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Cetaphil vs The INKEY List

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

Cetaphil and The INKEY List are well-regarded skincare brands that offer reliable options for various skin types and concerns. The American brand provides a thoughtful range of cleansers, moisturizers, serums, sunscreens, and more formulated with glycerin, niacinamide, and panthenol to suit combination skin and acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the British brand builds its moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more around glycerin to fit sensitive skin and acne-prone skin best. These two lines primarily differ in their exact ingredient compositions and product origins, with both delivering proven benefits like increased hydration and restored barrier function.

Cetaphil is an American skincare brand founded in 1947 and owned by Galderma Group AG.

en.wikipedia.orgcetaphil.co.uk

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

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

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

Popular Cetaphil vs The INKEY List products

People Say

CetaphilThe INKEY List
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “The only thing my reactive skin tolerates. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “No breakouts since switching to this. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “cleans without stripping — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “cleared up flaky skin — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “healed my dry patches — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft, not tight. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Other product benefits and issues Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin felt softer after one use — Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser”
    • “Micro-fine granules don't irritate — Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub”
    • “truly no smell — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “skin looks fresh and plump — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly into skin without residue — Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “feels like applying straight up water to the skin — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
  • Affordable value Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “Bar lasts a long time — Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar”
  • Acne and oil control Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “Removes excess oil without drying. — Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser”
  • Packaging and texture issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “hate dipping fingers in — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “wish it had a pump — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “too thick for face — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Drying and lack of moisture Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Deep cleansing ability is not very strong — Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub”
    • “Felt a little stripping on sensitive areas. — Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser”
    • “have dry skin but this doesn't feel hydrating at all — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “leaves under eye dry — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”

Cetaphil vs The INKEY List routines for dry skin

Buy Cetaphil routine · A$203.09 · 84% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · A$220.70 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Cetaphil vs The INKEY List routines for oily skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · A$457.62 · 90% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · A$431.02 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Cetaphil vs The INKEY List routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · A$381.72 · 90% fitBuy Cetaphil routine · A$335.53 · 88% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Cetaphil or The INKEY List: which is better?

The INKEY List is better for acne, oil control, and dark spots, while Cetaphil is better for gentleness and overall hydration, as shown by reviewers and fit ratings on this page. Topical niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and hyaluronic acid helps improve skin hydration, both of which are key ingredients found across the products on this page.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

What is the difference between Cetaphil and The INKEY List?

Cetaphil and The INKEY List both offer effective skincare products, with Cetaphil focusing on gentle hydration and sensitive skin care while The INKEY List excels in affordable value and acne or oil control. The products on this page help address various skin needs, featuring key ingredients like niacinamide which may help reduce cutaneous pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Cetaphil or The INKEY List for dry skin?

Both Cetaphil and The INKEY List fit dry skin well, offering high routine levels on this page. Cetaphil features mostly fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid that help maintain moisture.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Cetaphil or The INKEY List: which cleanser is better?

Both Cetaphil and The INKEY List offer well-regarded cleansers, but they serve different needs based on the products on this page. Cetaphil is known for gentle, non-stripping cleansers that work well for sensitive skin, while The INKEY List provides targeted options like the Salicylic Acid Cleanser for acne and oil control.

Which is more affordable, Cetaphil or The INKEY List?

The INKEY List is more affordable than Cetaphil, as reviewer feedback highlights The INKEY List for its affordable value across both its moisturizers and serums.

Which brand has a wider fragrance-free product selection, Cetaphil or The INKEY List?

Cetaphil has 26 out of 27 products on its page listing no fragrance, while every product on The INKEY List page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

How do the origins and ownership of Cetaphil and The INKEY List compare?

Cetaphil was founded in the United States in 1947 and is owned by Galderma Group AG, while The INKEY List was founded in the United Kingdom in 2018 and is owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited.

Which brand performs better for skin with dark spots according to the routine fit levels?

The INKEY List performs better for skin with dark spots, achieving a Superior routine fit level compared to Cetaphil's High fit level.

Cetaphil or The INKEY List for oily skin?

The INKEY List is a better choice than Cetaphil for oily skin, as its routine fit is rated superior compared to Cetaphil's high fit. Additionally, the products on this page for The INKEY List lean into acne and oil control strengths.

Cetaphil or The INKEY List: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List offers better affordability for moisturizers and serums, whereas Cetaphil is known for gentle, hydrating options like its Moisturizing Cream. Niacinamide, found in products on this page, helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppresses melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Cetaphil or The INKEY List for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for sensitive skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Cetaphil's High fit. Reviewers also note that the products on this page from The INKEY List provide affordable value.

Cetaphil or The INKEY List for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, both brands work well, but The INKEY List offers a Superior routine fit compared to Cetaphil's High routine fit. The INKEY List also does better for acne and oil control according to review themes.

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

How does it fit your skin?

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