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Clinique vs The INKEY List

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

Clinique and The INKEY List are two established skincare brands offering distinct approaches to everyday routines. The American heritage label is known for moisturizers, serums, makeup removers, and eye products utilizing hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and caffeine, while the British brand focuses on moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products built around glycerin. Both brands suit sensitive skin best, with the former also favoring dry skin and the latter acne-prone skin. They differ primarily in their founding years, ownership, and targeted formulations for specific concerns.

Clinique is an American skincare brand founded in 1968 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc..

en.wikipedia.orgelcompanies.combusinesswire.comglossy.co

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 Clinique and The INKEY List products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Clinique vs The INKEY List products

People Say

CliniqueThe INKEY List
  • Hydration and plumping effect Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “skin feels soft and smooth — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “skin looks fresh and plump — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Soothes and gentle for sensitive skin Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “never irritated my eyes — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “No stinging eyes — Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm”
    • “cools the heat in my cheeks — Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Lightweight and fast-absorbing texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in immediately — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “sinks in instantly — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “feels like applying straight up water to the skin — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
  • Good makeup base and compatibility Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “holds concealer in place — Clinique All About Eyes”
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “no pilling under makeup — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
  • Morning glow and skin smoothing Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “skin feels silky smooth — Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum”
    • “wake up glowing — Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Glass skin — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Reduces redness and blemishes Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “calms redness instantly — The INKEY List 10% Azelaic Acid Serum”
    • “Redness has lessened and the cluster of whiteheads... cleared. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “keeps the redness at bay — Clinique Redness Solutions Daily Relief Cream”
  • Insufficient hydration or dryness Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “Leaves my skin a bit dry — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “skin felt tight — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel”
  • High price and small size Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “runs out quickly — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “tube is tiny — The INKEY List 10% Azelaic Acid Serum”
    • “jar is too small for the cost — Clinique moisture surge”
  • Causes breakouts and skin reactions Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Woke up with whiteheads on my chin — Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+”
    • “gave me tiny bumps — Clinique moisture surge”
    • “did cause major breakouts — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “New formula breaks me out — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”

Clinique vs The INKEY List routines for dry skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · A$220.70 · 84% fitBuy Clinique routine · A$365.39 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Clinique vs The INKEY List routines for oily skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · A$457.62 · 90% fitBuy Clinique routine · A$490.43 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Clinique vs The INKEY List routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · A$381.72 · 90% fitBuy Clinique routine · A$469.78 · 72% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Clinique or The INKEY List: which is better?

The INKEY List is a better fit overall, offering a Superior routine level for oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, and dark spot-prone skin types compared to Clinique. Both brands offer High routine fit levels for dry and dry sensitive skin.

What is the difference between Clinique and The INKEY List?

The INKEY List generally achieves a superior Lovi fit level for oily, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, and dark-spot skin types compared to Clinique. Reviewers note that Clinique offers soothing, gentle care for sensitive skin, whereas The INKEY List does better at reducing redness and blemishes.

Clinique or The INKEY List for dry skin?

Both Clinique and The INKEY List are a High fit for dry skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that both brands offer hydrating moisturizers.

Clinique or The INKEY List: which cleanser is better?

Reviewers note that the products on this page for Clinique include gentle and effective cleansers, while The INKEY List features affordable cleansers with high fit levels for acne-prone, oily, and sensitive skin types.

Which is more affordable, Clinique or The INKEY List?

The INKEY List is generally more affordable, as reviewers often mention its affordability for both moisturizers and serums, whereas Clinique is frequently noted for having a high price point.

Which brand performs better for reducing redness and blemishes?

The INKEY List performs better for reducing redness and blemishes compared to Clinique. Review themes indicate that The INKEY List does better in reducing redness and blemishes.

Clinique or The INKEY List for oily skin?

The INKEY List is a superior fit for oily skin compared to Clinique on this page. Reviewers frequently note that The INKEY List offers affordable serums and moisturizers that feel lightweight and absorb quickly, while helping to reduce redness and blemishes.

Clinique or The INKEY List: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List is a better choice for moisturizers on this page, as Lovi rates its fit for oily, combination, and sensitive skin as Superior compared to Clinique's Average or High. Reviewers note that The INKEY List offers affordable moisturizers and serums that feel lightweight and absorb fast.

Clinique or The INKEY List for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both brands work well, as Lovi rates Clinique High and The INKEY List Superior. Reviewers note that Clinique does better at soothing and being gentle for sensitive skin.

Clinique or The INKEY List for acne-prone skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering a Superior routine level compared to Clinique's Average rating on the products on this page.

Clinique or The INKEY List for skin with dark spots?

The INKEY List is a better fit for skin with dark spots, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Clinique's Average fit level.

Clinique or The INKEY List for mature skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for mature skin, achieving a High Lovi fit level compared to Clinique's Average fit level on the products on this page.

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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