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The INKEY List vs Elemis

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

The INKEY List and Elemis are British skincare brands offering moisturizers, serums, toners, and more. The INKEY List focuses on glycerin-built formulas that suit sensitive and combination skin best, whereas Elemis features glycerin and shea butter to condition mature and dry sensitive skin. Both brands differ primarily in their founding years, ownership, and breadth of deeply nourishing ingredients.

The INKEY List is a British skincare brand founded in 2018 and owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited.

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

This page compares some of the most popular The INKEY List and Elemis products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The INKEY List vs Elemis products

People Say

The INKEY ListElemis
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “feels like applying straight up water to the skin — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Gentle and Soothing Formula Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “calmed my menopausal redness — The INKEY List ECTOIN HYDRO-BARRIER SERUM”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • Affordable Price and Value Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “Good for the price — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “One of the best balms for quality and also price — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “unbeatable value — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
  • Skin Smoothing and Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “skin feels baby-soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedNot noted
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “calms redness instantly — The INKEY List 10% Azelaic Acid Serum”
    • “Skin instantly looks less oily — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Fragrance and Scent Issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “smells plasticky — The INKEY List ECTOIN HYDRO-BARRIER SERUM”
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “jar looks half empty — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “tube feels half empty — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “pump broke quickly — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”

The INKEY List vs Elemis routines for dry skin

Buy Elemis routine · AED 2,268.50 · 82% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · AED 474.43 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The INKEY List vs Elemis routines for oily skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · AED 776.59 · 87% fitBuy Elemis routine · AED 1,630.94 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The INKEY List vs Elemis routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · AED 725.13 · 89% fitBuy Elemis routine · AED 1,644.88 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Elemis: which is better?

Both The INKEY List and Elemis perform well, but The INKEY List is a better choice if you want more affordable options and fragrance-free formulas for the products on this page. Elemis is often preferred for a more luxurious feel and smoother skin texture, though reviewers frequently mention its high price point.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Elemis?

The INKEY List offers more affordable prices and fragrance-free formulas across the products on this page, while Elemis focuses on luxurious textures and targeted anti-aging care. Both brands provide similar routine fit levels for most skin types, though The INKEY List has a Superior fit for sensitive skin.

The INKEY List or Elemis for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Elemis achieve a High routine fit for dry skin with the products on this page. Shoppers often mention that The INKEY List offers more affordable prices and lighter textures, while Elemis delivers a more luxurious feel.

The INKEY List or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

The INKEY List and Elemis both offer effective cleansers, with The INKEY List providing options that fit sensitive skin at a Superior level and Elemis featuring cleansers best suited for mature skin and dry skin.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Elemis?

The INKEY List is more affordable than Elemis, as reviewers on the products on this page frequently mention its affordable moisturizers and serums while noting Elemis for its high price point.

Which brand has better options for fragrance-free skincare, The INKEY List or Elemis?

The INKEY List has better options for fragrance-free skincare because every product on the page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas most Elemis products contain fragrance.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of The INKEY List and Elemis compare?

The INKEY List was founded in 2018 in the United Kingdom and is owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited. In contrast, Elemis was established earlier in 1989 in the United Kingdom and has been owned by the L'Occitane Group since 2019.

Which brand performs better for skin smoothing and texture improvement?

Elemis performs better for skin smoothing and texture improvement among the products on this page. Reviewers note that Elemis helps deliver a smoother skin texture and a radiant glow.

The INKEY List or Elemis for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and Elemis match equally well for oily skin, with a High routine fit for the products on this page. The INKEY List provides better value for money, while Elemis is noted for smoother skin texture.

The INKEY List or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

Both The INKEY List and Elemis offer great hydrating moisturizers on the products on this page. The INKEY List is generally more affordable and better suited for lightweight textures and sensitive skin, while Elemis focuses on luxurious textures and smoother skin.

The INKEY List or Elemis for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis, which has a High fit level. Every product on the products on this page for The INKEY List lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas most Elemis products contain fragrance.

The INKEY List or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and Elemis fit acne-prone skin well at a High level. The products on this page show that The INKEY List offers a stronger routine focus for sensitive and blemish-prone needs.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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