🇺🇸United States

The INKEY List vs FRE

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

The INKEY List and FRE are distinct skincare lines created for specific daily needs. The British brand is known for moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more built around glycerin, suiting combination and sensitive skin best. Conversely, FRE is widely loved for targeted product types and nourishing formulas that suit acne-prone skin best, owing to gentle and effective compositions. Both brands differ as the former relies on glycerin to significantly increase skin hydration and restore barrier function, while the latter utilizes thoughtful formulations to gently balance and support the complexion.

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

Popular The INKEY List vs FRE products

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or FRE: which is better?

The INKEY List is a better choice than FRE for variety and fit, offering sixteen products on this page that cover multiple skin types compared to just one product from FRE. Reviewers frequently note that The INKEY List provides affordable and hydrating moisturizers, while Lovi rates its PHA Toner as a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, mature skin, and sensitive skin.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and FRE?

The INKEY List offers a wide range of targeted products like toners, serums, and cleansers that fit combination and sensitive skin best, while FRE features only Argan Oil on this page. Reviewers mention that The INKEY List products are affordable, though packaging issues and breakouts are sometimes noted.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or FRE?

The products on this page for The INKEY List include affordable moisturizers and affordable serums, whereas FRE has only one product listed on the page without mention of affordability.

Which causes fewer breakouts, The INKEY List or FRE?

The products on this page for The INKEY List show varying blemish-related fits from low to superior depending on the item, while FRE features only a single argan oil product with an average acne-prone fit. Reviewers note that The INKEY List sometimes leads to purging and breakouts.

Which brand was founded earlier, The INKEY List or FRE?

FRE was founded earlier in 2016, while The INKEY List was founded later in 2018.

Do products from either The INKEY List or FRE contain fragrance?

Every product on this page from both The INKEY List and FRE lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Which skin types does The INKEY List fit best according to its brand-focused routines?

According to its brand-focused routines, The INKEY List fits combination skin, sensitive skin, and oily acne-prone skin best.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play