Effective Acne Treatment? inn beauty Project Acne Serum Review | Doctor Anne

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I keep repeating “If you have acne, more than just the occasional breakout, go see a doctor and don’t try to treat it with skincare from the drugstore! It is a skin disease that very often needs medication and, if left untreated, can leave scars and harm your mental health.” (More info: Why you have acne and how to treat it.) But what about products like the inn beauty Project Acne Serum that has “FDA approved acne treatment” written on the bottle?

 

A bottle of innbeauty Project Acne Treatment Review standing in front of a dark background with white flowers
innbeauty Project Acne Treatment Serum

 

Will it perform better than other products you can buy? Is it worth paying 35 $ for one bottle and if you use it, how long will it take to see results?

Let’s talk about that in todays review.

 

 

What the inn beauty Project Acne Serum claims

Acne serum is an OTC/ FDA approved acne treatment that helps treat and prevent acne and blackheads. Gentle yet effective, supports skin barrier while it heals.

 

Facts about the inn beauty Project Acne Serum

Prize and size

One pump bottle contains 30 ml and is available for 35 $ on the website here. It is vegan.

 

Texture and smell

Unlike other Salicylic Acid products this one is not a liquid, but comes as a lightweight lotion in a light brownish color. There is a distinct medicinal scent to it, not overpowering, but noticeable while you spread it on your face.

 

A closeup of the innbeauty Project Acne Treatment with a lotion texture and a light brown color, on a mirrored surface
Close up of the innbeauty Project Acne Serum

 

How to use the inn beauty Project Acne Serum

I had difficulties with the pump that often didn’t bring up product and required repeated pressing and sometimes banging the bottom on the bathroom counter to work. One pump should be enough to cover your whole face and jawline which is where I like to spread it as I tend to get congestion there as well.

While personally I put it in my morning skincare routine, around three times a week, it would work both morning or night depending on your preferences. In theory you could pair it with everything, but I strongly advise against putting too many irritating things into your routine at once, so if you use a strong retinoid at night, maybe use this one in the mornings. Not because they cancel each other out, but because you reduce the risk of your face falling off in the process.

In regards to frequency, anything from daily to once a week will work, depending on your skins tolerance and the goals you want to reach. As it is with all skincare products, it will take at least six weeks, maybe loner, until you see results and using it consistently is key. If you don’t do that, you won’t see changes.

 

Ingredients of the inn beauty Project Acne Serum

Active Ingredients: Salicylic Acid (1.5%) exf|aacne|so|pres
Inactive Ingredients: Water/Aqua solv, Propanediol solv|h, Glycerin sii|h 0 0, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emo, Dimethyl Isosorbide solv|vc, Lactobacillus Ferment so|pres, Coconut Alkanes emo|solv, Coco-Caprylate emo, Niacinamide cci|sb|aacne|h, Cetearyl Alcohol emo|vc|emu|surf 1 2, Behenyl Alcohol emo|vc, Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters emu|surf, Tranexamic Acid sb|so, Hexyl Laurate emo, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil emo|perf 0 3, C15-19 Alkane emo, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate sb|aacne|so, Hydrogenated Polydecene emo|perf|solv, Glyceryl Stearate emo|emu 0 12, Ceramide NP sii, Ceramide AP sii, Bakuchiol cci|aox|amic, Fucus Spiralis Extract emo, Tetraselmis Chui Extract emo, Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract h, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract aox|so, Acetyl Glucosamine sii|sb, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate h, Zinc Sulfate amic, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract aox|so|amic, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract perf, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract so|aox|h, Silybum Marianum Seed Extract, Vitex Agnus Castus Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract so|emo, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract abrasive/scrub, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Germ Extract emo, Allantoin so 0 0, Panthenol so|h 0 0, 1,2-Hexanediol solv, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate emu, Citric Acid buff, Xanthan Gum vc, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate emu 0 4, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 vc, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate emo, Caprylhydroxamic Acid chel, Sodium Phytate chel, Tocopherol aox 03 03, Sodium Benzoate pres, Potassium Sorbate pres, Biosaccharide Gum-1 so|h, Phenoxyethanol pres, Sodium Levulinate, Glyceryl Caprylate pres, Sodium Anisate amic

Hover the mouse over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
So why is it called a FDA approved acne treatment? Because it contains 1.5% Salicylic Acid, an ingredient that is approved for treating acne through the unclogging of pores. Is it different in that to other available Salicylic Acid products? No. You can get Salicylic Acid without a prescription up until a concentration of 2%. (More info: The benefits of acids in your skincare routine explained)

With that out of the way, let’s look at the rest of the formulation: You have Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid for hydration and a few other ingredients that might support the acne journey: Niacinamide at 5%, which is both helpful for regulating sebum production as well as brightening leftover pigmentation, Bakuchiol, which might have retinol like effects, and Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, a derivative of Azelaic Acid. Azelaic Acid has anti-acne and skin brightening benefits and according to the manufacturer its derivative does the same. With the exception of the Niacinamide they are at low concentrations though. (More info: The benefits of Hyaluronic Acid in skincare explained, The benefits of Niacinamide in skincare explained, The benefits of Bakuchiol in skincare explained and The benefits of Azelaic Acid in skincare explained)

To help prevent irritation that often comes with acne products you will find Panthenol, Ceramides and Allantoin and for additional help with leftover hyperpigmentation there are fermented ingredients and Tranexamic Acid. (More info: The benefits of Panthenol in skincare explained, The benefits of Ceramides in skincare explained, The benefits of fermented ingredients in skincare explained and The benefits of Tranexamic Acid in skincare explained)

More info: How to read the ingredient list in your skincare products

 

Does it live up to its claims?

Yes.

It is gentle, has skincare barrier soothing ingredients and will help treat congestion.

 

How does it compare to…

Paulas Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant Review
Paulas Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant – the travel size

 

Paulas Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

Paulas Choice to this day makes my favorite Salicylic Acid to help prevent congestion, and ever since I tried it (which was quite late in my skincare journey), none other has come close. While I appreciate the added soothing ingredients you find in the innbeauty version, I much prefer texture and concentration in PC. It might not sound like it, but for me the 2% versus the 1.5% is just that tad more effective at keeping my skin blackhead free.

You can read my full review of the Paulas Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant here.

 

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution

 

The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution

Here is a budget alternative, missing the soothing ingredients, but with the slightly more effective (and probably slightly more irritating) concentration of 2%. I prefer using a dedicated serum for treating congestion and get the soothing from other sources if needed, so I wanted to let you know about this alternative.

You can read my full review of The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution here.

 

Would I repurchase and which skin types do I recommend the inn beauty Project Acne Serum to?

I really enjoyed the inn beauty Project Acne Serum for its gentleness, but seeing it promoted as effective at home acne treatment is in my opinion too much. It contains 1.5% Salicylic Acid, which is approved and helpful in treating acne, but in more than light cases only part of the regime you need to successfully manage your acne. The supporting ingredients listed will be helpful, but not move the needle much and in regards to treating hyperpigmentation it might also support that journey, but not alone. I can only repeat my statement: Anyone with acne, not a few breakouts, should see a doctor to discuss medication. This product will not substitute treatment.

If your main concern is congestion though and your skin is easily irritated by higher concentrations, it is a lovely and gentle product to try and at the same price as my favorite from Paula´s Choice. There are more affordable options out there though if you are on a budget.

 

innbeauty Project Acne Treatment Serum Review
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