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The INKEY List vs Olay

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

The INKEY List and Olay are two distinct skincare lines offering moisturizers, serums, eye products, and more. The British brand focuses on glycerin-driven formulas suited best for sensitive and combination skin, while Olay combines niacinamide and glycerin to support sensitive and mature skin. Both brands differ primarily in their core active ingredients and targeted formulations, providing customized options for specific 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

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

Popular The INKEY List vs Olay products

People Say

The INKEY ListOlay
  • Lightweight and Fast-Absorbing Texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sits beautifully under makeup — The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream”
    • “Gel consistency — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Super hydrating — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “intense nourishment — The INKEY List Collagen Peptide Serum”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Skin Smoothing and Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “hydrates the skin — Olay Advanced Eye Cream”
    • “Skin feels softer — The INKEY List PHA Toner”
  • Gentle on Skin 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”
    • “tiny beads aren't harsh — Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser”
  • Affordable Value and Pricing 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 than high-end moisturizers — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Brightening and Radiance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
    • “skin looks brighter — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Visibly reduces acne scars — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
  • 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”
    • “hard to dispense — Olay Super Serum”
    • “dropper is frustrating — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
  • Unpleasant Scent or Fragrance Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Smells like BBQ/meat — The INKEY List Tranexamic Acid Serum”
    • “Smells like chemicals — The INKEY List Polyglutamic Acid Serum”
    • “Fragrance can be an irritant — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “floral scent — Olay Super Serum”

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

The INKEY List vs Olay routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The INKEY List or Olay: which is better?

Both The INKEY List and Olay are great choices because they offer an equal routine fit across most skin types, though Olay is better for mature skin and skin smoothing. Niacinamide helps control skin aging and pigmentation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

What is the difference between The INKEY List and Olay?

The INKEY List offers better value and is more gentle on skin, whereas Olay excels at skin smoothing and brightening. Both brands match closely across most skin types, though Olay has a Superior routine fit for mature skin compared to The INKEY List's High fit level.

The INKEY List or Olay for dry skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a High routine fit for dry skin, making either brand a solid choice. Glycerin is a key ingredient across the products on this page for both brands, and topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin hydration.

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

The INKEY List or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a range of cleansers tailored to different skin types. Reviewers find that The INKEY List provides more affordable options, while Olay excels in smoothing texture.

Which is more affordable, The INKEY List or Olay?

The INKEY List does better than Olay for affordable value and pricing.

Which brand is better for mature skin between The INKEY List and Olay?

Olay is better for mature skin because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to High for The INKEY List. Reviewers also say Olay does better for skin smoothing and texture improvement as well as brightening and radiance.

Do The INKEY List and Olay products contain fragrance?

The products on this page for The INKEY List list no fragrance in their ingredients, while Olay offers fragrance-free options with only one product containing fragrance.

Which brand performs better for brightening and radiance?

Olay performs better for brightening and radiance than The INKEY List. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppress melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

The INKEY List or Olay for oily skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a high routine fit for oily skin, meaning they provide similar levels of suitability. Reviewers note that both brands deliver lightweight textures and effective hydration without feeling heavy. The products on this page list no fragrance, helping to avoid irritation.

The INKEY List or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer moisturizers that provide high routine fit for dry skin, though they differ in pricing and key benefits. Reviewers note that The INKEY List provides affordable moisturizers that are hydrating and lightweight, while Olay is recognized for intense hydration and smoothing benefits.

The INKEY List or Olay for sensitive skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin. However, reviewers rank The INKEY List higher for being gentle on skin.

The INKEY List or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Both The INKEY List and Olay offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin. The INKEY List features every product on this page with 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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