this stuff is strong and non irritating. Didn't give me any new breakouts just surfaced all of my pre-existing acne. Turned all my FA into white heads in a matter of weeks. This with the ordinary 5% lactic acid serum is completely reviving the texture Show more

#light
#absorbs well
#works well
CentellaAddict's avatar

CentellaAddict

1 year ago
Review

Very good for acne
Saw an immediate overnight change in my inflammation overnight after using for the first time, haven't had any inflammatory whiteheads since I finished purging (which lasted 2 weeks) and my skin is slightly less oily. However it did nothing really for my sebaceous filaments.