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The INKEY List vs Aēsop

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

The INKEY List and Aēsop are two distinct skincare lines offering thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, serums, toners, and cleansers. The British brand relies on glycerin to suit sensitive, combination, acne-prone, and mature skin, whereas the other utilizes botanical and scientifically validated ingredients to support balanced, combination, and sensitive skin. Both ranges offer targeted solutions for dark spots, acne, and aging, though they differ in their foundational ingredients and overall approach.

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

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

Popular The INKEY List vs Aēsop products

People Say

The INKEY ListAēsop
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “woke up with baby-soft skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “Savior of my winter-fueled dry skin. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
    • “delivers deep hydration that really fills your skin — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “absorbs well into the skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
  • Acne and Blemish Control Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Skin instantly looks less oily — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Intensely hydrating yet mattifying effect. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
    • “my small blemishes noticeably diminished — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
  • Affordability 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”
  • General Effectiveness and Results Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “calms redness instantly — The INKEY List 10% Azelaic Acid Serum”
    • “bags are gone — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “saved my skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “I used to have severe flaking... but after using this product, it's disappeared. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
  • Gentle and Soothing Formula Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “Never tight or stripped — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft after cleansing. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
  • High Price Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “quantity is too small — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
  • Sticky, Tacky, or Heavy Finish Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Feels tacky on skin — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
    • “Leaves a greasy film on face after washing — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
    • “Leaves a tackiness that never goes away. — The INKEY List Niacinamide Serum”
    • “Thick, almost honey-like, and needs a moment to melt in. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
  • 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”
    • “The downside is the pump. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
    • “pipette means potential contamination — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
  • Makeup Pilling and Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “pills soo much — The INKEY List ECTOIN HYDRO-BARRIER SERUM”
    • “pills under makeup — The INKEY List 10% Azelaic Acid Serum”
    • “When applied directly to the face, it feels slippery and pills up. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Aēsop: which is better?

The INKEY List offers better affordability and lightweight textures for the products on this page, while Aēsop delivers superior deep hydration and luxurious scents. Both brands tie for acne control and overall effectiveness.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Aēsop?

The INKEY List offers affordable, lightweight serums and moisturizers that fit sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin best, whereas Aēsop provides luxurious hydration with refreshing scents at a high price. Reviewers note that the products on this page for The INKEY List deliver great value, while Aēsop excels in deep hydration and non-greasy, balancing moisturizers.

The INKEY List or Aēsop: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers, the products on this page show that The INKEY List offers options with High fits for a variety of skin types like oily and acne-prone skin, whereas Aēsop's cleanser has Average or Low fits across similar skin types.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Aēsop?

The INKEY List is more affordable than Aēsop, with the products on this page frequently noted by reviewers for offering better affordability and value.

Which causes fewer breakouts, The INKEY List or Aēsop?

When it comes to acne and blemish control, The INKEY List and Aēsop perform equally well based on reviewer feedback on this page. Reviewers occasionally note purging and breakouts as a minor issue with the products on this page for The INKEY List.

Between The INKEY List and Aēsop, which brand offers better hydration and moisture according to reviewers?

According to reviewers, Aēsop offers better hydration and moisture. Reviewers frequently note its deep hydration and non-greasy, balancing moisturizers.

Which of the two brands features products with more luxurious and refreshing scents, Aēsop or The INKEY List?

Aăsop features products with more luxurious and refreshing scents, as reviewers often mention this positive quality.

How do the ownership and founding years differ between The INKEY List and Aēsop?

The INKEY List was founded in 2018 in the United Kingdom and is owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited. In contrast, Aēsop was founded earlier in 1987 and is owned by L'Oréal Groupe.

The INKEY List or Aēsop: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, The INKEY List offers budget-friendly, lightweight options with high Lovi fit levels for dry and sensitive skin, while Aēsop is known for deep hydration and non-greasy, balancing formulas despite its higher price.

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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