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The Ordinary vs The INKEY List

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

The Ordinary and The INKEY List are minimalist lines built around straightforward formulas, featuring hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane across serums, moisturizers, and cleansers. The Canadian pioneer centers its skincare on specialized acids and squalane, while the British brand focuses primarily on glycerin-rich hydration. Both brands suit sensitive and combination skin, though they differ in their targeted solutions for acne, dark spots, and aging.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

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

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

Popular The Ordinary vs The INKEY List products

People Say

The OrdinaryThe INKEY List
  • Affordable price and value Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “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”
  • Smooths skin texture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “skin looks fresh and plump — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
  • Hydration and moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Skin feels instantly hydrated, nourished and looks more glowing — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Clears acne and reduces blemishes Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “faded dark spots — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing texture Sometimes NotedMostly 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”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Other product characteristics Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “eliminated armpit odor — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “never had any reaction to it with my sensitive skin — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “leaves skin feeling matte — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Other product issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “very runny serum — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Leaves a greasy film on face after washing — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “Forms a crust on the hole at the flick top cap. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “foams up like soap — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
  • Packaging and container issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “The 50ml tube runs out way too fast. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
    • “Wish it came in a pump — The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Sticky or tacky finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Feels tacky on skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Leaves a tackiness that never goes away. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “feeling sticky — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”

The Ordinary vs The INKEY List routines for dry skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 542.90 · 89% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · AED 474.43 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The Ordinary vs The INKEY List routines for oily skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 833.82 · 91% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · AED 776.59 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs The INKEY List routines for combination skin

Buy The Ordinary routine · AED 712.46 · 92% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · AED 725.13 · 89% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or The INKEY List: which is better?

The Ordinary is better for smoothing skin texture, clearing acne, and fading dark spots, while The INKEY List is better for hydration, moisture, and lightweight, fast-absorbing texture. Both brands offer equal affordability and value on the products on this page.

What is the difference between The Ordinary and The INKEY List?

The Ordinary does better at smoothing skin texture, clearing acne, and fading dark spots, while The INKEY List is better for hydration, moisture, and lightweight, fast-absorbing textures. Both brands fit sensitive skin and acne-prone skin at equal levels, but The Ordinary offers a superior routine fit for oily, combination, mature, skin with dark spots, and dry sensitive skin.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List for dry skin?

Both brands are a great match for dry skin, giving it a High routine fit on the products on this page. The INKEY List brings extra points for hydration and moisture, while the products on this page for The Ordinary are praised for smoothing skin texture.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List: which cleanser is better?

Both The Ordinary and The INKEY List offer strong cleanser options on this page, with The Ordinary delivering a superior routine fit for oily and combination skin types. Reviewers note that The Ordinary provides better overall product characteristics, while both brands tie in affordability and value.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or The INKEY List?

Both The Ordinary and The INKEY List are equal when it comes to affordable price and value.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List: which brand is better for reducing dark spots?

The Ordinary is better for reducing dark spots, as the products on this page achieve a Superior routine fit for skin with dark spots compared to The INKEY List's High fit. Reviewers also mention that The Ordinary offers dark spot fading serums.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List: which brand has better options for mature skin?

The Ordinary has better options for mature skin because its routine fit for mature skin is rated Superior compared to The INKEY List at High. The products on this page also help smooth skin texture better than The INKEY List.

Which brand performs better for smoothing skin texture, The Ordinary or The INKEY List?

The Ordinary performs better for smoothing skin texture. Reviewers on the page often mention texture-smoothing serums for The Ordinary, and the brand is highlighted for doing better on smooths skin texture.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List for oily skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for oily skin on the products on this page, while The INKEY List is a High fit. Reviewers note that The Ordinary does better at clearing acne and reducing blemishes.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List: which moisturizer is better?

Both The Ordinary and The INKEY List offer excellent moisturizers, with The INKEY List performing better for overall hydration and moisture according to reviewer themes on the products on this page. The INKEY List provides lightweight and fast-absorbing formulas, while The Ordinary features options like Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA that help deliver superior routine fit for dry skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or The INKEY List for sensitive skin?

Both The Ordinary and The INKEY List achieve a Superior fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Reviewers report that the products on this page are generally gentle and non-irritating.

The Ordinary or The INKEY List for acne-prone skin?

Both The Ordinary and The INKEY List fit acne-prone skin at a High level. The Ordinary products on this page help smooth skin texture and clear acne better, while The INKEY List offers lightweight moisturizers.

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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