The INKEY List vs Galderma
The INKEY List and Galderma are distinct skincare brands designed to address diverse dermatological needs. The British brand offers moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products built around glycerin, suiting sensitive and combination skin best. Conversely, the Swiss brand focuses entirely on serums, providing targeted acne gels. While both companies cater to specific concerns like acne, dark spots, and aging, they differ significantly in their product variety and foundational formulations.
The INKEY List is a British skincare brand founded in 2018 and owned by Brand Evangelists for Beauty Limited.
cosmeticsbusiness.comprnewswire.comtheinkeylist.comtracxn.com
Galderma is a Swiss skincare brand founded in 1981 and owned by Galderma Group AG.
This page compares some of the most popular The INKEY List and Galderma products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular The INKEY List vs Galderma products
People Say
Acne Clearance and Breakout Prevention Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “cleared up my skin — Galderma Benzac AC Mild Strength 2.5% Acne Gel”
- “cystic acne gone — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
- “stops new pimples — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
- “Free of active acne — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
Gentle Formula and Soothing 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”
- “didn't burn my face — Galderma Benzac AC Mild Strength 2.5% Acne Gel”
Affordable Price 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”
Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “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”
Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedNot noted
- “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
- “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
- “Skin feels instantly hydrated, nourished and looks more glowing — The INKEY List Oat Cleansing Balm”
Smoothing and Fading Scars Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
- “scars are fading — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
- “skin feels smooth — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
- “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
Dryness and Peeling Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
- “Leaves my skin a bit dry — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
- “feels very drying — The INKEY List 10% Azelaic Acid Serum”
- “Can feel tacky on the skin — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
- “skin flaking off — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Skin Irritation and Burning Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “tingles upon application — The INKEY List 10% Azelaic Acid Serum”
- “face on fire — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Breakouts and Purging Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
- “did cause major breakouts — The INKEY List Omega Water Cream”
- “New formula breaks me out — The INKEY List Salicylic Acid Cleanser”
- “Caused cystic acne — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
- “got worse first — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Bleaching Fabrics Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “bleached my towel — Galderma Benzac AC 5”
Packaging Issues Often MentionedNot noted
- “Pump breaks easily — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
The INKEY List vs Galderma serums and treatments
Questions and answers
The INKEY List or Galderma: which is better?
The INKEY List is better for gentle formulas, hydration, lightweight textures, and affordability, while Galderma does better for acne clearance and smoothing scars, though the products on this page for Galderma frequently bring severe dryness, peeling, and irritation.
What is the difference between The INKEY List and Galderma?
The INKEY List offers fragrance-free options that excel in hydration, gentle soothing, and affordability, whereas Galderma features serums that focus on acne clearance. Reviewers note that Galderma provides effective acne-clearing serums, though it may cause severe dryness and peeling compared to The INKEY List.
Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Galderma?
The INKEY List is more affordable than Galderma, as affordable pricing and value are noted as one of its strengths on the page.
Which causes fewer breakouts, The INKEY List or Galderma?
Galderma does better for acne clearance and breakout prevention among the products on this page, whereas reviewers sometimes note breakouts and purging with The INKEY List.
Which brand performs better for hydration and moisture, The INKEY List or Galderma?
The INKEY List performs better for hydration and moisture, as reviewers frequently mention its hydrating, lightweight, and fast-absorbing moisturizers. Lovi fit ratings for its moisturizers show High or Superior levels for dry skin.
Which brand is better for acne clearance and breakout prevention, The INKEY List or Galderma?
Galderma is better for acne clearance and breakout prevention. Reviewers note that Galderma delivers effective acne-clearing serums.
Which brand is better known for a gentle formula and soothing effects, The INKEY List or Galderma?
The INKEY List does better for a gentle formula and soothing, whereas Galderma is known more for severe dryness, peeling, and irritation.
Research behind their key ingredients
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
The moisturizing effects of glycolipid biosurfactants, mannosylerythritol lipids, on human skin
A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
Chemical peels for acne vulgaris: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials
Topical Almond Oil for Prevention of Pressure Injuries: A Single-Blinded Comparison Study
The anti wrinkle efficacy of synthetic hexapeptide (Argireline) in Chinese Subjects
Darutoside promotes skin wound healing via regulating macrophage polarization
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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