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The INKEY List vs Medik8

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

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

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular The INKEY List and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The INKEY List vs Medik8 products

People Say

The INKEY ListMedik8
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
  • Results and Effectiveness Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “Reduces fine lines — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “smells like a spa — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “skin looks fresh and plump — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “Great for sensitive skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
  • Price and Value 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 value than Skinceuticals — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Skin instantly looks less oily — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Visibly reduces acne scars — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “pigmentation lightened slightly — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
  • Lack of Results or Slow Progress Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “no difference yet — Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Packaging Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Glass bottle breaks easily — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “hard to get last bit — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “click mechanism tricky — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
  • High Price Point Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”

The INKEY List vs Medik8 routines for dry skin

Buy Medik8 routine · CA$134.16 · 97% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · CA$118.83 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

Buy Medik8 routine · CA$386.00 · 88% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · CA$258.98 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The INKEY List vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

Buy Medik8 routine · CA$350.00 · 93% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · CA$206.30 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Medik8: which is better?

Both brands are great choices, but they suit different budgets and skin goals as the products on this page show. The INKEY List stands out for acne and blemish control along with a lower price point, while Medik8 excels in results and effectiveness with a more gentle, non-irritating formula.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Medik8?

The INKEY List offers budget-friendly skincare with standout options for acne and blemish control, whereas Medik8 focuses on more luxurious, higher-priced formulas that excel in results, effectiveness, and gentle, non-irritating care. When it comes to routine fit, Medik8 provides superior results for dry skin, mature skin, and dry sensitive skin compared to the products on this page.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for dry skin?

Medik8 is the better fit for dry skin, as the products on this page achieve a superior routine fit compared to The INKEY List's high fit. Sodium hyaluronate helps support skin hydration and wound healing.

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

The INKEY List or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Both The INKEY List and Medik8 offer top-performing cleansers on the products on this page, with Medik8 standing out for acne and blemish control through products like Surface Radiance Cleanse. Reviewers find that Medik8 delivers better overall results, while The INKEY List provides a more budget-friendly option.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Medik8?

The INKEY List offers better affordability for shoppers, as reviewers on the products on this page frequently mention its high price point as a downside for Medik8 while praising The INKEY List for its affordable serums and moisturizers.

Which brand has better anti-aging benefits for mature skin, The INKEY List or Medik8?

Medik8 provides superior routine fit for mature skin compared to The INKEY List, which has a high routine fit.

How do the founding years and corporate ownerships of The INKEY List and Medik8 compare?

The INKEY List was founded in 2018 in the United Kingdom and is owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited, while Medik8 was founded in 2009 in the United Kingdom and is owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

Which brand provides superior hydration routines for dry sensitive skin, The INKEY List or Medik8?

Medik8 provides superior hydration routines for dry sensitive skin compared to the products on this page from The INKEY List. Lovi rates Medik8 as Superior for dry sensitive skin routines, whereas The INKEY List is rated High.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and Medik8 offer a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that The INKEY List does better for acne and blemish control.

The INKEY List or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands offer popular moisturizers, with The INKEY List providing more affordable options and Medik8 focusing on deeper hydration and advanced anti-aging ingredients like hyaluronic acid. The products on this page help improve skin texture and moisture levels, though individual results may vary.

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

The INKEY List or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Both The INKEY List and Medik8 achieve a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin among the products on this page. Reviewers note that Medik8 offers gentle and non-irritating serums.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and Medik8 achieve a High routine fit for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that The INKEY List does better for acne and blemish control, while Medik8 does better for gentle and non-irritating 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

How does it fit your skin?

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