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The INKEY List vs Lancôme

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

The INKEY List and Lancôme are two distinct skincare brands offering thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products designed to improve hydration and barrier function. The British brand is built around glycerin and suits sensitive and combination skin best, while the French brand thoughtfully incorporates glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and adenosine to cater particularly to sensitive and mature skin. Both feature standout solutions for targeted concerns, such as options for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and aging. Ultimately, they differ in their foundational ingredients and specific formulations, allowing individuals to choose according to their unique skin needs.

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

cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com

Lancôme is a French skincare brand founded in 1935 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 1964.

loreal.comen.wikipedia.orgcosmeticsbusiness.com

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

Popular The INKEY List vs Lancôme products

People Say

The INKEY ListLancôme
  • Hydration and plumping Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “bags are gone — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “gives my skin an instant dewy glow — Lancôme Tonique Confort”
    • “keeps the skin soft and hydrated — Lancôme HYDRA ZEN”
  • Lightweight texture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “absorbs quickly — Lancôme RÉNERGIE”
    • “absorbs almost instantly — Lancôme Génifique Ultimate”
  • Affordable price point 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”
  • Gentle formula Often 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”
    • “Never tight or stripped — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
    • “Doesn't sting my eyes — Lancôme Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover”
  • Layers well and works under makeup Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “no pilling under makeup — The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “Brilliant makeup base — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “concealer applies smoothly — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Eye Cream”
    • “layers beautifully under makeup — Lancôme Génifique Ultimate”
  • Smoother skin texture Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Skin feels cushiony soft — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate”
    • “Face is so soft, smooth and not puffy. — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Night Cream”
    • “pores looked more refined — Lancôme Génifique Ultimate”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • High price point Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “super expensive — Lancôme Absolue Precious Oil”
  • Packaging issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “dispenser stopped working — Lancôme RÉNERGIE”
    • “struggled to open cap — Lancôme Génifique Ultimate”
    • “Hard to push and twist — Lancôme Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover”
    • “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
  • Ineffective results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “didn't do anything for circles — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “did absolutely nothing — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “didn't notice much change in wrinkles — Lancôme Génifique Ultimate”
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate”

The INKEY List vs Lancôme routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Lancôme routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The INKEY List vs Lancôme routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Lancôme: which is better?

The INKEY List tends to be better for shoppers wanting more affordable skincare with fragrance-free formulas, while Lancôme is often chosen for smoothing skin texture and scented luxury products. For sensitive skin specifically, the products on this page show Lovi fit levels as Superior for The INKEY List and High for Lancôme.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Lancôme?

The INKEY List offers more affordable pricing and fragrance-free formulas across the products on this page, whereas Lancôme features a higher price point and often includes added fragrance. Both brands perform similarly for hydration, but the products on this page from Lancôme tend to do better at smoothing skin texture.

The INKEY List or Lancôme for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Lancôme fit dry skin well, offering a High routine fit on the products on this page. However, The INKEY List tends to be more affordable and lists no fragrance across its products, whereas Lancôme is known for a higher price point and includes fragrance in most of its formulas.

The INKEY List or Lancôme: which cleanser is better?

The INKEY List is a better choice for a cleanser because the products on this page achieve a High fit level for most skin types, whereas Lancôme products on this page receive a Warning fit level.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Lancôme?

The INKEY List is more affordable than Lancôme, as the products on this page feature affordable moisturizers and serums compared to Lancôme's high price point.

How do the fragrance options differ between The INKEY List and Lancôme products?

The products on this page from The INKEY List list no fragrance in their ingredients, whereas 11 of the 14 Lancôme products on this page contain fragrance.

Which brand performs better when it comes to smoother skin texture according to reviewers?

Lancôme performs better for smoother skin texture according to reviewers.

The INKEY List or Lancôme for oily skin?

For oily skin, both The INKEY List and Lancôme fit well, as the routine fit for oily skin is High for both brands.

The INKEY List or Lancôme: which moisturizer is better?

The INKEY List is a better choice for budget-conscious shoppers, offering highly rated, affordable moisturizers with no added fragrance across the products on this page. Lancôme provides deep hydration and improves skin texture, but its moisturizers come at a much higher price point.

The INKEY List or Lancôme for sensitive skin?

The INKEY List is a superior fit for sensitive skin, whereas Lancôme achieves a high fit. Reviewers note that The INKEY List provides a more gentle formula, and every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

The INKEY List or Lancôme for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and Lancôme fit acne-prone skin equally well, as the products on this page achieve a high routine 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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