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The INKEY List vs Simple

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

The INKEY List and Simple are British skincare brands offering nourishing formulas designed to support various complexion needs. The INKEY List features moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products built around glycerin, suiting combination and sensitive skin best. Conversely, Simple offers gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners enriched with niacinamide and glycerin, suiting acne-prone and oily skin best. While both brands harness glycerin to increase hydration and restore barrier function, they differ through specialized ingredients like niacinamide and targeted solutions for diverse skin concerns.

The INKEY List is a British skincare brand founded in 2018 and owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited.

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

This page compares some of the most popular The INKEY List and Simple products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The INKEY List vs Simple products

People Say

The INKEY ListSimple
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Safe and gentle especially for my dry, sensitive skin — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Affordable price point Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
  • Hydration and moisturizing Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Lightweight texture and fast absorption Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Makeup compatibility and performance Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Best morning cleanser — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “removes last traces of makeup — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “Melts away makeup and impurities without drying — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Acne and blemish control Often MentionedNot 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”
  • Packaging and texture issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Worried about the snap top bottle leaking when travelling. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The cap broke off immediately. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “feels like a film — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Tube leaks liquified oil when opened — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
  • Lack of hydration or drying effects Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “have dry skin but this doesn't feel hydrating at all — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
    • “leaves under eye dry — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “need to apply multiple layers — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”

The INKEY List vs Simple routines for dry skin

Buy Simple routine · $128.28 · 83% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · $106.98 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy Simple routine · $280.29 · 88% fitBuy The INKEY List routine · $261.57 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The INKEY List vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy The INKEY List routine · $254.57 · 90% fitBuy Simple routine · $259.77 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Simple: which is better?

The INKEY List may be better for affordability and acne control, while Simple is often preferred for being gentle on sensitive skin and makeup compatibility. Both brands offer equal levels of hydration and fit routines well across most skin types.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Simple?

The INKEY List offers a more affordable price point, while Simple is gentler on sensitive skin. Both brands provide fragrance-free options and similar hydration performance across the products on this page.

The INKEY List or Simple for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Simple are a High fit for dry skin based on the products on this page. Reviewers note that both brands offer hydrating moisturizers, though The INKEY List tends to be more affordable.

The INKEY List or Simple: which cleanser is better?

The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser achieves a High Lovi fit for combination, oily, oily acne-prone, sensitive, and skin with dark spots, whereas the Simple Refreshing Facial Wash reaches only an Average fit for those same skin types.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Simple?

The INKEY List does better for affordable price point compared to Simple.

Between The INKEY List and Simple, which brand is gentler on sensitive skin?

Simple does better for being gentle on sensitive skin.

Which brand performs better with makeup compatibility and performance, The INKEY List or Simple?

Simple performs better with makeup compatibility and performance compared to The INKEY List.

How do The INKEY List and Simple compare for combination skin?

For combination skin, The INKEY List achieves a Superior Lovi fit level, whereas Simple reaches a High Lovi fit level based on the products on this page.

The INKEY List or Simple for oily skin?

For oily skin, The INKEY List and Simple offer an equal routine fit. Both brands feature products on this page that rate as High for oily skin, making either a suitable choice depending on your preference.

The INKEY List or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List stands out for its hydrating and lightweight moisturizers, which reviewers frequently mention as affordable and effective. Both brands offer solid options on this page, but The INKEY List provides better targeted solutions for various skin concerns.

The INKEY List or Simple for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a better fit than Simple for sensitive skin, earning a Superior routine fit compared to Simple's High level. Every product on this page from both brands lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

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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