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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 accessible skincare brands offering diverse moisturizers, serums, eye products, and cleansers. The British brand is known for targeted formulas built around glycerin, suiting combination and sensitive skin best with standouts like its PHA Toner, Azelaic Acid Serum, and Ceramide Moisturizer. Meanwhile, Olay is universally loved for reliable collections formulated with niacinamide and glycerin that suit sensitive and oily skin. While both share an emphasis on hydration, they differ in their primary active ingredients and specific solutions for concerns like aging and dark spots.

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 · CA$118.83 · 82% fitBuy Olay routine · CA$156.85 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · CA$258.98 · 86% fitBuy Olay routine · CA$298.41 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · CA$206.30 · 90% fitBuy Olay routine · CA$250.43 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Olay: which is better?

Both brands offer solid options, but The INKEY List is a better choice for shoppers seeking more affordable value and gentler formulas, while Olay tends to do better for brightening and skin smoothing.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Olay?

The INKEY List tends to be more affordable and is noted for being gentler on skin, whereas Olay does better with skin smoothing and brightening. Both brands offer high routine fit levels for most skin types, though The INKEY List has a superior fit for sensitive and combination skin.

The INKEY List or Olay for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay fit dry skin well, offering a High routine fit on this page. Reviewers note that the products on this page for both brands provide intense hydration and moisture.

The INKEY List or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Comparing the cleansers on this page, both The INKEY List and Olay offer options that suit various skin types well.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Olay?

The INKEY List is more affordable than Olay, as reviewer feedback highlights its affordable value and pricing.

Which brand performs better for combination skin, The INKEY List or Olay?

The INKEY List performs better for combination skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Olay's High fit.

How do The INKEY List and Olay compare regarding fragrance across their products?

The products on this page from The INKEY List list no fragrance in their ingredients, while Olay features fragrance in just one of its products.

Which brand is better suited for mature skin, The INKEY List or Olay?

Both The INKEY List and Olay are well-suited for mature skin, with Olay providing better skin smoothing and texture improvement while The INKEY List offers more affordable pricing.

The INKEY List or Olay for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that both brands provide lightweight and fast-absorbing textures and equal hydration.

The INKEY List or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer moisturizers that provide high routine fit levels for dry skin. Reviewers note that the products on this page for The INKEY List feature hydrating, lightweight, fast-absorbing, plumping, and affordable moisturizers, while Olay reviewers frequently mention intense hydration and improved texture.

The INKEY List or Olay for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both brands offer good options, but Lovi rates The INKEY List as Superior and Olay as High.

The INKEY List or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin, meaning they perform equally well for this skin type.

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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