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The INKEY List vs Allies of Skin

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

The INKEY List and Allies of Skin are skincare brands offering targeted solutions for diverse complexions. The INKEY List features moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products built around glycerin, suiting combination and sensitive skin best, with standout treatments for acne-prone, dark spot, and mature concerns. Allies of Skin delivers luxurious moisturizers, potent serums, and eye products formulated with powerhouse ingredients like niacinamide, fitting dry and acne-prone skin best. While both brands address similar skin concerns through distinct formulations, they differ significantly in their ingredient focus and overall positioning.

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 Allies of Skin products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The INKEY List vs Allies of Skin products

People Say

The INKEY ListAllies of Skin
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “nourished and hydrated — Allies of Skin Peptides & Omegas Firming Eye Cream”
    • “more like a spray serum — Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist”
  • Skin Smoothing and Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Woke up looking well-rested — Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream”
    • “Absorbs instantly without sticky feeling — Allies of Skin Peptides & Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment”
    • “Pores appear to be tighter — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Gentle and Soothing Formula Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “Best retinol for sensitive skin — Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream”
    • “feels super soothing, doesn't trigger redness — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “sinks easily into damp skin — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
  • 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”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “calms redness instantly — The INKEY List 10% Azelaic Acid Serum”
    • “Dramatic impact on acne — Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream”
    • “reduces appearance of redness — Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist”
  • High Price Point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “Pricey — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
  • Packaging and Dispensing Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “pump head is fixed — Allies of Skin Peptides & Omegas Firming Eye Cream”
    • “bad spritz mechanism — Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist”
    • “Hate the pump — Allies of Skin Peptides & Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment”
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
  • Slow or Lack of Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “didn't do anything for circles — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “did absolutely nothing — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “still not impressed with the results — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
    • “Have not noticed improved skin quality yet — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
  • Breakouts and Skin Reactions Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “did cause major breakouts — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “New formula breaks me out — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Slightly irritating... when I first started — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
    • “rashes popped up on my neck — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”

The INKEY List vs Allies of Skin routines for dry skin

Buy Allies of Skin routine · $249.67 · 98% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · $106.98 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Allies of Skin routines for oily skin

Buy Allies of Skin routine · $482.96 · 94% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · $261.57 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The INKEY List vs Allies of Skin routines for combination skin

Buy Allies of Skin routine · $474.55 · 94% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · $254.57 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Allies of Skin: which is better?

The INKEY List and Allies of Skin both offer fragrance-free products, but they cater to different shopper needs. The INKEY List is known for affordable serums and lightweight, fast-absorbing moisturizers, whereas Allies of Skin tends to excel in skin smoothing, texture improvement, and overall routine fit for dry skin, acne-prone skin, and mature skin.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Allies of Skin?

The INKEY List offers more affordable prices and lightweight textures, whereas Allies of Skin tends to provide better results for dry, acne-prone, and mature skin types.

The INKEY List or Allies of Skin for dry skin?

For dry skin, both brands offer good options, with Allies of Skin achieving a Superior routine fit and The INKEY List achieving a High routine fit. The INKEY List provides budget-friendly, lightweight, and hydrating moisturizers, while Allies of Skin delivers effective anti-aging and brightening serums.

The INKEY List or Allies of Skin: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List offers more affordable moisturizers, while Allies of Skin provides products on this page that do better for skin smoothing and texture improvement.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Allies of Skin?

The INKEY List is more affordable, as reviewers on the products on this page frequently highlight its affordable price and value.

Between The INKEY List and Allies of Skin, which brand is better for mature skin?

Both brands offer solid options for mature skin, but Allies of Skin is rated as a Superior routine fit compared to The INKEY List's High fit level. Allies of Skin stands out for effective anti-aging and brightening serums, whereas the products on this page for The INKEY List are known for being affordable.

Which brand performs better for skin smoothing and texture improvement, The INKEY List or Allies of Skin?

Allies of Skin performs better for skin smoothing and texture improvement.

How do the prices of The INKEY List and Allies of Skin compare based on reviewer feedback?

Based on reviewer feedback, The INKEY List offers an affordable price and value, whereas Allies of Skin is frequently noted for having a high price point.

The INKEY List or Allies of Skin for oily skin?

Allies of Skin is a better match for oily skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to The INKEY List's High fit on this page.

The INKEY List or Allies of Skin for sensitive skin?

Both The INKEY List and Allies of Skin are a great match for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates both brands as having a Superior routine fit for this skin type. Reviewers note that both brands offer gentle and soothing formulas across the products on this page.

The INKEY List or Allies of Skin for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Allies of Skin is the better choice because Lovi rates its routine as Superior, whereas the routine for The INKEY List is High. Reviewers note that Allies of Skin provides effective anti-aging and brightening serums.

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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