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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 known for offering moisturizers, serums, eye products, and more. The British brand features glycerin-centered formulas suited best for combination and sensitive skin, whereas Olay enriches its thoughtfully formulated products with niacinamide and glycerin to suit sensitive and acne-prone skin best. While both brands address specific concerns like dark spots and mature skin through targeted items, they differ in their foundational ingredients and primary skin-type compatibility.

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 Olay routine · $154.40 · 83% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · $106.98 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · $261.57 · 87% fitBuy Olay routine · $296.19 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · $254.57 · 90% fitBuy Olay routine · $286.61 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Olay: which is better?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer great options, but The INKEY List is better for shoppers wanting more affordable pricing and gentler formulas, while Olay is better for skin smoothing and brightening. For combination and sensitive skin specifically, the products on this page from The INKEY List achieve a Superior fit level compared to Olay's High level.

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 products with a high fit level for dry skin.

The INKEY List or Olay for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a High routine fit for dry skin. The products on this page for both brands feature hydrating moisturizers.

The INKEY List or Olay: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers, The INKEY List and Olay both offer a variety of options with different fit levels depending on your skin type. The products on this page for The INKEY List include options like the Salicylic Acid Cleanser and Oat Cleansing Balm, while Olay features items such as the Regenerating Cream Cleanser and Cleansing Melts.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Olay?

The INKEY List does better for affordable value and pricing compared to Olay. The products on this page frequently feature affordable serums and moisturizers.

Between The INKEY List and Olay, which brand is better for combination skin?

Between the two brands, The INKEY List is better for combination skin because the products on this page have a Superior routine fit for this skin type, compared to Olay which has a High fit level.

Does Olay or The INKEY List offer more fragrance-free skincare products?

Both brands offer fragrance-free options, as every product on The INKEY List page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, while Olay features 26 fragrance-free products alongside one item with fragrance.

Which brand performs better for brightening and radiance, The INKEY List or Olay?

Olay performs better for brightening and radiance. Niacinamide, which is among the key ingredients across the products on this page, helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

The INKEY List or Olay for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a high routine fit for oily skin. The products on this page for both brands feature lightweight hydration and oil-controlling options.

The INKEY List or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, The INKEY List and Olay are both great choices, offering equally high fit levels for dry skin. The INKEY List is known for affordable values and hydration, while Olay stands out for skin smoothing, texture improvement, and brightening.

The INKEY List or Olay for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit than Olay for sensitive skin because it achieves a Superior routine fit, whereas Olay reaches a High fit. Reviewers also note that The INKEY List is more gentle on skin.

The INKEY List or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin, so either brand helps depending on your other preferences. Reviewers note that The INKEY List is generally more affordable and gentle on skin, while Olay is often praised for improving skin texture and brightness.

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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