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The INKEY List vs Elemis

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

The INKEY List and Elemis are British skincare brands offering moisturizers, serums, toners, and more, all anchored by hydrating glycerin. The INKEY List features combination skin and sensitive skin care with targeted items like a PHA Toner, an Azelaic Acid Serum, and a Ceramide Moisturizer, while Elemis favors mature skin and dry skin with nourishing cleansers, rich moisturizers, and the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream supported by softening shea. Both brands rely on glycerin to significantly increase skin hydration and restore barrier function, but the latter also uses shea butter to reduce inflammation and relieve skin pruritus.

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

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.

elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular The INKEY List vs Elemis products

People Say

The INKEY ListElemis
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
    • “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedOften 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”
    • “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Gentle and Soothing Formula Often 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”
    • “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
  • Affordable Price and Value Mostly MentionedNot 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”
  • Skin Smoothing and Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “skin feels baby-soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedNot noted
    • “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”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Fragrance and Scent Issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “smells plasticky — The INKEY List ECTOIN HYDRO-BARRIER SERUM”
    • “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “jar looks half empty — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
    • “tube feels half empty — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
    • “pump broke quickly — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”

The INKEY List vs Elemis routines for dry skin

Buy Elemis routine · CA$278.47 · 88% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · CA$118.83 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Elemis routines for oily skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · CA$258.98 · 86% fitBuy Elemis routine · CA$411.49 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The INKEY List vs Elemis routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · CA$206.30 · 90% fitBuy Elemis routine · CA$369.58 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Elemis: which is better?

The INKEY List tends to be better for value and gentle, lightweight care, whereas Elemis focuses more on luxurious textures and smoothing mature skin. Lovi rates The INKEY List as superior for sensitive and combination skin, while Elemis is rated as superior for mature skin.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Elemis?

The INKEY List offers more affordable pricing and better lightweight textures across the products on this page, whereas Elemis focuses more on luxury and skin smoothing. Lovi rates The INKEY List as a superior fit for combination and sensitive skin, while Elemis is a superior fit for mature skin.

The INKEY List or Elemis for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Elemis achieve a High Lovi routine fit for dry skin, though they differ in pricing and formulation. The INKEY List is favored for its affordable and fragrance-free products on this page, while Elemis is noted for offering luxurious textures and rich moisturizers.

The INKEY List or Elemis: which cleanser is better?

The INKEY List is a better choice for cleansers because the products on this page help provide gentle and effective cleansing while avoiding added fragrance, which may reduce the risk of irritation. Reviewers note that The INKEY List offers superior acne and blemish control compared to Elemis.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Elemis?

The INKEY List is more affordable than Elemis, as the products on this page feature affordable moisturizers and serums.

Which brand has a stronger fragrance in its products, The INKEY List or Elemis?

Elemis has a stronger fragrance in its products, as most items on the Elemis page list fragrance, whereas every product on The INKEY List page lists no fragrance.

The INKEY List or Elemis for oily skin?

The INKEY List helps oily skin better than Elemis, as Lovi rates the products on this page High for oily skin compared to Elemis at Average. Reviewers also note that The INKEY List offers better acne and blemish control.

The INKEY List or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List offers better affordability and lightweight hydration across the products on this page, while Elemis provides a more luxurious texture and focuses on mature and dry skin. Reviewers note that The INKEY List delivers great value for hydrating moisturizers, whereas Elemis is often chosen for its rich, smoothing anti-aging formulas.

The INKEY List or Elemis for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Elemis at a High level. Furthermore, the products on this page for The INKEY List list no fragrance in their ingredients, which helps minimize potential irritation.

The INKEY List or Elemis for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and Elemis help acne-prone skin with a High routine fit on the products on this page. Reviewers note that The INKEY List does better for acne and blemish control, while every product on its page lists no fragrance.

The INKEY List or Elemis for mature skin?

Elemis is a better fit for mature skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to The INKEY List which reaches a High fit. Elemis features luxury mature-focused treatments like the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, while The INKEY List offers budget-friendly alternatives.

The INKEY List or Elemis for combination skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit for combination skin, offering a Superior routine level compared to Elemis, which reaches a High level. Reviewers on the products on this page note that The INKEY List provides lightweight and fast-absorbing formulas.

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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