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The INKEY List vs Olay

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

The INKEY List and Olay are two distinct skincare collections that offer targeted moisturizers, eye products, serums, and more to address various concerns. The INKEY List is a British brand founded in 2018 and owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited, building its range around glycerin, while the latter brand thoughtfully pairs niacinamide and glycerin. Both brands suit acne-prone and mature skin best, though the British brand also fits sensitive skin, while its counterpart offers gentle care tailored to complex needs. They differ in their core formulations and specific standouts, such as the former's PHA Toner and Azelaic Acid Serum versus the latter brand's Super Eyes Daily Eye Serum and Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream.

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

Popular The INKEY List vs Olay products

People Say

The INKEY ListOlay
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Skin Smoothing and Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Gentle on Skin Mostly 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”
    • “tiny beads aren't harsh — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
  • Affordable Value and Pricing Mostly MentionedRarely 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”
    • “Better than high-end moisturizers — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Brightening and Radiance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “skin looks brighter — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Visibly reduces acne scars — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Very difficult to squeeze out at first — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
    • “dropper is frustrating — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Unpleasant Scent or Fragrance Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for dry skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · A$220.70 · 84% fitBuy Olay routine · A$153.30 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · A$457.62 · 90% fitBuy Olay routine · A$412.86 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · A$381.72 · 90% fitBuy Olay routine · A$324.71 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Olay: which is better?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer strong options, with The INKEY List performing better for sensitive skin, oily skin, combination skin, and skin with dark spots, while Olay is better for mature skin. Niacinamide helps control skin aging and pigmentation, and hyaluronic acid improves skin quality and signs of aging.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Olay?

The INKEY List tends to be more affordable and is particularly gentle on skin, whereas Olay excels at smoothing skin texture and providing brightening results. Both brands offer good hydration and feature lightweight textures across the products on this page.

The INKEY List or Olay for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a High routine fit for dry skin with the products on this page. Reviewers note that both brands provide effective hydration and moisture.

The INKEY List or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a range of cleansers on this page, but they cater to slightly different needs. The INKEY List products on this page tend to be gentler on skin, while Olay products on this page are better for smoothing skin texture.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Olay?

The INKEY List offers better affordable value and pricing than Olay among the products on this page.

The INKEY List or Olay: which is better for mature skin?

Olay is better for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to the High fit level of the products on this page from The INKEY List. Olay features a wider variety of specialized anti-aging options, such as retinol and peptide creams, that help improve skin texture and firmness.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017

The INKEY List or Olay: which has better options for skin with dark spots?

The INKEY List has better options for skin with dark spots, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to High for Olay.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, The INKEY List or Olay?

Both brands offer mostly fragrance-free products on the products on this page, with The INKEY List having every product list no fragrance and Olay listing no fragrance in 26 of its 27 products.

The INKEY List or Olay for oily skin?

For oily skin, The INKEY List has a Superior routine fit while Olay has a High fit level. Reviewers find that The INKEY List offers better value and is more gentle on skin.

The INKEY List or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer highly-rated moisturizers, with The INKEY List standing out for affordability and gentleness while Olay excels in skin smoothing and anti-aging. Reviewers note that both brands provide intense hydration and lightweight textures across the products on this page.

The INKEY List or Olay for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine compared to Olay's High fit on this page.

The INKEY List or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a superior routine fit for acne-prone skin with 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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