The Inkey List’s new succinic acid treatment is our new go-to for tackling spots
Promising to banish blemishes and reduce inflammation fast, we put the new budget buy to the test
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Your support makes all the difference.Whether it's maskne, the stress of living through a pandemic or the time of the month, blemishes are a common annoyance. Entirely unwelcome, they take a frustratingly long time to disappear despite popping up in the space of a few days or even overnight.
Whether you’re tackling one or many, it often requires a multi-pronged approach to get rid of them, from ensuring you’re using products best for your skin type, removing make-up properly and drinking lots of water to aid your skin’s hydration.
However despite our best intentions, sometimes we need a helping hand to speed up the healing process, and the latest launch from budget skincare brand, The Inkey List, claims to have created a targeted treatment that’ll do just that.
Costing an affordable £6.99, its leading ingredient is succinic acid. If you’re acne-prone and well accustomed to breakouts, you’re probably already aware of powerhouse ingredients such as salicylic acid and niacinamide, that are great for helping keep skin clear, but succinic acid is a newcomer to the skincare scene.
The buzzy ingredient promises to reduce inflammation and oil production, while also de-clogging pores and keeping skin hydrated, so there’s none of that drying, flaky skin that can be a common side effect of spot treatments rich in alcohol, as it can be extremely drying.
While we’re already big fans of the brand’s SPF, tranexamic acid night treatment, cleansing balm and vitamin C serum, we were curious to see if it lives up to the hype.
Designed for blemish-prone skin, the odd breakout and even those who have eczema, it claims to be a non-drying spot-busting superstar for less than a tenner. We put it to the test to see if it delivers, rating it on its formula, texture, application and results.
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The Inkey List succinic acid blemish treatment: £6.99, Cult Beauty – buy now
What’s in it?
As the name suggests, it’s main ingredient is succinic acid, naturally found in amber and rich in antixoidants. It gently exfoliates to unclog pores, balance out your complexion and reduce inflammation.
But that’s not all, it’s also bolstered with salicylic acid, which is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that breaks down debris clogging pores and thus reduces excess oil production and breakouts. It’s also known for its softening properties and is a hardworking ingredient for oily skin.
Additionally, it also contains sulfur powder and hyaluronic acid, the former reduces excess oil without stripping the skin while the latter hydrates and retains moisture.
How do you use it?
It’s a thick, green, gel that looks a bit like runny paint when it first comes out the tube, which helpfully has a very thin nozzle, making it easy not to over apply. Once absorbed however, there’s no trace of green left so you don’t need to worry about it showing up on your Zoom calls.
We applied a thin layer directly onto a spot after cleansing our skin and before our moisturiser. If you already use a hyaluronic acid or niacinamide serum in your routine, you can apply it after your serum.
It absorbs quickly and feels comfortable on the skin, with no tingly sensation at all. We applied it morning and night, however the brand does say it can be applied up to three times a day. It’s perfect for working from home while in lockdown when we’ve been mostly make-up free.
Does it work?
With any spot treatment, it’s important to keep in mind it can spend weeks building up beneath the skin before you realise it’s there, so there’s no quick fix that will instantly get rid of one overnight.
There was however noticeably less redness and inflammation when we woke up and our angry skin looked and felt much calmer. We can definitely get on board with the soothing gel texture, though the green colour is unexpectedly vibrant.
Other spot treatments we’ve tried often dry out the area of inflammation, which may reduce the size of the blemish, but leaves the skin surrounding it dry and peeling, so rather than improving it overall, it just takes it from one extreme to the other.
We were pleased to see there was none of the flakiness or intense dryness after applying this before bed, and the creamy texture meant it laid nicely under make-up as promised. It didn’t disrupt our foundation nor did it look cakey with added concealer on top. It’s ideal for combination skin too when simultaneously trying to tackle oil production and dry patches, as it still left skin feeling soft and supple.
After three days of continuous use, our spotty, hormonal chin looked clearer and felt less sore to the touch. As you can apply it throughout the day without any irritation, it’s great to pop on if you're heading out for an essential trip to the supermarket too, as it doesn’t leave a sticky mess on your face covering and will help keep the dreaded maskne at bay.
The verdict: The Inkey List succinic acid
This budget buy has fast become a mainstay in our skincare routine and we’ll be keeping a tube close by at all times the next time a spot pops up.
Results are speedy and application is fuss-free, it’s a no brainer. You can’t go wrong for just under £7 either, proving clear skin needn’t come with a premium price tag.
For more affordable skincare, read our review of the best buys under £10