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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 and Medik8 are British skincare brands offering moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more. The INKEY List is known for glycerin formulas that fit sensitive skin and combination skin best, while Medik8 is recognized for hyaluronic acid products suited for dry skin and sensitive skin. Both brands differ in their founding dates, corporate ownership, and specific targeted treatments for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin.

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

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

The INKEY List vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

The INKEY List vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Medik8: which is better?

The INKEY List stands out for its budget-friendly serums and moisturizers, while Medik8 offers advanced anti-aging options like Crystal Retinal. Reviewers note that Medik8 delivers better overall results and gentler formulas, whereas The INKEY List excels in price and value.

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Medik8?

The INKEY List focuses on affordable serums and acne control, while Medik8 excels in anti-aging results and mature or dry skin routines with a higher price point.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for dry skin?

Medik8 is a better fit for dry skin, offering a Superior routine compared to The INKEY List which has a High fit. Medik8 features deep hydration and plumping products like Hydr8 B5 Intense, which helps dry skin.

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

The INKEY List or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Both The INKEY List and Medik8 offer effective cleansers, with The INKEY List performing better for acne and blemishes and Medik8 performing better for gentleness and results. The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser fits acne-prone skin at a High level, while Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse fits acne-prone skin at a Superior level.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Medik8?

The INKEY List offers greater affordability, as reviewers frequently mention its high price point as a drawback for Medik8 and note lower prices for the products on this page.

Which brand has better results and effectiveness, The INKEY List or Medik8?

Medik8 does better for results and effectiveness compared to The INKEY List.

How do the prices of The INKEY List and Medik8 compare for budget-conscious shoppers?

The INKEY List offers better price and value for budget-conscious shoppers compared to Medik8, which has reviewers noting a high price point across the products on this page.

Which brand is better for managing mature skin, The INKEY List or Medik8?

Medik8 is better for managing mature skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to The INKEY List fit level of High. Medik8 also features key anti-aging serums like Crystal Retinal, which helps improve skin texture and firmness.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

The INKEY List or Medik8 for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and Medik8 are a High fit for oily skin. The products on this page show that both brands offer effective options for managing oily skin, with review themes noting that The INKEY List delivers better price and value, while Medik8 provides stronger results and effectiveness.

The INKEY List or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 provides deeply hydrating and plumping moisturizers that are well-reviewed for deep hydration and texture, while the products on this page by The INKEY List are known for being affordable and lightweight. Sodium hyaluronate in Medik8 moisturizers helps support skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The INKEY List or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Both brands fit sensitive skin at a Superior level for the products on this page. The INKEY List offers an affordable option, while Medik8 provides gentle and non-irritating formulas.

The INKEY List or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, both brands offer products on this page with a High routine fit level. The INKEY List tends to do better for acne and blemish control, while Medik8 provides gentle and non-irritating serums.

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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