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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 well-regarded skincare brands that offer thoughtful selections of moisturizers, serums, eye products, and more, built around nourishing ingredients like glycerin and hydrating hyaluronic acid. The American brand suits dry sensitive skin and oily skin best, whereas the British brand fits combination skin and sensitive skin best through its glycerin-focused formulations. Both brands provide targeted solutions for diverse concerns, including specialized options for acne-prone skin, skin with dark spots, and mature skin. Ultimately, they differ in their heritage and specific ingredient combinations, yet both deliver reliable results.

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 · CA$118.83 · 82% fitBuy Clinique routine · CA$469.99 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Clinique vs The INKEY List routines for oily skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · CA$258.98 · 86% fitBuy Clinique routine · CA$386.05 · 78% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Clinique vs The INKEY List routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · CA$206.30 · 90% fitBuy Clinique routine · CA$322.06 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Clinique or The INKEY List: which is better?

The INKEY List may be better for affordability, and its products on this page achieve superior fit levels for combination and sensitive skin types compared to Clinique. Reviewers note that Clinique does better at soothing and being gentle for sensitive skin, while The INKEY List does better at reducing redness and blemishes.

What is the difference between Clinique and The INKEY List?

The INKEY List may offer better routine fits for combination, sensitive, acne-prone, and dark spot skin types compared to Clinique. Reviewers note that The INKEY List provides affordable serums and plumping moisturizers, whereas Clinique is often mentioned for having a high price point.

Clinique or The INKEY List for dry skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for dry skin, offering a High routine fit compared to Clinique's Average routine fit. Reviewers note that The INKEY List provides affordable, hydrating moisturizers, though some mention insufficient hydration.

Clinique or The INKEY List: which cleanser is better?

Both Clinique and The INKEY List offer fragrance-free cleansers, but The INKEY List features options like the Salicylic Acid Cleanser that provides a Superior or High Lovi fit for acne-prone, oily, and combination skin on this page. Reviewers report that Clinique provides gentler cleansers overall, while The INKEY List products may help reduce blemishes and redness effectively.

Which is more affordable, Clinique or The INKEY List?

The INKEY List is more affordable, as reviewers on the products on this page frequently mention affordable moisturizers and serums. In contrast, reviewers for Clinique often note a high price point.

Clinique or The INKEY List for oily skin?

Both Clinique and The INKEY List fit oily skin well, as the products on this page for oily skin have a High Lovi fit level. Reviewers often mention that both brands offer lightweight, fast-absorbing, and hydrating moisturizers.

Clinique or The INKEY List: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, The INKEY List is often a better choice because it offers affordable options that help provide a high fit level for dry skin and a superior fit level for combination and sensitive skin.

Clinique or The INKEY List for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both Clinique and The INKEY List fit well, with The INKEY List achieving a Superior routine fit and Clinique achieving a High fit. Reviewers note that Clinique does better at soothing and being gentle for sensitive skin, while every product on this page for both brands lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Clinique or The INKEY List for acne-prone skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering a High routine fit compared to Clinique's Average fit.

Clinique or The INKEY List for dry sensitive skin?

Both Clinique and The INKEY List fit dry sensitive skin well, as the products on this page for both brands achieve a High Lovi fit level for this skin type.

Clinique or The INKEY List for mature skin?

Both Clinique and The INKEY List fit mature skin well, as the products on this page achieve a High Lovi fit level for this skin type.

Clinique or The INKEY List for skin with dark spots?

The INKEY List is a better fit for skin with dark spots, as the products on this page achieve a High fit level for this concern compared to Clinique's Average fit. The INKEY List features specialized brightening options like Tranexamic Acid Serum and PHA Toner, which may help target hyperpigmentation effectively.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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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