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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 · $235.67 · 96% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · $106.98 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

Buy Medik8 routine · $418.54 · 90% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · $261.57 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The INKEY List vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

Buy Medik8 routine · $419.65 · 93% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · $254.57 · 90% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Medik8: which is better?

The INKEY List and Medik8 each suit different needs, as The INKEY List delivers better price and value along with acne and blemish control, while Medik8 provides superior results and effectiveness along with a more gentle and non-irritating formula.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Medik8?

The INKEY List offers a more budget-friendly selection of products on this page, whereas Medik8 tends to be higher-priced while delivering stronger anti-aging and gentle results. Both brands provide effective hydration, but The INKEY List focuses more on acne and blemish control.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for dry skin?

Medik8 is the better choice for dry skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to The INKEY List's High fit on this page. Medik8 offers deep hydration and plumping for dry skin, while the products on this page help improve skin quality and signs of aging with ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

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

The INKEY List or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Medik8 stands out on this page with Surface Radiance Cleanse achieving a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, oily acne-prone skin, and skin with dark spots. The INKEY List offers Salicylic Acid Cleanser, which has a High fit for similar skin types.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Medik8?

The INKEY List is more affordable, as the products on this page offer budget-friendly options for both serums and moisturizers. Reviewers consistently note the high price point as a drawback for Medik8, while highlighting affordability as a major benefit for The INKEY List.

Between The INKEY List and Medik8, which brand is better for dry sensitive skin?

Medik8 is better for dry sensitive skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to the High fit from The INKEY List.

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

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

Which brand performs better for acne and blemish control according to review themes?

The INKEY List performs better for acne and blemish control according to review themes.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for oily skin?

For oily skin, Medik8 has a Superior routine fit, whereas The INKEY List has a High routine fit on this page.

The INKEY List or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 offers better results for dry skin on this page, as Lovi rates its dry-skin routine as Superior compared to The INKEY List's High fit.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Both The INKEY List and Medik8 achieve a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin. The products on this page help provide gentle skincare options, though individual results may vary.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

Medik8 is a Superior fit for acne-prone skin, whereas The INKEY List provides a High fit 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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